Naruto: Uzumaki Yuji [EN]

The return to the village was a desolate path for the boy, his lively eyes lost in the shroud of his hardships and the emotional crisis it had given him, nobody, neither his sensei, nor Ajisai nor Suiren tried to help him, after all, it is something he will eventually have to face.

They finally entered the familiar rains to which they were now more accustomed; Rokushō sighed calmly upon seeing that, fortunately, they had not encountered bandits or ninjas with hostile intentions toward them, since he did not want Yūji to be in a worse state than he was.

He glanced sideways at his youngest student, watching as he did not offer topics for conversation nor even try to approach his companions, he simply appeared… lost. Lost in his own world and thoughts, as if everything he was doing were automatic, like muscle memory.

" Good team, we have arrived safely at Amegakure, I will go and inform Konan-sama about the details of the mission and the change that has been seen in Katabami Mizan, you all may go and rest for just a few days, at any moment I will come with you to notify you of another mission... Yūji " the mentioned one tensed up even though he did not direct his darkened gaze toward his sensei, he only saw his reflection in the water at his feet " You have only one day to think about whether to continue being a shinobi, or not, think carefully... " spoke the green-haired one seriously to his student, who only sighed in a choked manner.

" ...yes, sensei "

" Good. " was short in his response, disappearing from where he was standing with his students.

He left the three in an uncomfortable silence, the only thing that could be heard was the heavy rain, the sky seeming to cry along with Yūji.

None of the three knew how to break the tension, at least that was the case because Yūji was the one who spoke, " I... I, will leave right now... " his voice was barely audible, his emotions at rock bottom, and his aura filled with pessimism.

Suiren saw how the boy didn't even run energetically and instead entered slowly toward those skyscrapers and rusty pipes, getting lost in that labyrinth, a great change compared to how he had boasted about the mission; beneath her mask, she twisted her mouth slightly in a grimace, and lightly directed her gaze toward her other companion, Ajisai, who appeared very frustrated by how Yūji seemed to be placing too much tension on the first mission.

" I don't know how he can be so depressed, we weren't even the ones who killed them " spoke the purple-haired one grumbling, trying to hide her concern in her rude attitude.

Suiren only slightly shook her head, her long, dull green hair swaying, " that is the problem, you are not someone friendly and cheerful like Yūji, you are not going to understand "

" And you, mute? You are a silent person and you don't do what Yūji does " she replied rudely, Suiren, accustomed to her attitude, simply began to walk home. " Mummy, don't ignore me! Suiren, you're very mean! " Ajisai ran alongside her companion upon seeing that her bad treatment did not affect her silent friend.

As for Yūji, when he entered and saw all his acquaintances and all the villagers he always helped, only the images of those samurais who looked at him with hope came to his mind, believing that when he spoke his words, he would act impertinently and liberate them.

Those images overlapped on the faces of those he knew, his mind was torturing him once again, and he ran, ignoring the greetings of the people, simply running straight and away from them.

" Yūji-chan! You have returned from your mission! Tell us, how did you—... eh? " the man fell silent upon seeing the boy run by, ignoring him, he did the same with everyone else, and they all exchanged glances when they saw how that boy, who is now the walking sun, did not light up their faces.

The little redhead, amid soft sighs, arrived at the place where he always went to train with his sister Konan and his sister Karin; he didn't even want to see his beloved older sister, he did not want to trouble her with his crisis, not like that of a child, but like that of an adolescent who had lived for so long in times of peace.

Being in Amegakure, despite the scarcity of food, was still the safe place for him and his older sister; they had fled from Kusagakure since they were little, but this place… is the closest to what he knew as peace in this world.

Now that he had only gone out not to a village as large as the ones they always spoke of in the academy, those villages like Konohagakure, Sunagakure, etc. but to a single small town, even smaller than Amegakure… they seem to be accustomed to death, as if blood and corpses were something routine, desiring blood and sloth from all those who had wronged them.

Everyone is accustomed to life not being valued and not being important, at least, that is what he had noticed in these days since he became a shinobi.

Yūji sat on a withered tree that lay on the ground, watching the place he always used for his training, his eyes still devoid of any sparkle.

" My mind... I don't know if it can bear this... they are accustomed because they have never enjoyed true peace, for them this is so common, but for me, who comes from a place where I spent my entire life happy... I had, a normal childhood, I had my friends, we used to go out and play, we ate junk food, we played on machines... before what happened with Sukuna and the jujutsu sorcerers, I truly knew and enjoyed peace " the boy spoke to himself, clutching his face, that disturbed expression from witnessing a massacre before him and having his own sensei threaten him not to save those people.

What hurt him was the fact that it is no longer curses that kill humans, it is the humans themselves who kill each other.

" I am basically in the ancient era of Japan, where everything was wars, poverty, and I am a soldier who enlisted voluntarily to go out and kill people, intimidate the innocent, steal from other ^countries^... I... did not think this would happen, I truly wanted to come to terms with the idea that I could kill, but now that everything has unfolded before me... I am a coward, but they had a family, or someone to wait for... their eyes do not lie, they truly had one, and now, by doing nothing, I was the cause of the decline and the family rift... what will become of those people who had a family? Just thinking that they will never stop crying for them, that I took away something important from them... " he spoke more deeply to himself.

The tears that fell from his eyes now were due to the pain.

" Forgive me, I wanted to help them, but I was bound, I couldn't do it... I also want to keep my life just as it is, I don't want my sister and the people I love to suffer, I... truly wanted to help them, but I couldn't " his voice broke, the rain felt heavier upon his shoulders, and he became smaller, letting himself fall gently along the trunk until he reached the rocky area.

