Chapter 4 Planting Trees During the Ninja Clan Era (4) Not as an older brother...

Before leaving, Aunt Meixin from the village gave each of the Otsutsuki brothers a roasted sweet potato. It was clear that Aunt Meixin favored Indra more, as the one Indra held was obviously bigger. However, if Aunt Meixin hadn't known that Ashura was Indra's brother, Ashura definitely wouldn't have gotten any, since food is very important.

As far as Indra knew, this village had the best harvest within a thousand miles, and it wouldn't hurt to share some with others.

Indra speculated that it was his elder brother's natural chakra power that had blessed this land.

In a few years, this entire mountain, like that forest, will be completely transformed by the elder brother's power into an even more powerful and vibrant sacred place.

Indra thanked Aunt Meixin, and when they were out of sight, he exchanged the large sweet potato he was holding for his younger brother. The freshly roasted sweet potato was glutinous and sweet, and although it was a little hot, it was still hard to put down. Ashura ate the sweet potato with gusto, his face turning rosy.

"The sweet potatoes here are so sweet!" Ashura exclaimed, delighted.

Indra couldn't help but chuckle. He broke open the sweet potato in his hand, blew on the steam rising from it, and carefully took a bite. His eyes lit up slightly. The sweet potato here had almost no fibrous texture and melted in his mouth. He sipped the sweetness in his mouth and said, "We can buy some for the Ninja Sect later."

I don't know if it's possible to plant it there; I'll ask my older brother later.

Upon hearing Indra's words, Asura immediately nodded rapidly, like a chicken pecking at rice.

After returning home, Ashura sensed that her brother had changed.

It seems... quieter now?

"What's wrong, Ashura?" Noticing Ashura's gaze, Indra looked up from his book at his younger brother, who was staring at him in a daze, and gave him a gentle smile.

"My brother has become so quiet." Ashura, who had lost interest in studying, lay slumped over the table.

Indra was taken aback. "Really?"

Isn't that how he always is?

To be honest, he wasn't a talkative person, but he talked a lot in front of his elder brother. Otherwise, his elder brother could be so quiet all day without uttering a single syllable, which made people worry that he might forget how to speak after a while.

"Maybe it's just my imagination." Ashura sat up. "What book is my brother reading?"

“Some about farming, descriptions of exotic lands… and a little history.” Indra spoke lightly, but the mountain of books beside him proved how astonishing the contents of what he was about to read were. “Humans have continued to develop on this planet of ninjas for thousands of years. Ashura, even my father, was just a latecomer.”

The more Indra knew, the more he couldn't help but think.

War has never shown any sign of ending in human history... He began to vaguely regret creating the "seal".

With the chakra that his father had spread and shared, and with the "seals" that allowed him to mobilize and use chakra, if humanity were to wage war again in the future, it would inevitably suffer even more terrible costs and tragedies than in the past. This was not Indra's original intention.

We must find a way to nip any potential future disasters in the bud.

Indra didn't know how to solve the problem, nor where to find a solution, or who he could turn to for help.

Indra paused, and the image that came to mind was the boy's calm, dark eyes.

Surely that person's words can answer his questions and resolve his doubts? Surely they will listen attentively to his troubles and try to find solutions for him?

Thinking this, Indra subconsciously touched the leaf he carried with him.

Indra shook his head, trying to shake the image of that person out of his mind. This irresistible urge to rely on the other person left him feeling lost and even panicked.

He is the successor of the Ninja Clan, the one who must carry on his father's goals, and cannot rely on others in this way.

Seeing his brother suddenly shake his head violently after being lost in thought for only a few seconds, Ashura was startled: "Brother?"

Indra gave an awkward laugh, "I was thinking about something..."

My brother has become so strange, it seems like there's more distance between us now—Asura thought to himself.

"Asura, want to read a book together?" Indra's face returned to its usual calm, and he smiled slightly as he beckoned to Asura.

"Yes!" Ashura's eyes lit up. He didn't like reading, but he liked being with his brother.

