Yamato's eyes cast downward in shame as he begins to recount the events. "All of this happened when I was at my usual spot...keeping an eye on Orochimaru."
As he speaks, the scene shifts back to that fateful afternoon. Yamato stands leaning against the bark of a tree, his eyes closed, and his body relaxed, almost drifting off to sleep. The serene forest surroundings seem to lull him into a peaceful reverie.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierces the air, shattering the tranquility. Yamato's eyes snap open, and he thinks to himself, "Was it really a scream, or did I imagine it?"
But then, another scream echoes through the forest, more desperate and urgent. "Aaaaahhhhh...someone help me..."
Yamato springs into action, his instincts taking over. He swiftly scales the tree, using his agility and ninja training to reach the top. From this vantage point, he surveys the forest, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Towards the north, huh..." he mutters, likely assessing the situation and planning his next move.
Without hesitation, Yamato teleports, reappearing on a nearby tree. He begins to move swiftly through the forest, using his incredible speed and agility to jump from tree to tree, flying through the air with ease.
As he closes in on the source of the scream, the cries for help grow louder. "Aaaahhhh..." Yamato's determination to rescue the person in distress drives him forward, his senses heightened, and his focus laser-sharp.
Yamato's eyes narrow as he gazes out at the landscape, his instincts guiding him. "This should be the place, I guess," he mutters to himself.
Before him lies a strange, snow-covered laboratory, seemingly out of place in the midst of the approaching winter season. The air is crisp, with a hint of woodsmoke and damp earth, but the snowfall is unexpected, as if the seasons themselves are confused. The snowflakes dance around him, casting a serene silence over the scene.
The laboratory's exterior is a stark contrast to the natural surroundings. Two massive metallic doors, adorned with intricate locking mechanisms and reinforced with thick steel plating, dominate the entrance. The doors' surface is etched with a lattice of frost, giving them a eerie, otherworldly appearance. The metal seems to absorb the faint light, casting an ominous shadow on the snow below.
The laboratory's walls are constructed from a combination of concrete and steel, with narrow slits for windows, barred with thick iron grilles. The structure appears fortress-like, designed to withstand extreme forces or contain something within. A tangled network of pipes and ducts wraps around the building, giving it a makeshift, improvised appearance.
The surrounding area is desolate, with snow-covered trees standing like sentinels, their branches etched against the grey sky like skeletal fingers. The air is heavy with an unsettling silence, as if the very forest is watching Yamato's approach.
Yamato's eyes narrow, his curiosity piqued. "Strange, I've never seen this place, but let's give it a try." He pauses, focusing his senses. "So far, I don't sense any chakra."
With a deep breath, he pushes open the massive metallic doors, the creaking sound echoing through the stillness. As he steps inside, his eyes widen in surprise, and he can't help but feel a sense of confusion.
Before him lies a vast, cavernous space, reminiscent of a natural cave. The walls, floor, and ceiling are rough-hewn rock, with jagged stalactites hanging like icicles. The air inside is stale, with a hint of damp earth and minerals. But what's astonishing is that, despite the snow-covered exterior, there's no sign of snow or ice within the cave.
Yamato's gaze roams the cavern, taking in the eerie landscape. The walls are dotted with strange, glowing orbs, casting an ethereal light on the rock formations. The ground beneath his feet is dry, with no signs of moisture or frost. It's as if the cave is sealed off from the outside environment, maintaining its own unique ecosystem.
"Ah, a cave...huh," Yamato mutters, his voice barely above a whisper. "From outside, it looked like a research lab."
The contrast between the laboratory's exterior and the cave's interior is jarring. Yamato's mind races to reconcile the disparity, wondering what kind of facility would be built around a natural cave, and what purpose it could serve. His eyes continue to scan the surroundings, searching for clues, as he ventures deeper into the mysterious cave.
Yamato's instincts scream at him to turn back, but his curiosity propels him forward. He ventures deeper into the cave, his senses on high alert, his footsteps quiet on the dry earth. As he rounds a corner, his eyes widen in shock, and he freezes, his breath catching in his throat.
Before him sits an elderly man, adorned in traditional robes, seated on a throne-like chair. The old man's eyes seem to bore into Yamato's soul, as if he's been expecting him. The air is thick with an otherworldly silence, punctuated only by the soft flickering of torches that line the cave walls.
Yamato's training kicks in, and he swiftly hides behind a nearby rock, holding his breath, his heart racing. "Was there someone...or did I imagine it?!" he thinks to himself, wondering if he's lost his edge, if age is catching up with him.
But then, a calm, authoritative voice echoes through the cave, "You can come in." The voice is like a gentle breeze on a summer day, yet it sends shivers down Yamato's spine.
Yamato's eyes dart back to the old man, his mind racing. How did he know?! Yamato's doubts creep in, questioning his own abilities. "What? That old man noticed me?! Looks like I shouldn't judge anyone by their age." He thinks back to his years of training, the countless missions, and the many enemies he's faced. Never has he been discovered so easily.
With a deep breath, Yamato steps out from behind the rock, his eyes locked on the old man. "Well, then...let's take the details out of him," he thinks, his focus renewed. He remembers the scream, and his mission to uncover the truth. He approaches the old man, his movements deliberate, his senses on high alert.
Yamato approaches the old man with a casual air, trying to put him at ease. "Hey there, old man...what are you doing out here, sitting alone at such an old age?"
The old man looks up, his eyes still gleaming with a youthful intensity despite the wrinkles and white hair sprinkled through his beautiful bluish-black hair. His gaze is tinged with sadness as he replies, "Oh, what shall I say? There is no one to take care of this old figure."
