Lone-Eyed Boy (7)

In the dark, I was sitting by. Within the isolation, I stared at the front with a hollow soul.

'Mom. Dad.'

My mother, who had wavy brown hair and black-coloured eyes. My father, who had straight black hair and deep blue-coloured eyes. The two of them were smiling at me and waving at me.

Then, they disappeared without a trace, before one man came into sight—the wounded Amegakure shinobi who saved me on that fateful day.

He was bleeding all over. His weight was shifted on the right side, with his left leg having been impaired. Yet, he smiled at me, before he too was gone.

And that wasn't the end. Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato. All three of them were waving at me excitedly, with happy smiles on their faces.

What a wistful dream it was. If only I could see all of them living peaceful life, just as how joyful they seem to be in my view currently.

But alas, the reality was dark. My parents were murdered by foreign ninjas. The shinobi planned on committing suicide in the first place. The three friends of mine, I didn't even know their whereabouts right now, if they managed to live on.

My head lowered. Staring at my hands, I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.

A life of misery. In order to escape such a fate, I struggled throughout my whole life. But what did I achieve?

I raised my hand and touched my empty right eye, and couldn't help but bicker,

'Nothing.'

...I hated this. I hated this sense of hollowness. Am I bound to achieve nothing, no matter how hard I tried? Am I bound to wander around the world with only the loneliness accompanying me, forever until I meet my death?

In the end, nothing but frustration remained within me.

'I hate being weak.'

I was tired of being weak. I was tired of hiding, of tensing up every single time in front of danger.

<If it's the strength that you want...>

Then came a voice. My thoughts ceased, and I couldn't help but focus on the sudden words that brought me hope.

<Then it's the strength that I'll help you attain.>

And with that, my vision flashed in a brilliant white, before I found my eyes open, awake in the peaceful noon.

"You're awake."

I was lying on top of a wooden plain that lied right outside the small wooden house. Gin, who spoke just now, was sitting on the other edge of it, while... roasting an entire pig with a thick stick penetrating through it.

Cutting a slice, he jabbed it with another stick that lied nearby, before bringing it close to me.

"Eat."

"...What?" I couldn't follow.

"A kid like you needs to eat and grow. Eat first, then I will teach you."

I, slowly taking over the grasp over the stick holding the roasted pork, stared at the impassive Gin with widened eyes.

"...You want to become strong, don't you?" Gin muttered, "It surely is a dangerous world for a child to live alone without any strength."

While staring at the roasted pig, Gin seemed to hold a wistful look in his eyes.

"I want peace."

Perhaps it was due to the atmosphere. My mouth moved on its own, and sprouted out the words with a strong underlying desire.

Gin turned his head and met my eye with his.

"I want a world where everyone around me gets to enjoy peace. I wish to enjoy a peaceful life along with them." I said passionately, "And to do that, I need strength. Peace follows the law of equivalent exchange, and in order to acquire our peace, we must sacrifice something else."

"...What are you willing to sacrifice?"

"Those corrupt leaders and daimyos who seek after power, fame, and wealth. They are the causes of all the wars, finding them as opportunities to steal more from others. The water must flow to prevent pollution, and this world has been filthy for a long time."

Gin, after a momentary silence, said keenly, "But the peace attained through those means won't last forever."

"No peace lasts forever." I immediately retorted, "What matters is the peace within my lifespan."

Gin seemed to have found it funny. Shaking his head with a smile, he exclaimed,

"Fair enough."

I took a wild bite out of the slice of pork with a determined expression, before choking due to a dry throat.

"...Oi, are you a smartass or an idiot? Decide on one already."

__________

Yahiko, Konan, Nagato, how are you guys doing? Are you living well, alive and safe? Out of Amegakure just as we planned, enjoying the bask of daylight like I currently am doing so right now? I hope that such is the case.

First and foremost, I apologize. I repeatedly told myself to look for you guys and rejoin the group, but... it seems that I will be staying away for quite a while longer.

At the current moment, gaining strength is more important than anything else. Without strength, finding you three won't serve any purpose, for I will be unable to provide much of a help. Within the vision of our peace, weakness is nothing but a hindrance.

However, don't worry. I promise, I really do, that once I become strong enough,

we will meet once again.

"Akashi."

Gin said sternly, and I nodded with a seriousness of my own.

Then I raised up the sword.

Swoosh. Swing straight down quickly and smoothly. Swing up diagonally without loss of strength. Turn around, before stabbing forth.

"Again."

I repeated. Swing down, up, turn, and stab, for another time.

"Again."

Repeat.

"Again."

Hone my skills. Widen the depth of my experience. Exercise and train. Become stronger.

The story of the boy named Akashi—it was just about to begin.

__________

"Jiraiya-sensei, look."

In the area full of heavy rain, one orange-haired boy, Yahiko, pointed at the sky. On his sides, Konan and Nagato sat, with their eyes staring in the same direction.

"Oho? What's that?" Jiraiya said with a playful smile as he too looked up.

There lied a bright red cloud, temporarily enlightening the gloomy scenery of Amegakure.

Konan smiled, "The red cloud."

"And beyond the red cloud," Nagato whispered with shyness,

"there exists the dawn." Yahiko carried on with excitement.

Jiraiya looked at the three of them with amazement, before muttering to no one in particular,

"Akashi, are you seeing this as well?"