Chapter 187: Yahiko's Request

"Is there someone over there?"

Tatsuma, who was chewing on dry rations, was awakened by Minato's voice. He regained his senses and followed Minato's gaze, only to spot three small figures floating on the river's surface.

In an instant, memories that had been subconsciously hidden due to the urgency of the war resurfaced. He quickly recognized the three individuals—Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, the future founders of the Akatsuki Organization. Considering the timing of their appearance after the war, it seemed to align. Watching the three floating on the river without struggling, Tatsuma furrowed his brow and said, "They seem to be drowning. Let's pull them out and take a look."

"Alright."

Minato nodded and swiftly hung steel wires on three shurikens, then threw them towards the three individuals swaying in the river.

The shurikens grazed past the raincoats of the three individuals, then upon hitting the riverbed, swiftly changed direction, connecting with the steel wires coming from the direction they came. The three children were thus ensnared by the wires.

If Tatsuma already possessed 100% of Minato's Ninja Tool Throwing talent, then Minato at this stage should have fulfilled about 80% of his own Ninja Tool Throwing talent.

Even in terms of the current application of ninja tools, Minato wasn't far behind Tatsuma. After all, within Minato's limited talent pool, there were some techniques with additional conditions that Tatsuma didn't yet meet, and thus couldn't fully utilize.

Minato gently pulled the steel wires in his hand, lifting the three children directly onto the shore. The surrounding Konoha ninja neither objected nor approved, many of them staring blankly as they chewed on dry rations or drank water.

Even Jiraiya and the others only glanced over slightly.

If Minato and Tatsuma were ordinary ten-year-old children, they might have been warned to be cautious of deception. However, with their ninja skills and experience, they were no less than many adult ninjas with years of experience, so there was no need for extra reminders.

Minato quickly checked the three individuals, ensuring they were indeed ordinary children and finding no signs of anything like an explosive tag hidden on them. He breathed a sigh of relief, and at that moment, Tatsuma finished eating his dry rations and walked over.

After a brief examination of the three, Tatsuma, without making a sound, lifted Nagato's eyelid and then said, "Drowning, oxygen deprivation, along with impact injuries, possibly even a concussion. Their heartbeats are there, but they can't breathe on their own. Let's start by draining the water."

With that, Tatsuma grabbed the leg of the boy with orange hair, Yahiko, and lifted him up. Feeling unexpectedly light in his hand, Tatsuma was surprised for a moment. However, considering the lifestyle of the three during the battle, he quickly understood. With one hand holding Yahiko's leg and the other patting his back, Yahiko soon began to expel water.

Minato was familiar with first aid techniques as well. In no time, the three expelled the accumulated water from their bodies. After checking, Tatsuma found that their breathing had recovered, and their heartbeats seemed to have become stronger, so he didn't continue with the emergency measures.

After treating the impact injuries on the three individuals with Medical Ninjutsu, they were carried to the makeshift campfire nearby. It was early autumn, not too cold but still chilly enough, especially considering they had been submerged in water for who knows how long. Therefore, warming up was necessary, and their clothes needed to dry quickly.

However, this wasn't a hospital, so there was no need for meticulous care. Tatsuma didn't even bother to take off their clothes to wring them dry. Instead, he simply removed their raincoats, laid them out flat, and stretched out their clenched fists and curled legs before leaving them be.

"Is it even worth it? Perhaps letting them drift downstream would end their suffering," a hoarse voice suddenly spoke as Tatsuma and Minato finished their tasks. Jiraiya looked displeased as he glanced at Orochimaru, while Tsunade didn't lift her head but furrowed her brow.

"If we encounter someone in need, helping them along the way is within our means and capabilities. No one would refuse such a gesture," Tatsuma shrugged lightly, offering no further explanation or argument against Orochimaru's statement. Orochimaru's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "Perhaps their tragedy is something we caused?"

"Perhaps by saving them, we're just adding three more people to Konoha seeking revenge against us? We are Ninja, we shouldn't be so compassionate."

"Sensei, what are you saying?" Nawaki gently tugged at Orochimaru, but Orochimaru paid no attention, continuing to stare at Tatsuma. Tatsuma also looked at Orochimaru, saying, "I believe I am first a human, then a Ninja. While it's true that we may have contributed to the plight of the Land of Rain, I doubt any of our colleagues would have willingly and happily done so. On the contrary, saving people, protecting them, that's why we became Ninja, why we stepped onto the battlefield. We are Ninja, but it doesn't mean we should abandon our humanity. Duty is duty, and conscience is conscience; they shouldn't be confused."

