Chapter 9: CH-09 Conquer Sun.
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After Sakumo had left the office, Hiruzen turned his attention to Inokii Yamanaka, the leader of the Konoha barrier team. He said, "You may go. It wasn't your fault. The seal combination was compromised, but that wasn't within your control. Please create a new seal combination to replace the old one."
Inokii bowed respectfully to Hiruzen and replied, "Of course. I will immediately work on a new combination and present it to you as soon as possible." With that, Inokii left the room.
The others who had been involved in the matter also departed, leaving only Danzo behind.
With only Danzo and Hiruzen remaining in the Hokage's office, Hiruzen fixed his gaze on Danzo and asked, "It was you who leaked the hand seals, wasn't it?"
Danzo responded with his typical resolve, "Everything I do is for the sake of Konoha."
Hiruzen's frustration was evident as he continued, "Because of your actions, Sakumo no longer trusts me. Did you not notice how he outright rejected my offer to reinforce the barrier around his house?"
"It's as if everything he told you is true," Danzo said, skepticism lacing his words. "His claim of setting traps around his son's house and teaching him how to use them – I find it hard to believe. According to the information from my ROOT ninja, the Chunin attacker was already screaming in agony before Sakumo even arrived at his house. It wasn't the reaction of someone encountering or being harmed by a trap, but more like being consumed by fire. During that time, only Sakumo's son and maid were present in the house. Given that Sakumo's maid is a regular human, I suspect there's a hidden truth about his son that he wishes to keep from us."
Danzo's conclusion was direct and almost certainly accurate.
"You're overthinking things, Danzo," Hiruzen retorted.
"Perhaps, but exercising caution is the prudent course. And if, by any chance, Sakumo's claims about his son's prodigious abilities, comparable to or even surpassing those of Orochimaru, hold true, then your concern should be the security of your Hokage position. After all, your son's talents are nowhere near as remarkable as Orochimaru's," Danzo taunted, then left the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen clenched his fist, acknowledging the truth in Danzo's words. While his son possessed talent, it was limited to reaching the level of an Elite Jonin or possibly surpassing it, but achieving Kage-level prowess would indeed prove challenging.
----
The following morning, when Kiyomi learned of Shi's passing, profound sadness enveloped her. Shi had been by her side since childhood and had even accompanied her upon marrying Sakumo. Kiyomi hailed from a noble family in the Iron Country. When Sakumo journeyed there to refine his swordsmanship, a deep affection blossomed between them, leading to their marriage. In a sense, Shi, akin to a sister, played the role of matchmaker that brought them together.
While Michikatsu was unable to attend Shi's funeral, he too was stricken with sorrow. Despite his unsettling appearance, Shi had never exhibited any repulsion toward him through her actions.
The process of overcoming Shi's demise proved arduous for Kiyomi. However, with Michikatsu's unwavering support, she gradually regained her former self. The passage of time continued until three years later, by which point Michikatsu had turned four years old.
"Are you certain about this, Michi? You don't have to do this," Kiyomi implored, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Please don't worry, Mother. I won't treat my life as a joke. I'm confident in my decision," Michikatsu responded, his voice imbued with conviction.
Kiyomi turned her gaze to Sakumo, asking, "Why don't you intervene and dissuade him?"
"As his father, my heart is also urging me to intervene, but I trust in our son's judgment. I believe he won't undertake anything that endangers himself or causes grief to either of us. If he's confident he can handle the sun, then let's have faith in his abilities," Sakumo comforted Kiyomi.
"But..." Kiyomi began to say, only for Sakumo to interject, "Don't worry, I'm here. I'll keep a close watch on him."
"Are you prepared, Michi?" Sakumo inquired.
Michikatsu nodded upon hearing his father's words.
Sakumo formed a seal and employed the "Shadow Clone Technique." Four shadow clones materialized, each positioned in a different direction, collectively casting the "Camouflage Barrier Formation."
Sakumo and Kiyomi stood outside the barrier, while Michikatsu entered within. Within the barrier, only Sakumo had visibility; Kiyomi was unable to perceive the interior. While Sakumo could have allowed Kiyomi to witness the proceedings inside, he respected Michikatsu's request to keep it private.
As soon as Michikatsu stood in the sunlight, his body began to burn. His flesh became visible from the exterior, signifying the intensity of the pain he was enduring. Despite the excruciating ordeal, Michikatsu remained steadfast, his regenerative demon body continuously healing him. This process of burning and regeneration persisted for the next five minutes, during which Michikatsu's agonized cries echoed.
"Husband, why don't you put an end to this? Can't you hear the extent of his suffering?" Kiyomi implored.
"Have faith, my love. Our son is a courageous warrior. He's battling to conquer the sun, and I can see he's on the path to victory," Sakumo reassured.
Gradually, Michikatsu's cries subsided, his body fully healed. He had become impervious to the sun's rays, no longer affected by its light.
(A/N: I base this on the premise that swift regeneration isn't solely contingent upon strength. Take Nezuko as an example; her ability to regenerate rapidly depends on the concentration of blood in a demon. Similarly, I allowed Michikatsu to conquer the sun since he has never consumed human blood, nor does he intend to do so in the future, akin to Nezuko's approach. While some argue that Nezuko's sun tolerance stems from her familial connection to sun breathing practitioners, I hold a different perspective. To me, this reasoning seems inadequate, especially considering that Kokushibo, Yorichi's elder brother, would have been the most suitable candidate to overcome the sun's effects.)
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