Chapter 101 Choice

Land of Grass.

Despite the second ninja world war, the land of grass which was nestled very close to the three big countries managed to avoid the fate of being used as a foothold for war as land of rain suffered in its stead.

Harukaze Village, a small village mostly untouched by the shinobi world with people living a simple life.

The village was surrounded by rice fields that stretched to horizon and ponds around as well that mostly served the purpose of irrigating the fields.

The village had small thatched huts and wooden houses, with a water well situated in the village center and the occupation of the village residents mostly seemed farming and collecting wool from sheep.

Tap!

At this moment on the dirt road that stretched out of the forest at distance and led towards the village appeared a tall figure, a black cape mostly obscured him and only revealed a pair of brown eyes as slowly he marched towards the village at distance.

The moment he entered the town he was immediately noticed by some people who were around the entrance and smiles appeared on their faces.

"You're back, Kazuki-San!"

"Welcome!"

The villagers greeted him with awe, respect and bright smiles on their faces and the pair of brown eyes showed a soft look at this.

Raising his hand, the tall figure removed the cloak that covered him as short silver hair and a fair handsome face was exposed to everyone.

He looked around fifteen and stood at 183 cm quite tall for his age, a sword was strapped on his back.

Gently nodding back to respond to the greetings, Kazuki continued walking again as eventually he arrived outside what clearly was the biggest house in the village, a wooden house with a huge backyard and even a small spring inside.

Knocking once on the door he pushed it open and was immediately greeted by a person who sat on a chair in the yard, enjoying the morning cool breeze.

He donned a grey outfit and looked to be in his sixties or seventies, white hair and wrinkled skin but his eyes revealed wisdom.

Kazuki's arrival was noticed by the old man immediately as he turned his head to gaze at him, who walked towards him and sat by his side on the grass.

"I'm leaving today, it's been three years since I have been here and its fair time I go back" Said Kazuki as his eyes couldn't help but reveal a trace of nostalgia, three years ago he left the village and even the land of fire to look for a solution.

During his journey in land of grass he arrived at this village coincidentally at the time when it was under an attack of the bandits, the whole village saw how he single handedly turned the tides and put every single bandit to death.

He was offered to stay here at the village chief's house by the chief himself and he didn't travel further anymore as here he got the answer he was looking for.

Hearing his words, the old man turned to look into his eyes and there was silence in the yard for a while.

"It seems you have decided… you saw the solution in me long ago but it took you nearly two years to finally make a decision to walk on that path… are you finally ready to bear everything?"

Asked the old man while looking at Kazuki with some emotion on his face, in Kazuki he saw his younger self who wanted to do the same but couldn't because of his powerlessness.

But Kazuki was different from him as well, he was strong and had the potential to achieve what he could only dream off.

At his words Kazuki went silent and in his eyes memories of the past began to play.

I'm glad I became a shinobi… able to protect you… and leave with no regrets

In a forest a blue haired man lay on the ground with two horrendous holes in his stomach but despite all that he carried a smile on his face, looking at the safe blonde haired woman before him with relieved eyes. {Refer to chapter 33, Death of Dan Kato}

Between Love and Village, I chose the latter

In the dining room, the woman with black hair and brown eyes lay on the floor and slowly began to drift towards the death, her words ringing in the room.

Did you kill Keiko? A proud shinobi of the leaf who failed to kill her own son for the sake of the village. A son who wanted to steal the power that assured balance of power and cause chaos

What she failed to do we will do it! For the sake of the village we will not back down even if it means killing one's own family

In the blood littered hall, the words of the silver haired man and the black haired girl rang in his head as well.

The memories of the past slowly began to dissipate as the eyes of Kazuki revealed a determined look, his lips parting.

"You chose to sever your own chakra pathways and went for a simple calm life; you chose love over power but I won't do quite the same."

Kazuki said with something that has always been missing in his tone: a passion to do something, and his eyes revealed a sense of purpose.

"The world will not agree with you, whether it's friends or foe, they might all unite against you, are you truly ready for that?"

Asked the old man again, his heart beating fast and his eyes revealing dread for Kazuki, who might experience stuff that would break anyone's mind on the path he will walk.

Twenty five years ago, he used to be a shinobi of Kusagakure {Hidden Grass Village}, but the continuous killing of innocents and anyone for the good of the village drove him mad and the stronger he got, the more caged he felt.

The power that coursed inside his body sickened him and that time, the only way towards freedom seemed to be getting rid of this power and so he did, severing his chakra pathways.

"May nothing waver my resolve!"

Said Kazuki in response, and getting up, he slowly walked towards his room in the house, leaving the old man in tears and gasps, his words ringing in the yard.

"Between love and power, what will the world choose?"

Read chapters ahead on p@treon.com/Gojo6666.