Although Indra was unwilling to admit it, he was somewhat suspicious in his heart.

Are the words you say at home too harsh?

He sighed. Asura was a fool. What if he really took seriously what he said in the heat of the moment?

Indra sat on the rock at the top of the waterfall, feeling rather melancholy.

At that time, he quarreled so fiercely with his father that he lost his temper and even Ashura, who was trying to stop the quarrel, suffered.

He knew that Ashura was not inflexible, but he never hid his feelings in front of his family and never beat around the bush. This was actually a good thing, at least he didn't have to worry about Ashura hating him for some reason.

The conflict with his father came from different ideas. Indra, who was trained as the successor of the Ninja Clan since childhood, had completely different ideas from Otsutsuki Hagoromo. This was a bit like the conflict between the old emperor and the prince, but the core of their conflict did not revolve around the word power.

The difference in their ideas comes from their different abilities.

Indra, who possesses extremely pure spiritual power, can sense the emotions and mental fluctuations of people around him unconsciously.

In other words, it is actually a low-end form of mind reading that is difficult to control.

This is something not even his father could do.

Elements that are too pure will always bring some unexpected effects.

Ashura is an exception. Perhaps because he is too simple or because his power is concentrated in the non-spiritual realm, Indra has never been able to sense Ashura's emotions.

However, Ashura did not hide his emotions in front of him at all.

But he never mentioned this to anyone else.

Of course, everyone in the Ninja Clan respects Otsutsuki Hagoromo, who is known as the Sage of Six Paths, but everyone has their own selfish desires and will think of themselves first.

This is a perfectly normal thing. Ever since Indra could remember, he knew that there was an insurmountable gap between people. The so-called "mutual understanding" is easy to say but very difficult to do.

It can even be said that it is impossible to do.

Therefore, the world of great harmony advocated by his father and Asura can only be regarded as a concept. It is like a lamp in the distance in the darkness. When you look at it, your heart feels bright, but if you really want to touch the lamp, you absolutely cannot do it in the darkness. You don’t know how far it is, nor do you know whether it is real.

Too idealistic.

Not all people are saints.

Indra feels bad.jpg

But every time they talked about this, they would always have a quarrel. Compared to him, the straightforward Ashura could understand his father's ideals better.

Over time, everyone in the Ninja Clan felt that Ashura was more suitable to inherit the Ninja Clan. However, in this era, it was tacitly accepted that the eldest son would inherit the family business, so no one would actually bring it up.

The clumsy Asura was of course unaware of this, but the sensitive Indra had already noticed this.

In the beginning, he would of course feel unbalanced and would deliberately scrutinize his younger brother.

But the more I looked at him, the more I couldn't have any bad feelings towards my brother. This guy was too upright, the kind that never deviated from his ways.

The first thing he said was "My brother is the best person in the world", and the second thing he said was "I love my brother the most, and my brother loves me the most too."

Moreover, he always spoke with a solemn tone, and there was no one in the Ninja Clan who had not heard of his flattery.

Indra will never say "I like you", "I love you", or even "thank you" or "sorry" to others. He can correct his mistakes and help others. But he can "do" but never "say"!

So when Ashura always played straight balls to him, he had no room to escape. What's more, Ashura not only played straight balls himself, but also had to hear a response before he would stop.

Indra covered his face. When he thought of these things, he felt a little speechless.

——But this feeling is not bad.

Although he never expressed it in words, Indra loved his only brother very much.

Otsutsuki Hagoromo was always very busy, so Indra took care of this little brother most of the time. It was Indra who changed the diapers for the little Ashura, and it was Indra who taught Ashura his first word. He watched Ashura crawl, walk, and run, and it was Indra who guided Ashura in his chakra training.

Indra is only three years older than Asura, but these three years are like making him a whole age older.

When he was young, Asura practiced slowly, as if he was always half a beat behind, and was often gossiped about by others. Every time he heard this, Indra would get very angry.

He himself couldn't bear to beat or scold his younger brother, so how could he allow others to gossip about him?

He would even fight with those people unreasonably, which was probably the most inappropriate thing that the young Indra did.

Therefore, he could not agree with his brother and father's ideas in his heart, but if the Ninja Clan was really inherited by his younger brother in the future, he would not object.

He has even been helping Ashura learn some of the mundane matters of cooking in the Ninja Clan.

Of course, if that happens, he may not stay in the Ninja Clan for long. His pride will not allow him to be inferior to others. He can go out to practice or start his own sect. It will not affect his relationship with Ashura or the Ninja Clan.

It’s just “harmony in diversity”.

