Veigar stood inside the room for a long time, listening carefully. Only when he was sure there was no more movement outside the door did he cautiously crack it open, peeking out to check his surroundings.
Quickly, he withdrew his head, but what he didn't realize was that his actions had already been recorded in full by an Anbu ninja assigned to monitor him.
As soon as he returned to his second-floor room, a sudden voice reached his ears.
"Veigar Koshima, I am delivering a message under orders from the Third Hokage."
"Report to the Hokage Tower tomorrow morning."
"That is all."
The abrupt announcement startled Veigar so much that he nearly assumed a defensive stance. However, upon recognizing the monkey-faced mask—the same one that had previously summoned him to take the entrance exam at the Ninja Academy—his wariness eased slightly.
"Understood," Veigar replied.
The moment his response left his lips, the Anbu ninja at the window vanished without a trace.
Only after confirming the Anbu was truly gone did Veigar shut the window. His once-serious expression suddenly shifted.
"I'm still far too weak."
Whether it was the Third Hokage, who had been right outside his door, or the Anbu ninja who had appeared and disappeared without a sound, Veigar—despite having trained in chakra sensory techniques—had failed to detect either of them.
The realization hit him hard.
Right now, he was nothing more than an ant—one that could be crushed or snuffed out at any moment.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Veigar unrolled the scroll detailing the techniques of kenjutsu.
For some reason, an intense sense of urgency filled his heart.
...
At 4:00 AM the next morning, Veigar—who usually left empty-handed—this time carried with him the ninjatō left behind by Takaaki Koshima.
A 60-centimeter blade was a perfect fit for Veigar's small frame, as he stood just over 1.1 meters tall at the age of seven.
After finishing his shift at the slaughterhouse, Veigar made his way to the Hokage Residence. However, Hiruzen Sarutobi had not yet arrived for the day.
The ANBU guards patrolling the Hokage Residence, upon learning of Veigar's purpose, swiftly escorted him to a waiting room inside the building, instructing him to wait for the Hokage's arrival.
As he waited, Veigar quietly reviewed the key principles of his Ittō-ryū: lai Slash, an essential form in his swordsmanship training.
His particular school of kenjutsu focused on precision cuts. From the way one grasped the hilt to the positioning of the blade, from line of sight to breath control—every aspect had its own strict requirements.
If you can't even hold your blade properly, how can you hope to kill?
True swordsmanship training began with mastering the grip.
When an ANBU ninja finally arrived to summon him, the scene that greeted them upon opening the door was one of quiet concentration—Veigar stood there, eyes closed, arm extended, holding his ninjatō in a perfectly level stance.
"Veigar Koshima, the Hokage is ready to see you now."
"Please follow me."
Veigar opened his eyes, smoothly sheathing his blade in one swift motion.
"Understood. Please lead the way."
Regardless of rank or status, he held deep respect for those stronger than him.
Following the ANBU's lead, Veigar soon arrived at the Hokage's office. This was his third time meeting Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konohagakure.
"Hokage-sama, I sincerely apologize—I had no idea it was you outside my door last night!"
The moment he saw Hiruzen, Veigar bowed his head in apology, his voice filled with apprehension.
"Hahahaha..."
Hiruzen chuckled warmly before waving a hand dismissively.
"No need to apologize. It was my mistake for being too abrupt."
He understood why a seven-year-old child would react that way—after all, they were practically strangers.
Even an adult would hesitate to open their door for an unknown visitor late at night, so he bore Veigar no ill will.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Veigar murmured his gratitude.
Hiruzen smiled and said, "Veigar, I've heard that you perform exceptionally well at the Academy. That proves you're a natural talent."
"But I'm curious—why do you work at the slaughterhouse? Aren't you exhausted from waking up so early every day?"
Scratching his head, Veigar responded shyly, "I'm not a genius or anything... I just happen to remember the exam material well."
After a brief pause, he continued, "As for the slaughterhouse job… well, I ran out of money, so I had no choice but to work."
"Besides, my mother once told me—if you want to earn more, you have to work hard."
"Tomiyasu-ojisan pays me well. I can save a little money every month. The work is tough, but I don't mind."
A contented smile spread across Veigar's face as he spoke.
Seeing that smile, Hiruzen felt a pang of emotion.
It wasn't until Veigar, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze, dropped his smile and lowered his head that Hiruzen shifted the conversation.
"That blade you're carrying—your father left it for you, didn't he?"
"Your father was an exceptional shinobi."
Veigar looked up at him and asked eagerly, "Hokage-sama, did you know my father? Could you tell me about him?"
"I never got to meet him."
"He also left me a training manual, but there are still many parts I don't understand."
Hiruzen chuckled.
"Of course. I'd be happy to tell you about him."
As they talked, Veigar learned more about Takaaki Koshima's past—how he had been a Chunin skilled in kenjutsu and taijutsu.
After chatting for about ten minutes, Hiruzen finally said, "That's all for today, Veigar. I need to start my work now."
Realizing he had taken up enough of the Hokage's time, Veigar immediately bowed deeply.
"Thank you for telling me about my father!"
"I'll take my leave now."
As he turned to go, Hiruzen suddenly called after him.
"Veigar, do you have a dream?"
Without hesitation, Veigar turned back and answered, "I want to be like my father—a ninja who protects the village and keeps the peace!"
Sarutobi nodded approvingly.
"Then remember this—"
"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns. The fire's shadow will continue to illuminate the village and allow new leaves to sprout."
Veigar solemnly replied, "I will remember."
Leaving the Hokage Tower, Veigar jogged away into the distance.
Meanwhile, back inside the office, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his attention to his duties, beginning yet another busy day.
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