Boom!
Fragments of the rock flew in every direction with a loud crack, while Madara stood in place, staring at the rock in front of him, which had shattered because of his attack.
Suddenly, he heard a voice from behind him carrying a tone of approval:
"Well done, kid."
Madara quickly turned around and saw the blue-haired young man behind him, with Hashirama nearby wearing a wide smile, clearly happy about his friend's success. He then quickly walked toward Leon and bowed respectfully, his face showing deep appreciation, because he knew that he would never have reached this point without this strange man. He said gratefully:
"Thank you, teacher. Thank you for everything you have taught us. We will never forget what you have done for us."
Leon smiled and said:
"Don't mention it, kid. All I did was guide you two a little. The rest was your own work. I merely showed you the path, so never forget that."
He was silent for a moment, as though thinking about something, then added:
"And besides, I've told you two again and again that I'm not your teacher. I'm merely someone who happened to cross your path and decided to help you a little, so don't make things more complicated than they need to be."
Then he continued while holding his chin.
"The only person in this world I want to take as a disciple is that radiant child."
Madara and Hashirama's expressions changed to curiosity mixed with a little jealousy, and Hashirama quickly asked:
"Who do you mean, teacher?"
Leon remained silent for a moment, as though hesitating about what to say, then replied:
"You can consider him a very good child. In fact, you could even call him the light of this world."
He sighed for a moment and continued:
"But unfortunately, he hasn't been born yet."
The curiosity on Madara and Hashirama's faces grew even stronger, especially because they felt that anyone capable of stirring such emotions in their teacher could not possibly be an ordinary person. But before Hashirama could ask another question, Leon interrupted him.
"Alright, there is no need for you two to dig deeper into this. I won't tell you anything more. But to satisfy your curiosity, know this."
He then spoke in a tone filled with admiration.
"This child will be born in a distant future, and you may be able to meet him if you manage to live to an old age. He will embody everything beautiful that you aspire to. He will represent all your ambitions and dreams."
Then, in a more excited tone, he continued:
"And he will also be the most tragic person. He will bear all the darkness and evil of the world, and he will burn himself like a sun for humanity in the midst of darkness and evil."
He leaned forward and stared at the two children, whose expressions had changed to admiration and seriousness, then finished his words:
"So he can be considered the peak of all your ambitions. And to put an end to your curiosity, he will be known as the Golden Emperor of Humanity."
The moment Leon uttered that title, along with everything he had described about the child, waves of conflicting emotions swept through the two children. Admiration turned into curiosity, with a little jealousy and envy, followed by a hint of sadness and pity.
They compared themselves to this person. Their own goal was merely to end the wars, while this person would carry on his shoulders the task of bearing humanity's darkness and ensuring its continued progress, while at the same time becoming its beacon. Although they did not truly understand what that meant or what form it would take, they felt that it must be an unbearable burden.
"Do you understand now what qualifications you need for me to accept you as disciples?"
Hashirama and Madara looked at each other, exchanged glances, and then burst into laughter, as if their laughter were telling him:
"No matter what you say, we consider you our teacher."
Leon smiled, because he understood the hardships they faced as shinobi in this cruel world, where children were sent to war and blood was the common language, where there was no place for childhood. So even if they were far inferior to that golden figure with his tragic fate, he still considered them very good children.
"Alright, since you have learned what I taught you, all that remains is for you to continue training in your own ways and develop this technique according to your styles. I'm sure you will find new ways to use it."
The two children's expressions suddenly became serious, with a hint of sadness appearing on their faces, because they understood what he was implying. He was not merely talking about training. This was their final meeting, and the thought weighed heavily on them.
Leon burst into loud laughter at their saddened expressions and said:
"Come on, you two, don't make those sad faces. I'm not your mother, and I don't want to make you cry. This is only a temporary farewell, not the end. We'll meet again in the future, and I'll see how much progress you've made."
He paused, and his gaze became more challenging.
"And I'll see whether teaching you two was nothing more than time I wasted. So you had better train well and show me how much you've improved when we meet again. Don't disappoint me."
Madara suddenly shouted:
"Just wait and see! When we meet again, I'll use everything you taught me to kick your ass! I'll prove to you that I'm not just some little kid. I'll become stronger than you can imagine. I'll reach your expectations and even surpass them—and I'll surpass that person you mentioned as well!"
As for Hashirama, a warm smile appeared on his face, and he spoke with a tone filled with appreciation:
"I'll do my very best, teacher. I won't let you down. I'll train with everything I have, make you proud of me, and prove that your time with us was not wasted."
At that moment, Leon's laughter rang out loudly, expressing the pride he felt toward them. He bid them farewell with a light heart, and as he disappeared from his position, his words continued to echo like a distant voice:
"Well done. That's the spirit you need to become stronger. Always remember, true strength doesn't come from techniques alone, but from the will you carry in your hearts."
Hashirama and Madara remained standing where they were, staring at the place where their teacher had disappeared, their hearts filled with a mixture of sadness and hope.
His farewell had been painful, but his words had encouraged them to move forward and given them the confidence they needed to continue their journey.
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If you are enjoying this work , My P*atreo*n is more than 70 chapters ahead.
P*atreo*n :Aaron4dicard
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