Naruto: Blacksmith

The sky seemed heavy, dark clouds gathering lower and lower, as though they wished to crush everything beneath them.

Fuuuush...

The autumn wind blew gently, carrying dried leaves that swayed in the air before falling to the ground, brittle and lifeless.

Kuro walked quietly along the street, surrounded by many others dressed in black.

Everyone moved in the same direction.

"..."

No one spoke.

The sound of the wind was the only thing breaking the stillness, sweeping leaves across the ground. The light in everyone's eyes was dim, overshadowed by a profound sadness.

The sky above Konoha shared in their mourning, cloaked in melancholy.

Kuro didn't go directly to the site. Instead, he stopped at a flower shop along the way.

It made sense to bring flowers to pay respects to his late "parents."

"..."

He paused at the door, staring at it for a moment before stepping inside.

As he entered, a mix of floral fragrances filled his senses. The shop was adorned with all kinds of flowers, arranged neatly and with care.

"W-welcome~!"

A nervous, youthful voice called out to him.

Kuro turned toward the counter and saw a blonde girl standing behind it.

She looked about his age. Her pale blonde hair framed a sweet face with large green eyes. She wore purple-toned clothing, and despite her small stature, she had an endearing presence.

There was no mistaking her.

One of the future beauties of the Naruto world, if not the most beautiful.

Ino Yamanaka, a future member of the Ino-Shika-Chō trio.

"A-a-are you here to... buy flowers?" she stammered awkwardly.

For a moment, Ino froze upon seeing the boy who had just entered. He wore a pristine black yukata, his expression calm and mature for someone his age.

He's so handsome!

"I need a bouquet of carnations," Kuro said calmly, paying no mind to her nervousness.

Ino's heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice, but she quickly snapped out of it.

"Y-y-yes, right away!"

After the events of the year 48, many people came to buy flowers annually on this day, so they had pre-arranged bouquets ready.

Trying not to trip over herself, Ino trotted to the back of the shop. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to calm her nerves.

Why am I so nervous? He just asked for flowers... but he's so handsome!

After gathering the flowers, she quickly returned with a bouquet of white carnations.

"Here you go..." she said, handing him the bouquet with both hands.

"Thank you," Kuro replied as he placed the payment on the counter.

Without another word, he turned and left the shop.

Ino watched him as he walked away.

His black yukata, the flowers he had requested, and that calm yet melancholic expression...

He's mourning.

The flowers he had purchased symbolized loss and longing, and everything about him seemed to confirm her thoughts.

Is he alone? Did he lose his parents...?

A small lump formed in her throat.

He was about her age, yet he seemed to carry a burden far too heavy for someone so young.

But another thought crept into her mind.

I don't even know his name!

She stood staring at the open door, a mix of sadness, curiosity, and an unfamiliar feeling she couldn't quite place.

He's so handsome... and seems so strong, but so lonely...

---

Konoha's Forest

At the center of the forest stood a stone monument etched with the names of the fallen.

This memorial paid tribute to the heroes who had sacrificed their lives for Konoha.

However, the monument was incomplete.

From the First Ninja War to the Nine-Tails Chaos, countless ninjas had died silently, their bodies and names never recovered.

Around the monument, fresh flowers had been placed by those who came to honor their loved ones.

When Kuro arrived, holding the white carnations in his hand, he noticed someone else already standing in front of the memorial.

It was a tall man, also dressed in a black yukata.

His silver hair fell messily, and a mask covered the lower half of his face, while a fringe concealed his left eye.

Kakashi Hatake.

Kuro silently mouthed the name in his mind.

He knew Kakashi came every year on this date to pay his respects. He never missed it. And each time, Kuro found him there, always arriving earlier.

It wasn't surprising to see him again.

Approaching quietly, Kuro stood beside Kakashi. Without a word, he placed the flowers in front of the monument.

His eyes scanned the names etched into the stone, searching for two in particular: his "parents."

A faint tremor ran through him.