"As for what you said about seeking revenge, Orochimaru-sama, it's too far ahead to worry about. For now, I'll do good deeds without asking about future consequences." Tatsuma finished speaking, feeling a bit cheesy even though it was sincere. However, seeing Nawaki looking dejected and many Konoha Ninja showing signs of renewed vigor, he decided to let it go.

Jiraiya raised his head with a smile, but before he could laugh, he was reminded of the pain in his chest and abdomen, grimacing in agony.

Tsunade's face also showed a relieved smile. She couldn't express words like Tatsuma's. If she could, perhaps the Konoha Ninja wouldn't be so disheartened now. However, this did not diminish her pride as a sensei. Moreover, isn't Tatsuma's value for life something that every medical Ninja should possess?

Orochimaru, observing the change in the people around him, remained silent. However, he kept his gaze on Tatsuma for quite some time before finally sighing. He didn't know if Tatsuma was too young or if he already understood the implications of his words. Nevertheless, Tatsuma had spoken them nonetheless, seemingly perfectly, reigniting the emotions of his companions.

However, Tatsuma subtly hinted at the source of trouble, pointing indirectly at the village elders. He handled it well, not saying it explicitly or leaving any obvious traces of insinuation. But Orochimaru could sense that something was amiss. How could those Konoha elders, who were always in the company of trouble, not notice? Hopefully, these words wouldn't reach their ears.

Watching Orochimaru shake his head and lower it again, Jiraiya nudged him and said discontentedly, "Is Tatsuma wrong, Orochimaru?"

"Shut up."

Orochimaru wasn't in the mood to deal with Jiraiya. If Nawaki wasn't sitting beside him, he might have even blurted out the phrase "trailing behind." Clearly, these words should have stopped where they did. Jiraiya bringing them up again was only going to cause trouble for Tatsuma, wasn't it?

Jiraiya had never seen Orochimaru in this kind of mood before. Although he instinctively wanted to continue arguing, seeing the warning look in Orochimaru's eyes, Jiraiya simply shut his mouth.

After resting for a while, Tatsuma received instructions from Tsunade to check the wounds of the injured, either changing bandages or administering treatment. Previously, on the battlefield, only basic treatment was provided. Tsunade had even focused most of her energy on treating the Rain Ninja, so there were still quite a few injured in the camp.

Naturally, Tatsuma wouldn't refuse. Besides, he didn't mind, and even if he did inwardly, he would still carry out the task. After all, he had just spoken a lot of fine words. It would be ridiculous not to act upon them.

"Cough, cough~"

Just as Tatsuma was checking on the injured, Yahiko and the others woke up. Seeing their surroundings, they immediately became nervous.

Their bodies, which Tatsuma had stretched out, instinctively curled up again, and they even huddled closer to each other, their eyes wary of their surroundings.

The Konoha ninja around them quietly made way for the three children, which was one of the few acts of kindness they could offer—letting them leave.

The three children quickly noticed this path and nervously grabbed the raincoats from the ground. Then, supporting each other, they walked out of the cave. It was still raining outside, and they were almost immediately soaked. They also saw a river in front of them.

In an instant, memories from before they lost consciousness flooded back. They seemed to have fallen off a cliff and into the water. Thinking about the river, Yahiko with orange hair couldn't help but mutter, "Could it be that they saved us?"

At this moment, Yahiko couldn't help but continue looking into the cave. He found that it wasn't as dangerous inside as he had imagined. The Konoha ninjas were just sitting there, eating dry rations, drinking water, or resting.

Some were receiving treatment for injuries. Seeing the figure treating the ninjas, Yahiko's eyes lit up. He recognized this Konoha ninja who looked only a few years older than them—especially powerful!

"Gurgle~"

"Gurgle~"

"Gurgle~"

But then Yahiko's stomach growled. Not having eaten for a long time and having been filled with water, they were now starving. After having their stomachs emptied, they were extremely hungry.

After Yahiko's stomach growled, the stomachs of the other two also started rumbling in a symphony.

Nagato lowered his head and pulled Yahiko, saying, "Let's go first."

Yahiko nodded, but his feet didn't move. After a while, just as Nagato and Konan were about to ask again, Yahiko suddenly said, "I have an idea. You two wait here."

"Yahiko!"

Seeing Yahiko actually stepping towards the cave, Konan was about to scream in shock, but just as she opened her mouth, Nagato stopped her. Konan felt Nagato's cold and trembling hand and held it back, then nervously watched Yahiko's back.

Yahiko swallowed hard. Under the increasingly intense gaze of the Konoha ninjas, he took step by step towards the three figures in the middle of the cave, who seemed to hold the highest status.

He knew these three were the ones who had besieged Hanzo, the ones even Hanzo couldn't defeat. Compared to approaching "mighty" Tatsuma, these three, who seemed somewhat weaker, gave Yahiko more confidence.

