19 Chapter 19: Lite 5

Everyone was still, not knowing whether to speak or not. For important people like Kushina and Minato, although they knew there was darkness in this world, they had never been part of it in this way.

Perhaps the calmest in this situation was Inoichi because of his work as a member of Konoha's intelligence.

Minato, Kushina and Inoichi decided not to say anything in consideration of Kokoe, who was obviously the most affected in this whole affair. In fact, even if they wanted to talk about it, they knew that, in the end, everything fell on this woman's shoulders.

However, that did not prevent questions from being asked and ordering the little information they had obtained inside their minds, well, at least Minato and Inoichi did, Kushina was also quite affected and keeping Kokoe company. She, after all, had just become a mother and did not want to even imagine how she would feel if she found out that her son went through the same experiences.

After a while, Tsunade arrived with the woman who was entrusted to her. She was obviously knocked out, however, the most surprising thing was the small lump she carried beside her, a little girl was in her arms, sleeping peacefully.

— I understand you had to bring the woman, but what about the girl? (Minato)

Faced with this question, Tsunade couldn't help but clench her fists in the rage she felt. The others took a step back, surprised by such a sudden change in the environment.

— That bastard Danzo. (Tsunade)

Scowling, Minato asked.

— What happened? (Minato)

It was obvious that Tsunade had not been content to do only what she was asked, but that she found everything related to the subject and found information that put her in a very bad mood.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm down, she decided to answer, although it was seen that she was still struggling with her emotions.

— You know that the official reports mentioned only a few losses in the attack, right? (Tsunade)

— That's right. (Minato)

— Although I don't expect them to be totally honest with the figures to look good internationally, the number of civilian casualties recorded was surprisingly zero, something that even took me by surprise. Even if I had planned everything as best as I could, I know perfectly well that in such a big situation, accidents are bound to happen. (Tsunade)

— Go on. (Minato)

— You, like Kage that you were, must perfectly understand the difference between a clean record and when there are casualties. No matter how few they are, as long as there is even one, it totally changes the landscape of things. (Tsunade)

— So everything didn't go well eh... Well, I can't say I'm surprised, though it's a shame. (Minato)

— That's right. *Sigh* I found the little boy in front of a grave, apparently, there was only one civilian casualty, the kid of the grave. But Danzo is a guy who can't let things go the way he doesn't want them to. He knows that if he leaves that woman alone, then the truth will sooner or later come to light, so the brilliant solution he came up with in that tiny brain of his is to eliminate the boy's family. (Tsunade)

Faced with these words, Minato could not stand still. He knew perfectly well that a Kage's hands will never be clean, but it is his basic duty to keep his own population as protected as possible. That someone decides to make those kinds of decisions in something that would bring no benefit to the village other than a little reputation without anything tangible seemed silly to him.

It was not even necessary to think of the thousand and one excuses they could spread to cover up their disappearance.

After thinking for a moment, he noticed better the physical features of the woman, who by now had already been put on a bed to rest. Black eyes, black hair...

— Tsunade, this woman... (Minato)

— As you guessed, an Uchiha. (Tsunade)

— I see, that explains a lot. (Minato)

Among the high commanders, Danzo's contempt for this particular clan was no secret, and he would do his best to reduce them; he would not forgive even the children.

— *Sigh* The future of the village worries me. I hope Kokoe can recover soon so we can talk to Lite. (Minato)

— ¿? Right, I missed the talk they had, did you get anything interesting? (Tsunade)

— …

There was doubt in Minato's gaze, it was obvious that he was undecided as to whether he should let Tsunade see what they saw. In fact, even if it doesn't seem like it, she had a soft spot for kids. He even developed an affection for little Lite, even though their encounters were very brief and in questionable circumstances. So if she saw what he went through… he didn't know how she would react.

But of course, she wasn't just anyone, and I could see clearly that he was thinking about hiding what happened. That, sadly, only made her more curious.

— Spit it out. (Tsunade)

— *Sigh* I guess I have no choice, follow me. (Minato)

They walked into a room, where Kokoe and Kushina were now, who was trying to encourage her, despite clearly being affected as well. In the opposite corner was Inoichi, who would stabilize Kokoe in case he reacted badly.

— Inoichi, join us. Tsunade has arrived. (Minato)

— … Are you sure?" (Inoichi)

— No, but there's no other way. (Minato)

— This kid is amazing. I'd think your son would be able to get the attention of so many people of your caliber, but this guy... (Inoichi)

— Say no more and walk. (Minato)

Minato couldn't help but raise his voice. The situation was tense at the moment. Not only was it Lite, but his son was also now far away from them. He didn't need Kushina to get sick in these circumstances.

— By the way, Minato. Did you take the chains off yet? (Tsunade)

— Yes, I must admit that this seal and its principles are incredible. In fact, I will need a lot of time if I want to do something similar, at the moment I do not understand practically anything, but reading the notes I was able to find the right point. While I couldn't modify the seal, reinforcing it externally didn't mean much of a problem, although the maximum distance is still the area inside the cave. (Minato)

— As expected of you, though I expected you to suffer... to spend more time with your wife. (Tsunade)

— …

They arrived in another room and there Inoichi proceeded to transmit everything they had witnessed.

Tsunade's reaction, however, surprised them quite a bit. The calm she demonstrated came nowhere near what they anticipated.

