In a Japanese dining room, four individuals are gathered around a small table. Upon the table, a feast of colors and textures sprawled across the surface, a culinary masterpiece in its own right.
A miso-glazed salmon, delicately seared to reveal a golden-brown crust, glistens as if kissed by the sun's warm rays. A generous layer of miso glaze coats the surface, its deep umami notes, and noodles on its right.
I look at my mother who arranged the food, then look back at the elephant here.
Like his son, his hair is spiky, silver like the color of the moon on a clear night. It was quite long, falling around his shoulders, giving him a distinctive and somewhat mysterious look.
His eyes were sharp and intense, with a deep gaze that seemed to hold a lot of experience. His face had a certain ruggedness, like someone who had spent a lot of time outdoors and faced the elements head-on.
In terms of clothing, he wore what looked like traditional shinobi attire – a dark vest and pants that were probably functional for his line of work. The way he carried himself suggested a mix of confidence and weariness, as if he had been through a lot and had emerged stronger from it.
"So who the hell are you?" I grimace and ask, even though I already know.
"Son! It's rude, you know. Don't make him uncomfortable," Hiroshi said sternly.
"Come on, Dad, I am just curious, you know!"
"Then put off that annoyed expression on your face. He is your cousin who came back from war after a long time, and he is older than you, so be respectful," Hiroshi replied.
"It's alright, Uncle Hiroshi. Maybe he is just curious. After all, I was away for a long time, and he hadn't seen me, so it's normal," Sakumo said and continued, "Well, let me introduce myself to you, dear cousin. My name is Sakumo Hatake, the son of Hirashi Hatake, and 14 years old... What about you, cousin?"
"Garou," I reply lazily.
"SON!" Father cries sternly.
"Yeah?" I turn to him and ask.
"Manners!" he answers back.
I ignore him as a tick mark appears on his head, then turn to Sakumo and ask, "Sooo, are you a jonin?"
"Yes, I became a jonin last year. Why do you ask?"
"Just wanted to know if you were as strong as the rumors say."
I look at him as he scratches his cheek embarrassedly, then turn to my father, who was annoyed by my attitude but didn't say anything. I noticed that he felt guilty for what happened to me and blames himself so he sure dots on me trying to make it up for the mistake .
At that moment, my mother walked in with the last plate of food and put it down on the table.
"So what did you guys talk about?" she asked.
"Nothing, just some introductions and ninja stuff," I replied.
"Ohh, baby, Sakumo is really strong. You can ask him to teach you and become strong. Will you please help my son a little, Sakumo-chan?"
"Gladly, Ayaka-san. I am also curious and would like to know more about him."
"Go easy on him, Sakumo-chan. Even though he acts like a thug, he is really gentle inside."
"I ain't no thug, woma... 'punch' aghhh," I say before being punched on the head, getting a bump on my head that hurt like hell. I then glare at her but say nothing.
"Bwahahaha, nice punch, honey!" my father said and gives a thumbs up to my mother.
"You looking for a fight, old man?! " I shout at him, annoyed.
"So whatcha gonna do if I do? hehe, Spit fireballs ?" he replied smugly.
"You know damn well that I can't use chakra, you old fool!"
"Fortunately, yes, you can't. If you could, then I can't help but worry about the kids you will meet," he said, sighing in relief. But I knew he was just being sarcastic and was actually sad about it but never wanted to admit that.
"Enough, you two, before I beat the crap out of you. The food will get cold," my mother said.
"She is right, son, and let's not show any more unsightly behavior to our guest," he said, with sweat running down his face, probably scared of my mother.
"Pussy," I mutter under my breath so they couldn't hear me as I spit on the floor of my mind .
We look at our food, then pick up the chopsticks. "Itadakimasu" x4, we say in unison, then we dig in.
I was lost in my thoughts before, "Amm, uncle, can I ask you a question if you don't mind?" Sakumo suddenly said.
"Of course you can, kid," my father answered nonchalantly while waving his chopstick.
"You said that little Garou doesn't have chakra. What do you mean by that?" Sakumo asked.
"Sigh, well, it's a long story. Actually, it isn't, but half a year ago, Garou asked if I could unlock his chakra, and I did, but..." He paused to look at me, but I wasn't really interested in the conversation. So what if I don't have chakra? I bet I could beat the hell out of any normal genin by now. So I just shrugged my shoulders and let him know to go on.
