Max heard Muri said all that and started to feel strange for some reason. He felt like he needed to say something about what Muri had said but couldn't find the words. At the end, he decided to ignore that feeling and just asked if he could use the forge.
Muri could recognize the work that Max did in his sword, so he permitted him to use the forge in exchange of help around the forge.
Max finally could do some weapons for himself and could resume his training after making them. He also took precautions when using the forge of Muri by using a spare anvil that Muri had in his forge. The impurities that get expelled by the iron treated in his crafting method could compromise other metals, so he needed to mind the equipment and ores that he uses.
Max also had to do a little learning from Muri when he was making some of the ninja weapons that he didn't know. Muri wanted to just cancel the deal that they had made when he found that out, but Max bribed him with some of the weapons that his book had that Muri haven't seen before.
Gladius, Spatha, Cutlass, Bastard, Rapier, etc. There were a lot of different kinds of swords that could entertained Muri for a long time.
Seen that Max gave him such a gift, Muri also permitted him to use some of the different ores in his store. Muri had the common Iron, Tin, Zinc, Lead, Carbon and Cooper in abundance at the forge. This gave some hope for Max since he had only used iron and carbon for his weapons since he didn't have the money to buy materials.
As far as he knew, he only needed most of the common ores to make his weapons. The need of more ores was to give more properties to them and increase their durability to a certain point.
Another thing was that Muri opened his eyes about what he needed on a weapon. So he started to plan ahead and use his time to change a little his fighting style to be more flexible.
Another two weeks passed since he started to use Muri's forge. Max training with Guy and Tenten stopped since they needed to go do some missions, so he was practicing what he was taught in his free time alone.
Max also became more proficient in fuinjutsu and could seal now two weapons in one scroll. As big as that was, he was still a little jealous of how many weapons Tenten could seal in one scroll which was a lot.
It was night when Max left Muri's forge to go the inn that he was staying at. Muri payed some commission to Max for his work, so Max had now pocket change to afford staying in a inn and eating out.
Before moving to the inn, Guy helped him buy renting a room for him in another house. Now that he could afford to live by himself, he moved out and stayed in the inn since renting that room was more expensive.
As Max was getting closer to his room in the inn, he felt another person approach him.
He normally won't mind people walking around him, but he noticed that the steps that this person took were different from the other villagers so he stopped and faced the person.
"The old man was right. You really have talent to be a sensor type." A man approached Max as he spoke.
Max noticed that the man had a headband of Konoha, so he lowered his guard a little. He knew that ninjas were all over the place, so he wasn't alerted.
What interested him more was that the man in question was smoking inside the inn. Max was looking around to see if there were staff present seen this.
"Don't be alarmed, I only came here to deliver message from the Hokage." The man said after seen Max looking around.
"It isn't that." Max quickly negated. "I'm just watching out for the staff in the inn. I don't want to get into trouble by been seen with someone smoking indoors."
"Chee" The man almost tripped when he heard that. He quickly put out his cigarette as he also looked around the inn.
Seen that no one noticed, he sighed and spoke to Max. "You can't scare a man like that. Anyway, the Hokage is summoning you. He's waiting for you in his office."
"Right." Max said as he went to meet the Hokage.
"Wait! I still need to tell you something else." The man said as he saw Max quickly making his way outside the inn. "In two months, there is going to be an exam taking place for the genin in the village. For them to participate, they'll need to be a team of 3.
Since you just joined, I doubt that you'll get a chance to participate, but the Hokage is planning something for you. I really don't like it when the old man makes sudden moves because the other elders get in his ass to complain, but he's sticking his neck out for you for some reason."
'Exam?' Max thought as he looked at the man.
"The point that I want to make by saying that is that you need to know about the place that you are in at the moment. It's hard for villagers to be trusted to wear these headbands and call themselves ninjas of Konoha.
For us to wear the headband means that the future of the village is in our hands, and protecting it is something that we'll have to do even at the highest cost." The man said.
"What are you really traying to say?" Max asked.
"If you accept what the old man had planned for you, it will mean that you'll take on the same responsibilities as the rest of us. Our mission will become your missions: Our future will become your future; Our family will become your family, Our strength will become your strength and our King will become yours too!
If you are ready to take on that responsibility, then face the Hokage and ask to join our ranks!"
The man finished saying as he left by doing the high-speed movement technique of Konoha.
Max was left contemplating what the man had said. He felt the seriousness of the man, which made him really think about what he wanted to do in this village.