Otsutsuki Hagoromo also said that the Ninja Clan is just a glue, not a cage that traps all ninjas.

Everyone can choose the life they want.

The only problem was that the conflict between him and Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo was getting worse and worse, and the quarrels were becoming more and more frequent, sometimes even extending from the affairs of the Ninja Clan to other places.

Indra respected his father very much. In his eyes, his father was a nearly perfect leader, but he always lacked a sense of closeness with him and his brothers.

Once this contradiction arises, it will continue to expand.

During the last quarrel with his father, Ashura wanted to persuade him, but Indra, who was angry at the time, blurted out "I hate Ashura", and even Indra himself was stunned.

At that moment, he realized that his emotions had reached the edge of a cliff. If he continued like this, he would one day say something even more irreparable or do something irreparable.

So, he silently packed his luggage and left the Ninja Clan.

It's not running away from home, it's just a normal practice outside.

He did not go to say goodbye to his father in person, but just left a letter. However, he met Asura with some awkwardness.

Ashura also expanded his originally small bag to the point where he needed to use sealing techniques to store things.

From food and drink to accommodation needs, even a variety of snacks are fully prepared.

"Ah..." Indra sat cross-legged, one hand on his face, the other holding a green crystal. This was the first chakra condensate that Ashura had successfully made. At first glance, it looked like a round fan. No one knew how he had made such a strange shape. This was also one of the gifts Ashura had given him in the past. "I don't know what that stupid brother is doing now."

Do I have to go back and apologize?

Indra puffed his face.

His late rebellious phase made him completely unwilling to open up to others, and asking him to apologize was as difficult as killing him.

During this time, he visited several different villages and tribes, and even crossed several kingdoms. He saw a lot, thought a lot, and naturally became calmer.

When he unknowingly returned to the vicinity of the Ninja Clan, he became hesitant again.

I guess I'm homesick.

Indra found an empty space, spread out the souvenirs he brought back and took inventory.

Most of them are for Ashura.

Asura was late in getting involved in the management of the Ninja Clan, so he spent more energy on it. Indra knew that his younger brother was a person who could not sit still. He loved to go out and play since he was a child, but now he had no time to arrange it for himself.

So every time Indra arrived at a place, he would look to see if there was anything new and interesting that he could bring back to Ashura, which should have excited Ashura for a while.

And he had been away for quite a while, because he left in the spring, which resulted in him missing Ashura's birthday while he was away. This time he went back as compensation.

Although he knew in his heart that Ashura would most likely not take his angry words to heart, he still felt a little uneasy.

After all, he has never said "I hate Asura" in his life. What if he hurts his feelings?

Indra organized some words, having rehearsed them countless times in his mind. How about... saying a few soft words?

Or apologize or something.

He calculated the time and found that today was January 4th.

Indra chose this time specifically because he wanted to find a stage.

Today is his birthday. It would probably be a little better if he chose today to go back and see Ashura.

Just accept "forgive yourself" as a birthday gift.

He nodded vigorously to reduce his psychological pressure, "I am the eldest brother, Ashura will not be angry."

He had never said "sorry" before, but this time, he was indeed the one who angered Ashura, and he was indeed wrong.

Of course, he would never give in to his father, as he still thought the ideals of "great love" were nonsense, but his brother was too innocent to be angered.

He scolded them all and even prepared things for them before they left.

After several mental preparations, Indra made up his mind.

"Isn't it just an apology? Is there nothing I, Indra, can do?" He put away all the gifts he brought back and calculated the time. The time he and Asura had agreed upon through messaging was almost here.

For Ao Jiao, no matter how many times he rehearsed beforehand, when the event actually happened, his throat felt as if it had been pinched.

"Brother!" Ashura's excited voice could be heard from far away.

Indra has a wide visual range and he can easily see his brother Ashura.

Why did this guy come here with a stone on his back?

The vein on his forehead jumped - Ashura, what a fool!

Although using stone tablets to express emotions is a specialty of this era, meaning that my heart is as solid as a rock, it is mostly a way for couples to express their love.

Ashura had no knowledge of this kind, yet he came out carrying the stone so openly. I wonder how much gossip this would cause in the Ninja Clan.

However, Ashura himself certainly would not have thought of such a thing. It must have been his friends in the Ninja Clan who instigated him. He believed everything this guy said.

When I get back, I must rectify the ethos of the Ninja Clan!

Um!

Indra pinched his earlobes and pushed his hair forward to cover his neck and ears - it would have revealed his true feelings too easily.

Unconsciously, he acted like a big brother and lowered his voice, "Asura, you are late."