Indra knew Ashura's preferences and personality. These words were an excellent hypnotic tool for Ashura. Sure enough, before he had even turned a few pages, Indra felt a slight weight on his shoulder, the weight of the sleeping Ashura leaning towards him.

When it gets cold, even if there's a brazier burning indoors, it's easy to catch a cold if you fall asleep directly like that.

Indra clenched his fist, letting the warmth of his palm warm his slightly cool fingertips. He took off his outer garment and covered Ashura with it, then pulled up the warm, soft wool scarf around his neck and continued reading.

When Ashura woke up, he found that his brother was still in the same position, but the book in front of him was no longer the one he remembered.

"Asura, wipe your drool." Indra's voice brought Asura back to his senses.

Ashura awkwardly wiped the water from the corner of his mouth, then looked at the spot where his brother had been leaning against and saw a half-dried drool stain. He immediately gave a fawning smile, folded the coat that had slipped off his body, and handed it back with both hands, earning a helpless yet tolerant look from his brother.

"Go out and play, don't forget you have training later." Indra said after putting on his coat. He knew that Ashura couldn't sit still for too long, and Ashura's time with him was enough to pass the study time arranged by their father, so there was no need to force his younger brother to continue sitting with him.

In Indra's view, it was enough that his younger brother could grow up happily and smoothly; Asura didn't need to worry about anything else.

Asura is cheerful, energetic, and good at making friends. Unlike Indra, who prefers to be alone, Asura can always find friends to play with and pass the time.

"Isn't brother coming along?" Ashura asked.

Indra shook his head. Ashura was one thing, as he was Ashura's beloved younger brother. As for the other children, even Ashura's friends, he felt they just couldn't get along. "Go ahead, just don't forget the time."

"Okay, brother!" Ashura obediently agreed and ran out impatiently.

Because they missed the best time for planting, the sweet potatoes they had harvested from that village were stored in the granary to be planted again next spring. The Ninja Sect was more stable and secure than other places. After finishing his book, Indra planned to go and check the granary to see the Ninja Sect's harvest this year, compare it with his elder brother's, and calculate the potential for improvement.

Indra's plan for his future was actually very simple—to strive to improve himself, become a qualified and excellent successor of the Ninjutsu sect, and carry forward the Ninjutsu sect after inheriting it in the future.

The Ninja Clan's fields are fertile and vast, and they rely on agriculture to be self-sufficient. Therefore, after discovering the special nature of the forest in the Senju Takeya area, Indra began to wonder if chakra could be used for farming, since the fruits grown by his elder brother were indeed exceptionally delicious.

Therefore, Indra decided to try his hand at farming.

He had just returned when he went to check on his own fields and found that the fruits and vegetables in these fields were far inferior to his elder brother's crops that grew on trees, both in terms of quality and yield. His elder brother, who could grow these crops into towering trees and harvest them at any time regardless of the season, was terrifyingly strong in some respects.

This is the power of natural chakra!

Thinking of this, Indra's eyes lit up.

As expected of an elder brother! He accomplished with ease what even his father couldn't, which is truly admirable and inspiring! It really makes one's blood boil! Indeed, everyone has their own strengths and expertise. If everyone can perform their duties in their area of ​​expertise, the future will surely be even better!

That's right! My brother is right! This is how chakra should be used!

But because of this, the sapling that remained so small even after being nurtured for three years by its powerful elder brother became all the more special and eye-catching.

A voice deep within Indra told him that it was the divine tree, an existence like the divine tree that his father had sealed away.

After finishing reading the books, Indra set off for the granary. His keen senses alerted him to the fact that an uninvited guest had already 'visited' the granary before him.

The rat that sneaked into the granary was just an ordinary person, and even if the opponent were an adult, it would be no match for Indra's single hand.

Under the Sharingan's gaze, the man trembled with fear as he knelt on the ground. He swore he would never do it again, but Indra only knew that once was enough, twice was inevitable. This man dared to steal even in the Ninja Clan; who knew what he would do outside?

