Naruto: Blacksmith

Kuro had long anticipated the need for a legitimate way to justify his advanced training.

After many simulations and calculations, he already had a solution ready.

He put away the scroll, stood up, and opened his front door.

The sunlight dazzled him, making him squint. He waited a few seconds until his vision adjusted, then stepped outside.

Crossing the small courtyard, he walked through the main gate and took the path toward Konoha's bustling center. He followed the flow of people heading east, but as he progressed, the streets became less crowded.

After half an hour of walking, he arrived at a small river in the middle of the forest.

First, he looked around to ensure no one was nearby. Then, he took out the Book of Omniscience and scanned the surroundings.

Once he confirmed the area was clear, he put the book away and took out a whistle.

The sound of the whistle was so loud that a flock of birds flew from the nearby trees. Among them, a bird with particularly sharp eyes headed toward Konoha, landing at a small wooden house in a remote area of the village.

The house was simple: it had only a bed, a wardrobe, a table, and a large mirror. In one corner hung dark clothing, an ANBU mask, a longsword, and other weapons.

At that moment, a man stood by the window. He called out a couple of times before the bathroom door opened.

From there emerged an elderly man with a disheveled appearance and an unkempt beard.

Upon seeing the bird at the window, his lifeless eyes glimmered with a spark of interest.

He returned to the bathroom, shaved his beard, changed his clothes, and left the house.

The man headed to the forest where Kuro was. The location was remote enough to avoid witnesses.

When he arrived, he scanned the area to ensure no one was following him. Then, he saw Kuro and, approaching him, bowed respectfully.

"Master."

Kuro squinted, visibly annoyed. "…Didn't I tell you not to call me master?"

The man was stunned for a moment and corrected himself. "Yes, Kuro-sama."

"Stop acting like a submissive adult."

"Understood."

"Behave like a normal person."

"Understood."

When the words ended, the man's humble expression turned indifferent, and he simply nodded slightly.

Kuro nodded, satisfied. "Perfect. Now, I need you to do something for me."

"What would that be?"

Kuro approached and whispered in his ear, "Tomorrow afternoon, after school, go to the Ninth Training Ground. Make it seem like you're casually passing by and see me practicing. Then, do this, this, and… that should be fine."

"Understood."

"Good. Now leave quickly. It's not good for you to be discovered."

"Mmm."

The man left without saying more, his figure fading into the wind.

Kuro watched him disappear and sighed.

That man was named Lian. He had been the captain of an ANBU squad under Root. Back then, he didn't even have a name, only a code.

Two years ago, Itachi and Obito had destroyed the Root organization. Danzo had died, as had most of its members.

Only a few survived, those who had been on missions far from the conflict.

The survivors of Root, having been trained as emotionless machines, had lost their purpose after Danzo's death.

Many of them even chose to follow him into the afterlife.

Hiruzen, in an attempt to give them new direction, granted them extended leave to find a new purpose in life.

Lian was one of those survivors.

In the past, he had led a squad that attempted to assassinate Kuro but had fallen under his Kotoamatsukami Genjutsu.

After Danzo's death, Lian remained obedient to the orders implanted by Kuro, allowing him to maintain his purpose.

However, not receiving new instructions for years left him feeling lost again.

Now that Kuro had reestablished contact with him, he used him for specific tasks, giving him a new purpose and avoiding suspicion.

Lian taught Kuro advanced training methods and acted meticulously, though traces of Root's emotional programming remained.

Even after two years of rest, his emotions had barely recovered.

That's why Kuro was careful when assigning him tasks. He preferred to keep everything under control and avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

It's better this way. It's always good to avoid problems.

...

The next day, Kuro attended school as usual.

However, at the end of the day, he wandered aimlessly through Konoha.

The streets were full of life.

Adults opened the doors to their businesses, children ran and played, and pedestrians hurried to their jobs. Occasionally, acquaintances crossed paths and gathered in small groups to chat.

Merchants from other regions and dignitaries arriving to deliver commissions or discuss important matters could also be seen.

Kuro walked among them, immersed in the village's bustle, yet his mind remained calm, like still water in a pond.

He passed by the cinema and observed couples entering and exiting, some in small groups, chatting and laughing.

Then, in front of the Hokage's mansion, his gaze lingered on the ninjas guarding the entrance. A glimmer appeared in his eyes.

Farther along, he crossed several training grounds where he saw ninjas practicing. He stopped for a moment, watched them silently, and then continued on his way.

Before he realized it, the sun began to set.

...

Meanwhile, Lian roamed the village streets before heading back to the Hokage Mansion.

At that moment, the sound of a bell echoed through the village, followed by a commotion of children's voices.

From the Ninja Academy, a group of students emerged, running enthusiastically. Some clapped, others chased each other while laughing, and some shouted.

After a while, the children began saying goodbye to their friends. Some left accompanied by adults, while others departed alone.

Their eyes shone with a purity rarely seen in ninjas.

Looking into those children's eyes, something stirred within Lian. A deep chord in his heart, almost forgotten, seemed to resonate with that scene.

.....

Hokage's Office

From the window, Hiruzen also observed the scene. His heart filled with emotion as he thought about what those children meant for the village's future.

He knew Root consisted of two types of people.

War orphans adopted by Danzo from outside Konoha.

Those within the village who had nowhere to go.

There were also those who had been forced or manipulated by Danzo to join, victims of his ambitions and questionable methods.

Lian belonged to the first group.

He had been a war orphan brought to Konoha by Danzo at the end of the Second World War.

In a moment of desperation, he had accepted Konoha's help to survive, which fostered a sense of gratitude toward the village.

But under Danzo's influence, he volunteered to eliminate his emotions and become a Root member.

The stated purpose was to protect Konoha, but the reality was different. This group, made up of people without a true home, didn't so much protect the village as they did Danzo, whom they saw as their benefactor and sole reason for existence.

With Danzo's death, most of these individuals had lost their purpose. Some followed him even in death, while others wandered like living corpses, without direction or purpose.

Lian was one of these walking dead.

However, seeing the students leave the Academy, he seemed to recall for a moment the mission once entrusted to him.

To protect Konoha.

Hiruzen watched him from a distance with hope.

He wanted those Root survivors to find a new purpose and regroup as the elite they were. He knew they could contribute greatly to the village if they managed to overcome their past.

But things weren't so simple.

When the students finished leaving, Lian's eyes dimmed again. His vacant expression returned, and once more, he began wandering aimlessly, like a walking corpse.

________

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