Chapter 7

Takeshi woke up in the bed of one of the many ordinary wards of Konoha's hospital. After a while, a nurse entered the room and asked him about his condition with a rehearsed phrase, ensuring that he was stable. Takeshi inquired how long he had been unconscious, to which the nurse replied that it had been about three days, and his condition had been close to fatal. The doctors were only amazed at how he had managed to survive. Judging by the fact that his clothes had been replaced with a standard white gown, and his chest was tightly wrapped in bandages, it could be assumed that all of his equipment had been set aside. He felt a bit sleepy, but a short polite knock and an unexpected guest instantly shook off his drowsiness. The Hokage had personally decided to visit him. Seeing his attempt to get out of bed, the Hokage quickly stopped him.

"Stay, stay. You need rest. And little 'Shadow' was very worried. Her condition stabilized within a day. You, on the other hand, had critical internal injuries, so it took you longer to recover. It's unfortunate that the Medical Ninja School is currently facing some challenges in terms of knowledge and experience. If we had a very famous expert here, your recovery could have taken just a single day. Oh-ho-ho, forgive me, you're probably not interested in my thoughts?"

"Who were you talking about?"

"Oh, so I piqued your interest?"

"Of course, I don't find you boring. I'm always curious to learn something new."

"I was talking about my student, Tsunade Senju," he said with a soft smile, raising his eyes to the ceiling as if reminiscing about the past. "She was truly talented, bright, and kind. Well, until the time of the Second Great War," the soft smile faded, replaced by a cold and indifferent expression. "Alright, I've gotten too lost in memories. Let me ask you this, Takeshi-kun. How did you manage to defeat Raiga?"

This was a question Takeshi had expected. After all, they hadn't gotten an answer to this important question from his partner, 'Shadow.'

"Luck."

"That's some damn incredible luck, I would say. Do you remember the day I asked you what was bothering you? Well, I'm going to slightly alter that question and ask it differently. Is there something about me that bothers you?"

"Excuse me…?"

"You see, Takeshi-kun, despite all your achievements and your desire to help the village, you still remain a dark figure, shrouded in a veil of mystery. In the world of shinobi, sometimes geniuses and talented shinobi are born, whose power is explained by their clan heritage. Uchiha, Senju, Uzumaki — they're all nearly extinct. 'Genes are what matter most in a shinobi,' say those who always complain about their own weakness, not realizing that no matter how talented a shinobi may be, he can never defeat the most determined, hardworking, and well-trained shinobi."

"You've gone too far, Hokage-sama. Wouldn't it be easier to simply talk about my 'features,' which no one seems to ask about?"

"Takeshi, you're different. You know things that no ordinary child should know, and knowledge is power. I sympathize with intelligent people because they see ordinary things in completely different ways. To be honest, your knowledge in certain areas… was concerning. There was even a time when Danzo wanted to take you and conduct detailed experiments, but I didn't let that happen. Do you know why? Because after all the observations, we found that you weren't a spy from another village or a saboteur. It was all about your soul, Takeshi. You see, even the most experienced and powerful shinobi of the Yamanaka Clan couldn't find anything in your mind regarding those anomalous skills, experience, and knowledge. It was a simple conclusion: the boy didn't possess these abilities before meeting the bandits..."

"You don't need to continue, Hokage-sama. Before I reveal myself to you, could you make it so that only the two of us can hear this conversation and no one else?" 

A brief surprised nod indicated that he hadn't expected to achieve this so easily. A few quick hand seals, and a translucent barrier was successfully placed around the room.

"I know where this is heading, and I had no doubt that it wouldn't take you long to get to the truth. Sooner or later, this day was bound to come. Yes, on that day, when the caravan of merchants was attacked, the entire merchant's family died. Including the boy named 'Takeshi.' I am the one who took his place."

"A demon...?" came the next assumption, to which a sarcastic laugh escaped him. In this world, people believe in demons more than in benevolent spirits.

"No, I don't think I've earned that title just yet. More like… a lost soul. An old one, having lived through decades, maybe even hundreds of years."

