{ don't get confused because there are two different flash backs in this chapter which one of them is our MC just visiting hashirama's graveyard, and the other is about the original Garou's memories }
{ also this chapter is edited from the worst to a better one, so you may find some comments talking about cringe and stuff which is true as the unedited chapter was cringy even to me }
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In the heart of Konoha, a heavy shroud of grief hung over the village as news of Hashirama Senju's impending passing spread like wildfire. The once vibrant streets were now hushed, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by somber whispers and downcast gazes.
Among the mourners gathered in the grieving crowd, Mito Uzumaki, Hashirama's beloved wife, stood tall yet burdened with immense sadness. Clutching her granddaughter, Tsunade, in her arms, she struggled to hold back tears that threatened to spill from her weary eyes.
Mito's heart ached as she glanced down at Tsunade, who looked up at her with innocent eyes filled with tears and sadness. "Oh, my sweet Tsunade" Mito whispered, her voice choked with sorrow.
"This is the day we say goodbye to your grandfather" She said.
Tsunade clung to Mito's robes, her small form trembling.
"Why does 'sob sob' it hurts so much, Grandma? I don't understand sob !"
Mito's voice quivered as she tried to find the right words, her grip on Tsunade tightening.
"My dear child, your grandfather was a great leader. He protected our village, but his time has come to an end. It hurts because we loved him deeply, and we will miss him dearly"
Looking down at the ground "Where are my parents, grandma ? Why are they not here ?" suddenly Tsunade asked .
Widening her now red eyes from tears "They went to a far away place helping people, don't worry child they'll come back soon" Mito replied as her voice cracked slightly.
How could she tell the truth that her parents died on the line of mission and their corpses are now missing !
Tsunade just looked at the ground disappointed and didn't say anything else.
As the procession reached the Sacred Grove, the solemnity of the moment enveloped them. Mito cradled Tsunade in her arms, her heart heavy with the weight of the world. The village elders, dressed in traditional robes, recited prayers that echoed through the grove, their voices carrying the anguish of a grieving village.
The casket, adorned with symbols of the Senju and Uzumaki clans, was lowered into the ground with gently. The sound of earth hitting wood sent shivers down Mito's spine, a reminder that her husband, her partner in life, was gone forever.
Tsunade's tears fell freely as she watched the finality of the scene unfold before her young eyes.
"Grandpa is gone, Grandma," she whispered, her voice heavy with despair.
"Will I ever see him again?" She asked.
Mito held Tsunade even closer, her own tears mingling with those of her granddaughter.
"In our hearts, child, he will always be with us. He lives on in the legacy he left behind and in the memories we cherish. Though we can't see him, he will forever watch over us in the pure land, guiding us through the darkness" Mito said in sadness.
A grand funeral procession wound its way through the streets, led by a solemn group of Jonin clad in traditional black attire. The steady beat of a ceremonial drum echoed through the air, its mournful rhythm matching the heavy hearts of those who followed. The streets were lined with villagers, their tear-streaked faces.
As the ceremony came to an end, the grieving crowd slowly dispersed, leaving Mito and Tsunade standing before the grave, their heads bowed in sorrow. The weight of the loss settled upon them, a heavy burden that they would carry for the rest of their lives.
"Goodbye, my love" Mito whispered, her voice trembling with anguish. "Thank you for the love and light you brought into our lives. May your soul find peace" She said with a small trace of coldness at the end.
Tsunade clung to Mito, her small hand reaching out to touch the fresh earth that covered her grandfather's resting place.
"Goodbye Grandpa. I promise to make you proud and protect everyone" she promised, her voice filled with determination and a touch of innocence.
As there was no one else there anymore, Mito held tsunade's hand and left back to their home to sleep hoping they will forget all this...
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*step step step*
The sound of small footsteps rang in the empty graveyard as the one approached the recently madegrave, A figure of a 6 years old looking boy etched with different emotions, came into view. Lines of coldness traced his features .
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{%3}
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With hands trembling, the figure reached out, fingertips grazing the cold stone marker that stood as a testament to the one who had passed.
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Fl$%ash ba#%ck
Unknown POV :
Just because i was born with a smaller frame and a gentle demeanor, i stood out as an easy target for those seeking to exert dominance or derive amusement from another's suffering.
