...
Konoha Cemetery
.....
In the middle of the night, a boy with crimson red hair and red eyes wearing a formal black kimono with hakama, stood in front of a grave.
The boy had a strange expression displayed in his face.
*sigh*
'What is this? I went back in time? Why? And why did I only went back when the war already ended? Why couldn't I be younger? Why?'.
"If only I went back when I was even younger—".
.....
Konoha Residential District
*Creak*
A figure stood at the doorstep of the house, seemingly hesistant. A few moments later, he finally had the courage to enter the house. Went straight his bedroom and immediately lay in his bed.
Looking at the ceiling of his room, with a contemplating look in his eyes.
"Argh, let's not think too much. I'll leave all the thinking stuff for tommorow. I need to rest".
...
*sigh*
"I can't sleep"
"Too many things happened within a short timeframe, one moment, I was in a war against those damn "parasites", and those disgusting clan of demonic beings!!".
"Even then, there are still multiple unknown races invading the world. And then the emergence of a long forgotten civilization. Seriously, who are they? Are they friends? Or another enemy to be vanquished?".
"Although by that point, everything no longer matters as a sudden explosion appeared and swept everything in the battlefield!"
*sigh*
"I'm sighing a lot more in this short time I've been here than my entire life before I went back in time"
"What exactly are the existence of those ancient civilization? I've never heard of them, and the power they possess. It's totally different, they had similarities in those of the demonic beings, but it's far more...formidable, like the ability I've awaken, the ability to freely manipulate the energy in the surrounding space".
"It is like the Nature Energy wielded by achieving the Sage Mode, but their application is far more superior".
*sigh*
"Let's not think about this matter too much, even the fact that I went back in the past is too much too handle. Heck, I don't even have any clue to start with".
*sigh*
"I'm getting hungry with all the things piled up in front me. Let's just cook some instant ramen"
...
Two figures approached a 2 storey house and knocked to the door.
*sounds of knocking*
A few moments and still without response, the two knocked again.
*sounds of knocking*
~~~
The older male ninja said, "why is there no response? Is he not here?"
"He should be here, look there, the curtains are closed. Let me check on him~" The younger female ninja smirked.
"You shouldn't use that Miyano, this is inside the village, and a residential area, you're disrupting their privacy" Said by the older male ninja with a stern expression.
"Oh come on, Garo-sensei~ it's not like I'll use it to check the other houses? I'll only use it to check whether Kaen-kun is inside or not, and besides, what kind of privacy could he have?~ he's like a boring old man!" Said by Miyano in a playful tone.
"Even so—" but before he could finish his sentence.
"Okay, okay, I won't, how annoying!" Miyano Interrupted.
'This Brat!! Sigh, anyway, she's right, Kaen should still be here. I'm getting worried about him.' Garo thought.
But before he could drift further in his thoughts, loud knocks resounded.
*Aggressive knocks*
"Is someone there?~ Kaen-kun~ Waaaakkeee Up!" Miyano yelled.
Garo couldn't help but be speechless at his students antics.
"Sensei, I'll try checking on him by the window of his bedroom" Said Miyano as she immediately jumped up and reached the window of Kaen's bedroom.
Garo could only dumbfoundedly stare at her.
*Window opening*
Miyano entered the house through the window and yelled in a cheerful voice, "Kaen-kun~, Good Morning! Although it is already noon, you already get the point~, hmm?".
"Argh, too noisy!" Kaen shouted.
"Noisy? Noisy?~. What time do you think it is? It's already noon and your still sleeping!?" Miyano yelled as she frowned.
Miyano Continued, "Do you know how long we've been knocking on your door?".
"Argh, why can't I even sleep without someone interrupting it?" Kaen drowsily replied.
"Who are you anyw—" Kaen said but immediately paused.
"Eh? Miyano?" Kaen muttered as he stared at her.
"Ugh, Gross, why are you looking at me like that?" Miyano said with disgust.
