'Ughhh' Hiruko couldn't help but internally complain.
'Why am I always passing out? No, why is the pain always so much?' Hiruko thought as he opened his eyes; his vision, blurry and unfocused, eventually began to focus.
Hiruko, sitting up, saw something he could only describe as terrifying.
A woman with red hair tied up in two buns and a diamond mark on her forehead had several chains pouring out of her back; an aura of malice surrounded her.
Hiruko could even see the faint outline of an orange fox.
Hiruko, his eyes following the chains, saw them holding up two people by the neck, both of whom were struggling to break free, trying to explain to the woman what was going on.
'Sakumo and the Old Man' Hiruko thought about making out with the two people wrapped in chains.
"Wait, Mom!" Hiruko said aloud, finally processing what was going on.
Mito, looking over and seeing Hiruko alive and awake, immediately calmed down; her aura retreated and chains receded as she immediately rushed over to Hiruko, ignoring the two on the ground.
"Hiruko, my baby, what did those two evil men do to you?" Mito said, tears pouring down her face, as she hugged and nuzzled Hiruko.
Hiruko returning her hug lightly smiles, "Don't worry, Mom, I'm fine." Hiruko said,
The gramps, who Hiruko was noticeably healthier than, spoke. "Umm, Lady Mito, we really didn't touch Hiruko. He passed out after using some weird power to heal me," the man said.
Mito, turning back and glaring at the man, said, "You expect me to believe that, Kenny, when I came here and saw my son on the verge of death, blood pouring from several parts of his body?" Mito said angrily through tears.
Hiruko, not wanting Mito to kill the man he now found out was named Kenny, tentatively spoke up.
"Uhh, Mom, he's not lying. I got lost on my way home and ended up here, then noticed the man's declining health and healed him with a new ability I've had for a while," Hiruko said, leaving out the part about Sakumo and him going at it twice. Who knows what she'd do to him?
Mito Hearing this, she cried even harder. "Why didn't you tell me, Hiruko? Did you feel as if you couldn't trust me?" Mito asked if she knew her son had secrets; who didn't?
But she didn't think they would be ones that could nearly cost his life, and in this emotional state she was in, she worried it was because she wasn't a good mother he could trust.
Hiruko, picking up on this immediately, clarified,
"No, Mom, of course I trust you. If anything, you're one of the only ones I can trust unconditionally. I just find it hard to divulge everything." Hiruko said honestly he knew he was in a powerful family that most couldn't touch, but that was only now.
Soon, unless he gained the strength to change things, the only ones left would be him and Tsunade.
So even though he trusted Mito, he couldn't help but be cautious; the number one rule in the novels he read in his past life is don't needlessly flaunt your strength because that's how you end up dead.
Mito Hearing this, she dug her face in Hiruko's shoulder.
"I don't need to know everything, just the things that directly threaten your life because I won't lose you." She said, Honestly.
Hiruko smiling simply said, "Okay, Mom."
He and Mito sat there for a couple moments before Hiruko made a tough decision.
He knew if he really didn't want to bring it up, Mito would let it go. That's why she hasn't asked, but he loved this family, and family is built on trust.
"I don't know what it is, but it allows me to heal people through bodily fluids like blood, saliva, and tears. Though the cost isn't Chakra—"
Mito, hearing this, quickly grabbed Hiruko's shoulders.
Her eyes crazed, "Don't tell me it's life force." She said, scared, though she hid it pretty well, her husband's death had left an impact on her, and now she was afraid her son would die in the same way.
Not only that, but Hiruko didn't have Hashirama's immense vitality, which put him in even more danger.
But Hiruko quickly dismissed her thoughts.
"No, it doesn't cost vitality; it just makes me tired for a while, but since the thing I healed was an injury that spanned over a decade and was from a powerful man, it cost a lot more.
Speaking of that, how long was I out?" Hiruko suddenly thought.
At this Sakumo spoke up. "A day and a half" Sakumo said seriously, his gaze on Hiruko; it held something unknown.
"After you fell unconscious, you were practically at death's door, and then after about an hour, Mito appeared and spent about a day healing you.
After that you slept for hours; Mito for that time stayed by your side. It wasn't until she was sure you were okay that she questioned me and your day, and that's when you woke up." Sakumo said, reiterating the events of the past two days.
Hiruko, hearing this, turned his head, looking at Mito. 'She saved me and stayed with me.' Hiruko thought, He knew Mito loved him, but he's never felt this type of warmth before.
Mito Seeing Hiruko's face get red, he immediately stood up.
"Um, we should get going. Everyone's pretty worried about you, especially that boy." Mito said,
remembering that young, snake-like child so worried about her son when she heard Tsunade say he was missing.
'Aww, to be young again.' Mito thought reminiscing, but then she suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, that Uchiha girl stopped by too. She said that she returned from her mission and that if you could meet her at Ichiraku Ramen on Tuesday after your training." Mito said her face immediately dropped to one of love when she mentioned Ramen.
