The Sage Full of Inner Peace

Kouske: Ok, Fukasaku-sama. I will be leaving now.

Fukasaku: (Nod)....Remember, you are a sage now. So, behave like one. When your training started 10 years ago, I was skeptical about you. But I am proud that I was able to get a disciple like you. Your heart is in the right place. Just control your moods, you will make a fine sage.

Kouske was 16 this year, He has grown tall and grown into a fine young man. He stayed on Mount Myoboku for so long to complete his training. With shadow clones, he worked on a lot of things. He even devised a way to use sealing arrays to take in nature energy and nourish his body with it, instead of just absorbing it. He hypothesised that if his body is nourished by pure nature energy then some good change is bound to happen and his hypothesis was true. He achieved more than he expected in these 10 years. He experimented, failed and experimented again. Learning what he was taught and creating what he could.

Shima: (tears dropping) kids these days, they grow up so fast. REMEMBER TO VISIT TIME TO TIME....(tears dropping)

Kouske: Thank you for everything. Both of you.

Kouske bowed. He was really thankful to them for everything.

Fukasaku: If you jump in this water then It would take you to the border of land of fire that is facing the "Land of Rain". You have told me of your past, I know you wish to exact revenge but I hope, somewhere in your hear, you can find the peace to not act on it.

Kouske: I will try.

[Kouske-inner-thought: Sorry, Fukasaku-sama. I have contemplated a lot and I don't think I have in me to forgive my enemies.]

Kouske: Well then....

[?]: WAIT! I AM COMING WITH YOU!

Kouske looked and he saw two toads hopping his way. One was a female purple toad and the other was a male orange toad having black pigmentation all over his body.

Katsuki(purple toad): Just where do you think you are going without even greeting me? You should be grateful that I even took the time to come here. Hmph, you should be grateful, for I have decided to accompany you on your journey.

Kaki(orage toad): You cannot leave me here and go enjoy yourself. TAKE ME WITH YOU!

After he failed his babysitting, he decided to give it a go again when his training started. It was hard. But during that time, he connected with many young toads. These two are among those, they have already grown up completely and are giant toads but right now they have used a jutsu to shrink their size equal to small toads.

Kouske: Thanks both of you but It is my journey. so No.

Katsuki: WHAT DID YOU SAY? You should be grateful to me for deciding to even come and you have the audacity to say No? Hmph, Fine, Go away. You are wasting my time. Hmph.

Katsuki said in anger but Kouske knew that was just a facade, deep down she wanted him to take her with him.

Kaki: I won't take no for an answer. I want to go outside as well. Luck just has it that you are leaving at the same time.

Kouske: What do I do Fukasaku-sama?

Fukasaku: If they want to go, then take them with you. Just make sure they don't cause trouble.

Kouske: I will. Okay both of you. You have to shrink your size more. Get it to the size of small frogs and ride my shoulders.

Poof, Poof

Smoke appeared and disappeared and both toads were now small enough that they could both fit on a hand.

They jumped and landed on Kouske's shoulders. Then they got into the collars of his cloak, which he was wearing, and sat down in the space between his shirt's collar and cloak's collar.

Kouske: Well, then. This is fine as well I guess. Okay then, this time for sure. Good bye.

Kouske said that and jumped in the body of water in front of him.

Shima: (sneeze)..I already miss him. Mount Myoboku will be quite without him.

Fukasaku: yes, that it will be. I just hope he can forgive his enemies.

Shima: The people who turned him towards revenge are not saints as well.

Fukasaku: I know. I know that the world is not simple.

Shima: Whatever choice he makes, I will support him.

Fukasaku: I will as well, as long as, his revenge does not corrupt him and his heart remains pure.

...

He got out and was going towards the nearest town. He was currently walking in a forest.

Katsuki: So, Kouske what is your plan? What do you want to do?

Kaki: Let's go pick a fight with someone strong and destroy some people.

Kouske: You would know my plans later. First, From now on my name is not Kouske. I am Sasuke Raijin from now on.

Katsuki: Huh?

Kaki: Why?

Sasuke Raijin: You see there is a bounty on my head by my enemies. So, I can not use my real name. My clan is also gone so I decided to change my name completely. Raijin for "Lightning God" as my last name. My story will be that my clan has gone extinct and I am the sole surviving member of it. My clan insignia will be this. This insignia that shows a bolt of lightning.

Sasuke showed them the insignia on the sword he was carrying. The insignia was on its handle. This was a new sword given to him.