Max felt that he could become strong just by been around people like the Hokage, Kakashi and Guy, but that would mean that he won't be able to follow them to missions where he could see their true strength and potential. He also knew that they didn't have any responsibility to teach him anything.
In fact, he should be getting special treatment because of the copies of the book and helping team 7 that time in the Land of Waves. Getting someone of Guy caliber to teach him the basics shouldn't be something that anyone could get.
'I always planned to join the village, but I am ready to tie my future here? What about Rex? My parents?'
'You are a Burden'
'Can I really accept all the responsibility that joining will give me? Can I 'Take' on that kind of reponsability?'
'You are a Burden'
Without Max knowing, he was already in the office of the Hokage. The Hokage saw that confusion and conflict that Max was experiencing, so he waited until Max could resolve himself. Still, he couldn't help but to complain to his son in his mind.
'Asuma, you really are a worrywart. He should had taken noticed of my moves. Speaking to the Feudal lord without the former members of the Twelve Guarding Ninja taking notice is harder than I thought. Still, you didn't have to force the decision on the kid so soon.'
Max thought was still in scrambles, but he still came out of it and noticed that he was already facing the Hokage. Max wanted to speak, but his mind was still a mess, so no words came out of his mouth.
The Hokage noticed this and decided to talk first. "Have anyone told you the history of this village and how it was founded? Let me tell you some of it.
The First Hokage founded this village in a time that this Land only knew war. In hope for peace, he moved to join different clans to bring peace to the land. And he was successful for a time.
The Second Hokage cemented the way that villages grow and develops. His teachings have become so influential that every other village decided to follow it.
I, as the Third Hokage, have experienced the 3 Great Ninja Wars. In hopes to not experience another one, I focus on the relations with other nations while I try to nurture the new blood of the village. It is nothing compared to my predecessor, but I hope that what I'm doing can make them proud.
The Forth Hokage was the one with the shortest time in charge. He was renown throughout all the nation as the Yellow Flash. His strength stopped the Third Great Ninja War, which is why we granted him the post of Forth Hokage. Sadly, another crisis affected this village which made him make the ultimate sacrifice to save us all."
Max couldn't help but to be amazed by how much the leaders of this village did. Such heroic lives are something that is hard to see a second time in history.
"Still, even people like the Hokages had their down moments. The First Hokage had to kill his best friend in battle. The Second Hokage had to follow the big shadow that was cast by the First. I witness the death of thousands of ninjas and saw the destruction of dozens of clans without been able to do anything about it. And the Forth that was known for his speed wasn't fast enough to save a lot of ninjas in the last war.
These moments are the ones that aren't talked about, but are moments that should never be forgotten. Ninjas live their lives following their ninja code, even to death. As they die, they leave behind their ambitions, hope and love."
Max could feel the sadness in the voice of the Third Hokage. As someone that have seen three wars, one could only imagine the number of deaths that he had seen.
But, just as Max was lowering his face. He saw the Hokage take a deep breath. Suddenly a great fierceness appeared in his face with a great smile.
"Even thought they die and leave all that behind, the rest of us are in charge of picking them up and continue forward. That is way the death can be death, but their will will never die. That will get passed to the next generation to carry forward. So that those dreams can be achieved, those hopes can become reality and that love will never die!
We ninja are those that endure. But enduring doesn't mean to do it alone. That load gets shared by those around you as they help you to move it forward! That is the believe that I inherited from my predecessor, which in turn inherited from his predecessor. This is the believe that my predecessor will inherit from me. And the next one, to the next one.
This believe, this 'Will of Fire' is what makes this village truly immortal. And that is the believe is what you are facing at this moment.
Max.
I can't imagine the pain that you have faced until this point that shackles you to doubt yourself. There is a lot of darkness and pain in this world that no one knows how to deal with it.
But from what I learned in all my years is that such weight can never be carrier alone. Only with the help of other can that darkness be fought. Only with the help of other can one fight such pain."
The Hokage moved and faced Max. With the same smile he looked at him and stretched his hand forward.
"Been a ninja can be hard and dangerous. But by been one of us the least that I can guarantee you is that you will never be alone to fight. So kid, don't hold back. Share that pain in your hearth and take a step towards fighting it."
Tears left Max eyes as he could feel the doubts in his mind disappearing. The feeling that he was getting was the same one that he felt on the bridge that day. The feeling that only those that share pain of the same kind can understand.
With tear in his eyes he looked at the Hokage in the eyes.
"I…"