Kaito woke up to a completely white ceiling, enveloped in the smell of urine, medication, and rubbing alcohol—a common occurrence in a hospital. He felt heavier and a bit plumper. The nurses had told him they were feeding him through various means.
He couldn't remember who had brought him to this place, but it didn't matter anymore. However, he couldn't deny that he was curious to know who had brought him here.
He didn't remember his parents, his sisters, or his beloved Kaori... he truly missed everything about her.
He sat on his bed, letting his muscles relax even more.
He took a breath and stretched his toes.
He knew he was incredibly weak in every way. He didn't have the physique or the skills to search for his sister if she was still alive... yet.
Therefore, the most important thing was to become strong, and then... he wouldn't know what to do, but something mattered.
Being strong.
The door opened, and he saw a man with an X-shaped mark on his chin staring at him intensely, sternly. Nothing about him expressed any understanding or empathy.
He was like a statue.
A man with no expression whatsoever.
"I'm not trying to be understanding, much less paternal. You have the opportunity to become strong with me, or you can simply be a nobody." He crossed his arms, akimbo, as he waited for an answer.
Kaito lowered his head... So this was the guy who... He saved me.
She ran her tongue over her teeth and looked at him.
"How hard will you make me?"
Danzo gave a dry laugh, almost as if he'd heard something stupid.
"When you see the ninja I've made for you, you'll thank me for the rest of your life."
"I accept... What's your name?" Kaito stood up to look at him.
"My name is Danzo Shimura, kid. I won't be like a father to you, and don't see me as one either."
....
....
...
....
Hiruzen looked around the village. It was still undeveloped; green trees grew everywhere. He knew his life had taken a sharp turn after Tobirama Senju's sacrifice.
Some clans tried to hold a plebiscite with the people of Konoha to nominate their candidates.
Obviously, these were the Hyuga and Uchiha clans.
But upon learning of Tobirama's final decision before his death, they stopped insisting.
He had the support of Mito Uzumaki and the Senju clan.
Seven days had passed since Danzo brought From what he knew, he was training that boy, though he didn't know exactly why.
The war was over, and Konoha had come out relatively unscathed, but with several scars.
Right now, he was planning to take on students to train.
It wasn't a way to compete with Danzo; besides, it could strengthen the relationships between his future students and Kaito.
The feudal lord, as always, was more concerned with his possessions and business than with the village, typical of people like him.
When they wanted, they sent money to buy weapons, finance the war, and pay pensions and damages.
They were powerful people; it wasn't for nothing that they never lost in wars.
.....
.....
...
..
—UP— Danzo moved as he saw Kaito lying on the grass, panting with exhaustion. The boy's element was fire and water, but not belonging to a clan worked against him.
Just like it did for him.
But he would hate it if he became discouraged by the fact that he didn't belong to a clan. Great ninjas aren't always, and shouldn't always be, from one. some clan
He trained him directly in Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, physical training, and jutsu.
Kaito felt his muscles burning from the exhaustion of all the training.
This was what hell felt like, if it existed. This guy didn't know what human limits were; he wanted him to surpass them.
He attacked Danzo with force again, but... he ended up on the ground.
"Get up!"
"This is going to be tough."