Hiruko, on the other hand, simply thought, 'Naori's back?' before mentally cataloging the date and getting ready to leave.
But as Mito and Hiruko were going to leave, Ken Hatake took a knee, his sword in hand.
"Hiruko, I, Ken Hatake of the Hatake clan, eternally thank you for healing me. If not for the fact that my blade belongs to another. I would repay you with my sword and myself, but if you ever need the help, the Hatake clan will follow right behind in need of help.
Hiruko, smiling slightly politely, thanked Ken before continuing on his way.
As Mito and Hiruko walked out the door, Ken turned to Sakumo, who still had an unknown expression on his face.
"Sakumo You know the way of the samurai; when you pledge yourself to be one's sword, you must never go back.
They must be your reason to live and die, and you must follow them wherever they go, even if it is away from everything you know," Ken said.
A slight smile took his face; he recognized the look on Sakumo's face. It was the same look he had when he pledged his sword to Hashirama Senju.
Sakumo, looking at his grandfather, who gave him a small nod, rushed to the door as he recalled what his father used to say.
Start of flashback
"Dad, how does a Hatake find their master, and will I ever find one as great as the one Grandpa serves?" a young Sakumo asked; his spiked hair and chubby face made him quite the charmer.
A hand reached out at young Sakumo's question; the man's face was obscured, almost as if the owner of this memory forgot his face. The man's hand landing on Sakumo's head ruffled his hair.
"Sakumo A Hatake doesn't find their master; a Hatake's master finds them, and when they do, you'll know.
You'll feel an emotion you can't describe, but only one thought will occur in your mind: this is the person I want to follow.
You won't think about what-ifs; you'll only think in that current moment that this is the person you'll live for.
You may start off following him because they bring security, or they did something miraculous, but eventually you'll follow that person because they are the type of person you wish to serve with your life," the man with no face said.
… end of flashback
Sakumo, now outside, saw the back of Hiruko, who turned around, sensing a presence behind him.
Sakumo, seeing this, immediately fell to both knees, drawing his sword.
As he brought his sword to his palm, slitting it, he said,
"I, Sakumo Hatake, pledge myself and all I am to be the sword of Hiruko. No matter where he travels or who he encounters, I will be your sword and cut down anyone who attempts to stand in your way.
My goal is to be the best swordsman in the world, a swordsman worthy to be the epitome of all. And as your sword, I shall be the best. And support you with that strength.
This is what I wish and swear to uphold, so please don't reject me… Master!" Sakumo said, looking Hiruko in the eyes with determination, his blood bathed on his sword.
Hiruko, on the other hand, stood completely bewildered.
'How the heck did I convince someone to follow me without even trying? It can't be… Am I becoming Luffy? Hiruko thought he was scared, but seeing Sakumo's look, an unbreakable will shone in him; this was the man he decided to follow.
'I can't bring myself to say no, and having someone ready to fight for me won't be terrible.' Hiruko thought as he said,
"Give me your sword." Hiruko said as Sakumo gave it without hesitation.
Hiruko taking the sword brought up his previous slit palm that had already begun to close due to his body. Hiruko then cut it right back open.
"From this moment on I, Hiruko, accept Sakumo Hatake as my sword and right-hand man. "
Hiruko said as he took the sword bathed in both of their hands, putting it over each of Sakumo's shoulders like it was a knighting ceremony.
Sakumo who stood up smiling said, "I'll go get my stuff."
"Wait, what?" Hiruko said, confused, his face going from excitement to confused as Sakumo sped off back to his home.
Mito chuckled in the back and explained things to Hiruko.
"A samurai gives his everything to protect his master, even his time, which includes living with one's master to protect them at all times."
Just as she finished, Sakumo came out with a massive duffel bag and his sword. Outside waving was Ken with a smile.
Sakumo stopped in front of Hiruko, and Mito immediately bowed.
"Lady Mito I hope you don't mind my intrusion." Sakumo said politely.
Mito, seeing Hiruko's pleading look as he stood behind Sakumo, simply smiled and said,
"Of course, child, I don't mind. I am honored to have a strong child like you serving my son," Mito said, smiling. She actually meant what she said; she now worried less about her son.
She could tell Sakumo was a good kid who would become strong in the future.
Watching this, he slapped a hand across his face.
'Oh come on!' Hiruko thought internally.
———————————————————
Okay so this was my big plan or atleast one and if you couldn't tell I plan on making my own crew but just so you know the characters will be spread out and I plan on getting deeper into why they begin to follow Hiruko
Also the aquistoion of the crew won't happen in the same order as anime.
I already have several characters planned out for the crew but I'm open to suggestions
Also the next crew member joining won't be for a while but introductions of crew members will happen in various chapters
Also there will be no sharing of system rewards so yeah 👍
Oh an I took some creative liberty with the Hatake clan I hope yall don't mind 🙇🏽♂️