"That's… incredible. Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Where I come from, trust is an overrated quality. I couldn't blindly entrust my fate to you."

"What changed?"

"There were two reasons. I didn't want to die at Raiga's hands, so I had to use some knowledge from my world to survive. And the second was simply accepting the fact that I needed to find my place in this world. I thought long and hard, observing life in the village, the lives of the Anbu members, and if my power could help protect them, then I would help."

Takeshi withheld the third reason. The most important one, which he would never reveal to anyone. He had made this decision when he discovered his own immortality.

"I had suspected something like this, but it's still hard to believe. Wait a minute, Takeshi, the most important thing I want to hear from you now is an understanding of what power you possess."

"That's… quite difficult to describe in words, and it will take some time."

"That's fine, I'm ready to listen."

The explanation of his abilities took a few hours at most. Takeshi tried to explain the concepts of his world as concisely and simply as possible. It was difficult to believe in things like gods, miracles, and living flames until he presented a tangible object created from that very flame. A one-handed sword of the knights from Lothric Castle. The Hokage even cut himself on it, due to the sharpness of its blade.

"Takeshi-kun, listen to me carefully and listen well," he said in a serious tone, his expression cold, as his hand slightly tightened on Takeshi's shoulder. "You've put me in a very difficult position. Your power has no equivalents and could become the cause of a global war, where you would be a valuable prize. The fight for you would be worth more than for a Bijuu. After all, Bijuu are beasts, but you are a walking library of knowledge. And it wouldn't even require your voluntary consent, since in the shinobi world, we are not the only village capable of digging into a shinobi's mind. All they would need is a head with an intact brain."

The Hokage pondered for a full five minutes. Pacing back and forth across the room, he sighed heavily before speaking again.

"I've already successfully covered up your achievement because it would have drawn too much attention to you. It will only be known that 'Konoha shinobi managed to defeat one of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist, Raiga Kurosuki, in a fierce battle.' Of course, I won't forget to provide you with part of the reward for his bounty and his trophy swords. Also, I want you to try to conceal your abilities and limit yourself to only using physical skills in weapon mastery. In terms of fire, I assume you're an 'expert,' so create the illusion that you're performing ninjutsu."

"Why… why did you decide to help me?"

"Maybe because I know when someone truly wants to help, it shows in their eyes? I believe in you, Takeshi-kun. Now you need to believe in me. I understand that this isn't the full extent of your power?"

"Creating objects takes a toll on the body, so I need some time to recover."

"You'll inform me first when that day comes. That's an order."

"I understand, Hokage-sama."

"Unfortunately, we won't be able to hide the fact of your existence for long, so when the time comes, I will give you the order to no longer restrain your powers and to share your knowledge. But only by the Hokage's command. I must be absolutely sure that this power remains solely in our hands."

"I understand."

"For now, rest. Once you've fully recovered, you'll return to your duties. Also… when you have the chance, could you tell me more about your world?"

"Of course."

With that, the Hokage left him. Takeshi sighed heavily and gazed out the window at the blazing sun. Was he doing the right thing? Was it really so necessary to reveal himself to the Hokage? In his opinion—yes. Without taking this step, there could be no talk of trust between him and the village. Someone had to make the first move, and that someone was the Hokage. The Hokage could have done it sooner, but apparently, they had been waiting for something… extraordinary. Like the situation with the Swordsman of the Mist. Despite being a stern, cold, and cynical man, the Hokage still retained a sense of empathy and kindness toward those who wanted to protect the village. The Third Hokage had decided to spare his life and give him a chance, understanding that this anomaly should serve the village rather than be discarded. Especially now, when all the renowned and most powerful clans had been nearly wiped out. The Uzumaki, Uchiha, Senju. Now, they were weaker than ever, and it was only the legacy of the Fourth Hokage and the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails that kept other villages from openly challenging them. If necessary, Sarutobi Hiruzen would use Takeshi to strengthen the village. That was a fact. The only question was… would the village be able to keep this power in its hands?

