Chapter 2 – A Rotten Place
Musashi stopped his cart in front of a weapons shop, looking around at the people, and then at Kazuki, he let out a slight sigh before going to the back and calling the person in charge.
Kazuki looked around to make sure no one tried anything foolish, like stealing something. Although the weapons produced by his grandfather were few, the quality was on par with the country's top blacksmiths, if not superior.
Of course, he avoided drawing unwanted attention and often produced common quality weapons, which were usually bought by ordinary people as a means of self-defense. While the higher quality ones were rarely sold.
The weapons trade was profitable, so although they lived modestly, Musashi had a lot of money. Perhaps not enough to be considered rich, but certainly enough for Kazuki to have what could only be described as a secured future.
Shortly afterward, Musashi and an older man came to load things. Looking at the middle-aged man following his grandfather, Kazuki smiled slightly and greeted him.
"Mr. Honda, how are you doing?"
"Oh, little Kazuki. I'm alright, still with that back pain. And you? How have you been?"
"Very well, sir."
"Good, good. Let's see, 500 kunais, 500 shurikens, and 100 swords." Old Honda counted the weapons and after a while went back into the shop with the weapons and handed Musashi a suitcase full of cash.
Musashi made his way to the bank of Konoha and decided to deposit some of it into his account. Banks in the ninja world were maintained by the Daimaoh of each nation. They were responsible for facilitating the lives of traders who traveled between different nations and didn't want to risk transporting large sums.
Besides being protected by each village's ninjas, no one was crazy enough to go against the Daimaoh, so banks were the safest institutions to keep your hard-earned money.
Musashi left shortly after and looking at the time, he decided it would be best to eat somewhere before leaving.
"Kazuki, what do you think about dinner before we head back? I'm a little tired and don't feel like cooking."
"Alright."
"Where do you want to eat?"
"Why don't we go somewhere new, I saw a small Ramen restaurant that seems to have opened recently."
"Hm... alright, let's go."
Musashi took his cart to a place to be stored and took Kazuki to the restaurant he mentioned. On the way, Kazuki looked around with interest. Although it wasn't his first time in Konoha, he was always surprised by the village's vitality.
Although he felt hatred towards Konoha, this hatred was more directed towards those in charge of the village. His grandfather had told him many things about Konoha, and Kazuki knew that everything was true.
Looking at the people around him, Kazuki sighed a bit and smiled slightly, thinking that although his clan was no longer here, at least the people they fought for were.
Looking at some parents walking with their children in the streets, some couples having a joyful date, and some children running while playing, Kazuki thought that perhaps in the end, the sacrifice of the Senju clan hadn't been entirely wasted.
However, as he was about to move on, Kazuki saw something that broke this brief thought. He saw a boy the same age as his, if not, perhaps a little younger. He looked thin, and his blue eyes were lonely.
He saw that the previously cheerful atmosphere of the street was suddenly set aside, and the smiling faces of the residents suddenly turned into anger and disgust towards the boy.
Kazuki didn't know what to make of this; it all happened so fast that by the time he reacted, the boy had already walked away.
"Hmpf, cursed demon fox, ruined my appetite."
"Let's eat somewhere else."
"Why the hell doesn't the Third Hokage kill him or send him away?"
"Damn, it ruined our date."
"I wish-"
Hearing the voices around him, Kazuki remained silent for a while before turning around and continuing to walk. Musashi also looked at all of this and then looked at Kazuki, and all he could do was sigh in defeat before following him.
Musashi knew about Naruto, the boy called the demon fox, and obviously, he could see the truth about the matter.
As someone who has lived since the Sengoku period, he knew more about the bijus than ordinary people, and of course, he also knew the importance of Jinchurikis.
Although he hadn't witnessed the night the Nine-Tails destroyed Konoha, he knew that at that time, its jinchuuriki was someone from the Uzumaki clan and was the wife of the Fourth Hokage.
So when he heard about the boy named Uzumaki Naruto, who coincidentally had the same characteristics as the Fourth Hokage, he could put two and two together. However, he never imagined that the son of a hero would be treated in such a way.
He wondered what would happen if the Fourth Hokage, whom everyone called a hero, suddenly appeared and revealed that the poor boy they hated and mistreated was his only son... how would they act? Or better yet, how would the Fourth Hokage act if he knew about this?
It was at that moment that any respect for Konoha's superiors, or even for its residents, died in Musashi's chest, and after that, all he could do was take care of Kazuki and raise him so that he could carry on the name of the Senju clan and then change Konoha to what it was originally, a place where children could grow up safely, without worrying about the flames of war.
Musashi and Kazuki then arrived at the small Ramen restaurant and had a meal in silence. While Musashi ate, he looked at Kazuki, who never once lifted his head and only ate in silence.
After paying for the meal, both left and went home. After a bath, Kazuki sat on the porch and looked at his starry sky, shortly after Musashi approached with a bottle of sake and sat beside him.
"Grandpa..."
"Hm?"
"Is Konoha really worth it?"
Hearing that, Musashi couldn't help but remain silent, he poured himself a small cup and drank a bit. He really didn't know how to answer that question.
In his view, maybe yes. Perhaps Konoha still had some hope of salvation. However, he didn't have the energy or even the strength for it.
Kazuki, however, could. Thinking about it, he went inside and then came out with a small chest. Inside were some scrolls and a small sword. Musashi handed them to Kazuki with a slight smile.
"I was waiting for your 6th birthday to give you this, but I think this is a good moment."
Musashi then sat down and poured himself another sake.
"I don't know if Konoha still has hope, that will depend entirely on you, Kazuki."
"I-"
"As a member of the founding clan, whether you want to save or destroy Konoha... in my view, no matter which you choose, it will be the right choice."
Kazuki remained silent. Although he was intelligent, he was still just a 5-year-old child. Although he loved his grandfather, he knew how much he suffered just by choosing to keep him alive. The pain of handing over a family member to a stranger... he couldn't even imagine the pain his grandfather felt every day when he looked at him.
Both then remained silent, while his grandfather drank, Kazuki looked at the moon and the stars, wondering which path to follow.