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"Hahaha, sorry, Hato! Daisuke! It seems we have to return to the school life!" Yahiko chuckled, attempting to lighten the mood.
"What the hell! You guys are already so powerful, and yet you still have to attend school!" Hato grabbed Yahiko by the collar, clearly frustrated. "And you're Grass shinobi, why did you lie to us?"
"We are actually orphans from the Land of Rain..." Yahiko quickly explained, feeling a tinge of guilt.
"I have a mom!" Nagato interjected suddenly.
"Well, Nagato almost became an orphan too!" Yahiko scratched his head, maintaining his cheerful demeanor despite Hato's firm grip on his collar. "But Akihiko-sensei brought us back, and we started living in the Land of Grass! As for going to school..." He let out a sigh, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Akihiko-sensei believes that despite our strength, we are still children. We might feel ready to graduate, but he wants us to continue our education."
The three children's faces initially drooped, but they soon exchanged smiles, including Nagato and Konan.
"According to Akihiko-sensei, school is not just a place to learn ninjutsu; it's a place to learn how to be a good person," Yahiko continued, his voice filled with conviction. "Under his guidance, we develop a new perspective as shinobi. We learn to distinguish right from wrong and understand the truth. And since our time in school is short, we must cherish every moment!"
Hato's angry expression froze momentarily, and he fell silent. In that moment, he released his grip on Yahiko's collar. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as he observed Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko. There was a faint, but unmistakable, glimmer of light in their eyes. It was the radiance of confidence and the hope for a brighter future.
In an era dominated by war, it was rare to see such determination in people's eyes, especially in the chaotic Land of Rain where hope was scarce.
Hato contemplated his own life, his expression filled with sadness. "Actually... I'm an orphan too," he murmured quietly.
Despite being only a few years older than Yahiko and the others, he had already graduated from his shinobi training. But was he a genius? No, he wasn't.
In the Village Hidden in the Rain, there was no shinobi academy like in other villages. The new generation of shinobi learned assassination techniques directly from the Rain shinobi. Once they acquired enough skills, they would be sent on dangerous missions. In the end, only those who survived the harsh realities of these missions became qualified Rain shinobi.
This situation was not unique to the Land of Rain. It was a common practice in small ninja villages across the world. Even in the esteemed Five Great Shinobi Villages, when war loomed on the horizon, exceptionally talented individuals like Yahiko and his companions would be given the opportunity to graduate early and participate in missions.
As long as the ninjas followed orders, that was considered enough. Understanding right from wrong and discerning the truth seemed inconsequential in comparison.
After a moment, he pushed aside his lingering sadness and directed an angry glare at Yahiko, questioning him fiercely, "Why did you deceive us?"
"It's not really deception! We truly intended to find an opportunity to assassinate Sanshōuo no Hanzō!" Yahiko replied earnestly, his serious expression revealing the sincerity of his intentions.
Hato was left momentarily speechless, realizing that Yahiko misunderstood his question. Exasperated, he sighed inwardly, 'Never mind, let's not dwell on that.'
"Let's forget about it for now. We still have 200 pounds of homework waiting for us," Yahiko continued, his face drooping at the thought of the daunting task. Nevertheless, he maintained a cheerful demeanor as he addressed Hato and Daisuke. "Since Akihiko-sensei wants you to study here, give it your all! Actually, studying here is quite beneficial. You can learn a lot."
"I'm a Rain shinobi, you know," Hato sternly reminded Yahiko of his origins..
"It's alright! If you do anything harmful to the Land of Grass, someone will apprehend you!" Yahiko waved his hand dismissively, considering Hato's relative lack of strength. There was no need to worry about them.
Hato and Daisuke inwardly cursed, thinking, 'That doesn't sound reassuring at all!' Their faces twitched as they observed Yahiko's carefree and smiling demeanor.
"We're heading back for now. We'll come back to see you in a few days," Yahiko waved his hand, still smiling. "Don't worry, even the ordinary people who came from the Land of Rain are living well here. The Land of Grass has treated them kindly. I heard they even have literacy classes now." He chuckled, "I've only been back for just over a month, and Akihiko-sensei has already introduced some interesting things!"
With that, the three of them left, feeling a bit dejected at the thought of the homework awaiting them at home.
Hato and Daisuke watched in silence as Yahiko and the others departed. Despite their desire for Yahiko to stay, they knew that the vigilant Grass shinobi would prevent any trouble. They realized that with their knowledge of the Land of Grass's secrets, escaping would be nearly impossible.
Hato's face shifted between pale and blue as he muttered, "They were orphans from the Land of Rain! Humph, chosen as disciples by the leader of the Land of Grass. Is the Land of Grass truly that exceptional?"
