January 25th, Year 64, A lake behind Kuro's House, Nara Compound
--------------------------------------------------------
"So… How's it hanging, son?" I couldn't help but ask, observing the bound and upside-down Kuro over the lake.
But that garnered me no reaction as I heard the sound of snoring coming from his direction.
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I witnessed the impressive feat of a Nara sleeping while being punished. It was no small accomplishment, considering the discomfort of blood rushing to one's head.
But here was Kuro, defying expectations once again. Perhaps his unique shadow abilities were the reason he didn't feel the usual discomfort. Or maybe it was just his sheer talent for laziness.
Sigh...
Since he showed no signs of waking up, I decided to lend a hand, quite literally. With a gentle nudge, I attempted to rouse him from his slumber.
"Oh, Yoshino, look what Kuro is doi-" I began, but before I could finish my sentence, Kuro jolted awake and began panicking.
"I'm not doing anything, Mom. I'm taking the punishment like a good bo... wait... Where is Mom?" He looked around in confusion until his gaze landed on me, standing there with a smirk. Instead of the expected joy or excitement of seeing his father return from war, he yawned and nonchalantly greeted me.
"Oh, you're back, old man. Guess the war ended, huh?" Another yawn followed, as if he was settling into his upside-down confinement more comfortably.
I couldn't help but sigh at his behavior and replied, "Well, you guessed right. We were given orders to return first. There are still some ninjas on active duty, cleaning up and patrolling the border for now, but the war is essentially over."
I smiled, anticipating Kuro's next question. "Konoha won the war. So, there's that."
To my surprise, Kuro simply raised an eyebrow and responded with indifference, "No one ever wins a war, old man... They just delay it." His tone carried a sense of melancholy, leaving me curious about his underlying thoughts.
"That's a very pessimistic way of looking at things, Kuro," I pointed out.
"I wouldn't say pessimistic... It's more about seeing things for what they are. You and I both know that if one village gains extra strength someday, they'll start poking this so-called peace again. But anyway, that's why we have ninjas, isn't it?" He yawned once more, as if about to drift back to sleep. I quickly interrupted his intentions.
"Whoa there, son. Your mother did ask me to bring you along." I emphasized on the mother and did part.
This elicited another reaction from him, causing him to straighten his back and look at me with concern. It's hard to believe that a boy as intelligent and resourceful as Kuro would be so afraid of Yoshino. Well, I can't blame him... Yoshino can be...
I shivered involuntarily and decided to push that thought aside for now.
And so, I asked, "So, what did you do this time to be punished… like this?" My curiosity evident in my raised brow.
"Oh, I just got caught escaping my lesson," he replied with a straight face, as if it was a regular occurrence.
I couldn't help but deadpan at his response. He must have thought I wanted more information, as he continued, "I was supposed to take basic Taijutsu lessons from Yara-san. But that sounded too troublesome, so I decided to bail. But who would've known that the woman was a sensor? Sigh… Troublesome blondes." He grumbled under his breath.
Yamanaka Yara, or rather Nara Yara, was the wife of my distant cousin, making her Kuro's aunt. She was an unusual member of the Yamanaka clan, excelling in Taijutsu instead of their clan jutsu.
As she was a close friend of Yoshino's, I suppose she took it upon herself to teach Kuro about Taijutsu. Which was sweet of her. I will thank her and her husband later for their troubles.
A smile formed on my lips as I observed Kuro grumbling about the unfairness of her being a sensor. Kuro always found ways to escape his tutors, especially with the help of his shadows masking his presence. However, it seemed he hadn't quite figured out how to completely deceive sensors yet. Perhaps I'll give him some hints later.
"Anyway, old man, why did Mom send you here?" he asked apprehensively, a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead.
"Ah, right. Your uncle Inoichi and aunt Noriko, will be coming over for dinner with your uncle Choza, and aunt Chiharu to celebrate our safe return from the war," I replied.
It had been a while since we gathered as a family and spent some time together. This will be a nice way to wind down.
"Oh? Sigh... I guess it's been a while since I saw old man Inoichi and Choza. Give me a second, I'll be down shortly," he said lazily before his shadows moved and effortlessly cut the high-quality ropes that bound him to the tree.
Watching his shadows still amazed me. Unlike our secret technique that controls our shadows. His was quite unique and versatile. At this point we had already wondered if this was a Kekkei Gnekai at this point or it could even be a new Kekkei Tota. But that was a thought for later.
Arching an eyebrow, I couldn't help but ask, "If you could have gotten out so easily, why haven't you done it already and escape?"
He looked at me as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "It's not a bad place to nap, old man. That's why," he replied before stretching.
I should have guessed that answer… Sigh… What a lazy kid…
Suddenly, Kuro seemed to remember something and created a crow using his shadows, though it appeared more like a construct than an animated creature. He gave it some instructions before letting it fly.
Curiosity got the better of me, and I looked at him inquisitively, to which he responded, "Tsk. Just making sure a troublesome girl won't make a fuss later."
An evil smirk crossed my face upon hearing his words. "Oh? Does little Kuro have a girlfriend?"
