The next morning, birds chirped non-stop as they looked for food. Uchiha Tonan got up from the hotel bed and left the Revere Fire Street, making his way to the Fire Temple.
The clear sky in late autumn looked like a boundless calm sea. The white light on the horizon was like ripples on the sea. Drifting leaves decorated it with the hue of human fireworks. The steps up the mountain were covered with many leaves, and an old monk was working hard to sweep them with a big broom.
Dong, dong, dong…
As the sun made its presence felt, the clouds above the temple seemed to be swept away by a huge hand, pouring out golden light, shining a red glow for a long time. From the changeable clouds, the blood-red sun lent its sheen to mountains and valleys, filled with the autumn breeze.
As the morning bell sounded, two novice monks opened the gate, and a group of pilgrims who had been waiting for a long time flocked inside the temple. These people had come here to compete for the day’s first incense.
The monastery amid green woods had apricot-colored courtyard walls. The grayish hall ridges and towering green ancient trees were bathed in autumn freshness. It all looked solemn and mysterious.
A thousand-year-old camphor tree shaded the open space in front of the temple. White fences surrounded a big lotus pond with many pink lotuses. And a finely chiseled stone arch bridge was over the pond.
Tonan walked leisurely on the strong stone bridge. He could hear the prayers and chants in the temple…
“Buddha, bless my ill father, make him get better quickly.”
“Benevolent Buddha, please bless my granddaughter with a safe life. It looks like she likes someone. If that person is good, bless them to be together.”
“Buddha, the last time when I worshipped you, I won at first, but later, I lost the money. This time, I sold my house, please, you have to bless me to win back all the lost money. If I lose again, our family will not survive. You cannot let us die. Please, please.”
……
Tonan stepped into the hall and stood behind the believers, looking up at the huge Buddha statue inside. This statue was somewhat similar to the one he had seen in the temple in his previous life.
This Buddha was incomparably tall, sitting upright in the hall. The entire statue was golden, but there were some bronze textures. A portion of the roof above the statue seemed to be covered with glass like a skylight for the hall.
When the light trickled in, it would shine on the Buddha, making people feel that the statue was dazzling with some kind of majesty. But the Buddha here didn’t make any hand gesture. Instead, it sat cross-legged with both hands on the knees and its eyes seemed to be looking down on the believers.
Tonan’s gaze slowly moved to the statue’s eyes and slowly the prayers and chanting around him gradually faded away. The entire world became quiet for him. He seemed to be looking at the existence in the unseen, mystical world across time and space.
“Benefactor, please don’t block passers-by.” After an unknown period, a monk’s voice sounded beside Tonan. He continued to look straight at the Buddha’s eyes, and a smile appeared on his face. He walked to the donation box and took out a thick stack of banknotes, stuffing them all into the box.
The monk’s eyes lit up. He immediately put his palms together and bowed to Tonan, “Benefactor, boundless beneficence, Buddha will bless you.”
Tonan looked at the Buddha statue’s eyes again and lightly said, “I hope so.” He put his palms together as well and bowed to the statue and then said to the monk, “My name is Uchiha Tonan. I’m a Leaf ninja. I want to meet Master Chigo.”
The monk suddenly realized, “It turned out to be ninja-sama. Please, come with me.”
The two people walked through several corridors and arrived beside a stone table in a small courtyard. The courtyard was small and elegant. It was clean, simple, and tidy. The atmosphere of this place made people feel comfortable.
“Ninja-sama, please sit here for a while. I’ll inform Master Chigo.”
Tonan nodded and sat down on the stone bench. After a while, a monk hurried over with a cup and a teapot. He placed them on the stone table and poured Tonan a cup of tea. “I’m sorry, Master is receiving guests. Please wait a bit longer.”
“That’s alright,” Tonan took a sip from the teacup and began to listen to the sounds carefully using Wind Communication.
“Master Chigo, His Majesty is very satisfied with the previous matter.”
“Although we are monks, we are also Land of Fire citizens. This was something we should do.”
“His Majesty’s promise will be fulfilled soon. It’s just that the manpower in the Daimyo Residence is tight. Therefore, His Majesty has instructed me to bring all the money needed for the construction of the temple and give it to you.”
“Daimyo-sama is considerate.”
“I’ll take my leave.”
Soon, Tonan heard footsteps approaching from far. He saw a middle-aged man with white hair appearing at the corner of the corridor. His steps were a little hurried as if he was busy. When the middle-aged man passed by Tonan, the two just looked at each other quietly.
Tonan clearly saw surprise in the man’s eyes. Tonan also recognized this man. He was his previous immediate boss at the Fire Capital, the Guardian Residence Chief Uekawa Ozora.
When Tonan had secretly observed him before, he didn’t look this old. “How long has it been since then, and he is already this haggard?”
At this moment, a monk rushed over and put his palms together, “Ninja-sama, please come with me.”
Tonan stood up and returned the greeting, “I’ve troubled you.” The two people had just reached the corner of a corridor when suddenly Tonan’s footsteps became a bit slower. He glanced back, intentionally or unintentionally. Just a moment ago, Tonan had noticed that after Ozora had left the Fire Temple, there was a sudden burst of chakra fluctuation which was not inferior to an elite jonin. Soon after, Ozora disappeared without a trace.
Such speed, even in Konoha, it’s considered pretty good. Logically speaking, even if Ozora possessed the strength of an elite jonin, Tonan wouldn’t have felt that it was too outrageous. The key point was that Ozora’s chakra gave Tonan a strange feeling.
But Tonan just kept this for now and decided to find a chance to look into it after the current matter. Soon, the two people arrived in front of Chigo’s room. The monk opened the door for Tonan and said, “Benefactor, we are here.”
Tonan stepped into the room. Chigo, who was meditating inside, opened his eyes, and said with a smile, “Tonan, how come you’re here?”
Tonan smiled and took out a small gift box from his ninja bag handing it to Chigo, “I took a leave to travel and relax. This is my gift for you, Master Chigo.”
Chigo waved his hand, “Tonan, I’m a monk, I don’t accept gifts.”
Tonan opened the gift box and pointed at the things inside, “There is nothing valuable in this. It’s just a health care product I brought from Konoha. It has the effect of relieving fatigue, soothing the nerves, and helping sleep.”
Chigo raised his eyebrows hearing his explanation. He looked at the things inside and asked, “Health care products? Is this medicine?”
Tonan nodded, “Health care products are also a kind of medicine, and they have no side effects. You must not take too many at a time though. Take one pack before going to bed every day, and you can sleep well at night.”
Chigo pondered for a bit, thinking that something like this didn’t seem to be precious. Although he had no use for it, he couldn’t hurt the other’s sentiment. Therefore, he took the gift box and put it aside, “I’ll take it. You are considerate. Why are you here?”
Tonan shook his head lightly, “I’ve no reason, I was just passing by so I thought to see you.”
Seeing that Tonan didn’t have any specific reason to seek him, Chigo immediately got up, “In that case, I’m going to teach scriptures to the monks. You can also come and listen. In the afternoon, I’ll show you around the Fire Temple.”
A hint of embarrassment flashed through Tonan’s face, “That’s too much trouble for you. I’ll just take a look around.”
Chigo smiled, “Don’t mention it, it’s no trouble. You are a guest from afar, this is something I should do.”