Some time later, there was a polite knock on his door. It was his partner, known as 'Shadow,' dressed in standard civilian clothing. A blue t-shirt, a red scarf around her neck covering the scar from her throat injury, a blue skirt, and sandals. In her hand was a basket of fruit.

"I came to thank you for saving me," she signed with her hands, slightly blushing as she looked away.

"There was no need. Anyone would have done the same in my place."

"It's just a simple thank you and nothing more!" she gestured again, her nervous hand movements and the blush on her cheeks giving a slightly different impression. "Tell me, Faceless, why didn't you leave me there? Considering your injuries, you could have died because of me."

"Is a reason always necessary to save one's partner?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow in confusion and then smirked sarcastically. "I did it because I knew I could. If I couldn't, I wouldn't have even tried."

"Were there… any feelings involved?"

"Duty. Nothing more. I'm sorry to disappoint you," he said, noticing her slightly saddened smile. She shook her head in response.

"No, it's alright. I expected as much."

Shadow was only sixteen, and this kind of act had slightly opened her heart, but she also understood that if a person didn't want a close relationship, there was no point in pursuing one.

"It was a pleasure working with you, Shadow," he said, his tone cold but the corners of his mouth slightly lifting into a faint smile.

"Same here."

She stayed with him for a while longer, then left shortly afterward. Although he had been given a month to rest, his body recovered in a week. He decided to dedicate the remaining time to training. Since using the power of his soul was still unavailable to him, he had to find an alternative. First and foremost, he wanted to reclaim and adapt his pyromancy skills to the local system and practice archery. It was strange that none of the shinobi used this quiet and convenient weapon. It was likely due to the fact that the speed of an arrow was quite slow compared to the speed at which strong shinobi moved. However, these same shinobi didn't consider that a simple weapon could be significantly enhanced in its usage. Not just melee weapons—what they called kenjutsu. The best option was to create the impression of purchasing a combat bow, and later, create his own using his power. His paranoia demanded that he act carefully and secretly. If the Hokage knew about his power, it was best not to give anyone else a reason to discover it. While practicing archery, another Anbu was sent to him with the technique of the Body Flicker for easier movement. This significantly reduced travel time to any known location. However, this technique had one drawback—it couldn't be used in combat because the chakra needed for the transfer had to remain in a perfectly calm state.

Since he had some free time, he wanted to test a theory, and if it proved true, he would have to intervene a bit—quietly, so no one else would notice. Fortunately, he was unparalleled in stealth, and he was confident in the success of his plan…

When his training was complete, Takeshi returned to the Hokage. By now, he could always know when he was needed by the Hokage thanks to an Anbu mark, which could, at certain times, signal his summons. This was usually accompanied by a slight increase in the mark's temperature. So, folding one seal, he appeared in a puff of smoke in the Hokage's office and knelt before him, awaiting orders.

"…The next mission: a routine cleanup. No more, no less. You'll be provided with a small squad for the task."

**Five Years Later…**

In Konoha, not much had changed over the past few years. Life went on as usual, and the local people cared little for politics or the situation beyond the village. Still, there were some changes in the village—subtle but noticeable. This concerned Uzumaki Naruto, the village's central figure, whom many tried to avoid or cast disapproving glances at. Many had begun to notice that Naruto had been smiling far too often. He smiled in nearly every situation. This trait irritated many and sometimes got him into trouble. Some people even felt that he was mocking them. When the curious Hokage asked why he had started smiling so much, Naruto answered honestly.

"I don't know! It's just that someone very important told me that if I'm worried, nervous, or just sad, I should simply smile. I want everyone to remember me like this!" he said before happily running off to his solo training. Of all people, the Hokage had noticed how, over the past few years, Naruto had taken this part of his life seriously. He could only guess what—or more precisely, who—had influenced him.

And so, on a sunny day in the Hokage's office…

Takeshi knelt in the center of the office, staring at the floor. Next to him, the Hokage sat calmly and coldly, listening to his report, occasionally puffing on his pipe.