When he was born into this world, he had initially resisted accepting his new "parents." After all, he still remembered his parents from his previous life.

But over time, that changed.

In the brief month he lived with them, his parents had not only cared for him diligently but also shown him a genuine love he had never expected.

The memory of the Nine-Tails Chaos was still etched vividly in his mind.

His parents had sacrificed their lives for him, trying to distract the Nine-Tails using their own bodies as bait.

They barely managed a few steps before one of the beast's massive tails swept through, destroying everything in its path.

Though he had only been with them for a month, that short time was enough for him to love them deeply, even if he never had the chance to say it.

"There are too many unfortunate people in this world."

Kakashi spoke suddenly, his gaze fixed on the monument.

His visible eye reflected a deep sadness, buried in the depths of his soul.

Kuro, without looking away from the stone, clenched his fists.

"Yes... there are too many unfortunate people in this world," he murmured. "That's why I want to become the strongest. I don't want myself or those around me to end up on that list."

Kakashi stared at him for a moment. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

Kuro didn't stop him. He remained standing in front of the monument, unmoving.

A single month.

That was all the time he had with his parents in this life, but it was enough for those moments to leave an indelible mark.

As he recalled the little moments they shared, he felt an unexpected warmth, something he had never valued in his previous life.

The mundane, the simple... those seemingly insignificant details were what truly gave life meaning.

---

Unknowingly, time had passed.

The sky had darkened, and the moon peeked timidly through the clouds.

Kuro looked up, gazing at the white satellite for a moment before clenching his fists tightly.

In this life, I will live without regrets.

---

That night, the full moon shone brightly, bathing the village of Konoha in a silver glow.

In his small apartment, Kuro sat by the window.

His left knee rested on the edge, while his hands cradled his face.

His eyes were fixed on the moon.

He couldn't sleep.

This date always brought with it a storm of memories.

Not just from his life in this world but also from his previous one.

Fleeting images flashed in his mind: a normal teenager, surrounded by friends and the warmth of family.

It all seemed so distant now.

Now...

Though he considered Naruto a friend, the vast differences in their mentalities and ways of thinking created an unbridgeable gap between them.

That was why he avoided spending too much time with him, choosing instead to retreat to remote training grounds where he could be alone, immersed in practice.

Alone.

A persistent emptiness lingered in his chest, as though something fundamental was missing.

"It seems I still can't resist loneliness..." Kuro sighed.

He wasn't someone who sought solitude.

But he knew the path he had chosen demanded he bear a burden few could endure.

Because this world is cruel.

Without power, there was no happiness. And without happiness, there was only survival.

Yet, deep in his mind, he knew his solitude wouldn't last forever.

With the Forging System, he was certain he would soon acquire the power necessary to seize control of his destiny.

"Come on, you bastard..." he muttered, a faint glint of determination in his eyes.

Whooosh!

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the village.

The sky darkened as clouds swirled, covering the moon and extinguishing its silver light.

On the telephone pole outside his window, something appeared out of nowhere.

A man crouched, his eyes glowing red.

Three tomoe spun slowly in his pupils, casting an eerie gaze into Kuro's room.

Eh?

Kuro felt a chill run down his spine.

The sensation of being watched struck him, prompting him to instinctively look toward the window.

...

But there was nothing there.

Only the wind playing with the curtains.

"An illusion...?"

Kuro's mind raced, his right hand moving toward the Book to verify.

But at that moment, something changed.

The air in the room shifted, as though a new weight had appeared.

The atmosphere grew denser.

The hairs on the back of Kuro's neck stood on end.

His instincts screamed that he wasn't alone.

In one swift motion, he spun around, his hand reaching into his ninja pouch. His fingers found a kunai, which he spun before hurling it toward the side wall.

Swish!

The kunai flew with precision, grazing the intruder's ear before embedding itself in the wall with a sharp thunk.

"Who are you!?"

Kuro's gaze locked onto the figure that had suddenly appeared, scanning them from head to toe with vigilant eyes.

________

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