Orochimaru stood up directly, squinting at Yahiko as he approached. Yahiko swallowed hard again, took two more steps forward, and then, with his eyes wide open, looked at Jiraiya, who had been chewing on dry rations for a long time without swallowing.

This man seemed somewhat friendly. Although the elder sister didn't seem malicious either, she hadn't looked up, and her hands were empty.

Jiraiya stared back at Yahiko, even starting to smack his lips. Clearly, it was just dry rations, but it felt like a feast. Eventually, Orochimaru couldn't stand it anymore and asked in a hoarse voice, "What do you want?"

Yahiko shrugged towards Jiraiya and said, "Share some of your food with me."

It was a rather impolite tone, but Yahiko felt extremely nervous inside. He understood that pleading might have a better chance of getting food, but he wanted to see what kind of people the Konoha ninjas really were.

After all, he had thought about bringing Konan and Nagato to learn from the Konoha ninjas. If the Konoha ninjas were all fierce, he would give up on that idea.

"Where are your parents?" Jiraiya asked, not angry, but rather looking at the child who exuded a similar sense of determination as himself. Yahiko gave an answer that Jiraiya had already guessed: "They died in the ninja wars."

Upon hearing this, the Konoha ninjas around, who had initially been discontented with Yahiko's attitude, quieted down and fell silent. Jiraiya stopped smacking his lips, handed over the dry rations, and said:

"Take it." Yahiko didn't immediately take it. Instead, he put his hand down and turned back, saying, "Nagato, Konan, come over here. They don't seem like bad people." Seeing Nagato and Konan approaching, Yahiko felt relieved. 

Jiraiya didn't withdraw his hand that he had extended, but continued to ask, "Did their families also die in the war?" As the words came out, Konan lowered her head in sorrow, and Nagato stopped in his tracks. 

Yahiko quickly nodded and said, "Yeah." After saying that, he took the rations and moved closer to Konan and Nagato. The three of them quietly ate the rations in the cave. Tatsuma tossed his water flask to Minato, who nodded and took off his own flask. As he approached the three, Minato could clearly feel them tensing up again. However, Minato's gentle smile, rare in the Land of Rain, dissolved their tension. Nawaki also walked over, placed his water flask down, then turned and left, giving space to the three.

Inside the cave, the Konoha ninjas "ignored" the three. After Tatsuma finished checking everyone and reported to Tsunade, the Konoha team set off again. Unlike the journey through the rainforest on the way here, they chose a road for the return journey. 

When Yahiko and his companions saw the Konoha team leaving, they quickly finished their rations and caught up. Since there was no rush on the way back, and there were many injured, the team didn't move quickly. The three could barely keep up, but as they continued following, some began to feel increasingly unhappy. 

Tsunade, with her quick temper, stopped and turned to look at the three, asking impatiently, "You got your food, what else do you want?!" Hearing this, the three became nervous again. However, the little girl took the lead, stepped forward, and handed a paper flower to the three, saying, "Thank you." Seeing this, Tsunade's dissatisfaction disappeared from her face, replaced with embarrassment. She even seemed a bit at a loss. Jiraiya reached out and patted Konan's head, saying, "It's okay, but if it's possible, it's better not to follow us if nothing's wrong. We're ninjas, we could encounter danger at any moment." 

Yahiko stepped forward at this moment and said, "We want to learn ninjutsu, at least to have the ability to change something in the future." Hearing this, Orochimaru pursed his lips, thinking about suggesting killing them, but the memory of Tatsuma's words made him restrain himself and keep quiet. 

Jiraiya glanced around at the desolate Land of Rain and said, "Orochimaru, you and Tsunade take everyone back first. I'll stay behind to take care of them for a while." 

"What?" Tsunade asked in confusion. 

Jiraiya explained, "I want to do something, like accompany them until they can fend for themselves, as Tatsuma said. Doing good deeds without asking for reward. " Then, he smiled and looked at the three, asking, "Do you want to learn from me?" Jiraiya didn't mention learning ninjutsu, nor did he intend to teach them ninjutsu. If they wanted to change something, it didn't necessarily have to rely on ninjutsu. Yahiko hesitated at this moment, turning to look at Tatsuma, who was frowning and lost in thought.

Mouth agape, Yahiko said, "Um, we want to learn from powerful ninjas." 

"Huh? But I am a powerful ninja." Jiraiya pointed to himself, speaking eagerly, but Yahiko's gaze once again glanced towards Tatsuma. Even Konan and Nagato couldn't help but shift their gaze. Following the direction of their eyes, Jiraiya's eye twitched; he felt like something was off. Are they serious?

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