He hugged his legs, curling into a ball, his lower lip trembling with pain and suppressed suffering, crying for those people who died for not being able to do anything.

" I had the power to save them... but what use is this power if I cannot do anything for them? What use is it to become the strongest of all if my own people forbid me from helping the innocent " he raised his gaze to the sky, his eyelids swollen from the tears that had fallen from him.

" What use is saving in this place... at least, before I didn't have to think about this when fighting curses... I cannot fight with people, before I fought to save them, and now will I fight... to kill them?..." Yūji whispered to himself, looking at his hands, still seeing the dried blood that remained from the people who were massacred before him.

He remembered when he was saving that samurai, whose eyes shone with the light of hope despite being in very poor condition.

And then, ironically, he was assassinated in front of him while he was helping him.

It was so grotesque in his sight that it only made him feel worse.

Letting the rain fall on him, he stayed silent, trying to calm all his feelings, but his tears fell uncontrollably; he wanted to stop them, but he couldn't, he had sympathy for people, he cried for them and for the people they loved and left behind.

Lost in his thoughts, he managed to hear a sound like paper rustling at his side; he did not have to turn to know who it was standing there was the one who had been a sensei with her for a time. Rokushō explained to him the dilemma that Yūji was facing at that moment and everything that had happened on the first mission; something that made Konan feel so sad was the fact that the boy wanted to help.

But it was no different from helping your executioner, or someone who at some point could stab you in the back.

Upon arriving, she saw the sad and defeated look on the boy, as if he had neither his energy nor that innocent, radiant aura around him.

It is the sadness of the era that, although it is said that these were moments of peace, only the large villages had peace; for those that are small towns, they are left with the leftovers and suffering.

It hurt her to see how that ray of light was dimming a little just by witnessing something that was not even significant on his ninja path.

Both remained in silence, Konan stayed standing but she was very much by Yūji's side. After that silence, she finally spoke, " Your sensei explained to me everything that happened on that mission "

The boy had no desire to open up to her; if he hadn't even gone with his sister, he wouldn't tell his sister Konan.

The lilac-haired woman glanced sideways at the boy, and finally, sitting slowly to one side of the little redhead.

" I know what you might be going through, Yūji... you know, once I also had a very big dilemma in my ninja career " she began to speak and open up a little for the little one, and there she saw Yūji turn to look at her.

That look hurt her to witness, a dead look devoid of any flicker of the flame it once had.

" Really, did you have your dilemma? "

" That's right... although it's an old wound... it still hurts like the first day... you must not feel bad for those people, Yūji, I know that you are a boy with a good heart and you want to help... but what your sensei said is true " Konan looked at the boy, watching as he paid attention to her words; Konan turned her gaze toward the gray, dark sky as the heavy rain fell, " In this world... there will never be peace, all people are capable of malice, and with just a little malice, they could have tried to do something against you, merely by helping them... those samurais lost by the simple fact that it was an uprising of arms from their own people; even if you want to help, it is something they themselves have to face "

The woman spoke firmly, watching as the little one analyzed her words in his own way.

' What sister Konan is telling me is that that ^country^ had its civil war, something internal that we from a different ^country^ should not meddle in unless they ask for help... '

Of course, Yūji had thought about it; he had really never done his military service in the ninja world. It was his first time witnessing a massacre live; not even during the attacks in Shibuya and Shinjuku did he see people die, most were evacuated or Sukuna pulverized them, leaving not even bodies behind.

Simply... he was still in shock from the impressions left by the death of those people; innocent or not, he continued feeling bad, it was his nature, he was a good boy, he had a sensitive soul, although full of strength and values.

Only, it seems that valor and morality are things that are not seen in this place.

" I know, sister Konan, but it only hurts me that so many people are left suffering for their losses, I... feel guilty about that " the boy whispered sincerely.

Konan only gave him a bitter, pained smile.

" Yūji, in all these years, I can say that you are the only child who maintains an innocence I have never known, not even the children I see can be dazzled by your kindness and your resonance with people, you are someone unique, and I know that you are also an intelligent person... whatever you wish to do, you are free to choose it, you have the strength, I know you will choose the correct path and the one you desire to take, Pain and I will accept it gladly... " the woman spoke calmly, watching as the boy remained silent.

It was a silence that was much calmer than before.

" Yes... I want to continue being a shinobi, it will only be because I... want true peace to exist... I do not want to kill, but if there is no other way for me to become the strongest of all, it will be... a painful path that I will have to traverse... all for the good of the people " although he said that with his mouth, he truly remained reluctant to harm human beings.

He couldn't, but he would train so much that he would only leave them at the brink, and never take their souls like those of a blinder.

It is also because Amegakure has done so much for him and his sister, he could not disappoint his sister Konan; she was so kind and warm, and brother Pain was the same, providing him with knowledge, shelter, and food... the least he could do is basically be…

His sharp sword to protect them.

Yūji's eyes emitted that slight carmine, barely noticeable; despite him mentioning all that, it would take time for him to get used to it.

He was no longer in his peaceful place; Japan no longer existed, nor did delicious food or relaxation.

He had to adapt to that life and survive, because he was sure that, as Sukuna once said, there are people more powerful than him who would be hostile to his being and to that of the people he cared about.

Sadly... that is the life of a shinobi and of the entire ninja world, which he has to accept.

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[ Illustration from yesterday, I promise and I don't deliver haha but I don't have time for more, apologies :p

—Image]

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