— Tsunade-sama, I'm surprised how you're taking this. Honestly, I thought you were gonna react a lot stronger. (Inoichi)

— *Sigh* Unlike you, who even during the war have been protected under the concept of "it's for the greater good" or "it's the orders," I have traveled and seen many things. I know very well that in this world there are people who simply do not deserve to live. For me, it's not worth getting angry at those if it doesn't involve me directly… *Sigh* But as you see, this time if it involves someone I know, however, the situation is so confusing that I don't know where to put my anger. The guys who hurt him? In his past self that didn't protect you well? In me for not preventing any death? I don't know, so I'll simply wait for Kokoe and do my best for that kid. (Tsunade)

'I just hope she's strong enough to accept the little guy as he is now. If he receives enough love and support, I know he will be someone who can lead this world to be a better place, otherwise, I don't want to imagine the disaster someone like him would commit if he were so released into the world.' (Tsunade)

Finishing speaking, she walked to the room where the girls were and meditated to calm her mind. No matter what she says, it's impossible not to react to such a spectacle, especially when they see it from the victim's perspective.

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Kokoe POV

'My world fell apart when I learned that my son, in his short life, has received the memories of terrible experiences from his past life. It struck me like lightning, leaving me breathless. Pain and disbelief are intertwined within me as I try to assimilate the darkness of what I have experienced. How can I accept that my child has been subjected to unimaginable torture and suffering? It's hard to conceive, and my mind is filled with horror and despair.

I feel torn inside, unable to comprehend how human beings can become so dark and cruel. I am faced with a terrifying reality and question whether I will be able to accept the existence of such evil in the world. The idea of my son carrying that stigma with him, as if he had lived it himself, is unbearable.

Anguish and revulsion seize me, while the horror of what my son has suffered becomes a recurring nightmare in my thoughts. I wonder how anyone can inflict so much pain and suffering on another human being, and how this can impact my child's innocence and purity in this life.

I see the people gathered here with me, I don't know the details, but he must have done something to make them so worried about him.

In the midst of my chaotic thoughts, I could hear bits of information, and I learned, if only a little, of the feats he performed.

When I saw the state he was in, I knew that things would never be the same again.

I don't understand why all this happens, I… all I wanted was a family with the man I loved, but he left me, and now I feel like my son will too.

I understand what that man said. I know, that now what my little one is going through is more than I could even imagine, and if he has to live with that his whole life…

However, in the midst of my despair, I feel something in my chest. I can notice that, despite the fear, my unconditional love for him has not been tarnished. Despite the darkness he has experienced, he is still my child, the one who called me mother, the one who supported me when I was sad, the one who, at his young age, was already thinking about our future and what to do to protect me, even though that should be my job.

I want to support him, be there for him. If he received his past memories, then he may also do it again in his next life, but I know deep within me, that no matter what body his spirit dwells in, he will always be my child. I don't want him to go through this again, I want him to be happy, and even though it's impossible, at least I want to carry his pain with him. Although I cannot erase memories or remove past wounds, I can be his beacon of love and understanding amidst the darkness that surrounds him. I accept that evil exists in the world and that my son has witnessed it in his previous life. But I also accept that there is goodness and light in this world.

I will find the strength to be his constant support. I will learn to listen to his fears and worries without judgment, to embrace him tenderly when the weight of his past becomes overwhelming just like that woman I saw, the one who became his light when all seemed lost.

If she could, there's no reason why I couldn't. But first, there's something I need to check.'

Kokoe fell unconscious when they left Lite's mind. When he opened his eyes, there was no light in them.

Kushina was in charge of keeping her company and taking care of her. She was the second most terrified person by what had happened.

She had no idea what universes, timelines, etc, meant. But she understood, when she saw the memories, that the place from which they came was very different from where they are. Lite gave them enough context so that they could infer as it was before, the causes of change and the end result of things. She constantly wondered how a place that, compared to the Shinobi world, was so peaceful, could end up like that, and she didn't want to believe that kind of thing happened. Now his son was alone, but they could take care of him from the shadows, however, what would have happened if they had died as originally was going to happen, if Tsunade did not intervene? She knew very well how the Jinchuurikis were treated in other villages. The third? She may be more naive than Minato, but nothing would calm her down as long as she wasn't the one holding him in her arms.

As she was getting lost in his thoughts, he noticed Kokoe's movement.

— I want to see Lite. (Kokoe)

Those were the first words Kushina heard.

— You made your decisión? (Kushina)

— Yeah, but first I want to talk to Lite, the big one, there are things I want to confirm. (Kokoe)

— …Fine (Kushina)

And so, Kokoe unknowingly headed out to have a conversation that would change the entire shinobi world.

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♥ Please give stones. Add to library if you liked it. ♥

New chapter!

I feel that this is taking too long, but don't worry, I'll finish it in 3 more chapters max, then we'll start with a new arc.

I want to say thanks to some people who criticized me, although I would have preferred if one of them had said it in a more gentle way. Thanks to them I noticed things like asking for stones every 2 parragraps, or taking too long to explain things.

I will not change the way I write by blindly following the critics I receive, if I do, then I would lose myself, but I'll take into serious consideration things that can do good to my work.

Lastly, let me give an advice, if you have a group project in university, then do your part because you don't know if one of your partners may be the author of the novel you're reading. Yeah, I hate those guys.

Bye! :D