Cross Roads of Destiny II

Zen'in Clan Estate, Tokyo.....

September 2005...

In a sprawling, traditional Japanese compound exuding both grandeur and an air of ancient mystique, nestled in a secluded forested area, a massive estate stood in all its glory.

Surrounded by high, imposing walls that ensured privacy and security, it was highly guarded and marked as a place of significant importance.

The massive structure was supported by massive pillars on which totems and symbols of the Zen'in clan stood, one of the most prestigious clans in all of Jujutsu, showcasing their pride and loyalty to their legacy.

Walking through the corridors, a handsome figure wrapped in a purple kimono sighed, his expression downcast, and his eyes filled with tears he so hard fought to keep from streaming down his face.

His spiky onyx black hair was the same colour as his irises, falling to the sides of his face like bangs. Noticing his downcast figure, every person who passed by him only seemed to acknowledge his presence with pitiful looks that burned his soul.

He was once a prodigy, hailed and destined to be the next head of the Zen'in clan, personally to be groomed and discipled by the strongest elders of the clan.

His birth was once a beacon of hope to the Zen'in clan, a hope to one day surpass their rivals, the Gojo clan, with his presence specifically serving as a deterrent to the current six eyes and Limitless user, Gojo Satoru, the current heir.

However fourteen years of dreams, and hopes had been squashed in just one fateful night, a year ago, where it had been revealed that while he possessed the purest form of cursed energy, a clear definitive description of the natural talent he possessed, he had been born without the clan's fabled Ten Shadows Technique.

In fact, he had been born without a cursed technique. And in a clan that upholded tradition above everything, a clan that respected strength and technique above it all, his bright future had been replaced with a bleak and mediocre life, where he had been relegated to mundane tasks like an ordinary person.

The once brightest star reduced to a pitiful firefly, the prodigious and talented young master of the Zen'in clan, reduced to a mere servant.

However, despite all of this, Sasuke was never truly disheartened by his fall from grace. Don't get him wrong, there was nothing wrong with being in the limelight, and nothing beat the feeling of being the hope of thousands of clan members, basically being worshipped as a God.

Despite all the advantages, he never truly let it get to his head like that Gojo Satoru. In fact, he had been taught humility from his mother, a value which he now upholded, choosing to remain humble even in his great days.

His father on the other hand had become a complete stranger to him, abandoning him and his mother at the time when they needed him most, which eventually led to her death.

Entering one of the dojos in the central part of the estate, he finally came face to face with a middle aged man with a goatee, dressed in pure white robes and sandals, the man whom he previously called father.

The moment he entered, the man's brows scrunched up in disgust and distaste at the sight of the offspring which he himself had sired and now regarded even less than human.

"What brings you to me?! ...Speak now boy, do not waste my time any further!"

The man angrily raised his voice as Sasuke slowly knelt and bowed showing his respect to the man.

"Today is mother's anniversary. It is my wish that you'd at least pay your last respects to her. That is all I ask from you....Father.."

He spoke and bowed respectfully, however the man only raised a brow, followed by a ridiculing laughter.

"Hahaha! You want me to pay respects to that bitch who couldn't even give me a proper son?!! How dare you come to demand this of me?!"

Hearing the vulgar words that spilled out of his father's mouth, Sasuke jaw clenched in fury as his fists slammed into the wooden ground.

Tears streamed down his face.

He had had enough. None of the pitiful looks from the clansmen was enough to invite such a reaction from him, however, like every caring and loving son, the love for his mother and refusal to allow her name to desecrated was his weakness.

His heart bled, as memories of her caring face materialized in his mind. He missed her. Without her, he couldn't tolerate anything any more. She was his strength, his shield and fortress.

"You do not get to disrespect my mother!!. How dare you!! You abandoned us, knowing fully well she was chronically ill. Her death is on your head! You killed her!!"

A crazed look materialized on the usually gentle and humble face, as the youth arose from his feet, fingers pointing directly towards his father in defiance.

"How dare you call yourself a father?!! You should be ashamed of yourself!!"

He roared out, fingers pointing to the high and lofty figure seated and staring towards him with disdain.

"Hahaha! You dare insult your father, an elder of the clan?!! You will pay dearly for this boy!!"

A crazed smile materialized on the face of the man, and in that moment a massive pressure descended into the room, bringing with it a massive wind that threatened to bring down the dojo itself, forcing the youth to his knees, as blood pooled within his mouth.

Though forced to his knees, the resolve of the youth never faltered, not taking back his words and ready to face the responsibility for his actions.

"Halt your actions Fugaku!!"

However in that moment, multiple figures materialized within the dojo like ghosts, all dressed in robes.

