After the birthday celebration, Might Guy gifted Akuma a pair of shinobi gloves, while Rock Lee gave him arm weights. TenTen presented him with three kunai, and finally, Neji gifted him three shuriken. Akuma thanked them all for their gifts. After chatting for a while, they eventually left, as they had mission to complete.
Akuma resumed his training, muscles burning with effort. The rhythmic sound of his strikes filled the air—until a noise behind him made him pause. Turning his head slightly, he spotted the Third Hokage strolling nearby, hands behind his back.
The moment their eyes met, Hiruzen smiled warmly. "Ah, Akuma. Sorry to disturb you, but my wife's cat, Tora, has run off again. Have you seen her?"
Akuma held back a sigh. He knew exactly where this was going. The old man always found some excuse to talk to him, and it usually ended with a life lesson he didn't ask for. He had even started avoiding him, but somehow, Hiruzen always managed to track him down.
Without hesitation, Akuma decided to lie. "Yeah, I saw the cat running that way." He pointed toward the village.
Hiruzen chuckled, stroking his beard. "Is that so? Well, that's a relief. I was worried she might have wandered outside the village. If she's still in Konoha, she'll find her way home sooner or later."
Then, just as Akuma feared, the old man's expression softened, his sharp eyes studying him with a knowing look. "So, tell me, Akuma—how have you been?"
Akuma cursed his luck. Here we go again. He kept his tone neutral. "I'm just working out as usual."
Hiruzen glanced around the training area, his gaze settling on the remnants of Akuma's session before he casually asked, "Whose birthday was today?"
Akuma looked at him, his expression unreadable. "Mine."
Hiruzen's brows rose in feigned surprise. "Oh? Today was your birthday? You should have told me earlier—I would've prepared a gift." He chuckled, reaching into his robes. "But no matter, I have just the thing for you."
Akuma watched warily as the Hokage rummaged through his pockets. After a moment, Hiruzen pulled out a small book, the title gleaming under the sunlight: 100 Ways to Become a Good and Strong Shinobi—By Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Akuma's expression darkened.
Hiruzen grinned, proudly extending the book toward him. "This is the perfect gift for you! You want to become a strong shinobi, don't you? Well, this book contains all my wisdom—everything I've learned over the years. It will guide you on your journey."
Akuma stared at the book, feeling as though he had been handed a live explosive. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to refuse, but rejecting a gift outright would be impolite.
With great reluctance, he accepted it, gripping it with all the enthusiasm of someone forced to carry a boulder up a mountain.
"Thank you," he muttered, his voice flat.
Hiruzen beamed. "You're very welcome! Study it well, and I guarantee you'll become an even greater shinobi than I." His smile widened, clearly preparing to continue his lecture.
But before he could say another word, Akuma suddenly clutched his stomach, his expression twisting in discomfort. "Sorry to interrupt, but I think I'm having stomach pain. I need to go to the bathroom."
Without waiting for a response, Akuma turned on his heel and quickly walked away, not bothering to look back. Today, I refuse to sit through another one of his lectures.
Hiruzen watched him go, stroking his beard thoughtfully. "The boy is getting smarter…" He chuckled to himself. "I suppose I'll have to change my approach."
He had already influenced Akuma as much as he could for now, but the real challenge was making the boy feel a deeper connection to the village. Akuma spent most of his time training alone or associating with Rock Lee and Might Guy—both admirable shinobi, but they wouldn't help him form bonds with people his own age.
"He needs friends." If Akuma could find someone to share his burdens, perhaps he'd come to see Konoha as his home.
Hiruzen's gaze lingered in the direction Akuma had left, his mind racing. The boy was exceptionally intelligent and far too mature for his age. Those eyes—he had seen them before. The eyes of someone who had already endured pain, the kind of pain that hardened the soul. He had seen that look countless times on the battlefield, but seeing it on the face of a child made him pause.
"I need to take that pain away."
And the best way to do that was to give Akuma a friend—someone who could help him carry that burden.
After a moment of thought, the answer became clear. Konohamaru.
They were close in age and his grandson would make an excellent friend for Akuma.
As he stroked his beard, another thought crossed his mind. Perhaps enrolling Akuma in the Ninja Academy would be even better. There, he'd be surrounded by peers, forced to interact with others, and maybe… fall in love with a young girl.
The idea made Hiruzen hum in thought. If Akuma were to form a bond with someone, it could help anchor him to the village. And if that bond were with Hanabi Hyūga…
A union between Akuma and Hanabi could be a great blessing for Konoha. The combination of their bloodlines had the potential to create something remarkable. A child who inherits both their strengths…
The possibilities excited him. Akuma was already an enigma—a boy with a monstrous body and recovery rate. If he could pass down his Kekkei Genkai, it would be a great boon for the village's future.
With that in mind, Hiruzen started planning. When the time came, he would form a team consisting of Akuma, Konohamaru, and Hanabi. Konohamaru would be the bridge, helping Akuma connect with others. Hanabi, with her prestigious Hyūga lineage, would not only challenge Akuma but possibly form a deeper bond with him over time.
Hiruzen smiled to himself, already envisioning the future. "Yes… That might just be the best course of action".
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If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!