Naruto: Blacksmith

·Naruto:

"Sigh…"

Hiruzen let out a long sigh, pulled out his pipe, and lit it. He inhaled deeply, letting the smoke slowly disperse into the air.

He hoped Lian would find a new motivation. It wouldn't just be good for him but also for Konoha.

But things weren't going as he had hoped.

Although Lian seemed to have been moved by observing Konoha's life, he still hadn't managed to find a new reason to live.

!

Suddenly, something caught Hiruzen's attention. From his window, out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement on the street.

Lian had stopped at a corner near the Academy, looking toward the Ninth Training Ground.

The distance was too great to make out his expression, and the buildings partially obstructed the view of what was happening in the field.

However, something about that scene unsettled Hiruzen.

That place, at this time...

Could it be…?

With a sense of urgency, he grabbed his crystal ball from the desk and activated it.

The image of the Ninth Training Ground appeared on the surface.

A child was training diligently within, while Lian remained motionless, observing from the path.

In his usually empty eyes, there was a faint ripple, as if they were filled with meaning and memories.

Though just a child, the level of his training was nothing short of that of a professional ninja.

His mastery of shuriken, swordsmanship, and other basic skills was impressive, far beyond what any ordinary young person could achieve.

Watching him, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel a sense of relief in his heart.

...

For Lian, that scene brought back memories.

Training in Root had been cruel. It was a constant struggle for survival, where only one from each group could make it to the end.

To stand out in such a ruthless environment, children had to master combat skills at an alarming speed.

Many of them reached a Chūnin-level proficiency before even hitting adolescence.

Compared to those memories, the child in the training ground seemed less refined, less efficient. His methods were immature.

But he couldn't blame him.

Konoha was in times of peace. There was no need for students to graduate hastily or face life-and-death situations at such a young age.

The sun began to set, painting the sky with shades of yellow and orange.

The child packed up his things and left with surprisingly high spirits.

Still full of energy?

Lian observed carefully.

It was evident that the child had spent the afternoon in high-intensity training, yet he showed no signs of fatigue.

Does he have a special body?

As the child's figure slowly disappeared on the horizon, Lian stood motionless, thoughtful. In his usually quiet eyes, there was now something more.

Finally, he turned and left calmly.

...

Hokage's Office

Hiruzen remained silent, deep in thought.

A long time passed before he inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, letting the smoke clear his mind.

The extinguished fire was rekindled

...

The next day.

Lian wandered through Konoha again, just as he had the day before.

After a day of errands, the evening arrived.

Whether by coincidence or because something in his heart guided him, Lian found himself in front of the Hokage's Mansion.

The school bells rang, followed by the noise of children.

The laughter and innocence of the little ones made something stir within him—that almost-dead heart beat faintly.

But soon, the effect faded. When the last child left, Lian felt his heart stop again.

He was about to leave when, passing by the Ninth Training Ground, he saw the same child he had observed the day before.

The child was still training, displaying the same high level as before, but this time, there were no signs of improvement.

Lian stopped and watched silently until the sun disappeared on the horizon, and the child left.

He didn't know why he did it. Perhaps it was just a way to pass the time.

The third day, the fourth, the fifth…

For more than half a month, Lian repeated his routine. He wandered through Konoha during the day, passed by the Hokage's Mansion, observed the children leaving the Academy, and then ended up at the Ninth Training Ground.

Every afternoon, he watched the child train.

One day, upon arriving at the field, the child wasn't training. He was sitting cross-legged on the grass, deep in thought, clearly wrestling with something in his mind.

Difficulties?

Lian thought, though he had no intention of offering help.

He had seen the child face problems before, and he always solved them on his own. To Lian, that was a sign of genius.

But this time was different.

Hours passed, and the child couldn't overcome his block. Finally, as the sun set, the child stood up, shook his head in frustration, and began to leave.

When they crossed paths, Lian spoke without thinking.

"Do you have a problem with your training?"

The question surprised even himself.

He didn't know why he had spoken. Perhaps it was the frustration on the child's face that compelled him.

The child stopped, looked at him with annoyance, and asked, "Who are you…?"

Lian turned and tried to smile, though it had been so long since he had done so that his smile was terrifying.

"Don't be fooled by my appearance, kid. I'm a very powerful ninja. If you're having trouble, I can give you some advice."

"Really?" The child looked at him suspiciously.

"Of course," Lian nodded firmly.

The child observed him silently for a while before saying, "...Forget it. A stranger spying on me suddenly wanting to give me advice is suspicious."

With that, he ran off quickly.

Lian was stunned.

He hadn't expected his good intentions to be rejected.

"Hey, old man!"

The child's voice startled him.

He looked toward the horizon and saw the child waving at him under the glow of the setting sun.

"Anyway, thanks."

And he ran off again.

Old man?

Lian smiled, this time genuinely.

It was a small smile but much better than the forced one before.

....

The next day.

Lian returned to the Ninth Training Ground. The child was still deep in thought, unable to solve his problems.

When they crossed paths again, the child greeted him.

"Good evening, weird old man."

The tone wasn't exactly kind, but Lian wasn't bothered. Instead, he felt a flicker of warmth in his heart.

The third day, the fourth, the fifth…

Half a month passed the same way. Lian watched the child train, but he couldn't overcome his block.

One afternoon, as they crossed paths again, the child stopped and asked him.

"Are you really a ninja?"

I can't hold back anymore.

Lian smiled, now with confidence. "I'm not that amazing, but I'm just… a Jōnin."

"...Really?" The child still doubted.

Lian wasn't angry. After all, he had been out of practice for some time and hadn't earned the child's trust.

He nodded sincerely. "Really."

"Then, can you help me with my problem?"

"I can't promise, but I can give you some advice."

The child hesitated before speaking. "...No matter how much I train, I feel like I'm not improving anymore."

Lian laughed openly.

"Oh, so that's it! You've hit the limit of basic training."

"Eh?" The child looked at him, confused.

"To keep improving, you have two options: graduate right now and start gaining experience on real missions, or learn ninjutsu."

"Maybe you don't realize it, but you've already surpassed the level of a ninja student. Everything you learn at school is no longer enough to make you stronger."

________

Time: If you're craving more (and I know you are!), I have just what you need. On my Patreon, you'll find exclusive chapters. Join our community and be the first to discover what happens next!

👉 [patreon.com/Athome790]

Your support fuels me. Thank you for the support! 💖