After her small test, Shizuru told me to walk with her until she reached her clan compound. I didn't mind at all. Some fresh air always helped clear my head.
A few minutes later, we were walking in silence along Konoha's well-lit streets. There weren't many people out this late, just a few shinobi on patrol or villagers closing up shop. Out of nowhere, Shizuru asked, "Are you okay, Noa?"
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye and sighed. "Not really."
She looked worried, so I kept going. "I'm working through it, but I'm angry we still have no idea who did it or why." My fists clenched before I realized it, knuckles going white. A faint spark of lightning flickered across my hand.
Shizuru saw it and spoke quietly. "I know he meant more to you than just some Academy teacher. But I want to know who did it too. I want revenge."
I raised an eyebrow. It wasn't like her to say something like that out loud. She noticed and went on, voice calm but steady. "He was a good teacher. He treated me well. And above all, he was a Konoha shinobi."
I nodded, surprised but glad to hear it. Then she said something that actually made me stop for a second. "Let's become strong enough that no matter how powerful the people who did this are, we can still find them and make them pay."
I looked at her, then just gave her a small, determined smile. "Well said."
When we finally reached the gate to her compound, Shizuru turned back to me, her usual cool expression softening just a bit. "My mom keeps nagging me to ask you to visit more. So do it. Soon."
I chuckled and nodded. She gave me a tiny smile before disappearing inside.
I stood there for a moment, thinking about what I'd said. I really did want to know who did it and take revenge but Hiruzen made it clear that finding the truth might be a long and hard process. And even if I found out, someone who could kill a shinobi like Daiken wouldn't be the kind of enemy a kid like me could handle yet. I knew that much.
My feet carried me toward the Yamanaka compound. When I reached the gate, one of the guards stepped forward, eyeing me up and down. "What's your business here?" He didn't look tense. I recognized him from last time, he'd seen me leave with Sena.
I pulled a small folded note from my pocket, sealed with wax, and held it out. "Can you pass a message to Sena Yamanaka for me?"
The guard stared at the paper, then at me. "Fine. But we're not your personal mail service. Next time, bring it in the morning and give it to her yourself."
I bowed my head slightly. "Yeah. Sorry for the trouble."
He just snorted and took the letter. I turned and walked away, amused at the idea of a shinobi mail service. Maybe I'd start one. Maybe not.
It was getting late, but not too late to check in on Genta. He'd been under a lot of pressure since Daiken's death. The streets were quieter now, lanterns burning low. When I reached the already quiet Senju compound, the old guard was sitting next to the gate with his head drooped forward.
I stepped closer and called out softly, "Hey, I'm here to visit Genta. May I come in?"
Nothing. I narrowed my eyes and stepped even closer. The old man was dead asleep. I sighed. "Not even that late… what's the point of a guard like this?" But I didn't want to wake him. I sensed a faint chakra signature deeper in the compound. ANBU, maybe? Too subtle for me to pinpoint.
I pushed the gate open myself. The creaking hinge didn't wake the old man, so I slipped inside. The compound felt like an old retirement home this late, all dark windows and silent doors. I could almost hear my footsteps echo.
When I got to Genta's house, I hoped he wasn't already asleep. Voices drifted from the courtyard. I walked around the side, keeping my steps quiet, then called out from behind the wall, "You there, Genta?"
A voice came back. "Yes? Who are you… are you a ghost?"
I facepalmed. "Really?" I jumped and landed on top of the short wall. Genta's eyes went wide. "It's you, Noa!"
I smirked. "Yeah, it's me." I dropped down beside him and looked around at the scattered training gear. "Came to check on you. How's it going?"
He looked at the equipment for a long second before sinking onto a bench. "Not so well."
I sat next to him. "What's wrong?"
Genta stared at the ground. "It's the clan elders. They want me to stop trying to be a shinobi."
I lifted an eyebrow, playing dumb. "Why?"
His shoulders sagged. "Because I'm the last of the Senju. Well, there's Lady Tsunade, but she's… old. So I'm the only one who can pass on the clan name in the future." He laughed bitterly. "So either I stay safe for them, or I risk everything for myself."
I leaned back, staring at the clear night sky. It was such a messed-up position to be in. I felt bad for him, really. He looked at me, eyes pleading like I had some magic answer. "Do you have any idea what I should do? They're always gentle about it, but the pressure never stops. I'm starting to feel suffocated."
I didn't get to answer right away. I sensed someone else behind us, Takamura. Of course he was here. It made sense. The old man probably didn't know the right answer either. He had to choose between his clan's survival and his own son's wishes.
I stayed quiet for a moment, then looked Genta straight in the eye. "Why not become strong enough that no enemy can kill you? Or at least strong enough that if someone dangerous comes along, you can survive it. That way, you keep living for the clan and prove you're worth more out there than locked away. Maybe you make the Senju name mean something again."
Genta stared at me, blinking like he wasn't sure he'd heard me right. He let out a shaky breath and looked down at his hands. "But… that's not easy. You make it sound simple, but what if I'm not cut out for that? What if I mess up?"
I shrugged, leaning back on the bench. "You probably will mess up. We all do. But every time you get back up, you get closer to not dying. Nobody strong starts out perfect."
He frowned, shoulders hunched, staring at the dirt like it might have answers. "But the elders… they'll never stop worrying. They'll just find something else to nag about."
"Then prove them wrong," I said, voice low but firm. "Get strong enough that they stop seeing you as some fragile heir they have to keep locked away. Make them see you as the reason this clan still has a future."
He was quiet for a long moment, breathing slow. Then his eyes lifted to mine, something starting to flicker behind them. "Like Daiken-sensei."
I cracked a small grin. "Stronger than Daiken-sensei."
Genta let out a weak laugh, rubbing his knuckles together like he was trying to warm them. He looked at me again, and this time the flicker had turned into a spark. "You think… you really think I could do that?"
I snorted. "Not if you keep hesitating and doubting yourself like that."
He punched my shoulder, not hard enough to hurt but enough to shut me up. Then he sat up straighter, shoulders squaring for the first time all night. "Then I'll do it. I'll work until I'm strong enough that they never have to worry about losing me. I'll make the Senju name stand tall again."
A quiet voice spoke up behind us. "Well said, both of you."
Genta jolted, spinning around to glare at his father. "Are you spying on me?!"
Takamura frowned, a vein popping on his forehead. He flicked Genta on the head. "Idiot. Someone comes this late to talk to my son in our compound, of course I check."
Genta moaned, rubbing his head, muttering something about unfair parents. Takamura looked at me and Genta both, his tone turning steady and serious. "Starting tomorrow, you two will train hard. Focused, no slacking. I have a feeling the Academy will push you to graduate after the third year. The village needs strong shinobi. So we're going all out."
I nodded, feeling a spark of excitement under the dread. Genta lit up too, though the fear of pain was there in his eyes. Neither of us said it, but we both knew what was coming.
Takamura eyed me directly, calm but expectant. "But to do that, Noa, you might need to move to the Senju compound for a while."
My eyes widened. I hadn't thought that far ahead. Genta jumped up, fists pumping. "Yes! Finally, I won't be stuck here alone with these old farts!"
His father's fast fist smacked him on the head again. Genta dropped to the ground, groaning and holding his skull. However, Takamura looked back at me, waiting for my answer.