Ashura put the stone tablet on the ground. There was a piece of cloth covering it. Then he laughed heartily and said, "I got tripped up by something when I came out. Don't be angry, brother. I have prepared a gift for you!"

When Indra saw the stone, he knew that he was probably going to say something. The gift of words should be a promise?

"Brother, I——"

"Wait a minute! I'm your elder brother, let me speak first!" He reached into his sleeve and tightly grasped the scroll used to seal the souvenir. He thought that Ashura would most likely say something nice, but this time it was his fault, so Indra wanted to apologize first. It was too much to ask someone who had never spoken directly to apologize. He stiffened his neck, gritted his teeth and was about to speak, when a hurried voice suddenly came from behind Ashura.

"Lord Ashura!"

Following the sound, he saw a familiar face. Indra recognized him.

That was a close confidant of their two fathers.

Over the years, I have done a lot of things with the Sage of Six Paths.

Otsutsuki Hagoromo trusts this person very much.

Even Asura and Indra would call him uncle.

Moreover, this man has always been relatively calm, so when they saw him so flustered, the two brothers didn't bother to talk about their own private affairs.

"What happened?" Indra took a step forward subconsciously. This was a habit he had developed over the years.

But the man in front of him seemed to be in a dilemma, and after a few seconds he said, "Lord Yuyi is urgently calling for Lord Ashura to return."

Indra felt strange when he saw his deep affection.

Asura seemed to understand something, and walked over mysteriously, then turned to Indra and said, "Brother, I... I'm going to go back first. I made this stone myself. You stay. I hope - Brother can understand what I mean."

After saying this, the two of them suddenly turned around and left.

Indra was in the mist of the cloud, and the breath that reached his throat seemed to be suddenly shattered.

This made him feel a little depressed, as if his younger brother was keeping a little secret from him.

He felt a little uncomfortable.

But maybe it's something big?

He sat down and studied the stone in front of him.

When the cloth was removed, the stone was empty, as if there was nothing carved on it.

That shouldn't be the case - Ashura wouldn't just give him a piece of stone without even knowing how to use the stone tablet, right?

Indra rubbed his forehead. Generally speaking, stone tablets are engraved with words to express the feelings. What's the point of giving an empty stone?

Oh, forget it.

I have a stupid younger brother who knows a lot.

At least this stone is obviously not an ordinary stone. Ashura said he made it himself, so it should be made of chakra, right?

Like the crystal stone around his neck, it is a product of special chakra.

It's just a piece of stone, where should it be placed in the future?

In the yard?

In the room?

Indra sat nearby and thought.

After waiting for an unknown amount of time, the person who came back was not Asura.

He felt a little surprised that it was the person who had just called Asura away.

"What happened?" Indra suddenly felt uneasy. He could sense the man's emotional fluctuations, which were somewhat embarrassing, but there was also an excitement that could not be concealed.

He half knelt down and handed Indra a letter.

It was said that Ashura did not have time to come and see him, so he sent this letter, which was what he originally intended to say in person.

Indra tightened his hand. How important was it?

Thinking about Ashura being late today, there must be something big going on, right?

He nodded. Ashura was also at this age. If he wanted to take charge of the Ninja Clan, he should be busy. He knew that Ashura was a very responsible person. He also knew his position in Ashura's heart. If there was no real matter, Ashura would definitely come.

So Indra just nodded modestly and asked the messenger to wait for a moment.

He took out the sealed scroll, and then wrote a simple, soft-spoken letter, asking him to help take it back to the Ninja Clan.

Indra opened the letter only when everything was quiet and he was alone.

This unfolding is like falling from one world into another.

He never thought that one day Ashura would say something like this to him—with such harsh words.

However, Indra had heard him say similar things before, but the person to whom he said these things was not him.

Previously, the Asuras had used such harsh words against those who spoke ill of Indra behind his back.

It almost means breaking off the relationship.

Indra suddenly felt a little cold on his back - no, not just his back, but also his palms, which were very cold.

He pinched the corner of the letter tightly, his thoughts in a mess.

Looking at the stone on the ground——

Ashura, is this what you want to tell me?

Is this what you mean by surprise?

Indra couldn't believe it.

But the handwriting was indeed Ashura's. He had taught Ashura how to write and was very familiar with his every writing habit.

And the person who just delivered the letter was his father's confidant, so there was no reason for him to deliver a fake letter.

He just sits here like this.

Indra still couldn't believe it. Even if he wanted to say such a thing, he should say it clearly to his face.

He sat there waiting until the next morning.

no--

He couldn't sit here and wait.