Kaki: I like the last name "Raijin", It suits you. After all, your lightning style is amazing.

Katsuki: Why first name "Sasuke"?

Sasuke Raijin: He was one of the greatest shinobi of his era and he was a man on a mission. He alway kept on fighting even if his mission was a difficult one and he was willing to use whatever means necessary to achieve it. I want to be like him. Of course, only the strength and conviction department. He crossed some lines which I won't cross, ever.

Katsuki: Like what?

Sasuke Raijin: Well, in the beginning, he was of pure heart. But his mission changed him as he continued on it, at one point, he even sacrificed one of his comrades to kill his enemy. He became pure evil. Of course, I will never sacrifice my comrades. I just admire his tenacity and his conviction. I also chose his name as a reminder, that I should not end up like him.

Kaki: He sounds like an amazing shinobi but to sacrifice his comrade to kill his enemy? that is cold.

Katsuki: Hmph, if you came even close to become someone like that then I will kill you myself. You are fine the way you are.

Sasuke Raijin: Well, just so we are clear, I will kill my enemies you know.

Katsuki: Killing your enemies is fine. I will support you on that but if you became the kind of guy that is willing to sacrifice his comrades then you can be 100% sure I will kill you.

Kaki: I second it. I will burn you with my fire if you change.

Sasuke Raijin: Well then, I hope that time never comes.

Sasuke had a smile on his face as he kept walking towards the nearest town.

...

He reached the town and was eating food in a local restaurant. He was using the money he got 10 years ago. Paper notes have not been created yet so the currency was coins.

Katsuki: Be grateful and feed me.

Kaki: Me as well. I also want to taste some food.

Sasuke: Shush, I will feed you but slowly. But can I even fill your bellies? you both are giant toads.

Katsuki: Right now we are small so our bellies are smaller as well.

Kaki: Yes. Give me that cooked meat. It looks delicious.

[Kouske-inner-thought: These two are more like my puppies.]

[Person-1]: Hey, have you heard that the eldest grand daughter of the diamyo, Hikari-sama is coming.

Sasuke pauses bringing the food towards his collar.

[Person-2]: Yeah, the diamyo is old. The eldest grand daughter has already expanded quite of her territory but they say she also wants this one. After all, 3 years ago, the diamyo won another territory in battle. Hikari-sama has only been able to win against 1 more diamyo in the last 10 years. I heard the diamyos that are closer to the centre, all are waging war, so wars are more brutal and sometimes winner and loser is not clear. After enough wars happen, they wait and stabilise their territories before starting the wars again. In the last 10 years, only a few diamyo have been able to kill their opposing diamyo and claim their territory. If Hikari-sama can convince her grand father to give this territory to her then she can increase her territories without war. Also, between this and her territory, there are only 2 diamyos. Both are not at her level. If she takes both of them out then her territory will span from the "Land of Rain" border to inwards for quite a distance.

[Person-1]: What about the other grand daughter? We always thought this territory will belong to her. This territory belongs to the other son of diamyo, and because Hayami-sama is the daughter then she should become our diamyo.

[Person-2]: Hayami-sama's father died 3 years ago, assassinated by the enemy shinobis. Lawfully, Hayami-sama or her husband will become diamyo but because the rightful heir died 3 years ago and Hayami-sama has not been appointed heir, I think Hikari-sama will use this as a way to get this territory.

Katsuki: Sasuke, Why have you paused? I am hungry, Hmm?.

Kaki: Come on, bring it closer so that we can eat, Hmm?.

Both looked at Sasuke's face and right now, his face was terrifying. He had a big smile, but it was a smile you would find on the face of a villain or someone pure evil.

[Kaki-inner-thought: I thought Fukasaku-sama was able to help him with his other personality when he started his sage training. What is that face? that is not the face of a peaceful sage, it is the face of a mad man who is planning something nefarious.]

[Katsuki-inner-thought: His other personality that he showed before his sage training is coming out. Looks like Fukasaku-sama was not able to help him. Maybe the personality became dormant when he was training to be a sage. What caused this? Was it that conversation? That means his enemy is either Hikari or Hayami or this territory's diamyo. I forgot how Kouske really was like. Looks like we will see the old Kouske returning.]

Sasuke: Heh Heh Heh, Fate is indeed a cruel thing. Both of you order anything you want and let's eat to our hearts content. My mind is working amazingly and I am feeling really happy right now.

