"Look, I know I'm handsome and all, but please, don't get the wrong idea. First, I'm way too young for that, and second, I'm absolutely sure I like women and only women. I mean, I have nothing against those who like different things…"
"What the hell are you talking about?! I was just looking at your different-colored eyes!"
Heh, of course, I knew that, but this kid is just too easy to tease. His stoic expression definitely looks unbreakable, but look at his ears turning red.
HAHAHAHAHA
Kiyoshi, from what I found out hours ago, is a pretty cool guy despite everything. Is he a pompous idiot who thinks his own clan is above all others? Of course he is. But damn, even I am!
I control flames and water, for the love of kami! Having the ability to see in 360 degrees around you is cool and all, but nothing compares to being me!
After the battle, Kiyoshi and I decided to camp. Even though there was a town nearby, it was far enough to make it exhausting to try to go back.
Tonight was a moonless night, and even in this small forest, through the treetops, I can see the stars shining in the sky, like a veil covering the world.
My memories of my old life are fading more each day. I no longer remember the name of my first dog. I forgot the names of my doctors. I forgot my name and my parents' names, and that is incredibly terrifying.
It's as if every passing day, I am less myself. Maybe that's why I ran to help Kiyoshi. He reminds me of the anime Naruto, reminds me of Neji, reminds me of who I am, even if just a little.
I was completely reckless and stupid. I didn't know the reason for the fight, didn't know if there was a right or wrong, and didn't know if the Hyuuga would attack me after the fight.
But I needed to do something. To prove that my previous existence. A pathetic man who, at the end of his life, didn't have the strength to go to the bathroom by himself, that this man existed.
Feeling the wind on my face, I close my eyes in contentment as I listen to the forest roar with life. Owls, foxes, insects. Breathing deeply, the air filling my lungs effortlessly.
Today is a good day to be alive.
This comfortable silence lasted a good while, with Kiyoshi and me just silent with our own thoughts, but he was the first to break that silence.
"Why did you help me? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it, but I still don't understand why. What would you gain from it? Do you know who the people who attacked me are?"
"That's a lot of questions you have there, but they're all valid. I helped you simply because I wanted to. I gain nothing by helping you. There's nothing you or your clan can do for me. And I have no idea who those men I killed are. I had never seen a samurai without a flag before."
Kiyoshi seemed a bit offended when I talked about his clan, as if it were an insult that I didn't want anything from the Hyuuga clan. But when he paused to think, he looked lost in thought.
"Do you know who those samurais are?"
"No. And I also don't know why they attacked me."
"What were you doing alone here? I thought big clans like yours always traveled with an escort."
Kiyoshi sighed and seemed to hesitate for a moment, clenching his hands into fists, but in the end, he sighed and began to speak. As he spoke, I snuggled closer to the campfire and listened to his account of what happened to him.
And well, damn, he had quite the adventure. The daimyo had a son? A party? Several clans and nobles? An ambush? Maybe it's because I'm still a child in body, and probably in mind, but as he spoke, my mind seemed to have a theater stage, with several actors performing and bringing the story Kiyoshi told me to life.
Sometimes I interrupted to ask something. Sometimes he looked at me as if he wanted to know my opinion but didn't know how to externalize his desire. Maybe that's the problem with being raised in a perfectly safe home, having everything you want.
We talked for several hours into the night, and he helped me by hunting several rabbits and a wild boar (damn those white eyes, I want them too!).
—————
As we headed to the small town, Kiyoshi and I talked about everything. I don't know if it was because we survived a battle together, but I feel like I made a friend. A real friend.
My first friend in two lives. I probably had friends in my other life, but I don't remember. They must have been friends of desperation. The kind of friend or friendship you make when you're desperately alone, with no one else to talk to. Maybe in some chemotherapy session, I don't know.
But now I have a friend. He's snobbish, thinks that because he has a dojutsu, he's better than half the world (he's probably right. Or maybe not?) and might have an Oedipus complex. He thinks he's strong and powerful, but it's noticeable that he trembles whenever someone walks past us. He's always looking around, even when he activates the Byakugan constantly for the slightest rustle of leaves in the wind.
It probably has something to do with being ambushed every day for almost two weeks; maybe it's wise to be so paranoid in a world where people spit fire and throw you into illusions just by making you look into another person's eyes with red eyes. I remember there's a way to substitute your body with a wooden stump and transform into someone completely different!
But that's not a life I want to live. Always afraid. Always cautious of everything around you. Is my way of thinking wrong? Certainly. Am I going to get into trouble for it? No doubt.
