"There were no lords here—only a ninja without any real ability!"
Senju Tobirama gestured casually as he spoke. Mingye stepped forward and placed the carnations before the memorial monument. Tobirama looked at the flowers and smiled faintly.
"I remember giving this sort of flower to my younger brother often when I was young. How long ago was that? To think I can't even remember the flower's name anymore. Who did you come here to mourn?"
"These flowers are called carnations. They represent longing for family and friends. I didn't really know what flowers were appropriate for an occasion like this—I just suddenly missed them, so I bought a bouquet. I adopted a child named Orochimaru. Many of my friends died in this war, so I came to pay my respects to them."
Senju Tobirama was informed of everything, great and small, and naturally knew clearly what Mingye had done. He nodded in approval. "I know that child, Orochimaru. He is the best student in his class. You deserve some credit for that, don't you?"
"I wouldn't dare claim it. Orochimaru himself has excellent talents, a hundred times better than mine. I happen to manage ninjutsu at the Ninjutsu Pavilion. Although circumstances prevented me from teaching him ninjutsu directly, I could still easily teach him the principles behind learning and mastering ninjutsu. His parents also died in the war. I just didn't want him to keep living in sorrow."
There was a trace of kindness in Mingye's answer, and Senju Tobirama was very satisfied. There were not many children with such fine character, and fewer still like Mingye. Unfortunately, no one could be perfect. Mingye would always remain one of those regrettable cases, because he lacked strength. No matter how outstanding his character was, that fatal flaw would overshadow it all.