"Teach you ninjutsu?"
Hayashi's calm voice echoed faintly in Yahiko's ears.
Though his voice showed no mockery.
Under the dim light filtering through the cave's entrance, raindrops slid down the leaves and grass outside, gathering into small ripples on the wet ground. Yahiko stared blankly at Hayashi's serene face, momentarily lost for words.
A strange feeling welled up in Yahiko's chest—an urge to speak from his heart, something he rarely did.
"I have a dream," Yahiko finally said, his voice trembling slightly. "A dream to change this world! I want to stand at the top, so no one has to live in suffering anymore."
He paused, his cheeks reddening. "I know… it sounds unrealistic. I'm still weak, but… if I could become strong enough, maybe everyone could live safely."
Silence filled the space between them. Only the sound of the rain outside answered him.
When no response came, Yahiko nervously looked up. Hayashi's dark eyes met his. Calm. Unreadable.
"So… if possible…" Yahiko took a deep breath and continued, "Could you teach us ninjutsu?"
His voice seemed to merge with the rhythm of the falling rain—honest, unguarded, filled with hope he didn't yet understand. It echoed faintly, almost like a confession to the world itself.
Afterward, embarrassment crept in. Maybe it was the gloomy weather of the Land of Rain that made him speak so boldly. Still, deep down, Yahiko felt oddly proud—because those were his true feelings.
If Hayashi had laughed or brushed him off with something like, "You're so ambitious," Yahiko might've felt regret or shame. But Hayashi didn't.
He simply rejected his request—coldly and without hesitation.
The rain poured harder, drumming on leaves and stone, mixing with the metallic clang of shurikens striking wood in the distance.
Inside the small wooden hut built within the cave, Hayashi sat quietly with Nawaki, sipping from a cup of steaming tea. Yahiko and Nagato were outside, practicing shuriken throwing under the rain.
The repeated sounds of metal striking targets didn't seem to bother Hayashi at all.
"Any word from Orochimaru-sensei?" Nawaki asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes," Hayashi replied. "He reported that Gari of the Explosion Release unit has been stationed near Amegakure."
"What for?" Nawaki frowned.
"Unknown for now."
"And Orochimaru-sensei's opinion?"
"He believes the situation is getting more complicated. Konoha's still at war with Iwagakure. We might use the confusion to strike when the time's right," Hayashi said, taking another sip of tea.
Nawaki grinned faintly. "Then tonight's perfect for a little chaos."
After a brief pause, he added, "By the way, why did you take those kids in? Don't tell me you've got a thing for Konan—she's just a child, you creep."
"Idiot, keep your voice down," Hayashi muttered, glancing toward Mikoto and Konan, who were busy preparing dinner nearby. "Mikoto will hear you."
Nawaki scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Fine, fine. But seriously, why them?"
"Haven't you noticed Nagato's hair?" Hayashi asked quietly.
"Red hair… Wait—you mean he's from the Uzumaki clan?!"
Hayashi nodded. "That's right."
Of course, that wasn't the real reason. The truth was one he couldn't reveal—that Nagato carried the Rinnegan, a remnant of Madara's schemes. Hayashi merely fabricated a reasonable excuse.
Nawaki tilted his head. "Then why not bring them back to Konoha? Kushina's Uzumaki too."
"They're war orphans from the Land of Rain," Hayashi said evenly. "We started this war. The village wouldn't trust them—not yet. Konoha won't allow outsiders whose loyalties are uncertain."
"So that's why you're not teaching them ninjutsu?"
Hayashi nodded again. Though in truth, it was because there was no need. Ninjutsu wasn't something you could master in days, and teaching them would only draw attention.
He wasn't Jiraiya—he couldn't just disappear from the village for years to train disciples. That would only get him labeled a missing-nin. Besides, that kind of teacher-student bond always ended in tragedy.
After all, didn't Nagato kill Jiraiya in the end?
It was better to let fate and Jiraiya handle it.
For now, Yahiko and the others were just learning to throw shuriken, something harmless and simple.
Suddenly, a metallic clink rang out.
"Ah!" Yahiko gasped as his shuriken ricocheted off the target and skidded to Hayashi's feet.
Hayashi picked it up and held it out. "Here."
"Ah—sorry!" Yahiko hurried over, bowing awkwardly. His childish tone made Hayashi chuckle softly. For some reason, the boy's sincerity was oddly refreshing.
Yahiko really was a likable kid—earnest, driven, full of light.
It was a pity he wasn't the protagonist of this story.
After dinner, silence fell over the small group. Hayashi finally stood up.
"We'll be leaving soon," he said quietly.
The words hung heavy in the air. Even inside the cave, Konan and the others felt the chill that came with them.
"Then… what about this place?" Konan asked softly after a long pause.
"This will be your secret base," Hayashi replied. "We've already stayed here too long. A mission awaits us. I'm sorry."
He reached out and gently patted her head.
Konan lowered herself to the ground, hugging her knees. Yahiko and Nagato stood motionless beside her, heads bowed, lips trembling as they fought back tears.
"These three kunai," Hayashi said, placing them on a nearby rock, "are yours now."
He turned to leave. "Take care of each other."
As Hayashi stepped out into the storm, Mikoto and Nawaki followed. The sound of their footsteps faded into the endless rainfall.
Behind them, the three children cried quietly, watching their figures disappear into the rain.
And then, the downpour swallowed everything—leaving only the sound of the rain that seemed to weep for them.
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Milestone
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter.
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