Chapter 44: Kensei and Hiruzen

Chapter 44: Kensei and Hiruzen

"You've certainly had an interesting day." Hiruzen started the conversation.

"Yeah That's one way to put it." Daichi gave a subdued answer.

Noticing his lack of energy or emotions Hiruzen recalled what Daichi just went through. 'To see your friend die and be helpless to do anything about itThese emotions... It would drive someone down the wrong path if not properly dealt with.'

Just as the Hokage was about to ask how he was feeling, Daichi spoke up. "I've learned some things about Yota that I think you should know."

"Oh and what is it?" Hiruzen asked playing dumb. 'Is he really going to tell me?'

"Yota is someone who died not too long ago. He was brought back by a reanimation jutsu by the missing nin Orochimaru." Daichi said to the Hokage.

"I see Go on. What else did you learn?"

"Yota said Orochimaru was conducting an experiment with the jutsu that brought him back. And there was someone else with him." Even before entering the room, Daichi decided to give all the information he learned from Yota to the Hokage. He wasn't going to keep quiet when there was a chance the Hokage knew about everything.

"Did the boy tell you who it was?" Hiruzen asked as if he wanted to know.

"He didn't know who it was But he gave me a description. Male, with grey hair and has round glasses. And he wears a purple shirt." He said the same thing Yota said. He couldn't make any mistakes and give more information even though a small part of him wanted to.

Hiruzen nodded to Daichi's words. "Thank you for telling me Daichi."

The boy nodded. The Hokage noticed his hesitation and clenched fists. 'Time to see how these events have affected him.!'

"How are you feeling Daichi?" Hiruzen asked him. The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Daichi stayed silent for a couple seconds before he answered with a question.

"Can I have permission to speak freely?"

"Go ahead." The Hokage nodded.

"I'm angry" Daichi then stayed silent for a couple seconds.

Hiruzen motioned for him to continue.

"I'm angry at Orochimaru for using Yota like that I'm angry at the Anbu ninjas for interrogating him like a criminal, I'm angry at the village for not letting him stay And I'm angry at myself, because I couldn't save him." Daichi stopped.

"Anger is a powerful emotion. If used correctly it can become the key to achieving your goal but if it consumes you, it will destroy you and everything around you." The Hokage said to the boy. He continued after a few seconds of silence.

"Do you think under the current circumstances, the village was wrong in not letting the boy stay?" He asked Daichi.

Daichi was silent for a minute before he answered. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he was just an innocent kid who didn't mean anyone any harm."

"Yes. But as you've said, he was Orochimaru's experiment. The jutsu that brought him back is known as the Reanimation Jutsu. It's a forbidden jutsu capable of controlling those it binds... If Yota had attacked the village under Orochimaru's orders, what do you think would have happened?" Hiruzen asked him in a neutral tone.

Daichi didn't have an answer to that. Truthfully he didn't want to answer it. 'With Yota's capabilities he would have caused a lot of damage before being stopped. And since he was a reanimation, it would have been difficult to take him down.'

"I see you understand. It might seem unkind and extreme, but the methods and measures the ninjas take are to ensure the safety of the village and all of its citizens." The Hokage wanted Daichi to understand and let go of his anger towards the village. He was examining the boy's chakra throughout his conversation. He could feel the slight agitation and fluctuations of his energy.

'Is this all we are? Does being a shinobi mean I'll have to take actions like these in the future?' As Daichi was having these thoughts, the scene of Sasuke talking with the first Hokage in the Naka shrine came to his mind. Daichi remembered the words Hashirama Senju said to Sasuke.

'Shinobi are those who endure for a purpose. But depending on their purpose, a shinobi can change.'

'It seems Kensei was right after all.' Daichi calmed down and looked at the Hokage.

"I understand Lord Hokage."

Sensing no lies, the Hokage nodded and dismissed Daichi.

Daichi left the Hokage office and slowly walked down the hall. He had several thoughts running through his mind.

Kensei looked at the Hokage for a while and then let out a tired sigh. "No I guess somewhere along the way I lost that anger."

Hiruzen slightly smiled hearing that answer.

"What are you doing here?" Kensei knew the Hokage was here for something.

"Can't I see an old friend and subordinate and mend our friendship?" Hiruzen asked in a jovial tone as he walked to a tree stump. He sat on it looking at Kensei. The smile on Hiruzen's face dimmed as he saw Kensei's pegleg.

Hearing his words Kensei couldn't help but grunt. He walked forward and sat on a nearby tree stump as well. Kensei saw Hiruzen looking at his leg. He started speaking.

"I was angry with you." Hiruzen looked up hearing Kensei's words.

"Even though you're the Hokage, you couldn't do anything to Danzo after what he did to me. Even after what he tried to do to my son I was furious for a long time" Kensei stopped looking at his once close friend and commander. His eyes wandered the training ground.

"You know why I couldn't" Hiruzen didn't say anything more. He felt that saying anything more would only damage the already torn friendship between them.

"Yes. I understood why you didn't do it And after years I came to accept it After the Nine tails attack and the whole Hyuga Cloud mess, I know he has had some hand in keeping the village stable... A necessary evil as you've said that day" Kensei paused looking at his companion.

"Danzo is ruthless and would use any method available to him to achieve his goal. But everything he does, he does it for the village." Hiruzen sighed and stopped. Both of them were quiet for a while.

"How have you been?" The Hokage started the conversation again.

"Good. I feel happy More than I did in a long time." Kensei said with a small smile.

"Does it have anything to do with the young boy you adopted?"

"Of course you'd ask about Daichi. You've seen his talents haven't you?"

"He is a remarkable young man. His progress is quite exceptional. I can only compare his rate of improvement to a handful of people."

Kensei smiled as he listened. He knew about Daichi's progress better than anyone save the boy himself. "That he is"

"Can I ask you something?"

Kensei nodded to the Hokage.

"Why did you adopt him?... Does it have anything to do with Hotaru?"

Kensei thought about a certain memory as he heard the question. The memory of a promise made to his savior. After a few moments of silence he answered.

"Why I adopted him? I consider it my second chance To make the right choicesAnd yes, he reminded me so much of Hotaru His looks, his talent, the way he acts"

Hiruzen nodded as he listened. He could understand the comparison. He had met Hotaru Yasaji at a young age and watched his growth throughout the years.

"You've been training him, haven't you?"

"Yes!" The old man Kensei nodded.

"But why push him so hard so early?" Hiruzen wanted to know Kensei's motives

"I don't want him to have regrets I know that's impossible but " Kensei didn't finish his sentence. He looked towards Hiruzen.

"Why are you so interested in him, Hiruzen?"

"Daichi's talents remind me of Minato and...Orochimaru. One of them died for the village and the other has become its enemy. I don't want Daichi to leave this world before his time or go down the wrong path."

"Daichi is no 'Orochimaru'. I can promise you that. And I have a feeling he'll be like a cat with nine lives when it comes to surviving." Kensei's words made it clear to Hiruzen that he knew Daichi's path. But the Hokage doubted Kensei would share it with him.

"There was an incident a few hours ago. Nothing major. When you get home you should talk to Daichi about it?" The Hokage told him. Kensei nodded in agreement.

Both of them stayed there till the sun went down discussing various topics and traveling down memory lane. Once the sun had disappeared, each left for home with their own thoughts.

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Author's Note:

Hit me up with some power stone guys. Let's get this story up the rankings.