Aburame Shigeo was soon brought before Hanzo.
Upon entering the room, the Rain ninja escort immediately knelt on one knee before Hanzo.
"Lord Hanzo, the person has been brought as you commanded!"
"Hmm," Hanzo nodded and waved his hand. "You may leave now."
"Yes, Lord!"
The Rain ninja responded and exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Hanzo's gaze shifted to Aburame Shigeo, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"So, you're 'Shi,' are you? Who sent you to do this?"
"Lord Hanzo," Aburame Shigeo began with a composed expression, "it was my own decision."
He smoothly recited the explanation he had prepared beforehand.
"Lord Jianchi was a close friend of my father. He deeply admired you, Lord Hanzo, and requested my father to compose a song in your honor."
"Oh? Was it Jianchi?" Hanzo nodded, then pressed further. "What happened after that?"
"After Lord Jianchi left, my father fulfilled his promise by composing *'No One But Him.'* However, three years passed, and he never returned."
At this point, a hint of sorrow appeared on Aburame Shigeo's face.
"Half a month ago, my father fell seriously ill. On his deathbed, he entrusted me to come to Amegakure to find Lord Jianchi and deliver the song to him. But I didn't know how to find him..."
"I see," Hanzo nodded again, a faint smile spreading across his face.
"So, your plan was to spread the song throughout Amegakure, hoping that Jianchi would hear it and come to you, correct?"
"Yes, Lord Hanzo!" Aburame Shigeo nodded earnestly.
"A clever child!"
Hanzo nodded in approval but then sighed deeply.
"Ah... Your idea is good, but Jianchi will never hear the song."
"Eh? How could that be?"
Aburame Shigeo feigned shock, his expression filled with disbelief.
"Is Lord Jianchi away on a mission?"
Hanzo shook his head. "No, Jianchi perished three years ago during the war against Konoha."
"..."
Aburame Shigeo fell silent, clenching his fists and trembling slightly, as though suppressing his grief.
Seeing his reaction, Hanzo's expression softened with a touch of sympathy.
"To honor a promise for three years, even to the end... Your father was a man of conviction. What was his name?"
"Shi," Aburame Shigeo replied, his voice tinged with sorrow.
"My father used to say, 'Among three people, there is always one who can be my teacher. Learn from their virtues and correct my own faults.'"
"I see," Hanzo murmured, nodding with admiration.
"It seems your father was not just a musician but also a wise man. Since you have inherited his name, you must also inherit his conviction. Understood?"
"Yes, Lord Hanzo!"
Aburame Shigeo bowed, discreetly adjusting his sunglasses to wipe away a tear.
His composed demeanor earned further praise from Hanzo.
"Good. That's the spirit of the men of the Land of Rain. What are your plans now?"
"I would like to pay my respects to Lord Jianchi," Aburame Shigeo said sincerely.
"He was my most respected uncle. I wish to offer him flowers and let him know the song has been completed. It was my father's final wish. Please grant me permission, Lord Hanzo."
"Very well," Hanzo agreed with a smile. He summoned a Rain ninja, whispered instructions, and had him escort Aburame Shigeo to the cemetery to pay respects to Jianchi.
The Rain ninja assigned to guide him was a young man dressed in a white waterproof outfit and wearing a gas mask, a common attire among Rain shinobi.
Once they were out of Hanzo's sight, the Rain ninja struck up a conversation.
"Your name is Shi, right? Lord Jianchi was my senior. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me. By the way, I'm Kuroki. Just call me 'Big Brother.'"
"Understood, Big Brother Kuroki," Aburame Shigeo replied. "Can I buy some flowers here? I'd like to offer them to Lord Jianchi."
"Of course. I'll take you to a flower shop," Kuroki said, leading him to purchase a bouquet of white chrysanthemums before heading to the cemetery.
Amegakure's cemetery, located on the western edge of the village, spanned dozens of acres, holding the graves of thousands of Rain shinobi.
Upon entering, Kuroki pointed in a direction.
"Go straight from here to the sixteenth row. It's the fifth grave from the end. I'll wait for you here."
"Thank you."
Aburame Shigeo thanked him and approached a dusty grave. He knelt, using his sleeve to clean the dirt off the headstone, muttering softly.
"Uncle Jianchi... Don't blame me. In battle, it's kill or be killed. My explosive insects were powerful, so you probably didn't suffer much. For that, you should thank me. Let's call it even."
He placed the bouquet before the grave, clasped his hands together in a silent prayer, and then stood to leave.
When he returned, Kuroki greeted him warmly.
"It's been a long time since anyone visited Lord Jianchi's grave. With a nephew like you, I'm sure he can rest in peace."
"You flatter me," Aburame Shigeo replied humbly. "With dependable shinobi like you protecting the village, Lord Jianchi can truly rest easy."
"Haha, you're too kind. Let's go."
Kuroki led him through several narrow alleys to a house covered in cobwebs.
"This is the place," Kuroki said, unlocking the door with a key and pushing it open with a creak.
"This was Lord Jianchi's house. It's been vacant all these years. From now on, it's yours."
"Uh..." Aburame Shigeo hesitated. "Is that okay?"
"Of course. It's Lord Hanzo's will."
Kuroki handed him the key and pulled out a wad of cash.
"This is the compensation Lord Hanzo set aside for Lord Jianchi. He had no other relatives, so it's yours now. Take it."
"Well... thank you so much!"
Aburame Shigeo accepted the money with a look of gratitude.
"With this money, I won't have to worry about living expenses. I'm deeply grateful. Please convey my thanks to Lord Hanzo."
"Of course," Kuroki said, pointing toward a direction.
"Follow that path and turn left at the intersection. You'll find a theater where your band can perform. If you do well, you can earn a good income. I'll be off now."
"I understand. Thank you for your guidance," Aburame Shigeo bowed slightly. "Take care on your way back."
"Will do!"
Once Kuroki was out of sight, Aburame Shigeo straightened up and eagerly began counting the cash.
"One, two, three, four, five, six... Hmm... Seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven..."
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*(End of Chapter)*