*Coughing sounds*
Garo, after seeing their exhange, interjected, "Ahem, enough with the banter. Kaen, do you remember what day it is today?"
Confused, Kaen asked, "What day? Is there something important to do? A mission?"
'Right, they survived the 3rd Great Shinobi World War, I forgot about it as I had too much on my plate right now. Anyway, why are they here?' Kaen thought.
Miyano rolled her eyes, and said, "Yeah right, you just got discharge, and you still need to go back in the hospital for further check-ups".
"Oh, haha..." Kaen muttered as he scratched his head.
Seeing Kaen respond, Garo couldn't help but feel that somehow, his student changed. He then said, "Kaen, it's not been that long since you woke up from coma, and you really shouldn't have been discharged this early if not for your request. You will not be partaking on any missions any time soon, so you should take this chance to rest properly, and get your body checked in the hospital once a week".
Miyano, reverting to her cheerful side, explained, "Kaen-kun~ we're currently on vacation~ and that's all thanks to you! Hahaha. Aside from that, our real agenda for today is~ drumroll~...we're promoted to chūnin remember!? And we're going to meet the newly appointed 4th Hokage! Kyaa~ he will be the one to give us our chūnin vest! Imagine that!? We're so lucky!".
Surprised, Kaen asked, "Eh? Huh? Really? But weren't we supposed to have our chūnin vest given to us by the staff as we were promoted in war time? And not due to the exam?"
Garo smiled and explained, "Usually that's the case, however, the 4th Hokage managed to finished all his paperworks and he decided to check the documents containing the list of genin's who participated in the war, and some of the genin's that piqued his interest includes the both of you".
'Oh...now I remember, we did met the 4th Hokage personally and even had him give us our chūnin vest for the chūnin promotions. If I remember correctly, then the reason we caught or rather I caught his interest is because of that thing that happened in the war. Although, even without that, I would still be able to meet the 4th Hokage, it's because of Miyano. She is a promising Shinobi with a promising future, someone who will likely be able to reach the rank of Elite Jōnin. She is also one of the best among our peers who had excellent performance during the war.' Kaen thought to himself.
Kaen thought and sighed that if only the fox never broke out from the seal and rampaged in the city. She would've been one of the three among the Hyuga's who had achieved the rank of Elite Jōnin. Her death and the eventual death of Hizashi, brought that number down to two.
Even Hizashi's son, Hyuga Neji, died during the 4th Great Shinobi World War, and in the end they never gained another hyuga at the rank of Elite Jōnin. Although, they did have a member who reached that level of strength; Their matriarch, Hyuga Hanabi, the wife of the 7th Hokage, Hyuga Hinata, and her Children, the new jinchuuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Uzumaki Himawari, and a Vessel of the Otsutsuki, Uzumaki Boruto.
Unfortunately, the Shinobi Heirarchy and even the Shinobi World was destroyed and replaced when the world expanded. A new era then ushered, an era where I rose to prominence and led the last remnants of humanity of that era.
"In the end, I was not able to protect anyone, I only delayed the inevitable" Kaen looked down and muttered as a sad smile appeared on his face.
"Huh? What was that? Did you say something?" Miyano asked.
Kaen raised his head and smiled again. the sad look was no longer there, replaced by a warm and cheerful expression, and said, "No, I didn't".
Kaen then smirked and teased, "I'm the one who got hospitalized, and yet, it seems to me that you're the one who needs to get checked~".
Miyano frowned and said in a subdued voice, "Indeed, you're right, I should get myself checked".
"But you're coming with me~" Miyano changed her tone to that of a mischievous one, and made a stance.
Kaen paled and stammered, "O-o-oi, not inside my house!".
Miyano turned serious and said, "Gentle Fist Arts".
Kaen panicked and said, "Se-sensei! Stop her please! my house!"
"Eight Trigrams"
Despite Kaen's pleads, unfortunately, the man in question only smiled.
"64 palms!"
"N-n-no! This is too much! Arghh!" Kaen bitterly screamed.