Chương 64: Shunsui's Heritage

Shunsui reached the Sarutobi compound along with the Anbu who had come to fetch him. The masked ninja led the way, and the guards at the entrance let them pass easily without asking many questions. They walked through the well kept grounds and headed straight toward the Hokage's personal area. Shunsui kept his eyes open and observed everything around him as they moved deeper inside.

'No wonder Konoha is suffering from so much. The village is suffering from a great shinobi war and the leader is chilling at his home and calling for visitors.' As Shunsui thought that, he immediately could tell that something was wrong. The village faced many problems with the ongoing war taking its toll on everyone, yet here was the Hokage inviting him to his private home instead of handling important matters at the office. It did not add up in Shunsui's mind.

'There was no way the Hiruzen that is always suffering from paperwork is this free to call me at his house during such a busy time for both the village and him.' Shunsui thought carefully about the situation. The Third Hokage was known for being buried under stacks of documents every day, so this sudden free time felt suspicious. Shunsui wondered what could be so important that it pulled the leader away from his duties.

'So what is the purpose of him calling me here in his home...' Then realisation struck him.

'Ah, to make me feel relaxed and then to manipulate me, of course. As expected of Hiruzen, a true politician that even my previous world leaders could not hold a candle to.' Shunsui thought with a mix of caution and respect for the old man's skills. He knew Hiruzen was clever and often used soft words and comfortable settings to guide people toward what he wanted. This private meeting was probably designed to lower Shunsui's guard.

When he reached the house, Shunsui entered and saw Hiruzen sitting comfortably on his couch with a pipe in his hand. Smoke rose gently from the pipe as the Hokage looked relaxed in his home clothes. Shunsui bowed politely and said, "Hokage sama."

"None of that for now," Hiruzen waved him off with a friendly smile. He gestured toward the other couch across from him.

"Come and sit down, young Shunsui. We can talk like normal people here without all the formal titles." Shunsui sat down on the couch as invited.

"Would you like some tea, young Shunsui?" Hiruzen asked in a kind voice while already reaching for a cup.

"Sure, Hokage sama," Shunsui replied. A servant quickly brought fresh tea and placed it in front of him. Shunsui took a small sip, enjoying the warm flavor while waiting for the real reason behind this meeting.

"You might be wondering why I called you here at my house and not my office or why did I even call you anyways?" Hiruzen said as he puffed on his pipe and looked at Shunsui thoughtfully. Shunsui nodded his head and internally said, 'Yup get to the point already old man.'

"You have been a mystery to us. There are many orphans in Konoha yes but not someone with an ability like yours," Hiruzen said. His voice became more serious as he continued speaking. He explained how Shunsui's special powers with the swords had caught the attention of him. The Hokage described how unusual it was for a young boy to show such unique talents without any known background. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

"You are still young but as you grow up, you would realise how utterly ridiculous your ability is young Shunsui," Hiruzen said seriously.

'I already know,' Shunsui internally grumbled.

"So it had become a priority for me to figure out which clan you were born or how your abilities came into being so we can get a sense of them," Hiruzen said. He took another puff from his pipe before continuing.

"And I believe we have found both your lineage as well as your parents." This made Shunsui curious.

"We have had several clues that helped figure them out. You are a half Senju, young Shunsui," Hiruzen said. This made Shunsui's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

'What the hell, is this my backstory arc? And Senju of all things, they are not any special barring the fact that Hashirama was of this clan and they are descendants of Sage of six paths but they don't have some secret jutsu or Kekkei Genkai.'

"Yes, a Senju like Lord First and Second," Hiruzen continued.

"We reached this conclusion with several clues. Your training helped you increase your strength and physique but it is a testament of your Senju lineage that it got such a considerable increase in such a short time." He explained how the Senju blood helped with physical growth and recovery.

"It is also because of your Senju lineage that you have so much chakra. Of course not all Senju had as much chakra as you but there were still exceptions like Lord First." Hiruzen spoke with pride when mentioning the past leaders.

"And finally, I just received Choza's letter a couple hours back about you having water affinity which is quite common in Senjus," Hiruzen said. He smiled as he connected all the pieces together.

"I am a half Senju and a half... civilian?" Shunsui asked, trying to understand the full picture.

"No. You are also a half Kurama," Hiruzen replied. He then explained the Kurama clan in detail.

"You see the members of Kurama clan have a rare trait. Every few generations, a member will be born with an incredible talent for genjutsu. The clan member's prowess in that field is so absolute that even without proper training, their genjutsu is simply overwhelming."

"Furthermore, the genjutsu is so powerful that it causes the brain to believe anything that happens to the victim to the point where the genjutsu physically harms the victim's body in the same manner they envisioned. We believe your ability to be a mutation of this reality changing ability interacting with the Senju part of your bloodline. You also have to say the name of your swords when you use its abilities and Kurama clan people usually use their voice to cast genjutsu."

Hiruzen explained everything clearly so Shunsui could follow along. He then took out two photos and showed them to Shunsui. One photo showed a black haired middle aged woman and the other a brown haired man.

"They are your father and mother. Imi Kurama and Kenzen Senju. Your mother was a chunin and your father a Jonin. They fell protecting the village...." Hiruzen paused for a moment and then began to speak with deep emotion in his voice.

"They had the will of fire. Your parents gave everything they had for the sake of Konoha. Even in the face of terrible danger during the war, they stood strong because they believed in the dream of this village. The will of fire is what keeps us going through the hardest times. It is the burning spirit inside every shinobi who calls Konoha home. Your mother and father carried that flame brightly until the very end." The Hokage continued in the next part of his speech.

"When you feel the warmth of that will inside you, young Shunsui, you will understand why we fight so hard. It is not just about power or winning battles. It is about protecting our friends, our families, and the future generations who will live in peace because of our sacrifices. Your parents died so that children like you could grow up safely in the village. That same will of fire flows in your blood now, both from the Senju strength and the Kurama spirit. You carry their legacy with you every single day."

Hiruzen leaned back slightly but kept his eyes kind and focused.

"Think about the bonds we share in Konoha. The will of fire teaches us that no one is ever truly alone. We support each other like one big family. Your parents believed in that completely. They trained hard, completed dangerous missions, and always returned with hope for a better tomorrow. Now it is your turn to hold that flame. As you grow and learn new jutsus, remember their courage. Let it guide you when times get difficult.

The village needs strong shinobi with good hearts who understand what it means to serve something bigger than themselves."

"And that is why I wanted to tell you this in my home, away from the busy office," Hiruzen added warmly.

"So you could feel the truth in your heart. Your parents' sacrifice was not in vain. You are proof that their will of fire still burns brightly. Embrace your heritage, train with all your might, and one day you will make them proud. Konoha will always stand behind you as you walk this path. Together we will overcome any challenge the war brings. This is the true strength of our village." Hiruzen finished his long speech with a gentle smile, hoping his words had reached deep into Shunsui's mind.

Shunsui thought, 'And here comes the brainwashing and propaganda. Can't he just do some things for the goodness of hearts. But this was a surprise, it seems that some god did not just drop me here in a crib in front of the orphanage after rebirthing me.' He processed everything he had just learned while keeping his face neutral.

'I was naturally born in this world.' Shunsui thought. This made him feel a part of the world a little more instead of what he believed to be a world out of a storybook. The knowledge that he had real parents who fought and died for the village changed how he saw his place here. It gave him a deeper connection to Konoha and the people around him. For the first time, the village felt truly real and not just like an adventure from another life.

Shunsui sat quietly, holding the photos and thinking about what this new information meant for his future.