The Shadow of Konoha

Hanyu returned to Konoha and met Sansho for the last time.

In that quiet little courtyard, she was still sitting in the chair basking in the sun, just like last time.

Sansho was wearing layers of thick clothes, with only her face exposed. She had the same smile as always.

She seemed to be in good spirits, and her bulging belly indicated that she was pregnant with a new life.

But at this moment, Hanyu felt that he had no way to break the silence.

So it was Sansho who spoke first, "Hanyu... do you know what my name is?"

"name?"

Hanyu was stunned for a moment, then shook his head. Sansho was called Sansho, which was just a code name. Her last name was of course Senju, but Hanyu had never heard anyone mention her name.

"Yes, of course you don't know, because I never told you.

Misaki, my name is Senju Misaki...but now there is no Senju, so there is only Misaki left.

'Flowers bloom on the road' is 'Saki', and Misaki means 'Flowers bloom on the road, the future is promising'. This was the name the first Hokage gave me before I was born. What do you think? Can you understand a father's gentle expectations for his daughter?

Father... is truly a lush forest. He is the greatest ninja in history. He pacified the troubled times and established Konoha. Therefore, as a Konoha man, I don't need to be powerful. I just need to be a flower under the shelter of the forest and show my most beautiful colors at the right time... But who would have thought that I couldn't even do this.

My inherent weakness is an unsolvable problem."

As the daughter of Hashirama Senju, it doesn't matter to the first Hokage whether Sansho's combat power is 100 or 1000. After all, no matter how strong she is, she can never be stronger than her father. But the problem with Sansho is that her combat power is zero.

The daughter of the God of Ninja is not even a ninja. This is a very difficult thing to accept no matter what. It may take Sansho a long time to accept that this is the fact and to adapt to the way other people look at her.

"Hanyu, as you can see, I have been like this from birth to death. I inherited the blood of my ancestors, but I could not inherit their power. Misaki, Misaki, my name actually reflects another meaning of these two words that is completely opposite to my father's expectations... Misaki means 'never bloomed', and this explanation is more appropriate for me."

Hanyu was just listening to Sansho's story quietly, but he couldn't offer any comfort to her - frivolous comfort was just irresponsible consideration for the other person's experience, but Sansho didn't need those things.

"The most important decision and the most important thing I have ever done in my life is to make the Senju clan disappear. It can be said that I was the one who destroyed the Senju clan with my own hands, but I was also the one who allowed the Senju clan to continue forever.

Therefore, although it is a pity that the Senju clan has lost its name, it is not something that makes me regret... I can say this even to my father.

But even though I can realize this rationally, it is difficult for me to forgive myself emotionally for what I have done.

For the first and second generations, their life's work was not to carry forward the Senju clan, but to build this village under our feet... The Senju clan disappeared, but Konoha will continue.

A person's "existence", including his own life and the memory of him by other people three generations up and down, only lasts a hundred years in total, but the works of the first and second generations will continue to exist.

No matter what, I am a person who admires my father immensely."

Hanyu feels that if anyone has a father like that, they would admire him immensely and be proud of him.

"The first Hokage is the sun, and I am not even a candle."

If we look at it from the perspective of a 'ninja', Sansho's metaphor is by no means an exaggeration.

"No matter what the reason is, hiding the name of the Senju is a kind of destruction. The mental torment I have suffered for this is indescribable ... However, if a person's life is only about destruction without creation, then what a sad life it would be. So before I die, I must complete another thing."

"War, death of relatives, birth of children, the time of my life is actually limited, but because I have experienced so much, it seems long enough.

My father and mother gave me a soul and a body, the reputation of the Senju makes me proud and independent, my husband is my soul mate, my children are my flesh and blood, and as for you... perhaps what I said may make you feel a little arrogant, but if there is anything in my life that can be called a "work", it is you, Hanyu.

The job of my father is Konoha, and my Konoha is you, Hanyu."

This was something Sansho decided shortly after meeting Hanyu.

As she said, she is not a ninja like the first and second generation, so she naturally does not have the ability to create a ninja village like Konoha, but no one wants to end their life in vain. So, Sansho created a small "village" with only one person.

At this point, Sansho's eyes looking towards Hanyu seemed extremely natural and calm, yet also extremely passionate. For a moment, Hanyu felt that he was completely immersed in it, and even his breathing stopped.

It was a statement that he had never thought of, and was suffocating in itself.

