The sky was overcast, and large dark clouds pressed the sky very low, like a broken wall about to collapse, making people feel heavy-hearted.
Jokichi walked calmly on the street, surrounded by many villagers also wearing black clothes and walking in the same direction.
Everyone did not speak, walking forward in silence, the light deep in their eyes dimmed and full of sorrow.
Whoosh...
The autumn wind blew, and the fallen leaves withered.
The sky above Konoha was shrouded in sorrow.
Jokichi did not go directly to the Memorial Stone, but stopped at a flower shop on the way.
To pay respects to deceased parents, naturally, one must have flowers.
He stopped at the door and took a look before stepping inside.
Various fragrant floral scents wafted to his face, and the shop was neatly filled with all kinds of flowers.
"Welcome."
A pleasant female voice sounded inside.
Jokichi looked toward the sound, and a little girl was standing inside the counter.
She was about the same age as him, with short blond hair, purple-themed clothing, and big watery eyes, looking very cute.
At the first glance of this person, he recognized her.
Yamanaka Ino, a member of the new generation's Ino-Shika-Cho.
"Excuse me... do you want to buy flowers?" Yamanaka Ino looked at the boy in front of her wearing a black yukata with a clean and handsome face, feeling a bit infatuated in her heart.
This person looks really good.
"I want a bouquet of carnations," Jokichi said indifferently.
Hearing Jokichi's request, Yamanaka Ino was stunned for a moment, then reacted.
"Okay, please wait a moment."
Since Konoha year 48, many people come to buy flowers on this day every year, so they were prepared in advance.
Yamanaka Ino trotted into the back room, brought a bouquet of carnations, and handed it to Jokichi.
"Thank you."
Jokichi handed the money to Yamanaka Ino, then turned around and walked toward the Memorial Stone.
It really is to pay respects!
Yamanaka Ino looked in the direction Jokichi left, an expression of as expected on her face.
The language of carnations is mourning and longing, coupled with that black yukata and silent expression, she naturally guessed it.
It was just that—
Is he the only one?
Did his parents pass away?
Even though he is about the same age as me, he has to face everything alone.
But, he is really good-looking, and I still do not know his name!
For a moment, Yamanaka Ino had a multitude of thoughts.
...
Konoha Forest, deep inside.
There is a giant stone monument covered with the names of the deceased.
This is the Memorial Stone, all the names of the heroes who sacrificed themselves for Konoha are carved on it.
The Memorial Stone is not complete.
The First Shinobi World War, the Second Shinobi World War, the Third Shinobi World War, the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack, and various crisis missions...
Konoha had too many ninja who died in obscurity, and even now their bodies and names cannot be found.
Many flowers were placed around the stone monument, all from other villagers who came to pay respects.
When Jokichi arrived holding the carnations, a person was already standing in front of the stone monument.
Also wearing a black yukata, with silver hair and a mask on his face, his front bangs drooping down to cover his left eye.
Hatake Kakashi...
Jokichi silently recited the man's name in his heart.
He would come to pay respects to his parents on this day every year, and every time he could meet Hatake Kakashi who arrived earlier here, so he was not surprised at all to meet Hatake Kakashi here today.
He arrived beside Hatake Kakashi and quietly placed the flowers on the ground in front of the monument.
Quietly, he gazed at his parents' names on the Memorial Stone.
His body trembled slightly.
Being born into this world, Jokichi was initially very resistant to his new parents; after all, he already had parents in his past life.
But in the following month, his parents' tireless and meticulous care made him feel their love for him.
Especially on the day of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's Attack, the two of them used themselves as bait to protect him, wanting to lure away the Nine-Tails, but before they could run a few steps, they were swept away by a tail along with the entire street.
Although they only spent a month together, Jokichi loved his parents very much, even if they never said a single word.
"In this world, there are too many unfortunate people," Hatake Kakashi suddenly spoke.
His exposed pupil quietly looked at the stone monument, hiding sorrow deep within his eye.
"Ah, there are too many unfortunate people in this world." Jokichi looked at the names on the stone monument, his hands involuntarily clenching tightly. "Therefore, I must become the strongest, and I must not let myself and the people around me become those unfortunate people."
Hatake Kakashi gave Jokichi a plain look and did not linger much, turning to leave.
Jokichi ignored it, just standing quietly in front of the stone monument.
Recalling every detail of that month, those insignificant trivial daily matters that he also had in his past life but never noticed...
Looking back now, it could make him feel a faint warmth.
Unknowingly, time slipped away.
By the time Jokichi came back to his senses, the sky had already darkened.
He glanced at the moon peeking out from the clouds, his hands clenching tightly once again.
In this life, I must live my life leaving no regrets.
...
Tonight is a full moon, and the silver radiance sprinkled the earth, adding a mysterious coat to Konoha.
Jokichi sat at the desk, his left elbow resting on the table, his palm supporting his cheek, his eyes staring blankly at the moon in the distance.
He could not sleep.
Going to pay respects to his parents today made him always recall the past.
Not only this world, but also his past life...
At that time, he was still an ordinary youth, always accompanied by friends and relatives around him, but now...
Although he treated Uzumaki Naruto as a friend, the difference in mental age and thoughts left them with no common topics.
He did not want to go look for Uzumaki Naruto, and always hid alone in remote training grounds to train.
It was just...
His heart always felt empty.
"I still cannot resist loneliness!" Jokichi sighed and lamented.
He was not an unsociable person, it was just that knowing the turmoil that was about to descend in the future forced him to carry a heavy burden forward.
Because this is a cruel world.
Without power, there will be no happiness.
However, these lonely days would not last too long. With the God-Level Forging System, it would not be long before he possessed the power to dictate his own destiny.
At that time, he would not have to train so lonely day after day.
"Keep it up, Jokichi."
Jokichi clenched his right fist to cheer himself up.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and the clouds on the horizon drifted, blocking the moon.
The sky suddenly darkened.
Outside the window, a person suddenly appeared on the utility pole opposite.
He crouched on the utility pole, his blood-red eyes quietly watching here, three black tomoe slowly spinning in his eyes.
Hm?
Jokichi felt the gaze land on him and abruptly looked up.
Empty, only the wind was blowing.
"An illusion?"
Jokichi was somewhat confused and was preparing to take out the Book of Omniscience to check.
Suddenly, he felt a slight change in the air flow inside the room, as if an extra person had appeared.
His movements suddenly paused.
Jokichi spun around abruptly, his right hand wiping across the ninja tool pouch on his lower back. His middle finger hooked a kunai out, spinning it with the momentum, gripping it tightly, and then throwing it smoothly.
Thud!
The kunai brushed past the man's ear and nailed into the wall to the side.
"Who are you!?"
Jokichi looked up and down at the uninvited guest who suddenly appeared in the room, his eyes full of vigilance.