It's important to know that the environment of the Ninja Clan is absolutely top-notch in the entire ninja world. You get what you pay for, and as long as you find work, you can definitely support yourself. Not to mention, the Ninja Clan treats the people in their territory with kindness and care. Not to mention the subsidies, even the farmland is provided free of charge. The reason is that the Otsutsuki don't care about material possessions because they possess absolute power that can overturn the chessboard in an instant.

Indra did not soften his heart despite the man's pleas for mercy, and dragged the able-bodied adult male in front of his father for judgment.

"Indra, what did you do to him?" Seeing the man trembling with fear, kneeling on the ground and not daring to look at Indra's pitiful state, Otsutsuki Hagoromo questioned Indra sharply, "I told you, the power of chakra must never be used to oppress ordinary people!"

Indra felt as if his heart had plunged into an abyss. He hurriedly retorted, "But Father! This man broke into the granary to steal! It's clear he's no good person—he should be punished for his wrongdoing! I merely stopped him from committing the crime!"

“You used the Sharingan.” Hagoromo Otsutsuki could sense the residual power of the Sharingan on the man’s body. “If it’s just to stop someone, you don’t need to use the Sharingan. You must not rely on the power of the Sharingan!”

What Hagoromo Otsutsuki feared most was seeing his eldest son become like his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, someone obsessed with power.

“But only the Sharingan can allow this person to appear before you unharmed, Father.” Indra took a deep breath, trying to compose himself, but he couldn’t suppress the overwhelming grievances in his heart. “No matter what I do, I can’t get a satisfactory answer from you. Do you hate me that much?!”

Hagoromo Otsutsuki was silent for a moment, then said, "Indra, you're being too sensitive."

Indra closed his eyes. "Father, the most important thing now is how to deal with this little thief."

Hagoromo Otsutsuki's gaze fell on the person, his tone slightly gentle: "Why did you steal?"

The man hurriedly begged for mercy, kneeling on the ground and kowtowing, crying out, "My family is truly starving, sir! My wife and children are hungry, and I can't think of any other way to feed them! I had no choice but to resort to this! I will never do it again!"

“You have all four limbs intact, why don’t you find some work to do?” Indra questioned.

"I only arrived in the Ninja Clan's territory this year, and I can't find any suitable work! If there were suitable work that could support my whole family, I wouldn't have done this! I'm not like the two Ninja Clan leaders, who possess such divine power; I'm just a pitiful person!" The man cried out even louder, as if the louder he cried, the weaker he seemed, and the more justified he appeared.

"Can't find suitable work? You can't find work that you can get something for nothing!" Indra saw through the man's despicable nature at a glance, taking in his guilt and resentment. "Someone like you deserves to starve to death!"

“Indra, why should we force an ordinary person who can’t even kill a chicken to his death? Since he has his reasons, let him go.” Otsutsuki Hagoromo didn’t expect Indra to say such a thing. He stopped Indra and turned to the man, saying, “Fine, this is the last time. You can go.”

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" The man quickly kowtowed in gratitude and was led away by the guards of the Ninja Clan.

“Father! If this person is not punished, someone else will surely repeat the offense!” Indra exclaimed. “That person is not truly repentant! He is just afraid!”

“Indra, you must learn to trust others instead of oppressing and criticizing those who suffer.” Hagoromo Otsutsuki shook his head. “Afterwards, I will send someone to visit that person’s home. Once his poverty and hunger are resolved, he will surely stop stealing.”

“If it’s not this thief, there will be a second or third different thief!” Indra couldn’t understand his father. “If there’s no consequence, more people will inevitably steal! That’s unfair to other hardworking people!”

Indra didn't know any grand principles; he only knew that mistakes should be punished, that punishment would make a lasting impression, and that others would have a sense of self-reflection and be able to assess whether the matter was worth the risk.

“Indra, your thinking is too extreme. You always think of things in the worst possible way.” Hagoromo Otsutsuki frowned.

“It was you who told me, Father! If a person makes a mistake and doesn’t correct it immediately, it will happen again and again!” Indra clenched his fists. “That’s exactly what you’ve always taught me!”

“The consequences of a mistake made by a powerful person are vastly different from those made by a weak person, which is why I am so strict with you.” Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo looked seriously at his eldest son. “He failed to steal anything, and naturally, he didn’t cause any loss to anyone else, so why not give him another chance?”