Yamato's curiosity is piqued, and he presses on, "Why is there no one to take care of this old figure?"
The old man's expression turns grave, and a murderous aura begins to emanate from him. His eyes seem to bore into Yamato's soul as he growls, "BETRAYAL."
Yamato is taken aback, shocked by the intensity of the old man's emotions. He asks cautiously, "So what are you going to do?"
The old man's gaze doesn't waver, his eyes still burning with a fierce intensity. Yamato can sense a deep-seated pain and anger simmering beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed.
Yamato thinks to himself, "Crap, I asked things in a straight manner..." Trying to recover, he adds, "Uh, since you got betrayed..."
The old man's voice drips with venom as he says, "Do what...? I'll kill all those people who betrayed me...I plan for revenge."
Yamato's expression turns solemn, his eyes locked onto the old man's. "I have no idea what pain you went through...but believe me...the path of REVENGE leaves a man nowhere."
The old man's face twists in a scowl, his eyes flashing with anger. He tries to prove Yamato's statement wrong, "Revenge is much better rather than sitting over here and doing nothing."
Yamato's gaze doesn't waver, his voice firm but gentle. "I understand your desire for revenge, but trust me, it's a never-ending cycle. It'll consume you, leaving nothing but ashes and regret."
The old man's expression turns incredulous, his voice rising. "You don't know anything! You don't know what it's like to be betrayed by those you trusted!"
Yamato asks, "Please tell me who betrayed you?"
The old man's face twists in a mix of anger and pain. "A village..." He pauses, his eyes flashing with anger. "All of the people...of that village..." His voice drips with venom, each word laced with hatred. "Excluding..." He pauses again, his expression softening slightly. "A girl...well, she might be a big woman and old now..." His voice trails off, nostalgia and longing creeping in. "Yeah, excluding her..." His eyes narrow, anger resurfacing. "All of them...betrayed me."
As he speaks, his gaze drifts downward, lost in his old memories of the woman. Yamato notices the old man's sad expression and asks gently, "So, who was she...your lover?"
The old man's eyes cloud over, his voice filled with a deep longing. "Yeah, sure, she was...both of us loved each other, and we had decided to marry, but fate never wanted us to be together."
Yamato's curiosity is piqued, "What was her name?"
"Mikoto..." The old man's voice is barely above a whisper, his eyes still lost in memories.
Yamato nods sympathetically, "I see."
The old man's focus returns to his quest for revenge, his eyes blazing with determination. "Well, it's useless to remember that right now...my only goal is revenge."
Yamato thinks to himself, "All of the people of a village...looks like I have to solve this as soon as possible, so no other signs of hatred are born. How about I ask his village name and request this Mikoto person to stop the old man?"
Yamato looks at the old man with a determined expression, "Old man, I know that I'm questioning you a lot, but please tell me which village betrayed you?" His eyes are filled with a genuine desire to help, and his voice is laced with empathy.
The old man's gaze narrows, his eyes clouding with skepticism. "What good would it bring to you if I'll tell you the name of the village that betrayed me?!" His voice is laced with a hint of bitterness and a dash of desperation.
Yamato's expression remains calm and reassuring. "Well, if you'll tell me the name of the village that betrayed you, I'm sure that the village I belong to will help solve the conflict between you and that village." His words are filled with conviction, and his eyes shine with sincerity.
The old man's gaze falters, his eyes searching Yamato's face for any sign of deception. "He...he...are you sure that your village will help me?" His voice cracks with a mix of hope and fear.
Yamato's face breaks into a warm smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yes, please trust me and my village." His voice is filled with confidence and kindness.
As the old man nods slowly, Yamato thinks to himself, "Thank goodness he is convinced." A wave of relief washes over him, followed by a sense of determination to help the old man find justice.
The old man's eyes sparkle with curiosity, and he asks, "First of all, please tell me that blessed village which has delicious people like..."
Yamato's eyes widen in confusion, and he asks, "Delicious?"
The old man's face turns bright red as he clears his throat, "I meant to say...dedicated. Yes, dedicated individuals like yourself."
Yamato's expression remains neutral, "I'm from THE VILLAGE HIDDEN IN THE LEAVES.The village that values harmony and mutual support."
The old man nods hastily, still flustered, "Ah, yes, harmony is important."
Yamato sighed, thinking to himself, "I guess it was just my imagination. Have I become so old that I'm hearing unnecessary things?"
He turned his attention back to the old man, who seemed to be waiting for him to ask the next question. "Now then... please tell me, which village betrayed you?" Yamato asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The old man leaned forward, his eyes glinting in the dim light of the room. "THE VILLAGE HIDDEN IN..." he spoke in a hushed tone, his words trailing off into an unsettling silence."THE LEAVES"
Yamato's eyes widened in shock as he heard the old man's words. He felt a chill run down his spine, and his mind raced with the implications. He was frightened, and he couldn't understand why the old man's words had affected him so deeply.
...The memory still lingered, a ghostly echo that refused to fade. And now, as Yamato sat with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, he couldn't shake the feeling that the past was closing in around him.
"For me, it was a horrible experience..." Yamato began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can still remember the old man's words, and the chill that ran down my spine."
---
_Quiz Question:_
What is the name of the woman the old man mentions as the exception to his vow of revenge against the Village Hidden in the Leaves?
A) Mikoto
B) Sakura
C) Tsunade
D) Hinata
Share your answer in the comments below!