To my disappointment, I didn't get the reaction I was hoping for. Instead, he let out a sigh and replied, "Just having her as a friend is troublesome enough. I dread the day I get a girlfriend... Hopefully that won't come anytime soon… Women are so troublesome..."
Sigh... Poor Kuro. Little does he know how badly he just jinxed himself. I chose to say nothing more and led him back to the house. After all, we had a gathering to prepare for.
…
…
"Awww! Kuro-chan is so cuteeeee!" I couldn't help but smirk as I watched Noriko and Chiharu shower Kuro with affection, pinching his cheeks.
Yoshino had a fond smile on her face, while Inoichi and Choza were enjoying the scene, sipping their drinks and laughing at their nephew's expense.
Kuro, on the other hand, looked completely soulless from all the attention.
"Mah, mah, Yoshino, you're really lucky to have a good boy like Kuro-chan," Chiharu said, hugging Kuro tightly against her bosom almost suffocating him.
I will silently pray for you, son. At least you won't die in vain...
Yoshino snorted in amusement and replied, "Yeah, sure! The little troublemaker escapes all his lessons and goes off to God knows where."
"Really? But I heard from others that Kuro-chan has become a really good friend and leader to the other kids," Noriko chimed in with a chuckle.
"I thought he went to spend time with his little friends too. But after asking around, I found out that he only goes to find them on weekends at the park," Yoshino said, annoyance evident in her voice.
"Ohhh? Maybe Kuro-chan is having a secret rendezvous with someone. Aren't you a little too young for that, Kuro-chan?" Noriko playfully teased. I smirked and wanted to tell them what I had seen earlier today. But,
Kuro's eyes pleaded with me, subtly shaking his head as if begging me not to say anything.
Well… after the scolding Yoshino had given him earlier, I decided to give him a small grace period. However, he can be certain that I will be using this as blackmail later.
Kuro visibly sighed in relief and returned to his little torment—I mean, affection session with his aunts.
I overheard Inoichi asking, "How does it feel to be a father?" He was staring at his wife playing with Kuro.
I understood the question was directed at me, so I took a moment to reflect before answering, "Honestly... Yoshino and I had planned to have a child much later. But with the war looming, we decided to give it a try. We were both so young, and then there was Kuro's special circumstances..."
Choza and Inoichi nodded in understanding. I had shared Kuro's circumstances with them, as they were as close to me as brothers.
"But everything turned out great. Kuro... He's lazier than most Nara, though he is smarter than most too... Already doing things that exceed my expectations on a daily basis.
I am really proud… My old man would have been proud too if he were here."
They smiled and gave my shoulders a supportive squeeze.
"Honestly, Kuro isn't like most kids... From what I've heard from the elders, I thought raising a child would be a nightmare. But Kuro hardly ever cried, and when he did, it was for a reason. It was as if he was trying to communicate his needs. He learned to talk and walk quickly, picking up skills just by observing others. And even though I've been in the field most of the time, whenever I come back, I'm genuinely happy to see my boy. He doesn't worry about his safety, the future, or overthink things like most of us Nara do..."
I looked at Kuro, who was doing his best to escape Chiharu's grasp, and my smile turned fond.
"You really sound fulfilled, you know..." Choza said, his gaze fixed on Chiharu and Kuro with longing.
"I guess it's time we try," Inoichi muttered, but we both heard it. Choza nodded in agreement.
I smiled at my friends, realizing that it might not be a bad idea after all.
…
We all continued to talk and enjoy each other's company until it was time to say our goodbyes. Chiharu and Noriko seemed reluctant to let go of Kuro, but he managed to wriggle free from their iron grips and darted off somewhere.
In a more serious tone, Inoichi spoke up, "I think the Third Hokage might retire."
I nodded, as I was aware of the situation to some extent. "He's been contemplating retirement for a while now. This war was the final straw for him. He believes he has witnessed enough conflict during his tenure and wants the next generation to take over."
Choza looked a bit saddened by the news and asked, "Who will succeed him? Will it be Lord Jiraiya or Lord Orochimaru?"
Inoichi's expression turned pale, and he replied, "I'm not sure about Lord Jiraiya, but if it's Lord Orochimaru... I fear there will be significant changes within the village."
I shook my head and cautioned them, "It's better not to speculate at this point. Let's wait and see. I'm sure the Third Hokage has his own choices in mind. We should evaluate those choices first and consider how they will impact Konoha before casting our votes. Besides, after the recent war, there may be other viable options as well."
Inoichi and Choza understood my point and nodded, wearing slight smiles.
"I still can't believe he really did that... I'm pretty sure Konoha won't be sending any ninja to the Land of Earth for a while," Choza remarked, awe evident in his voice.
"Well, it was war. It was either them or us, I suppose," Inoichi replied with a sigh but still a small smile gracing his lips. I nodded in agreement.
I couldn't help but gaze towards my right, where the Hokage Rock stood in the distance. I wondered: Whose face will I see carved there next?
…
--------------------------------------------------------
Lumi- I will be posting another chapter today, as I was unable to post chapters the last two days due to some technical issues. So, you guys should be able to read the next chapter in a few hours.
Discord and P@treon links are on the synopsis. Come join us!