Three children were departing from the 'youth ninjutsu competition'. They watched as the sun was slowly setting over them.
Obito seemed to be in a bad mood. He aimed his fist at the setting sun and swore. "Kakashi Hatake, I'll take him down and become the Hokage, no matter what!"
"That's the spirit, Obito."
Rin chuckled and gave her support while Kajirama was surprised.
"You want to become the Hokage, Obito?" Kajirama asked.
"Yeah, I want to become the first Uchiha to become Hokage." Kajirama saw nothing but genuine sheer confidence and positivity in his friend's eyes. He smiled.
"I believe in you."
When he heard that, Obito was startled, but eventually he grinned. "Thank you!"
"Me too Obito, I believe in you." Rin added.
"Thanks guys!" Obito turned his head towards the Hokage stone faces on the mountain above the Hokage Building, his eyes shining with anticipation for the future.
When Obito finished voicing his inspiration and declaring the guy, Kakashi Hatake, as his goal to beat. Kajirama looked up on the sun as he thought. 'What about me? What's my dream? What is... My Nindō[Ninja Way]?
As Kajirama thought of that, he looked down on the ground and stared at his two hands.
He had always wanted to become a shinobi, since it was what his grandparents, parents, uncles and the people around him were. He was diligent in his training, he was able to execute a jutsu unlike other kids his age which was impressive, even he knew that himself. But then, he saw a kid similar in age named, Kakashi Hatake, doing a earth release technique.
'Hmph! That's just a D-rank, I'm much more better.' Kajirama thought as he suddenly snorted, earning him confused looks from Rin and Obito.
But then again, although he was inspired by the people around him and was interested on the path of a shinobi, Kajirama never knew what he wanted to achieve after becoming one. He had always asked numerous question on his grandparents what his parents were like, he also read some books that are written about them. Would he become like his father, who was acknowledged and earned the moniker - Toad Sage of the Legendary Trio [Gama Sennin の Densetsu no Sannin]?
His mother, who was feared at the frontlines because of her adept and berserk infiltration capabilities even when surrounded by enemy shinobis which the people in Konoha hailed her as - The Shadow of Kindle [Honō no kage].
The two were combat-nins. His father had his Toad Sage's jutsu, his mother with her self invented kinjutsu - Berserk Style: Lotus Mayhem Technique [Kyōbōton: Rōtasu Konton no Jutsu].
When he collected this knowledge from Biwako and Hiruzen, Kajirama had wondered what would set him apart from his parents, apart from their Nindō [Ninja way]. So that he wouldn't just be their shadow left in the village that the civilians and shinobis would expect him to one day inherit their mantle.
Kenjutsu? It is flashy, effective and cool, but that wouldn't set him apart from the rest, there are numerous shinobis like those, the - Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist [ Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū] already got that since its founding. Nevertheless, it was a subcategory he wouldn't forsake since he, so far, loved the feeling of swinging a katana.
Ninjutsu? Maybe, but it is too convenient and the only thing that set him apart from the rest was his primary alignment to wind release, which Konoha had almost none in their disposal. Still, it was a possibility.
Kajirama nodded at that thought. 'I should research on some wind release techniques and see what the village had collected.'
And lastly, Taijutsu. This was the last current ability he could do, his stances and katas now may be stable and powerful, they are just basic punches, kicks and dodges. Maybe after he see what the Shinobi Academy has to offer, he may be able to get an inspiration on that aspect.
'I guess it is still too early for me to think of something that would set me apart from the rest, huh.' Kajirama thought in self-mockery. 'After all, I'm not even attending the academy yet, not to mention it's still a few years away before I'll graduate from what I heard of the time one has to spend studying in it.'
For the time being, he should continue his training so he could somehow close the gap between himself and the individuals who are already a shinobi, fresh or veteran.
"Kajirama." He heard, snapping him out of his daze as he saw Rin along with Obito looking at him strangely.
"Yeah? What's up?"
"You said we're going to your house to celebrate your birthday occasion. We've been following you around for a while now." Obito informed as he tiled his head to the side impatiently. "So... Where's your house again? Are we near?"
"What..." Kajirama got confused. He looked around the area and saw that they are quite far away from the center square of the village, since he saw in front of him, the clan compound of the Akimichi...
