svetikya Chapter 125 Is this my destiny?
Chapter 125 Is this my destiny?
The entire Shimura clan was extremely anxious.
Originally... they lived honestly in a corner of the forest, the whole clan hardly participated in any wars, and the clan members basically did not leave their territory. The only clan they were relatively close to was probably the Sarutobi clan that lived next door.
But this small, well-off family, neither too big nor too small, somehow violated some divine law...
The news that the three major families in the center of the forest had joined forces to establish a village had spread far and wide, and more than 90% of the families had already joined this big family.
But... guess who wasn't invited? That's right, it's the Shimura family.
The clan chief, Shimura Shio, is nearly seventy years old. He watches helplessly as this seemingly new guiding light slips further and further away from him, and he is unwilling to accept it...
In this turbulent ninja world, he has managed to live to this age with his exceptional survival skills, and it is truly remarkable that he has led his clan to where it is today. However, he feels that he must get on the bus before he closes his eyes.
Today is the eighth clan meeting held by the Shimura clan in the past month. The old clan head looked at his two sons and two grandsons, his heart filled with worry...
"Cough cough, boss, do you have any good ideas? If you don't come up with something to get us involved soon, I'll be in my grave..."
Shimura Shio's eyes were full of dissatisfaction. He was unable to participate directly in diplomacy due to his physical limitations, but the work he had assigned to his eldest son had made no progress whatsoever.
“Father…I…I don’t want to either! The problem is they seem determined not to let us into their village…If this continues, we’ll really become orphans.”
"Pah! You little brat, what nonsense are you spouting! I think you just didn't put your heart into it! You angered them... cough... cough cough cough!" The old patriarch got emotional and started coughing violently after he finished speaking.
Seeing this, the second son quickly stepped forward and patted the old man's back, trying to ease his discomfort. But as he patted him, he suddenly muttered something under his breath...
"Dad...it seems you've included yourself in your own insults..."
The air fell silent instantly.
"Sigh..." The old patriarch sighed in exasperation, then began to tap his fingers on the table...
Thump...thump...thump...
The old clan chief's authority was evident, and seeing that the atmosphere was tense, no one dared to utter a sound.
After a few minutes of this stalemate, the old clan chief suddenly turned his gaze to his second son's son, his grandson...
"Naoki... come to Grandpa."
The boy who was suddenly called out was a handsome young man. Although he was a young master of a family, it seemed that not many people paid attention to him.
Upon hearing the call, Naoki Shimura jolted awake, his heart pounding, but how could he dare disobey the orders of his grandfather, who was also the old clan chief?
With a mix of fear, reluctance, and trepidation, she slowly moved toward the old clan chief.
"Grandpa...please give your instructions..."
The old clan chief looked him up and down for a long time, pinching his cheeks, touching his body, and finally, with a somewhat ambiguous look in his eyes, patted his bottom...
"Naoki, wouldn't you like to contribute something to the family? You're not young anymore, are you? It's time for you to help out..."
"Uh...Grandpa, Naoki is willing to contribute to the family..."
Naoki's voice trembled, and his face clearly showed his reluctance, but with everyone watching, he knew exactly what kind of beating he would get if he refused in public...
The old clan chief nodded in satisfaction and reached out to touch his black hair. Although it was a bit prickly, it looked quite sunny.
"Good, Grandpa is very pleased..." As he spoke, the old clan chief's eyes were full of predatory intent, as if he wanted to strip Naoki naked and take a look. After pausing for two seconds, the old clan chief spoke again, "I'm giving you a task... a task that your stupid uncle can't do..."
"..."
Naoki resigned himself to his fate and could only quietly wait for his grandfather's "unreasonable" task.
He didn't actually have a very good life. From birth, he never received as much attention as his cousin. Family resources, ninjutsu training—everything was prioritized for his cousin, while Naoki, no matter how hard he tried, seemed unable to catch up...
At such a large family meeting, it's impossible for Naoki not to feel uneasy that an important task wasn't given to his cousin but instead left to him.
The old patriarch didn't directly state the mission details, but the meaning was clear: he wanted Naoki to complete his uncle's unfinished business.
But if even his uncle, who was already designated as the next clan leader, couldn't accomplish this task, how could he, a nobody in the clan, possibly complete it?
However, the old patriarch didn't seem too worried, because he had come up with a brilliant plan...
"Ahem, now I must announce the family's decision. I am issuing this order on behalf of the patriarch..."
Naoki's heart was in his throat...
"I've heard that Madara and Hashirama, the clan leaders of Konoha... value their younger brothers highly, and according to the information you brought back, their younger brother seems to prefer boys..."
"!!!"
Naoki suddenly looked up, staring at his grandfather with disbelief, as if a giant hammer had struck his heart.
Only after hearing those words did he finally realize... why this task was assigned to him, why he had been looking at him with such scrutinizing eyes, and why he had even inexplicably touched him for so long...
Grandpa actually... wants to use me as a sacrifice? Just to join Konoha Village, they even want me to...
Naoki was almost in tears; he really couldn't accept this decision.
Why didn't you choose your cousin, but instead chose yourself...?
Heh... because my cousin is going to stay in the clan and inherit the position of clan leader in the future, passing on the legacy to future generations. And a clan has never had two clan leaders. Giving myself as a "gift" to Konoha... means that I will no longer have any right to start a family and build a career.
"Grandpa...I..."
Naoki was unwilling to give up, tears streaming down his face. He wanted to struggle one last time, but what he got in return was the cold, bone-chilling gaze of his grandfather... no, it should be said that of the clan chief, Shimura.
"Hmm? Are you going to disobey orders?"
A single sentence was like a death sentence, instantly plunging him into despair.
He clenched his fists so tightly, but even so, he couldn't seize any opportunities. He even completely lost his basic rights while contributing to the family.
"Naoki understands... He will definitely not bring shame to the family."
His voice trembled with tears as he looked up one last time at his clansmen and his father...
No one cared, not even his own father, who seemed to take the decision for granted, his face expressionless. Even his cousin, standing opposite him, was looking at him with a mocking gaze...
How cold-hearted...
After giving his instructions, the old clan chief was overjoyed to hear Naoki give the answer he had been looking for.
"Naoki... don't blame your grandfather, it was all for the sake of the Shimura family..."
Naoki was deaf to everything, and he had no recollection of what happened afterward.
He only remembered that he vaguely returned home, and then his tribesmen forced him to strip naked and thoroughly examine his body. That humiliation and sorrow had probably killed his heart completely.
Just because I'm a little bit pretty, just because I was born a year late, just because...
The clouds in the sky were a bit gray, and it looked like a downpour was about to begin. They were ready; a group of five elite ninjas from the clan, along with Shimura Naoki, were preparing to head towards Konoha Village.
This time, the Shimura clan is determined to obtain permission to join Konoha...