"That's because I stopped him! He didn't truly repent, Father!" Indra couldn't contain his grievance. "You don't believe me! I'm clearly your son!"

“It is precisely because you are my son that I cannot treat you specially. Only by treating everyone fairly and justly can I be trusted by everyone. Only by loving everyone can I be loved and trusted by everyone.” Otsutsuki Hagoromo looked sadly at his eldest son who was stuck in a rut. “Chakra can connect the power of all beings. People need to trust and understand each other to create peace together. This is the doctrine of Ninjutsu. Ninjutsu was born for peace, so it must never be used to harm others.”

Indra fell silent. Was it really his fault? Was he too sensitive and extreme?

But if his father treated everyone fairly, why did he feel so unfair and wronged?

Is he among those 'everyone'?

Indra felt a chill run down his spine, a nameless fear gripping him. At only nine years old, Indra was unwilling to delve into the possibility of it, but after meeting and spending time with Senju Takeya, he learned what it felt like to be loved. He could no longer deceive himself into giving himself a definite answer, and could only choose not to think about it or investigate it further.

Brother... what should he do?

"I want you to grow up to be outstanding more than anyone else. I want you to become better. The Ninja Clan and your younger brother need you. You are still too immature. Your thoughts and concepts are not yet perfect. Your experience is too shallow. You will understand when you grow up." Otsutsuki Hagoromo patted Indra's shoulder. "Indra, your emotions are too easily agitated. You need to train and temper your mind. Add another hour to today's physical training."

Indra's eyes were dazed. His lips moved slightly, but he didn't know what to say. So he lowered his head and replied, "Yes, Father."

Indra also realized that his emotions were indeed too easily swayed. He shouldn't have argued with his father; he should have discussed things with him in a more tactful way and with a more gentle tone.

But... elder brother, why is he so sad, almost suffocatingly sad?

—Achoo!

The earth seemed to sink suddenly, startling the birds and beasts around it into a frenzy. A hard, huge, bluish-black rock slowly moved across the ground. Beneath the rock, which was larger than two adult elephants combined, a boy who had just sneezed held up the boulder with one hand and wiped his nose with the other.

The boy, whose eyes were as dark as an abyss, paused. "Indra?"

His intuition told him that it was Indra who was thinking of him.

Yes, that should be correct.

I wonder how my sworn brother is doing at home, and whether he has suffered any injustices. After all, the first time we met, he ran away from home because he had been wronged, and his ideas and beliefs differed from his father's.

In Senju Takeya's opinion, the child was unusually sensible and well-behaved, had his own independent thinking ability, and was very emotionally rich and healthy. His only flaw was that he was too weak.

If the child is stronger than his father, then his father will definitely try to think from Indra's perspective and speak and interact with Indra in a gentler and more tactful way so that he can truly listen to Indra's voice. Otherwise, as a dictatorial father, the other party will never see or admit his mistakes and will manipulate Indra in an even more suffocating way.

Authoritarian fathers set many rules and regulations that require strict obedience to restrain their children. They do not allow children to have different opinions from them and do not believe that children can communicate with them as equals. Such fathers expect their children to respect and obey them without question. Once the children deviate, they will be subject to punitive and coercive measures, such as PUA, or even more direct physical punishment.

The father figure that Senju Takeya gradually developed from Indra's descriptions is such an autocratic father.

But Indra was extremely concerned about his father's opinion of him and longed to be valued and recognized by his father...

I'm really worried about Indra.

"Achoo!" Senju Take couldn't help but sneeze again.

Yeah, this time it feels like his best friend is talking about him.

He is truly missed.

A note from the author:

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Indra: What is my elder brother doing now? I wish he were still here with me. Does he miss me? Elder brother, elder brother, elder brother...

Uchiha Osaka: My dearest friend, are you eating well in heaven? Are you being bullied all by yourself? Do you miss me? My dearest friend, my dearest friend, my dearest friend...

Senju Takeya: (Proudly) Hmph, I'm really being missed.