Seth stood there dumbfounded. For the longest time he thought everyone just saw him as the odd man out since he was teamed with two Uchiha clan members. He felt like nothing more than the one everyone saw as the ninja to make sure the two Uchiha clan members came back safely while he be forgotten in the battle field. This to him really didn’t matter because he knew the dangers of being a ninja, but still took the risks to keep his comrades safe. Whether they be Uchiha or not. Then Akio dropped bombshell after bombshell. 

First was the fact that he saw him as a future Hokage. Him? Seth really didn’t see himself as a future Hokage, but that thought did cross his mind a few times when he was training. However, he knew being Hokage was a big responsibility. On the other hand he knew of all the damn paper work a Hokage had to do since Akio always mentioned how drowned in it Itachi was. He’d rather be in the front lines fighting then sitting in a chair sending other ninja to the battle field, but the fact that Akio saw him as a future Hokage lit a fire in Seth. Now he wanted to become stronger and prove anyone who saw him as weak wrong.

The second bombshell nearly extinguished that flame as Akio told him about the Pain invasion and his ultimate doom. That fact that he left Akio to die was why he always ran into battle first. To give anyone who needed it a way to survive and not die on the battle field. However, Seth kind of knew what Akio was doing. He was trying to push Seth to be a better person and better ninja then he was. When he talked about Izu being his rival kind of made the fire in him burn brighter. He really didn’t see Izu as a rival but a team mate who would push him to be the very best and he wanted to do the same.

“Yes, I do understand Akio. However,” Seth said before he joked, “Do you know what kind of monster you just unleashed?” Seth smiled. He hated the whole mushy, feely type of talk and he needed to lighten up the mood. His smile faded as he continued, “I truly do understand Akio.” Seth reached into his pocket and pulled out the pack of cigarettes he had swiped before coming here. He sighed before handed them to Akio.

“Guess I won’t be needed these anymore. A ninja with lung problems is a burden to the whole team,” Seth said. He knew quitting was going to be the hardest thing to overcome, but he had to do it. No, he needed to do it.