Sansho's thoughts, like a burning star, pressed down on him, trying to melt him completely, while the enormous pressure was trying to crush his entire body into the ground.

One person cannot bear the weight of another person's life, but she forced Hanyu to accept it.

A long time ago, Sansho had been extremely kind to Hanyu, but no matter how much kindness she had, it was far less influential than just these few words... At this moment, Hanyu didn't even know what to say except that he was suffocating.

"Teacher Sansho...you are a little too willful."

"Because I know that this last act of willfulness in my life will be forgiven no matter what."

Yes, she was always forgiven.

Hanyu thought for a moment, took a deep breath, and then said, "Teacher Sansho, I have always been a person who is quick to act but slow to speak, but you should understand that I am also a person with my own ideas. I may not be able to accurately describe those ideas myself, but they are deeply rooted in my mind...

I am just an outsider in Konoha. Even if Teacher Sansho has different expectations for me, the future is full of changes. Maybe I will destroy this village."

Hanyu's words sounded a bit arrogant at first, but Sansho understood what he was saying, so she said, "According to what you said, one day in the future, Sarutobi might destroy Konoha...

Hanyu, have more confidence in yourself. Who can predict what the future holds?

Moreover, I am a person whose time only stays in the present. The future... is too far away.

Yes, if one day you decide to destroy this village, it means that in your judgment, this village is no longer worth protecting, so perhaps it really should be destroyed.

And if you can really destroy things that should be destroyed, doesn't that mean I have finally surpassed my father? Maybe I will be happy."

Sansho's next words were completely a joke. Putting aside the issue of ability, she didn't think that Hanyu had any need to destroy Konoha... Of course, her words also left room for sadness for herself - no matter what Hanyu was going to do in the future, she couldn't see it anymore, so why worry?

Hanyu didn't really reject what Sansho said about "works". Sansho was his teacher who taught him ninjutsu. In fact, to Hanyu, Sansho's "works" were not so much himself as the sword in his hand, because his thoughts were not under her control.

Sansho's knowledge became Hanyu's weapon, but this weapon can only be controlled by Hanyu himself, so Sansho's statement is not accurate.

But only Hanyu himself would care about and distinguish such details, while for Sansho there is no need to be so detailed.

Influencing an adult's thoughts is not a simple matter. Hanyu has always tried to maintain his independent thoughts, but in fact, no matter how much he denies it, he has been deeply influenced by Sansho... No matter how many lives he has lived, no matter how determined he is, Hanyu is not a person who has lost his humanity. As long as he has humanity, he will never be indifferent to Sansho.

Throughout his life, Hanyu has been alone, but he has never felt lonely. However, for some reason, he is now sinking deeper and deeper into sorrow - if it weren't for Sansho's last words, his emotions should not have been so deep.

"Hanyu, let's go. I have said my last words... but you should not bear the grief before my death."

Sansho explained everything and urged Hanyu to leave.

At this moment , she could no longer suppress the trembling of her voice as she spoke. Although the smile on her face was always bright, it was conceivable that her frail body was enduring pain that ordinary people could hardly endure.

But because she is Hanyu's teacher, the closer it gets to the end, the more she has to maintain her reserve and dignity as a teacher, so she doesn't want to expose her most vulnerable and helpless side to her only disciple.

Hanyu nodded and turned around, but after taking two steps forward, he turned back again and said, "Teacher Sansho, I heard that the most famous artists are often unknown , and the most valuable works of the most famous artists are only recognized after their death... Do you think this belated recognition is a good thing or a bad thing, Teacher Sansho?"

"If we can only distinguish between good and bad, then of course it's a good thing. It's better to be late than to be ignored, Hanyu."

Sansho said it very straightforwardly, and Hanyu nodded to show that he understood. Then, he continued, "Teacher Sansho, whether life is 30 years or 60 years, compared to the endless time, it is just a short moment.

After the passage of time, there will only be more eternal time.

So, Mr. Sansho, I hope you will be treated tenderly for an infinite and long time in the future."

"Hanyu, this is not something that someone who is quick at action but slow at speech would say, but... I understand. No matter what you expect, I will do what you wish for from now on. This is the unchanging agreement between us.

The promise that will never change during the time you said.

So, go ahead, Hanyu, and rest assured. "

Hanyu turned around and said nothing more, then walked out of Sansho's courtyard.

Time is infinite, but should human grief continue forever?

Shouldn't it continue forever?

In the 19th year of Konoha, the first Ninja World War was triggered by the death of the first Hokage...

it's over.

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