Indra, who had never been so impulsive before, ran all the way back to the Ninja Clan, but to his surprise, Ashura was not there.

It doesn’t matter, isn’t your father still here?

He went to look for it, and the information he got was even more unacceptable to him.

When Otsutsuki Hagoromo saw him, he told him directly that he had decided that Ashura would inherit the Shinobi sect, and he wanted Indra to stay and assist Ashura.

These words were like a spark thrown into the gunpowder.

It wasn't that Indra couldn't accept Ashura inheriting the Shinobi Sect. What really ignited all the anger in his heart was the continuous beatings.

It seemed as if his brother was not what he had always imagined, as if everything in the past had become a purposeful action.

"Impossible!" Indra's eyes turned red, his Sharingan had never been so unrestrained in front of his father.

Otsutsuki Hagoromo frowned and said, "I have already announced it yesterday. This matter cannot be changed. Don't think of using any crooked means, don't try to pry into other people's emotions, and don't try to control others."

These words were like a thunderbolt, and Indra was stunned.

"You know?" His voice suddenly seemed to be out of breath, with an indescribable disbelief.

Otsutsuki Hagoromo nodded.

His father knew all along, but said nothing and did nothing.

Being able to sense other people's emotions is never a good ability. It is a manifestation of his inability to fully control his own mental power. It is very painful to empathize with everyone at all times and in all places.

When he was young, he had tried countless times to escape from places where there were people, but his father told him that he was the successor of the Ninja Clan and he could not escape.

Later, Ashura came into being. This sincere, enthusiastic and extremely genuine brother became the pillar of his heart for a long time.

This brother who would not bother him with unconscious personal emotions, but who would never hide his true love for him - could this also be fake?

My father knew it from the beginning. Then, did Ashura know it too?

Was his father's arrangement that he couldn't sense Asura's emotions?

So what is he, Indra, a stepping stone?

Once this feeling arises, it can no longer be suppressed.

For the first time, he moved beyond words and took direct action against his father.

Of course, he is no match for the Sage of Six Paths.

This battle shocked the entire Ninja Clan and marked the complete break between Indra and the Ninja Clan.

He left and never came back.

But there is a feeling of anger in his heart, and he will ask himself, what did he do wrong, what did he do wrong?

As time went on, the doubt grew deeper and eventually turned into resentment.

He began to challenge Ashura, he wanted to know what was wrong with him.

But Ashura never confronted him head-on, but just avoided him.

The sensitive Indra noticed it, and he noticed it from the beginning - what does this mean, does it mean that I am not worthy to be your enemy? !

Anger filled his mind.

He resented his father, his brother, and most importantly, he resented himself.

In the end, all the unfavorable situations seemed to fall on him.

He looked at the stone tablet he had placed, as if it was mocking him again and again.

When he left the Ninja Clan and faced this stone, his anger reached its peak.

But even he himself could not explain why he placed this stone in his own clan land. After establishing his own clan, he still placed this stone in the most central position.

It's like the last link between the two brothers.

Indra carved words on it. In order to prevent future generations from discarding the stone, he left the method of cultivating the Sharingan on it.

Stroke by stroke, he carved it into the stone with great effort.

Over the years, Ashura had come to the clan several times, but Indra did not see him.

I don't know how to face it. Whenever I see him, I will think of those things.

Thinking of those things, he just wanted to compete with Asura.

Ashura's avoidance of battle only angered him.

This goes on day after day, year after year.

It was a quiet night when the news of Ashura's death came.

Indra held the crystal stone in his hand and sat silently under the window, not speaking for a long time.

Through the window, he looked up at the sky.

In a trance, he remembered the time when Asura was just born, it seemed to be a night like this.

He sneaked into the delivery room and went to see his newly born brother through the curtain.

At that time, Ashura's face was wrinkled and dark, as if he had not grown up.

He waited until everyone had left before he lay down next to the cradle. Ashura suddenly opened his eyes and smiled at him.

That was the first time that Ashura laughed in his life. Indra suddenly felt his spirit lifted, and for the first time he felt the joy of being a brother.

In the night when no one knew, he touched Ashura's nose with his finger, and his childish voice echoed in the room, "Be good, Ashura. Brother will always protect you in the future."

Since when did he forget about this sentence?

Indra's body gradually declined.

Unlike Ashura, he died on a bright afternoon.

The sun was very strong during the hottest days of summer. Indra felt the warmth from the sunlight that came in through the window.

Just like another old friend who has passed away.

He seemed to have done something in his life, yet it seemed as if he had done nothing.

However, there is no regret for what has already happened.

that is……

Just a little regretful and a little... lonely.