Will of Fire

As Akuma made his way toward his training area, he noticed something unusual—two Anbu ninjas had stayed behind, leaving only one to continue watching over him. This immediately put him on alert. 

His instincts told him something was off, and a deep sense of caution settled over him. Akuma's mind began to race, running through the possibilities and reasons behind the sudden change in behavior from the normally meticulous Anbu. 

When Akuma reached his usual training area, he immediately noticed something unusual—an old man standing in the center of the clearing. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. 

Akuma felt a slight sense of concern but kept his expression neutral. 

As soon as Akuma took his first step closer, Hiruzen turned around and looked at him with a warm smile. "Ah, sorry about this. I was just wandering through the forest and happened to come across this training area. I was curious, so I decided to take a look." 

Akuma studied the old man for a moment before responding with a polite smile. "It's been a long time since I last saw you, Third Hokage." 

Hiruzen's smile widened. "Oh? You still remember me, Akuma? How have you been?" 

"I'm fine," Akuma replied simply. 

Hiruzen sat on a log that lay on the ground, his movements slow and deliberate, as if he were deep in thought. Then, with a gentle gesture, he motioned for Akuma to sit beside him. 

Hiruzen took a slow puff from his pipe before exhaling. "So, is this your training ground?" he asked, looking around the area. 

Akuma nodded in response. 

"Oh, you're training very hard. I like that." The Hokage's expression turned serious yet kind. "Train diligently, Akuma, so that one day, you may carry the Will of Fire." 

Akuma smiled and nodded again. 

Seeing this, Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Do you know what the Will of Fire means?" he asked. 

Akuma looked at him and plainly said, "No." 

Hiruzen smiled and asked, "If you didn't know what it meant, then why did you nod your head?" 

Akuma smirked. "Because I didn't want to look dumb in front of the Hokage, that's why." 

For a moment, there was silence—then Hiruzen burst into laughter. The sheer honesty and childish reasoning reminded him of his own grandson, Konohamaru. He couldn't help but find it amusing. 

Looking at Akuma, he felt a strange sense of familiarity—like he was talking to a young warrior who had already seen too much of the world. 

Hiruzen smiled at Akuma and recited, 

"When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew." 

He watched Akuma expectantly, hoping the boy would grasp the meaning behind his words. 

Akuma, however, simply stared at him and said, "I still don't understand." 

Hiruzen chuckled softly before explaining, "It's a way of thinking. All of us in this village are like one big family, and we shall protect our family no matter what." 

Akuma considered the words for a moment, his crimson eyes unreadable. Then, he met the Hokage's gaze and said, "You know, when a tree grows too big, it blocks the sunlight from reaching the ground and consumes a lot of resources. As a result, it prevents smaller plants from growing. So, wouldn't it be better to remove the big trees so the entire jungle can grow healthier?" 

For a brief moment, silence hung between them. 

Hiruzen studied Akuma carefully, his expression unreadable. The words the boy had spoken carried a weight that unsettled him. Was this merely an innocent observation, or was there a deeper philosophy at play? 

The Third Hokage exhaled slowly, his pipe releasing a thin wisp of smoke into the air. 

"That," he said at last, "depends on whether you see the big trees as protectors of the forest… or as obstacles." 

"I see them as both," Akuma said in that same lighthearted tone. "They can be protectors if they remain within their limits, but they become obstacles when they exceed those limits. When you put no limit on something, it becomes corrupt." 

The Third Hokage studied the boy carefully. On the surface, he looked like any other child—young, small, smiling. But the way he spoke, the way his crimson eyes held an understanding far beyond his years… it was unsettling. 

Inside, Hiruzen felt a creeping fear. 

Akuma's words were making him question his own beliefs, and that was terrifying. 

Hiruzen forced a warm smile, masking his unease. "That's… an interesting way of looking at things, Akuma." 

He wanted to believe that the boy was simply curious, that his words came from an innocent place. But deep inside, a thought lingered—a dangerous thought. 

What will this boy grow into? 

Hiruzen smiled as he looked at Akuma and asked, "Do you have anyone you would protect, even at the cost of your life?" 

Without hesitation, Akuma grinned and replied, "Of course! There are three people I'd protect—Guy-sensei and Brother Lee." 

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "And the third?" 

Akuma's grin widened. "Obviously, it's me! If I'm not alive, how am I supposed to protect them?" he said in a cheerful tone. 

Hiruzen couldn't help but laugh. The more he spoke with the boy, the more fascinated he became by his way of thinking. With growing curiosity, he decided to ask another question. 

"Akuma, tell me… what do you think power is?" 

It was a simple question, but the weight behind it was heavy. 

Akuma tilted his head slightly, as if considering his words. "Power?" He smirked. "It's just a tool. Like fire—it can warm you, or it can burn everything down." 

Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. "And which do you prefer? To warm… or to burn?" 

Akuma turned to look at him, his crimson eyes gleaming with an unreadable emotion. "That depends on the person standing in front of me." 

Hiruzen's grip on his staff tightened ever so slightly. This boy... he was unlike any other child in the village. 

"You have an interesting way of looking at things, Akuma." Hiruzen smiled warmly, leaning slightly forward as he rested his hands on his staff. "Then tell me this—if I made you Hokage today, what would you do?" 

Akuma didn't answer immediately. He gazed ahead, watching the gentle sway of the trees, as if searching for an answer carried by the wind itself. 

After a moment, he smirked. "If I became Hokage, I'd give the title back to you on the same day." 

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why is that?" 

Akuma's smirk widened as he answered cheerfully, "Because great power comes with great responsibility—and I don't want to deal with all that. I'm still a kid. Why would I burden myself with something so heavy?" 

For a moment, the Third Hokage simply observed him. The boy's words were spoken with casual ease, yet the depth behind them was undeniable. Many only see the power a Hokage holds, but few ever recognize the immense burden that comes with it. Yet, this boy—at such a young age—already understood. 

Hiruzen let out a small chuckle, though a hint of solemnity flickered in his eyes. "That is… quite the answer." 

Akuma turned to him with a grin. "Did I pass your test, old man?" 

Hiruzen laughed, shaking his head. "There was no test, Akuma. Just an old man enjoying a conversation." 

Hiruzen stood up, dusting himself off before turning to Akuma with a warm smile. "You will make an excellent Hokage someday, Akuma. Train hard." With those parting words, he walked away, his presence gradually fading into the forest. 

Akuma, meanwhile, remained seated, watching the old man disappear. Internally, he sighed. "I hope my cringy bullshit worked... If not, this could be a problem." 

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If we reach 100 stones, I'll reward you all with a bonus chapter!