In a memory of a past life, there had been a compilation video featuring Konoha's infamous "Four Deadlasts." Among them stood Jiraiya, his adolescent self not particularly strong—but not many could completely overpower him either.
Kakuzu narrowed his eyes. The one who had once crushed Jiraiya into the ground didn't seem older than fifteen, likely two years Jiraiya's senior. His striking white hair and a short sword in hand marked him as none other than Hatake Sakumo.
Sakumo's short blade had Jiraiya scrambling, forced into wild leaps and dodges. The match only ended when their instructor stepped in, unable to bear watching any longer. A dejected Jiraiya left the stage, his head hanging low, only to be greeted by Tsunade's teasing cheers.
"Sakumo, you're amazing!"
It was no surprise that a handsome, skilled boy like Sakumo would be popular with girls. Yet, Sakumo was oblivious, not even sparing Tsunade a playful glance. Such an opportunity wasted...
But Sakumo wasn't finished. After defeating Jiraiya, he scanned the crowd, his sharp gaze settling on another figure.
"Orochimaru." His blade pointed directly at the silver-haired boy. "Your turn."
"Uh..."
The usually calm and collected Orochimaru faltered, his rare unease evident as he gave a polite, dismissive wave.
"No, thank you."
He had no interest in being turned into a punching bag like Jiraiya.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's three disciples were utterly defeated before Sakumo.
The spectators, however, were awestruck.
"What a genius!"
"Hatake Sakumo's blade work is unmatched—it's a level even I can't hope to reach," murmured Maruboshi Kosuke, a veteran shinobi. "It's no wonder he's already earned the rank of jōnin."
Even Kakuzu, watching silently, found himself intrigued. Rumors of Sakumo's brilliance persisted for years after, describing him as the one who outshone the Sannin. A commander of the ANBU and even a candidate for the title of Fourth Hokage, his legacy should have been legendary.
But his end was shockingly abrupt—a death by public condemnation rather than battle.
Such a fate felt incomprehensible. Whispers pinned the blame on Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo's machinations, but Kakuzu had his own perspective.
"Ninja must never let emotions interfere with their missions," he thought, recalling his training in Takigakure. For Konoha shinobi, the "Will of Fire" shaped their values. It wasn't uncommon to see them risk their lives for their comrades, valuing the mission only slightly less than their bonds.
By contrast, Sakumo's choice to save his comrades at the expense of the mission had been a noble act—but out of step with the ruthless practicality of the ninja world.
After all, true success only belonged to those capable of defying the system itself. Heroes like Uzumaki Naruto, who managed to save both comrades and missions, were exceedingly rare.
Kakuzu shook his head, pondering the harsh realities of their world.
"Kosuke-sensei, the cleaning is done. You don't need to worry about it anymore."
A boy's voice interrupted his thoughts. Turning, Kakuzu saw a bushy-browed boy in a green training suit, carrying a bucket. Despite his age, the boy was already a genin.
"Might Duy, thank you. You've saved me a lot of work. Stay for lunch, won't you?"
Duy waved him off, a bright smile showing off his pristine teeth.
"Thank you for the offer, Kosuke-sensei, but I can't! My youth is calling! I still need to run 500 more laps this afternoon to build my endurance—so I'll never hold my comrades back during a mission!"
Kosuke sighed. "Duy... if it's too much, you don't have to be a ninja, you know."
Duy's smile didn't falter. "Arigatou! But I won't give up."
With that, he sprinted off, leaving Kosuke to shake his head with a bittersweet expression.
"That boy... his ninjutsu talent is nearly nonexistent, yet he's determined to rely on taijutsu alone. No matter the ridicule, he refuses to give up..."
Kakuzu observed the scene silently before letting out a quiet chuckle.
"Something funny, Kakuzu-san?" Kosuke asked, puzzled.
'Nothing much,' Kakuzu thought, 'just that the kid named Duy reminds me of you. He may spend his whole life as a genin, but in the end, he'll be a remarkable shinobi.'
Might Duy was a man who had proven his youthful spirit through self-sacrifice, leaving a lasting impression, much like his son. Kakuzu couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for the man. In Duy's eyes, Kakuzu saw reflections of countless others—people who fought, struggled, and persevered only to remain ordinary, just another drop in the vast ocean of humanity. But no matter the hardships, they pressed on.
Duy was no different. Even in a world dominated by powerful ninjutsu, where his abilities were insignificant, he maintained an unyielding optimism toward life. That indomitable spirit was something rare and commendable.
As Kakuzu observed the training field, his gaze fell on someone else. A boy sat alone, apart from the bustling crowd, as though he knew his skills weren't worth showcasing.
'If geniuses like Sakumo Hatake and Orochimaru could effortlessly crush Jiraiya,' Kakuzu mused, 'then it's clear Jiraiya would never stand a chance against them either.'
The boy crouched in a corner, watching Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade on the arena stage with unspoken envy glimmering in his eyes.
'That must be… Hiruko,' Kakuzu finally deduced after a long moment of observation.
Hiruko longed to keep up with his peers, Jiraiya and the others, but his talents were only marginally better than Might Duy's. Over time, he would fall even further behind the Three Legendary Sannin. Unlike Duy, Hiruko didn't retain the same pure, unyielding heart. Instead, he turned to experimenting with the forbidden Chimera Technique.
But Hiruko's version of the technique differed greatly from Kakuzu's. It was rushed, forceful, merging with others' bloodlines at any cost. The result was a grotesque transformation—neither human nor monster.
Today, Kakuzu's attention was drawn to three individuals, each remarkable in their own way. From a certain perspective, they were all geniuses:
Sakumo Hatake: a combat prodigy.
Might Duy: a genius of sheer effort and determination.
Hiruko: a researcher and innovator, despite his flawed methods.
Yet, the fates of all three were tragic in their own way, leaving Kakuzu with a sense of melancholy.
'But now…' Kakuzu's gaze sharpened, his fingers lightly tapping against one another. 'Should I step in and alter their destinies?'
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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