An Old Man Became Wise with Age

Seeing Shiraishi Yoshijo stay silent, Takemoto Anna didn't have the heart to point at him and call him worse than a beast.

"I heard you fought Hanzo on your mission this time?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo's eyes darted around. He sighed helplessly. "Did Hanari pass the news along to you that quickly?"

"She's the one assigned to protect and supervise you. Of course she'd report something this important to us right away."

"Fine, fine. So what if I fought Hanzo? I didn't beat him, so what's there to make a fuss about?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo honestly didn't think it was a big deal. Compared with the overpowered characters who'd come later, Hanzo was a nobody.

Making a big announcement just because he'd fought a nobody would be utterly humiliating.

After hearing him admit it, Takemoto Anna cried out excitedly, "Hanzo of the Salamander is known as the Demigod of the Ninja World! How can you act like nothing happened?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo sighed. "So you came all the way to my house and banged on the door because of that?"

"Grandpa wants to see you."

Shiraishi Yoshijo: ""

Takemoto Shuichi had aged rapidly over the past few years. Not only was his hair completely white, he could no longer walk and had started using a wheelchair.

With one foot in the grave, he was still worrying about all this. Shiraishi Yoshijo didn't know what to say.

But Takemoto Shuichi wanted to see him, and he couldn't refuse. By seniority, Shuichi was his grandfather.

In the Takemoto Clan's courtyard, Shiraishi Yoshijo met Takemoto Shuichi.

Takemoto Shuichi looked to be in good spirits that day, his face ruddy.

As soon as he saw Shiraishi Yoshijo, he waved him over.

"Grandpa Shuichi, you don't have many days left. How come you still can't sit still?"

Hearing Shiraishi Yoshijo open with that, Takemoto Anna angrily kicked him.

Shiraishi Yoshijo didn't even need to dodge. His body didn't budge.

He wasn't like before, when she could pin him down and beat him at will.

Come to think of it, should he get back at her for all the beatings he'd taken?

Yeah, that sounded like a good idea.

Shiraishi Yoshijo eyed Takemoto Anna strangely, leaving her completely bewildered.

"All right, Anna, go inside for now," Takemoto Shuichi said.

Takemoto Anna glared at Shiraishi Yoshijo, then turned and went into the house.

"Yoshijo, I haven't been out in a long time. Come, take me out for some fresh air."

Shiraishi Yoshijo went behind Takemoto Shuichi and slowly pushed his wheelchair down the street.

The street was mostly filled with members of the Takemoto Clan. When they saw Shiraishi Yoshijo pushing Takemoto Shuichi along, they hurried to either side, bowing respectfully.

"I heard you fought Hanzo of the Salamander on your mission this time. How did it feel?"

"You know how it is. Was it really worth making such a fuss over?"

"Hanzo is known as the Demigod of the Ninja World. Being able to fight him shows your strength is above the standard. That's important."

"How important?"

"You've been in Anbu for five years. It's time you stepped out of the shadows and into the light."

Shiraishi Yoshijo frowned. Was he telling him to leave Anbu?

"Grandpa Shuichi, which department do you want me to join?"

"You can make that decision yourself. I can't manage your life forever."

Shiraishi Yoshijo was a little surprised. That didn't sound like something this overbearing old man would say.

"Do you think I've changed?"

Changed? He was practically a different person from before.

Takemoto Shuichi used to speak loudly and forcefully. He would never have said something so gentle.

"Actually, I know you don't like me much. You think I'm domineering and always trying to control your life."

Shiraishi Yoshijo awkwardly rubbed the back of his head.

"I haven't really changed. I treated you that way because you were too lazy. If I wasn't strict and didn't keep cracking the whip, you'd just muddle through one day at a time."

"If you'd been born into my family, I'd never have forced you to do anything you didn't want to do."

"But you're Yukihito's grandson, and you were destined to inherit everything he had. With that attitude, you'd only ruin your own life."

"By now, you should know that your parents' deaths weren't normal. I'm not saying this to make you seek revenge, because that would be pointless."

"I just want you to understand that if you don't become strong, what happened to your parents could happen to you."

Shiraishi Yoshijo listened in silence, without showing any sign of arguing.

"Fortunately, you're extraordinarily talented. But your strength has grown somewhat unnaturally. Tell me honestly, how many Butterfly Seeds have you cultivated?"

"Four."

Shiraishi Yoshijo's answer made Takemoto Shuichi sigh.

"Just as I thought. Your grandfather cultivated four as well. He lived to be fifty-three. How long do you think you'll live?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo fell silent.

"Once you're an adult, marry Anna. Have descendants while you still can, so your family doesn't die out."

Shiraishi Yoshijo wasn't especially moved by this.

With his intelligence, if he hadn't figured this might happen, he might as well have died.

"Grandpa Shuichi, let's forget about that. Being with her would only bring her misfortune."

"Nobody would be happy. That kind of marriage would be terribly dull."

Takemoto Shuichi chuckled. "Is that so? Can you tell me what you really think?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo only stayed silent.

"Revenge? Defection? Or destroying Konoha?"

Hearing Takemoto Shuichi say it with a smile, Shiraishi Yoshijo raised his eyebrows.

"When did you figure it out, Grandpa Shuichi?"

"Just now."

Shiraishi Yoshijo froze. He had no idea what he'd done to give himself away.

"You really are still just a child!"

"You know perfectly well that Butterfly Seeds consume your life force, yet you keep cultivating so many. And you have no desire for fame or fortune. Can you tell me why?"

"You must have some other goal. I can't think of any other explanation."

Shiraishi Yoshijo's mouth twitched slightly. As expected, the older the ginger, the hotter it was. Just a few words had been enough for him to see through Shiraishi Yoshijo's intentions.

Old people really did grow sharp with age!

Actually, he wanted to say he'd been forced to cultivate so many. But he knew that even if Mei hadn't pushed him, he might have done it of his own accord.

Life was full of disappointments, and only a fraction of them could be shared with others.

"Grandpa Shuichi, if you've already guessed, why do you still want me to marry Anna?"

"Whether you seek revenge or defect, even if you really destroy Konoha, what does that have to do with marrying Anna?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo's expression turned strange.

Whatever he did, those three possibilities would mean a lifetime of being hunted.

Was this old man in his right mind, marrying his granddaughter off to someone like that?

"Grandpa Shuichi, I don't understand what you mean. And isn't this a bad thing to talk about out here in the street?"

Takemoto Shuichi looked back at him, then shakily raised a hand and flicked him on the forehead.

Shiraishi Yoshijo didn't dodge—or rather, he didn't dare. It didn't hurt anyway.

"There's nothing you can't say in front of others. Be bold in how you live and act. Look at how timid you are. If you're going to do it, why be so hesitant?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo: ""

"A real man stands tall and proud in life, and dies without regrets."

"What's wrong with striving toward your own goals? Why hide it?"

"You'll only make people look down on you for no reason!"