"Huh?" He got so caught up with his musing that they had unknowingly arrived somewhat near the east gate of Konoha.
"Shit! Why did we arrive here!?" Kajirama swore. But he knew he was to blame, Obito and Rin cocked their head, perplexed by his reaction.
When he saw that it is almost night time, Kajirama sprung up on his place and bolted as fast as he can towards the Sarutobi compound, which was at the opposite direction, while his face was sweating profusely from panic. "Guys! Let's go, or else my Obā-chan will kill me!"
"Huh?" It was Obito and Rin's turn to become absentminded. As they balnkly stared at Kajirama's swifty running back.
"C'mon guys! Hurry!"
That got both kids to sprint as they followed Kajirama.
"Wait up, teme!"
"Kajirama, slow down..."
Kajirama almost ignored their cries, nevertheless, he slowed down for his friends but opted to grab each of their hand so they would move faster. His eyes and lips shivering. 'Oh man... I'm so gonna get scolded by Obā-chan...'
Meanwhile, while Kajirama and his friends were busy running in abandon. In the Sarutobi compound, Sandaime Hokage's residence. A familiar white-haired man was sitting on a futon, with a birthday cap on his head looked at his former mentor and Biwako.
"Say sensei... Where's my gaki?"
...
Iwagakure no Sato [Village Hidden by Rocks]
{Tsuchikage Building}
The Tsuchikage, his advisors, council elders and abnormally, advocates of war were present in the room, they were sitting as they seemed to be in an important meeting. They were arguing as they loudly spoke their minds of the matter concerning the issue and cause that they held such meeting.
"Suna and Konoha sure are brazen! Tsuchikage-sama, we should confront this two vile villages! How dare they accept missions from our land, even if the Tsuchi no Kuni no Daimyō[Land of Earth Daimyō] made it such that a few escort mission Daimyō-sama intended to provide us was agreed upon by other Daimyō' of the elemental nations that it made this a widespread mission, they should still have reconsider our judgement of the matter!" An advocate furiously stood up as he slammed both his hand on the table, his abrupt action caused the chair he was sitting on to jerk backwards with a loud noise.
His words seemed to fan the flames that had the same opinion as the advocate. As a person with a goatee and slanted eyes followed as he put forward his own view of the issue. "I agree, Tsuchikage-sama! Just because we didn't signed a peace treaty with Konoha, is this how they act towards us!? Where are our pride as shinobis of the Tsuchi no Kunī!?[Land of Earth].]
"Apart from the fact that they are doing such shameful acts. Kumo had also been so blatant with their shinobis! They didn't even hid the fact that my son was turned into a cripple because of some dispute we supposedly started!"
"Kiri has also been unusual lately..."
"Our shinobis assigned to guard and patrol the borders from the Konoha and Suna scums are dissatisfied to see them escorting the nobles of our own nation. We should act accordingly, Tsuchikage-sama!"
"This isn't some simple skirmishes! They are intending to start a conflict!"
A series of loud dissatisfaction of opinion was voiced out towards the Tsuchikage.
"I say we invade their shinobi as a warn-"
"ENOUGH!" Ōnoki, bellowed at the top of his lungs. This seemed to be effective as the voices quieted immediately, as if they were muted by a remote control.
The Tsuchikage calmed himself down as he slowly took his slow and deep breaths. His son, who was at the side was about to speak, when he cut him with a raised hand. Before he decided to speak.
"We have faults on our part, that I am sure you withheld." He glared when he saw someone was about to protest, which once again muted the woman. "However, some of you are also justified in saying we should not let our shinobis experience something that would vandalized the Will of Stone our predecessors and we, the people of the present era have valued as such."
"Thus, we will act accordingly, let us be thorough with our actions, let's not make the same mistake we did on the past war... Although we are also still recuperating with our war potential, we will not see it end when they won't welcome our warnings. We are the shinobis of theTsuchi no Kuni[Land of Earth] let us be resolved with our will, but don't make sudden movements..."
Ōnoki interlocked his fingers as he surveyed his people who are in the meeting. Silence reigned the room for a few minutes, before the Tsuchikage finally said.
"Secure the borders, don't let any foreign shinobi set foot on our land and to those who have already, decimate them all, however... Be discreet..."
"Understood?"
"Hai, Tsuchikage-sama!"