"Why do they hurt me mom ? I haven't done anything wrong to them, so why ?" The child asked his fragile sickly mother on the hospital bed hoping to get some answers but everytime, silence was his only answer.
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My classmates, driven by their own insecurities or influenced by societal norms, seized upon any opportunity to belittle and make fun ofme. Mockery and verbal abuse became my constant companions, gnawing away at my self-esteem and leaving me alone in a sea of hostility.
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{%6}
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At that time, I was really mesmerized by heroes and my desire to emulate them became another trigger for my tormentors. My innocent admiration for the virtuous icons of justice was perceived as naivety or weakness by my peers. taunting me for my idealistic notions and casting doubt on the heroes I held dear.
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The somber clouds hung low in the ashen sky. The air, laden with unspoken sorrow, seemed to hold its breath in anticipation of the impending tragedy. a solemn symphony of mournful footsteps, slowly made its way through the desolate graveyard.
I stood amidst a sea of dark-clad figures, their faces etched with fake grief. My small frame seemed lost amidst the imposing presence of this adults, their collective anguish casting a shadow upon my fragile form. As the casket, descended into the earth's embrace, carrying with it the finality of loss.
My mother, a beacon of warmth and unconditional love, had been extinguished from my world far too soon. Tears welled up in my eyes, the silent reservoir of grief overflowing with each tremulous breath. The pain of her absence, a weight that threatened to crush my very spirit, gnawed at the very core of my being.
The mourner's hushed whispers, like fleeting ghosts of fake sympathy and pity, reached my ears, their words laden with condolences. But amidst the sea of consoling voices,Memories of her gentle touch, her soothing lullabies, and her unwavering presence flooded my mind, intertwining with the overwhelming despair that consumed me.
As the funeral continued my thoughts drifted back to the conversations we had shared in the dying moments of her life. My mother's voice, fragile yet imbued with wisdom, resonated within me.
"Garou 'cough'cough' my dear child" she whispered, her voice fragile, mixed with the beeping of the heart monitor indicating her fading strength.
"Life may be filled with darkness 'cough cough' but within you, my son, lies 'cough' a flicker of light. Embrace your journey, No matter how treacherous 'cough' it is, I will be watching over you in heaven my lovely child , Please forgive me as ...I ... can't be ... with ...y.... !"
*beeeeep*
The sound of the heart machine reverberating through as doctors filled the room. And I, still holding her hand while looking at my mother's tear filled face with eyes devoid of life.
"I will mom" I whispered in reply .
{%7}
Unknown flash back End /
As the moon shone on the figure in the graveyard, revealing a boy. His face cold and devoid of emotion, disheveled white hair, V-shaped and wild, lending an air of untamed darkness.
The wind whispered through the surrounding trees, as if carrying the weight of the departed's response.
"I wonder" he mused, his voice tinged with a hint of confusion "What does it mean to be alive? To navigate this realm of fleeting moments and boundless uncertainties? To taste the bitter sweetness of joy and sorrow, of love and loss ?"
He mused again "You were once revered as a god by this people but look at you now, being eaten by worms or soon your corpse will be used to do countless experiments on innocent people that has nothing to do with your crap"
He paused, his gaze fixed upon the silent tombstone, as if searching for answers in the enigmatic depths of the grave itself.
"The world doesn't need a God who dies because of a pathetic illness, the world needs fear to be perfectly balanced, as everything should be" He said with a nod to himself.
"Let's see who will achieve the most between us. A guy who wants to bring peace by enslaving people, And a guy who will put anyone into a fake world to experience a fake reality, or a guy who will drill fear into everybody's hearts that will make them think a thousand times before they try to do anything evil !" Garou declared genlty with his eyes widened for a moment.
"I will leave my mark on this world in one way or another, and maybe, just maybe, change it for the better even if i die trying to do it, I promise you that !" The promise reverberated through the air like a haunting melody around the graveyard for a moment.
With a final gaze of acceptance, he turned away from the grave.
*step step step*
His steps, though heavy with the weight of unanswered questions, carried a newfound sense of purpose.
Bip • { assimilation : %8 }
Meanwhile a figure was watching from afar looking at his disappearing back with unknown feelings from what he/she heard.
Flash back End /
The End