But I don't want to live like that. It would be a bitter life. I still remember that thing/person that gave me this chance. The thing said it would be my only chance; there wouldn't be another time, a third life.
I want to survive. I want to thrive. But above all, I want to live to the fullest. I don't want to always have to look over my shoulder, afraid of being stabbed. I'd rather be stabbed than have to live like this.
I end up letting out a sigh. I'm still too young to think so deeply about my life. As always, this will be a problem for my future self to solve. My present self just wants to get to town, get my money, and eat as much as possible before accepting another job.
As we entered the town, an air of vibrant energy enveloped us. The sound of voices, the smell of fresh food, and the flickering lights of lanterns created a festive atmosphere. It seemed that the news of the daimyo's assassination attempt had not yet reached here, and if it had, the common people didn't care enough. I don't blame them. Why should they mourn a rich, powerful, and influential man they've never seen? They are more concerned with surviving each year. Concerned about crops, about winter, and about the money they will have each season and the taxes they have to pay. The memories of battles and betrayals still lingered like shadows over my mind. I had nothing to do with the assassination attempt against Kiyoshi, and I didn't see if anyone would know about my involvement in a short time, but the feeling that this could change at any moment made me uneasy.
This wasn't part of my initial plan to survive at all costs. My past self is a big idiot.
Kiyoshi seemed completely at ease, observing everything around us with a satisfied expression. After some exchanges of words and laughter about the food we intended to eat, he turned to me with a serious look that soon dampened my mood. "I need your help," he said, interrupting the relaxed atmosphere surrounding us.
"How so?" I asked, a mix of curiosity and a desire to ignore whatever he was about to ask dancing in my stomach. Not that I don't like the guy. Despite being almost double my age in this life and us having known each other for less than a day, I already consider him a friend. "It's not like I'm a skilled ninja or anything. I just helped you escape from a group of samurai."
"That's exactly why I need you. I'm searching for something important in the Land of Tea, my family and clan, and I can't do this alone. The road can be dangerous, and I don't want to be caught off guard again." Kiyoshi's tone was serious, and his words echoed in my mind.
I hesitated, thinking about the implications. The idea of embarking on a new mission was tempting, but also risky. My restless nature pulsed within me, struggling between the desire for adventure and the burning desire for survival that seemed to ignite in my chest. "And what do you expect me to do exactly? I'm not a suitable fighter."
Kiyoshi crossed his arms, his gaze determined. "You certainly have a lot to improve on. You know the katas, but it doesn't seem like you've been properly taught in taijutsu. You have absurd chakra reserves, like you're an Uzumaki, but you don't know how to use any suitable ninjutsu. I promise that if you accept, I will help you with your taijutsu, teaching you everything I know, except for the Gentle Fist, since it would be useless for you. I can teach you the 'stupidly complicated kanjis,' and I promise you, while I am alive, whenever you need a friend, an ally, a brother, I will do everything I can to help you."
Did that son of a bitch just call me dumb? Sorry if I was a Western man in my past life and have issues with your stupid kanjis! But learning to fight with a Hyuuga is tempting…
I hesitated for a long time, a frown on my face. I could see that Kiyoshi was nervous, his hands clenched and his eyes expectant.
With a sigh, I nodded. "Alright. But you have to start teaching me right away! And when we reach the Land of Tea, I expect a grand reward! A bag full of gold, at the very least!"
Kiyoshi seemed to hesitate for just a second before extending his hand for a shake. I firmly shook his hand, and we sealed a contract.
Hehe, all the food I'm going to be able to eat. My days of hunting for my own food are over! I'll be able to eat seasoned food, with salt and more spices that I don't even know the names of! I won't have diarrhea anymore from eating something strange in the middle of the road!
Long live capitalism!
—————
After receiving my payment, which was halved because I left before finishing the job (damn merchants!), Kiyoshi and I decided to hit the road.
The poor guy didn't have any coins, so we had to make our journey on foot. Kiyoshi argued that we should take the longer route, as we would likely be ambushed at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Tea.
I thought this was terrible, as we would have to walk a lot before reaching the Land of Noodles, and then we would have to figure out how to catch a boat to Nagi Island. But I didn't argue. He is an expert on military matters. While I was guarding notable caravans, Kiyoshi had already fought in a civil war. And more importantly, I want
to avoid a close encounter with death as much as possible.
It would be an excessively long journey…
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We're kicking off the first training arc! I think this is a crucial step for the MC. After all, he was just an ordinary human before he was reincarnated, and he'll need guidance on ninjutsu and taijutsu. I hope you enjoy it!