5: Hagoromo Ryunosuke
Hagoromo Clan, Third Elder Hitozumi's residence.
Retsu stood outside the study, looking conflicted. He knew his grandfather was working inside. He wanted to go in and ask his grandfather to teach him Ninjutsu, but he didn't want to disturb his grandfather's work over a small matter.
He knew exactly where the family's Ninjutsu scrolls were kept; he didn't need his grandfather to retrieve them for him. If he encountered anything he didn't understand, he could just wait until his grandfather was free to ask.
What would he do if he went in now? Ask his grandfather to find someone to beat up that peacock? Or cry and whine to his grandfather for comfort and hugs?
Retsu couldn't bring himself to do either.
After careful consideration, he decided against it. He had to regain the pride he lost himself in the future. That was his style!
Just as Retsu was about to leave, the voice of Third Elder Hitozumi, Hagoromo Hitozumi, came from inside the study: "You've been pacing for ages. Why are you planning to leave without saying a word?"
So he had been noticed all along? Retsu dejectedly walked into the study.
He looked at his grandfather, who was focused on official documents, and mumbled, "Grandpa, am I really a genius—"
The scene of his grandfather praising him as a genius a few days ago when he successfully extracted Chakra gradually overlapped with the embarrassing scene of himself at the training grounds this afternoon.
Thinking of this, he tightly clenched his fists and stared gloomily at his toes.
"Of course you are a genius. Hagoromo Masahiro is also a genius."
Hagoromo Hitozumi put down the document in his hand and waved Retsu over.
"Grandpa, you know everything?"
"Yes, Jusaburo came to tell me immediately."
Hearing this, Retsu seemed to regain some confidence. He quickly walked to his grandfather's side: "But what took me an entire afternoon to accomplish, he succeeded in doing in just one try—"
Hitozumi looked at Retsu lovingly and stroked his head: "You are a rare genius among our Hagoromo Clan, but Masahiro, that child, is a once-in-a-generation genius in the entire Ninja World."
Hearing this, Retsu's body stiffened, his face filled with disbelief.
Shouldn't you be comforting me right now?
What are you talking about, Grandpa?
Looking at Retsu, who was so crushed he seemed to be fading away, Hitozumi sighed helplessly: "Grandpa knows you are severely disappointed. Living in the same era as such a genius is a tragedy for ordinary people, and a tragedy for people like you."
Hitozumi slowly stood up: "Take Hyuga Tennin from before, for example—how astonishingly talented he was. In front of him, even the Uchiha and Senju could only sheath their blades and bide their time."
"But, Grandpa—"
Hitozumi interrupted Retsu, his wise eyes gazing at him as he softly said, "Retsu, why must you compare yourself to him? Do you remember what Grandpa told you?"
What Grandpa told me?
For some reason, the first thing Retsu remembered was his grandfather's solemn expression after praising his talent that afternoon when he extracted Chakra.
"With this talent, and relying on the Hagoromo Clan's resources, you will definitely become a supreme expert of the Hagoromo Clan in the future, but that will be the limit—"
Back then, he was basking in the pride of his grandfather's initial praise and didn't notice the whispered latter half. Now it seems—Seeing Retsu's face instantly fall, Hitozumi stroked his head with a touch of heartache: "The Hagoromo Clan hasn't produced a top-tier expert in too long, Retsu."
"The Hagoromo, who were once one of the Ninja World's Three Great Ninja Clans alongside the Senju and Uchiha, have now declined to the point where even minor Ninja Clans like the Shimura and Sarutobi dare to reach out and seize our resources."
"Your talent might allow the Hagoromo Clan to continue surviving in this Ninja World. But Masahiro, that child, is capable of leading the Hagoromo back to their former dominant status."
Looking at the devastated Retsu, Hitozumi's eyes flashed with sympathy, and he comforted him: "Cheer up, Retsu."
"Are you just going to give up on yourself like this?"
"No, I'm not, but Grandpa, you just said that the difference between my talent and his is like clouds and mud. What use is it even if I try hard?"
"There's still a chance. Starting now, as long as you work hard enough, even a genius like that is not impossible to surpass."
"Really, Grandpa."
Of course, it was a lie!
Hagoromo Hitozumi had already experienced what it was like to live in the same era as a true genius.
When he was young, wasn't he also one of the clan's top geniuses? But now, he didn't even qualify to fight Uchiha Tajima or Senju Butsuma one-on-one.
The gap between people is truly wider than the gap between a person and a dog.
Retsu would slowly come to understand this later, but he was still a child now, and his hope couldn't be extinguished.
"Of course! Don't you believe me?"
"Of course I believe you!" Retsu slightly regained his fighting spirit: "Grandpa, teach me Ninjutsu! I will definitely defeat him next time."
"Alright."
Meanwhile, in the Hagoromo Clan's central tower, an office on the third floor was brightly lit.
In the massive office, aside from the rustling of papers being turned and the scratching sound of writing, it was so quiet that even breathing seemed inaudible.
Hagoromo Jūzaburō knelt anxiously before a large desk. Behind the desk, a small, muscular middle-aged man was bent over, handling official documents, seemingly oblivious to his presence.
Hagoromo Jūzaburō had been kneeling since he arrived at the office that afternoon, and although the other party hadn't said a word, his forehead was already covered in cold sweat.
Because that small, muscular middle-aged man was none other than the Clan Head of the Hagoromo Clan—Hagoromo Ryunosuke.
The reason he remained kneeling there, he understood himself: the other party was admonishing him.
Regarding the matter with Masahiro this afternoon, he hadn't informed the Clan Head immediately; instead, he had first reported it to Third Elder Hitozumi.
I must have lost my mind!
Hagoromo Jūzaburō was terrified, unsure what punishment awaited him.
Just as he was having these wild thoughts, an aged voice sounded in the office: "Ryunosuke, that's enough."
"Alright, you can get up now, Jusaburo."
Having been granted permission, Jusaburo quickly rose, but because he had been kneeling for too long, he lost his balance and was about to stumble when a pair of loose, wrinkled hands reached out from the side and steadied him.
The Great Elder?!
When did he get here? He hadn't noticed at all that there was a third person in the office.
Jusaburo stared in shock at the suddenly appearing elder, immediately recognizing his identity.
The Great Elder chuckled lightly: "We already know about the Clan Academy incident. You may go back now."
I haven't even said anything, yet these two have already figured out the situation? This level of situational control is terrifying!
Realizing this, cold sweat broke out on Jusaburo's back. He quickly bowed and swiftly left the office.
"Look how scared you made the boy."
The Great Elder playfully jabbed Ryunosuke before getting to the main point: "Well? Is the situation true?"
Ryunosuke, who had been maintaining a stern expression, couldn't help but smile slightly upon hearing the Great Elder's words: "It's true. If that child doesn't die prematurely, he will definitely become the pillar of the Hagoromo Clan!"
"Then how do you plan to handle this?"
"I will observe him for a period to see what his character is like. If he displays superior aptitude in all aspects, then I will personally train him."
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