return to the hidden leaf: Rōgans training begins

"theyre dead?" i stop crying and just look at hashirama blankly, i feel empty, the weight of this new information weighs me down and hashirama speaks but i hear nothing of what he says, i feel like im back in ibukis prison jutsu. i pass out.

its the next day and im sitting outside of the base, hashirama is escorting everyone back to the village today, everyone except me, i have no reason now to go back so im going to stay here and train, alone.

"im gonna miss you" jeiku says to me, all i can manage is a nod

"yeah..." i say quietly "ill see you and everyone else someday, i promise"

its been a few days since the rest left, i slipped away after saying bye to jeiku and no one noticed, there were 9 of us when training started and now theres only 6 returning to the village. im alone here, ive had nothing to do but train, i feel like ive lost weight which is plausible. i vowed to hashirama that i wouldnt return to the hidden leaf until i became strong on my own without my jutsu aiding me.

the days turn into weeks and i see little progress on my physical appearance, but i have been able to train for longer intervals.

"its my birthday" i mutter, my vocal chords are sore from lack of use and my words are barely a whisper. im 16 today. i dont feel very happy about it. i haven't felt anything let alone happiness since i learned of my parents deaths. i wonder if the rest are still alive. i wonder if they feel happy.

~butcher arc end~