Nagato Kagutsuchi: The Dawn
The Dawn 2: The Old Man is My Grandpa?
“Where am I?”
Those were the first words that came out of Nagato's heart. When he woke up he was in a bed with chairs and tables around him.
“Finally you wake up.”
An old man came to Nagato with a body filled with leaves and worn clothes. The old man looked to be in his seventies with completely whitened hair and a concerning body condition.
“I saved you once nine years ago. Do you remember the Deathly Forest?” The old man asked, approaching Nagato who was looking at him suspiciously.
‘Who is this old man?’ Nagato changed his position and immediately stood up, but his body collapsed to the floor. He saw his stomach wrapped in white cloth. The pain from his wound made him grimace in pain.
Nagato recalled what happened to him, so he immediately searched for Chibi's whereabouts.
“Chibi!” Nagato's shout made the old man close his eyes, while the roots that were creeping on the floor slowly wrapped around Nagato's body.
“Breaklah. The Forest of Death is a place I made with my strength, I have long awaited your arrival, my grandson.” The old man sat in a chair close to the bed. The place Nagato lay.
Nagato looked at him in astonishment as his body lifted the roots wrapped around him and laid him back on a rather rough bed.
“You've been unconscious for two weeks. I found you in the river. If you're looking for Sweet Cat, she's eating raw fish outside.” The old man explained, his words made Nagato calm.
“I have to go to Ryushima Island.” Nagato tried to stand up, but his body was still weak. Even the pain made him lie helpless.
‘I haven't fully recovered. Maybe my aura has been paralyzed, but my body still remembers the hard training I've been doing for the past few years.’ Nagato forced his body and was about to lock the old man's neck. But his body floated in the air as the roots wrapped around him.
“I may be old, but I can predict your actions. I know you're going to Ryushima Island to keep a promise to someone.” The old man closed his eyes and smiled faintly.
While Nagato gasped in shock before his body lay back on the bed, “Why can you figure out my plan, old geezer?” Cynically, Nagato looked at the old man suspiciously.
“Tenkai. You know, an aura increase. Tenkai is one of them. I know your actions just by looking at your movements, after all you are the one who said yourself if you have to hurry to Ryushima Island.” The old man explained to Nagato.
‘So yes. He knows Tenkai. And the Forest of Death, isn't.’ Nagato thought hard to remember his past as he ran away from the pursuit of Black Madia and Kazan.
The Deathly Forest saved him when Azai, Kuina and Serlin were still by his side to protect him. Given that, Nagato smiled wryly as the past could not be replayed.
“Eat this. I made a warm soup.” The old man thrust a spoonful of warm soup at Nagato.
‘Did he have put poison in this food?’ Nagato gulped, but he held back from carelessly eating the warm soup offered by the old man. The person in front of him was very suspicious.
“You must have thought if I poisoned something into this warm soup, didn't you?” The old man smiled faintly.
Nagato stared intently at the old man and clicked his tongue, “You think you are a witch?!” Hearing that, the old man just laughed softly.
Nagato held his breath when he heard the old man's confession. His eyes looked at the old man's body closely. There was no dangerous aura, but it did not hurt to be sure.
“Then why are you still alive?” Nagato asked sarcastically to Sura.
“I can die anytime. But I must pass my knowledge to you. Kagutsuchi is still not over.” Sura again thrust a spoonful of warm soup on Nagato.
This time Nagato opened his mouth and ate a warm soup. The onion is fried thoroughly, and the vegetables inside make Nagato shed tears when swallowing it.
For the last few days he has not eaten. The bitter experience that has been passed, making Nagato not leave even a hint of warm soup made by Sura.
“Very good. Did you make it?” Nagato spoke as if he was familiar with Sura.
“You are very different from Pandu. He is polite, kind and respectful.”.
“But my father couldn't protect my mother. He made me suffer like this. Just so you know, I'm different from him. I'm not like this, it doesn't mean I hate him. I just hate the world. The world that made me like this.” Nagato cut off Sura's words and turned his face away.
Sura knew her grandson had gone through a difficult time. Nagato's gaze was the gaze of one who had once been desperate, feeling the cruelty of the world. Sura was unable to force Nagato to become like Pandu. After all, seeing Nagato's personality made him more confident that his grandson could surpass Pandu even himself.
“Cheal soon and I will train you. I will teach you everything in the Ancient Records of the Kagutsuchi Clan. Sword and breathing techniques that Kagutsuchi Ashura.” has learned Sura briefly explained to Nagato about her past.
The bloody night that scorched the Kagutsuchi Clan and destroyed everyone in it was Ignist. But in that night, there were some people besides Ignist, Black Rhino, Karakurt, Vendom and Raido.
Sura had indeed managed to injure Ignist who was in the form of a Red Dragon, but the injuries that Sura had sustained were permanent. Luckily, the Ophys, along with Yin Lingling and Melody, came to stop the massacre.
The Ophys group's motive came to the Ezzo Continent only to meet his companion who became the leader of the Crow Bird Newspaper. At that moment Tosa pleaded with Ophys to save Sura.
Ophys saves Sura but on one condition. The granddaughter of Sura had to marry him as an adult. Sura promised to tell her granddaughter about this. And now he has told his past and told Nagato Ophys' request.
Nagato let out a long sigh after knowing Sura's past story. He himself could not imagine his future, he could only strive for no regrets. The life that Hound gave her while sacrificing her life made Nagato come to his senses. This was the beginning to prove his struggle and honor Hound's wishes.
“Alright, I'll marry Ophys.” Nagato casually replied.
“After recovery. I'll train you.” Sura stood up after saying so. Before long a white female cat came from the door and jumped into the bed.
“Nagato!”
Sontak Sura looked back, while Nagato held onto Chibi's body and was surprised to hear the pet Cat Litha was able to speak.
“Meong-Meong.” Chibi licks Nagato's cheek.
“Chibi, can you speak?” Nagato smiled and shed his tears. With this the sacrifice of the Hound is not in vain. Although the disease has not been cured, Nagato will find a way to escape the curse that gnaws his body.