Sometimes Huoshu wondered why his father had betrayed Konoha and killed his comrades.
Huoshu had never been good at thinking through complicated matters, and trying to understand this one left him confused. In the end, he couldn't figure anything out.
Besides, there was no time for him to do so. His renegade father had left him a whole mess to clean up.
For example, the contemptuous looks from his clan and the victims' angry accusations. It all weighed on Huoshu until he could barely breathe.
The Third Hokage had told him it wasn't his fault.
Huoshu understood, but he still chose to take on the consequences of his father's actions.
"I'll... atone for my father's sins," the black-haired boy told the Third Hokage.
A large, withered hand rested on the child's round head. "...Is that so? Why would you do that?"
Back then, the victims' families took their anger out on Huoshu, and the villagers despised him, even though he had done nothing wrong.
Because they must be heartbroken. I don't know why my father did that, but what's done can't be undone. ...So if I can ease their sorrow, even just a little, that's enough.
The black-haired boy spoke each word plainly, without a hint of insincerity.
Many years later, the Third Hokage still thought back on the child's words with deep emotion. Though everyone in the village took their anger out on him, he had never blamed anyone.
"What a good kid."
#How to Become a Great Ninja#
Theme: Get along with one another.