The moment he noticed the figures, Fugaku, Sasuke's father instantly withdrew his aura, stood up from his seat and bowed respectfully.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence Great elders..."

"Seventh Elder, Naobito's, wife is with child. According to the seer, the child is blessed with immense potential and will possess untold power. We want you to begin preparations for the child's well-being.."

Collapsed to the ground, Sasuke could hear what they discussed as his heart bled in fury. Back then, they had all been so kind and comforting, but now, none of them seemed to even recognise or acknowledge his presence, even ignoring the fact that he seemed to be injured.

The cruelty of the human heart, and the irony of it all....

"Hahaha!.."

As the old men discussed, they halted and turned around only after hearing a sardonic laughter echoing from behind them, only now acknowledging the presence of the bloodied figure that slowly arose from the ground.

"The irony of it all. In the end, I was a just a tool, a puppet to be controlled and obey your every whim. To think I once loved you all as family.."

He spat out with a laugh, a direct contrast with the tears that streamed down his face.

"Mind your tongue boy! You do not disrespect the elders!!"

Without hesitation, Fugaku unleashed his energy once more, manifesting a gravity like pressure in the room which smashed into Sasuke's body hurling him right into the ground, as a small crater formed.

The sounds of the young boy's bones creaked as blood burst out of his orifices, however the heartless old men merely watched on with coldness.

"To be born into the Zen'in clan is to be born into a heritage that dates back thousands of years. You lost your identity as a Zen'in the moment you lost your worth to the clan.

As of today, the council of Elders revoke your name itself. You are no longer and Zen'in and bear no ties with us, now and forever!!

Now leave!!"

Slowly arising to his feet, Sasuke ignored the creaking sounds that emerged from his body. His eyes lifeless and empty, his hopes and dreams reduced to nothing.

Now he was truly nothing. His name and identity being forcefully stripped away from him. His life itself has lost meaning.

His body shook with every step, wanting to give out, however he didn't know how he held on. Without looking back, he slowly left the courtyard, leaving behind a shadow that trailed into the distance.

------------------------------------------------------

The clan cemetery housed the resting souls of all deceased members of the clan in a rather well kept and large monastery.

A bloodied figure slowly staggered through the nearly arranged rows and columns of tombs untill he made his way to heaps of sand in a corner.

A make shift tomb he had dug for his mother, since the clan had refused to provide one for her, as she was not a true member of the clan.

Upon reaching the sand heap, as if on command, all the pent up sadness and negativity burst out in the form of tears and spasms, shivering in response to the cold air that breezed every now and then.

"Hahaha..To think the day would come that even you, the high and lofty young master of Zen'in clan would be reduced to such a pitiful state, how disgraceful.."

Suddenly, a cold voice resounded, as multiple figures walked out from within the shadows. In their lead were three handsome young fellows, who had victorious sneers on their faces.

"All that talk from before about becoming the strongest sorcerer and rising to the top, how did it all end ?"

One of the figure standing to the left sneered in contempt. Dressed in a brown leather jacket and denim jeans, his brown hair swayed to the side, and his tall figure seemed imposing to say in the least.

In the middle, a handsome youth stood with both hands buried in his pockets. Dressed in a long trench coat, he looked ethereal like a prince from a novel. However the cruel malice hidden within his deep blue eyes was enough to tell everything needed to know him.

"Hahaha. It fills my heart with so much joy to see you like this, bastard. All those years, over shadowing us with your supposed "potential"..."

The blonde haired youth laughed hysterically, while looking towards Sasuke whose lifeless eyes merely glanced towards them..

"Oi, Arata, just put the poor bastard out of his misery. He's been through enough already..."

Towards the right, another youth dressed in a simple shirt and black pants yawned and looked towards the cold youth in the middle.

"Goodbye..."

Looking towards the soulless Sasuke, the youth in the middle simply walked to him and placed his hand on his head, a gesture of old, the good old days.

Meeting eye to eye with the youth, Sasuke trembled, as a memory flashed within his gaze.

A cold and rainy night, where his frailed figure knelt for hours in the rain, as the youth before him, emotionlessly stared him down from a storey, as he begged for money and medicine to save his dying mother.

Someone whom he had proudly called brother before, watching coldly, as he succumbed to the cold rain and slumped to the ground unconscious only to awake to the news of his mother's demise.

That same someone who now stood before him, as the harbinger of his execution.

"Kill him..."

Coldly speaking, the youth turned away from Sasuke, ordering towards the figures hidden in the shadows who began to slowly advance towards the poor youth, with long blades in hand...

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Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section. Peace 🙏.