"But something went wrong in his body, and now he can't use chakra in any way," Hiroshi continued.
"Oh, that's unfortunate. I am sorry, Uncle, that I asked," Sakumo said, looking down.
"Don't be. He is actually fine with it, and he says that he will be a strong taijutsu expert or something. I don't know," Hiroshi replied while scratching the back of his head.
"It's MARTIAL ARTS, you old shit! How many times do I have to tell you?!" I shout at him.
"Yeah, yeah, that's awesome," he replied, bored.
"Now you have done it. Imma just start to beat the crap out of you, you old fart!" I spat then stood up. I was about to lunge at him then...
"SIT!" my mother said threateningly with a red aura around her as she stared at me.
Then I looked at my mother with my own stare, jutting my jaw forward, and slowly but surely, I sit back down while still staring at her with dissatisfaction . But I broke my eye contact with her and slowly looked at the old shit who had a smug smile, and I grit my teeth.
"Ha..ha," Sakumo laughs awkwardly while he scratches his cheek with eyes closed. 'I can't get used to this closed eyes thingy, is this a hatake trend or something,' I thought, while Sakumo continued to speak.
"Amm, Garou-kun, could you tell me what this martial art you are talking about is? And what's so different that you don't want it to be called taijutsu?" he asked curiously.
"Well, I don't mind telling you, but after this, you will have to fight me!" I replied, asking for something in return.
"A spar?!" he asked, surprised.
"Yes," I answer back, looking at him while narrowing my eyes. I have always wanted to test some things since the moment I lost control of my body at the graveyard, and I can't wait to have a go with someone.
"Well, I don't mind, but are you sure?!" he asked, doubtful.
"You scared," I provoked him with a Hanma-like grin, as my fighting spirit riled up without me knowing.
Sakumo POV:
from the first time i looked at my cousin i knew that there is something wrong with him. From the moment I entered this house, I started to observe him closely as I was getting bad vibes from him and my senses, honed from the war, were going haywire, and I felt uneasy.
I look at him nonchalantly eating his meal, and suddenly, a weird conversation starts. I was surprised to hear that someone can't use chakra, and then I remember a boy some years younger than me depicted as a tall young man with a muscular build, distinctive spiky black hair, and thick eyebrows. He always wears a green jumpsuit and similarly can't use chakra. 'His name was Dai, if I remember correctly,' I thought, as I didn't interact with him that much.
Then I hear my uncle say that he wants to be a taijutsu user, and he gets angry over it and says something about martial arts. I get intrigued, so after the staring contest between the mother and son (he sure is like a thug), I thought and looked at the unruly child, then...
"Amm, Garou-kun, could you tell me what this martial art you are talking about is? And what's so different that you don't want it to be called taijutsu?" I ask.
"Well, I don't mind telling you, but after this, you will have to fight me!" he replies.
And color me surprised; he wants to fight, having no chakra at that, so why?
"A spar?!" I ask.
"Yes," he replied almost instantly, narrowing his eyes. I didn't mind it really, but he can't use chakra, so I was really doubtful.
"Well, I don't mind, but are you sure?!" I ask, still doubtful. But the next moment, all the hairs on my body stood up, and I narrow my eyes at him. I get shocked by what I see, 'a wolf?!' I thought, as I could see a mirage of a wolf on the left half of his face.
"You scared," he said, trying to provoke me, and it really worked. I was getting goosebumps from that feral look...
"Not at all, dear cousin. I will gladly have spar with you " I replied back, masking my anticipation for this fight.
'He is no kid, but a monster,' I thought, as I slowly formed a grin of my own.
Little did sakumo know how spot on he was about him being a monster .
Garou POV:
"Not at all, dear cousin. I will gladly do it for you," he answers me while slowly grinning too. Suddenly, I get excited as every cell in my body gets active, and my body itchy to smash that handsome face of his (no homo).
I then look at my father, "Can you arrange where we could do it, old man?!" I ask impatiently.
He looks at me coldly, and I sweat because this is the first time I see that look pointed at me. I grin more at him without a care. "If you don't impress me and your mother, then you'll stay away from this stuff for the rest of your life, get a decent job, and live like a civilian, you hear?!" he said, still with that cold face.
I swallow some saliva, then turn to look at my mother. She has the same expression as my old man. Then my grin widens even more, and I get excited, looking at Sakumo to see that he too has the same face as me.
'HOW FUN,' I thought.
The End