The Shinobi Demon - Chapter 2 Starting To Face Reality

It was the year 51 A.K.F. (After Konoha’s Founding), one year after the Kyuubi’s attack on Konohagakure and the subsequent death of the 4th Hokage.

Many events were taking place out there, which could make even those holed up inside their guard-filled estates feel a little more than worried.

Although the Kyuubi thing was indeed an incident that had nothing to do with the war itself, it did show that no matter how fortified the stronghold, or how strong the hero, it could still be blown apart by some giant bomb-spewing monster.

And quite easily so.

This was how war was waged in this world after all. Be it with jutsu, fist, kunai or beasts.

The same world these two deserters-turned-farmers brought a baby to.

Hayato had been training with his father since his 3rd birthday. That was 8 months ago, and the boy had already shown his talent, as he already mastered most of the theoretical and practical basics of taijutsu and shurikenjutsu, in addition to some theory about chakra control.

And while that fair notion was the one that brought Nobumoto to the conclusion that Hayato needed to be trained, he had made a mistake: Not discussing the matter with Aguri first.

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If it surprised him, it certainly didn’t show up on his face; when the ireful voice of a woman wearing a headband over her eyes yelled out his name just as an executioner would.

“Nobumoto! We need to talk NOW!”

“What is that about, huh?” said Nobumoto to his confused son who was helping him sort and seed the crops, since it was already mid-year and thus harvest season.

“What’s wrong otousan? Why did okaasan get angry at you?

“Well you see Look! This is an adult matter, and you are too young to know why okaasan is yelling like that, so keep doing this until you finish the entire cart, ne?”

The man pointed with his finger at a vegetable-filled cart

“Whaaaat? But bu-”

“No buts, no ifs. Remember? Plus, after you finish, you get to eat a slice of okaasan’s delicious pie” Nobumoto interrupted Hayato while resting his hoe on the orchard’s fence.

“Okay! But I’ll have 2 slices since you’re the one leaving work early!” Said little Hayato as he was already picturing the irresistible flavor and texture of that glorious apple pie.

His father only waved at him as he turned his back on Hayato and started walking towards the cottage.

Nobumoto was in front of Aguri, both sitting at the kitchen table of this cramped but lovely adorned cottage.

“Aaand..?” Aguri ended the awkward silence that had prevailed since the last 5 minutes.

“You were the one who call- no, you were the one who yelled at the top of her lungs for me to come. So, what do you need?” Nobumoto with a deadpanned face answered.

“I’m not our son, Nobu! You know I’m being serious here, and you also know what I need: an explanation!” Aguri said with a slight frown.

“Right, sorry about that.” He said while scratching the top of his head slightly.

“Look I didn’t mean to keep it a secret from you forever, it’s just That I don’t want to worry you”

Nobumoto suddenly had changed his expression to a mix of sadness and regret.

“After all you went through back in Konohagakure we both had it rough, but compared to you; my struggle was a walk in the park” Nobumoto continued as Aguri downed her head.

“I already knew he was being trained Nobu. I mean, it’s not like I wouldn’t notice my family’s absence for half a day, and not look for you” Aguri replied with a little of sarcasm mixed in with the worriedness in her tone.

“What the Hyuga Main House did to me and my mother my eyes, the black op we were in together everything is in the past now”.

“We are no longer shinobi, Nobu” the determination in Aguri’s statement made it look as if no one would change her mind. No ordinary person, that is.

“Aguri To say that we are not doing what we did back then Is one thing; but saying we are no longer shinobi, is more a lie than it is a mistake.”

“We will always be shinobi Aguri, for better or worse.” Nobumoto went against the wife’s words.

“I believe it’s for the better, if we teach and train our son so that he can face for whatever he may encounter out there in the violent and cruel real world.”

“It’s time to face reality Aguri, and stop day-dreaming about eternal happiness and a life with no war or bloodshed for us and Hayato.” Nobumoto had put on the stern look he had in the old days, the days of fighting on the frontlines.

“Hm..” Aguri was deeply in her thoughts while still listening very carefully to the words of her former commander.

“So, I apologize for not talking to you about something so important, I promise it won’t happen again” Nobumoto continued.

“But I stand by my actions of training Hayato, he really needs this!”

Nobumoto said to his wife all that he had to say.

“I understand your point. Settling all the way up here, far from most dangers of the Shinobi World; raising a family like any untroubled civilian couple would That does not mean it will stay like this forever.”

“And I also understand why you kept it from me. But I admit it did make me really angry. You know how much I hate lies”

“One of the reasons I asked you to do the impossible the night we escaped Team 62’s camp, was due to the 3rd Hokage and the Hyuga Elder covering up of the truth about my mother’s dea—“.

Aguri suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as she couldn’t bear the emotions that had been locked away for so long Tears would be running down Aguri’s beautiful face, if not for her condition.

“Aguri please” Nobumoto quickly stepped to her side to hold her in his arms gently, showing his concern for his loved one.

After a few minutes, Aguri regained her composure and her husband went back to his seat.

“What I’m trying to say is: don’t EVER lie to me again Nobu. With even more reason if it’s our Hayato we’re talking about” She said while fixing the headband that had moved a bit from its place.

“I messed up, but like I said it won’t happen again honey”. Nobumoto said in a delicate tone, honestly carrying his feelings of regret.

“You may continue training Hayato; but for now stick to taijutsu and chakra control. Other general subjects like sciences, literature, mathematics and history I will handle as per usual.”

With the affectionate smile that distinguished her, Aguri declared those words with such a solemn yet humble demeanor it was making Nobumoto really proud of her as a mother and as a wife.

“Sounds good to me. As he grows up, we’ll eventually move on to perfecting his shurikenjutsu, and then maybe ninjutsu.” He nodded while giving a smile in return, as he thanked the gods due to not being nailed to a post and used as a scarecrow.

He loved Aguri, but he was frightened by her angry self, which was very rare to see considering Aguri’s kind personality.

Although back when they were still shinobi of Konohagakure, Aguri was the heavy-hitter in their former Team 62 and Nobumoto was their commander and medical-nin.

So it’s very normal for him to be afraid of her as a fighter, given that even though she lacked her vision, she could still sweep the floor with him without breaking a sweat. That and the fact that he wouldn’t dare to harm her.

No healing jutsu is enough, if you’re facing of a close-quarter fighter combined with a motherly-love-fueled rage, who also happens to be the woman you love more than anything other than your child.

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A long time had passed since the two of them had argued in such a serious manner. But it was a first, as a formal married couple, and as family.

Both parents took notice of the danger that it involved not teaching Hayato how to defend himself. They were starting facing reality.

What they didn’t notice however, was the raven spiky-haired boy, hiding in the berry bushes just outside the kitchen’s window; who had been eavesdropping on their conversation