[Sasuke-inner-thought: MUHAHAHAHAHA, HIKARI NEEDS THIS TERRITORY. OH, HIKARI, YOU ARE SO DONE. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER SINCE MY SAGE TRAINING STARTED, I FEEL ALIVE. LOOKS LIKE FUKUSAKU-SAMA'S METHOD OF MEDITATION AND OTHER TRAINING WERE NOT ABLE TO CHANGE ME. MAYBE THIS IS THE REAL ME AFTER ALL. MAYBE I AM NOT BROKEN OR MENTALLY UNSTABLE. MAYBE I AM WHAT I SHOULD HAVE ALWAYS BEEN. HAHAHAHAHAHA, I AM SO GONNA FUCK WITH YOUR PLANS HIKARI. THIS TIME, I WILL ALSO MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO IS FUCKING WITH YOU. SAFETY FIRST AFTER ALL. MUHAHAHAHAHAHA, MY MIND IS BACK BABY! MAY BE IT IS WORKING EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE. MAYBE BY BECOMING A SAGE, MY MIND HAS ALSO TRANSCENDED MY PAST SELF. OH, THE EPIPHANIES, THE IDEAS, THE WAYS THAT MY MIND IS SHOWING ME TO FUCK YOU. I GOTTA STOP, I GOTTA WRITE ABOUT ALL OF THESE PLANS. LET'S SEE WHICH ONE WILL FUCK HIKARI THE MOST.]

[Kaki-inner-thought: This is the real Kouske that used to play with us, prank others, create disturbances and pick fights.]

[Katsuki-inner-thought: Looks like this trip will become really entertaining.]

...

Sasuke ate till he was full and the two toads ate a lot as well. Even as small, they could control when to fee full after all their real stomach was big but by shrinking they can control how much amount is enough to fill them. While eating Sasuke gathered information while listening to people.

When he was finished, he got up and went out. He found an inn and paid for a room. He chose a room that has a window. He went into the room and unsealed his new gear. He did not wear complete armour as shinobi normally wore. He only wore chainmail and above it black clothing then on that, just an armour that would cover his front chest and back. The design was not traditional but as if a little modern. He wore his arm guards that covers the back of his hands and go all the way to his shoulders. He took out a mask, It was the terrifying demon mask that has a lower half of smiling demon showing its teeth, between the teeth was space that would expose the wearer's mouth, probably to spew jutsus and on the forehead were 2 small horns poking out. He wore that. The mask was metallic black as well. He wore his new sword on his back. He put his ninja tool bag and clipped the belt. The bag was hanging behind him. Right now, he was looking like a ninja out of a movie.

Kaki: You look cool.

Katsuki: And deadly.

Sasuke: You both have to settle in the space between my chest and front armour. I have not tightened it too much.

Both toads were now poking out of the armours top, just below Sasuke's neck. Sasuke opened the window and disappeared.

...

He wanted to infiltrate the castle of the diamyo. He went close to it and saw there was forest nearby. He decided to first take a look by hiding there. He was 2 Km away from the castle.

Katsuki: So, who is your enemy?

Sasuke: Hikari.

Kaki: Isn't she not here yet?

Sasuke: She will come in a few days. When she does come, I am sure she will come with lots of guards, both shinobi and samurai.

Katsuki: So what are we doing here?

Sasuke: I want to map out all of the area here. I want to know about the number of current guards and shinobi.

Kaki: I see, Just so you know, if you get found out, you can count on me to burn everything here.

Kaki was a stone toad, a toad who breaths fire and can even digest stones. His Fire-Styles were particularly destructive.

Katsuki: No, I will corrode everything here. Even that castle.

Katsuki was a poison toad. She can release different kind of poisons in different forms in both liquid and gas. She can also release acid and bases.

Sasuke did not answer and started concentrating. His eyes changed to that of a toad and there was orange pigmentation around his eyes. Of course, due to full face mask it will be difficult for others to see. Sasuke is in sage mode right now.

[Sasuke-inner-thought: Hmm, Let's see. How many shinobis are currently guarding the diamyo?]

...

Unbeknown to Kouske, who has changed his name to Sasuke Raijin. There are two undercover shinobis in the castle, working as servants. One is a personal maid of Hayami and both of them have spent the last 4 years as undercover. The personal maid of Hayami has also been slowly poisoning her grandfather, the current ruling diamyo. Their target is Hikari.

[Maid-inner-thought: Finally, that Hikari will come here. It would be a great opportunity to assassinate her.]