"We've found out who has been the mole in the archives all this time."

"Hmm... Now, all that's left is to put on a little show for Naruto. And his teacher Iruka should show him some sympathy as well."

"He... still sees him as a demon, despite knowing about the jinchūriki?"

"People are foolish creatures, Takeshi-kun. Sometimes they need time to grasp the truth. I've already spoken to him about it, and I believe he will quickly reconsider his views on an ordinary boy with a big dream," the Hokage said, exhaling a small puff of smoke from his pipe. "At the upcoming genin exam, Naruto will fail the final test and will then be forced to act based on a lead from our suspected spy. In the end, the spy will be caught, and Naruto will receive a technique perfectly suited for him. I just hope he quickly understands its special feature. After all, you could say it's my gift to him."

"Considering his chakra reserves, yes, it's indeed the perfect technique for him."

"After that, you'll continue observing Uzumaki Naruto," the Hokage said, retrieving a small closed file from his desk drawer. "Here is all the information about the future Team 7 and their future sensei—Hatake Kakashi."

A disappointed sigh came from Takeshi.

"Is something wrong, Takeshi?"

"I don't think my thoughts on the matter would interest you."

"Oh, come now! On the contrary, I like open people. Perhaps I just want to see it from your perspective."

"As you wish… I don't think Hatake Kakashi is a good choice for Naruto's teacher. Yes, Kakashi is undoubtedly a strong shinobi, but as a person, he's burnt out inside due to the loss of his comrades. He can't live for tomorrow and is completely trapped in the past. This reflects in his method of teaching the younger generation."

"But hasn't this same 'younger generation' openly thanked him for the valuable lessons he's provided?"

"If he were a philosophy or psychology teacher, fine. But he's given students, and the only valid reason to refuse them is a lack of resolve to become stronger."

"Ah, I see where you're going with this. You're suggesting that because of his past losses, Kakashi will teach genin not to make his own mistakes, and will neglect to train them properly in the techniques they need?"

"Exactly."

"I think you're exaggerating."

"A lack of experience and social interaction negatively affects a person. Especially their surroundings, since this person spends too much time visiting the memorial for fallen shinobi."

"Kakashi has had a difficult past..."

"So have I!" Takeshi interrupted him with a slightly raised voice and clenched his fists in frustration. "Forgive me, Hokage-sama. But still… I've managed to keep my head on my shoulders and retain the ability to think logically and correctly."

"People have different ideas of what is right, Takeshi. Very well. If things turn out as you say, I'll take it into consideration. If you have a suitable alternative, I'm willing to listen."

"Alright. If, a month before the next Chūnin Exam, everything plays out as I've predicted, I'll make my move. That's regarding my report…"

"Hmm?"

"I did it. I was able to restore my powers."

"Hmm, is that so?" The Hokage stood up from his chair and stretched as if theatrically loosening up. "Follow me. There's something important I'd like to test."

Sarutobi Hiruzen led him quite a distance away, into the forest beyond the borders of Konoha. After setting up a powerful barrier that covered several kilometers, he simply said:

"Now, Takeshi-kun, I want you to show me your strength through a good demonstration. Consider this a 'friendly sparring match.' Don't worry, I'm quite strong myself, so I can handle anything."

"You... really think so?"

For the first time, the Hokage saw this expression on Takeshi's face—a mad grin, and in his eyes, a glint of anticipation. This expression appeared on his face for only a couple of seconds before his usual indifferent look returned.

"Forgive me, I just… haven't felt this excited in a long time. Old habits..."

"It's alright. So, are you ready?"

"Do I have a choice?" Takeshi responded with a light, sarcastic smirk as he spread his arms wide. Sarutobi smiled inwardly. Who would have thought Takeshi would learn to express emotions? He just wanted to understand this unknown power. And so, he could only hope that this... game would end before it came to a tragic conclusion. After all, he had his own survival instincts and didn't want his habits to accidentally kill Takeshi.

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