Daisuke calmly shook his head in response. "Their smiles won't deceive us."
"Daisuke!" Hato's anger flared as he stomped his foot. "You're a shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Rain! How can you trust the words of shinobi from other villages?"
"I am not a shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Rain! I am just a wandering shinobi from the Land of Rain!" Daisuke fell silent for a moment before turning to walk away.
Hato quickly caught up with him, questioning, "Where are you going?"
"Back to the dormitory! To study!" Daisuke's reply was resolute.
"Do you really believe in this Land of Grass? The idea of allowing ordinary people to attempt chakra refinement is just a joke!" Hato expressed his disbelief, shocked by Daisuke's sincerity.
"True or false, I will witness it with my own eyes!" Daisuke paused for a moment, his determination evident as he continued walking toward the dormitory.
And so, this unexpected group of individuals brought to the Land of Grass found themselves under the watchful eye of the Grass shinobi, embarking on their studies.
…
On the other side, Nagato walked back to his home after bidding farewell to Konan and Yahiko. As he approached the front door, his gaze fell upon the flattened flowers beside it, causing his mouth to twitch slightly. He took a deep breath, opened the door, and called out loudly, "I'm home!"
As he stepped inside and surveyed his surroundings, a sense of comfort washed over him. "Indeed," he nodded to himself. "It's so reassuring to be back home."
Regret filled his thoughts as he reflected on his playful time with Yahiko. "I shouldn't have wasted time. Now I have an additional 200 pounds of homework waiting for me," Nagato mused, feeling a wave of despair. "When will I ever manage to finish it all?"
…
"Lord Madara, Lord Madara! He has returned!" an enthusiastic voice called out to Madara, who had been peacefully resting with his eyes closed.
"Hmm, he's back?" Madara slowly opened his eyes and looked at the smiling White Zetsu standing before him. With a calm demeanor, he remarked, "I thought those three little brats would have graduated by now!"
Given the considerable strength possessed by those three youngsters, Madara believed that any village would have chosen to graduate them early, allowing them to further develop their skills through missions.
"They were discreetly brought back on the orders of the leader of the Village Hidden in the Grass," White Zetsu explained, maintaining a cheerful expression. "The leader believes that children should prioritize their studies and that their young minds are not yet ready for the battlefield!"
As he spoke, a sense of relief resonated in his voice. "Thank goodness! Otherwise, I would have had to send other White Zetsu to keep a close watch on them. After all, those eyes belong to you, Lord Madara. What if an unexpected event occurred and the Outer Path: Demonic Statue was summoned? Your life is at stake!"
Upon hearing this, Madara nodded, acknowledging the truth of the situation. A hint of nostalgia flashed across his face, and his expression turned contemplative as he softly murmured, "This was the dream of that foolish Hashirama and myself, to keep children away from the battlefield."
Quickly regaining his composure, Madara's eyes sharpened once again as he continued, "I underestimated the leader of the Village Hidden in the Grass. In comparison to Hashirama's hypocritical younger brother, he is far more understanding. He also grasps the importance of children focusing on their studies."
White Zetsu was left momentarily speechless, realizing that Madara seemed to have missed the main point. 'Lord Madara, the crucial aspect is your eyes! Your eyes! That's what matters! You should be concerned about that.'
White Zetsu's original form's mouth twitched, but he continued to look at Madara with admiration, clapping his hands with a smile. "Lord Madara, your genuine desire for peace is truly inspiring! I firmly believe that with your unwavering efforts, you can create a world of true peace among shinobi!"
"Alright then, it's getting late. I need to rest. Where is that fool? Did he sneak out again?" Madara furrowed his brow, scanning the surroundings, before calmly deciding, "Never mind, don't bother searching for him. Wake me up when he returns!" As he finished speaking...
"...Very well, Lord Madara!" White Zetsu's original form glanced silently at the ground, his thoughts drifting to the whereabouts of the fool. He let out a helpless sigh. 'I suppose I'll have to discuss him with Black Zetsu. I hope that fool hasn't forgotten about our mission.'
Just as White Zetsu prepared to depart quietly and glanced at Madara's closed eyes, something unexpected occurred.
"The heart of gratitude..." echoed the sound of a voice reading aloud from above.
White Zetsu instantly become puzzled. 'What's happening?' Just as he lifted his head in confusion...
At that very moment, Madara slowly opened his eyes, gazing at White Zetsu with a puzzled expression. "Is it morning already? Why do I feel like I just closed my eyes?"
"...Um... Lord Madara, you did just close your eyes!" White Zetsu awkwardly clarified to Madara, equally perplexed. He couldn't comprehend why there were still people studying at the academy at such a late hour. Shouldn't it be nighttime?
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