Chapter 2. Carry the Banner of Being Human!
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"Ha... Ha...."
Kiyoshi panted like a dog, lying on the ground. The training was tough, but it seems his adaptation at least made sure he didn't black out this time.
It took more than a week for him to get it done. Now, not just two, but even he was one of the only brothers not to fall behind.
After some deep breaths, he sat down and looked at the other two, resting silently unlike his dog-like rest.
Aren't they taking this ninja thing too seriously?
But considering that these two are kids, with their entire worldview developed under this village in the middle of some mountain, it's better to say they don't know anything else.
Considering that, Kiyoshi was lucky enough to have his first life memories. At least he was aware, informed enough to know what was happening to him. These two didn't have enough cognitive development to even know what was or why they were trained like this.
Is this right or wrong? Good or bad?
No wonder terrorists choose to train kids instead of adults. Children are like dough, quite easy to mold.
Still, he should greet these brothers. It wouldn't be bad to be in good relations with them. Especially Uzui Tengen.
"Yo?"
"..."
"..."
Unfortunately, his raised hand stayed the same, and none of them reacted to his greeting. Though, Kiyoshi caught Tengen shifting his gaze towards him for a second, and then returning to his usual cold and silent ninja persona.
Is he really that same flamboyant character from the plot?
It seems after rebelling against his origins and becoming a demon slayer, brother pulled a complete 180-degree flip.
Soon, a group of ninjas, like ninjas, came jumping from tree to tree and landed in front of them. Putting aside his hate for this gruesome training, Kiyoshi had to admit, that jumping technique was good shit right there. And they didn't make any noise as well.
It seems Uzui clan isn't just a simple ninja clan after all. And remembering the fact that this is the Demon Slayer world, and Uzui Tengen uses Sound Breathing, a variation of Thunder Breathing...
"It seems I can learn something here."
...
"Patriarch, I have brought them as per your orders."
"Hmm."
Just like Kiyoshi thought. His father, the head of the clan, wasn't much different from his imagination. A cold face, without any warmth in his eyes.
Though he joked about him in his mind about having fun with his wives to produce raw materials for manufacturing, in truth, this father of his probably didn't even consider that to be fun.
For him, that act itself was work.
A work for reproducing and nothing else.
Love? Fun? All that is needed is a ninja, and a ninja is a tool without any emotion.
What a pity.
Humans are one of the few animals in the animal kingdom to mate not just for reproduction but also for pleasure. It's such a waste to waste this privilege.
Unfortunately, his father is also a product of this ninja village, so his mind is equally abnormal. He probably also went through the same stringent training methods and became the ninja he is today, though aged now.
It seems only he can properly use this privilege and carry the banner of being human!
The Patriarch stood and his eyes went through the three of them, making all of them, especially the two of them – Tengen and the other younger brother – nervous.
Kiyoshi became nervous too, but there was also a sense of peace. A peace that comes from understanding oneself. Unlike those two, who were training hard as per father's orders to get his recognition, Kiyoshi wasn't like that.
He didn't need recognition, so he wasn't that concerned about the views of his father about him.
After scanning them with his eyes, lingering a bit on Kiyoshi, thinking something unknown to anyone else, he just gestured to take the three of them away. And with that, the small meeting between Kiyoshi and the Patriarch of Uzui clan ended.
...
"Why did he look at me?"
Did he notice something about me?
Kiyoshi, who was on the bed after a regular shot of poison as per the Patriarch's rules, pondered a bit. He tried very hard but couldn't find a reason to justify that look.
Unknown to him, the Patriarch just looked at him, trying to remember his face in his memory as his son.
If Kiyoshi knew it, he would just rush up and punch that cold face and deform it beyond repair. He is here, worried to death, and there he looked at him for such a small matter. And who doesn't even remember the face of his son?!
But here is one.
Not finding any reason, Kiyoshi just didn't think about it more. It was his life motto. If something makes him troubled, and he is unable to find a solution, just postpone it. And most of them get solved by time. Though some aren't solved by time like employ....
Slap!
"Why am I thinking about the bad times from my first life? Damn, I need something to freshen my mood."
And he knew the best place for it. So, he got out of the bed and slowly walked towards the other end of the village.
This is the place where the kunoichi, the female ninjas, are trained.
"The smell is indeed different."
And with a smile on his face, he looked at the beautiful female ninjas and walked to the familiar waiting place. And soon...
"Kiyoshi-sama!"
A girl, a beautiful one with black hair and blue eyes, a bit younger than him, came running, only to slip and fall...
Grab!
Kiyoshi ran and extended his hand, holding her waist to save her from the fall. With a helpless smile, he looked at her.
"I have told you many times. Be careful, Suma."