Chapter 74: The Bottom Line

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"Got it!" x3

Hearing that they wouldn't have to do these annoying low-level tasks anymore, the three who had just walked out of the Hokage Tower responded in unison.

Especially Uchiha Tetsu, whose excitement was evident. He clenched his fists and jumped three feet high, even forgetting about the scar on his face.

"This is also the main reason I had you graduate early!"

"After more than a month of working together, you've developed some level of rapport."

"It's time for your special training!"

Seeing his three disciples respond with such vigor, Uchiha Jūsai looked at them solemnly, his expression the most serious since the team was formed.

He couldn't afford to be anything but serious.

According to the information gathered by the clan, the prices of war-related materials such as food, iron, and medicinal herbs have been rising recently.

Ninjas from other countries have been infiltrating the borders, leading to increased friction. All these signs point to the imminent outbreak of another Great Shinobi War.

The cultivation of these children could no longer be taken lightly.

"It's getting late today, so meet at the Clan Training Ground at six tomorrow morning!"

"Be prepared, this special training won't be as easy as the Ninja Academy!"

After saying this, Uchiha Jūsai disappeared with a 'whoosh,' leaving his three disciples behind.

Holding the mission rewards they had just received, the three parted ways without lingering.

[It seems the situation is getting worse. Otherwise, Teacher Jūsai wouldn't be in such a hurry to start their special training!]

Walking aimlessly through the streets of Konoha, Fuyu Shirou couldn't help but think. He still felt a bit lost about the impending war.

As a white-collar worker from a peaceful era in his previous life, war, death, and killing were all far removed from him.

Although he had some superficial understanding through literature, movies, and the internet, these only scratched the surface. The pain and sorrow of personal experience were unknown to him.

Moreover, he had doubts about whether he could kill someone else's husband, wife, child, or parent with a clear conscience after becoming a ninja.

His soul was ultimately that of a modern white-collar worker, and these actions went against his values. Until the last moment, he couldn't truly understand his own nature.

Four years had been enough for him to fully understand the profession of a ninja.

From the Ninja Academy, they were trained to kill their own kind more accurately and effectively, whether they were civilians or ninjas.

Completing the village's missions was the top priority.

They had to discard personal thoughts and feelings, lurk in the shadows, and endure loneliness and isolation. They were like cold weapons, mercilessly reaping lives.

How could he accept such an inhumane and twisted profession with a clear conscience?

[The history of ninjas is a history of slaughter and war!]

Thinking this, Fuyu Shirou also set his own moral guidelines.

If it was a cruel and sadistic bandit or rogue ninja, he would not hesitate to raise his weapon and kill them.

On the battlefield, for his own safety, he would not hesitate to kill the enemy. In the chaos of battle, life and death are left to fate. Although this is a comforting phrase, he believed it had some truth. The battlefield is a chaotic place with too many uncontrollable factors.

He wasn't the type to be overly merciful.

However, when facing children around his age, he would still show mercy to ensure his own safety.

No matter what, pointing his weapon at young children went against his values from his previous life.

[As a human with feelings, it's best to set some moral boundaries for myself!]

Just like the Ninja Way in this world, when making decisions that go against one's nature, it can guide one and prevent the heart from becoming numb and indifferent.

Don't underestimate this.

Countless ninjas have repeatedly trampled on their own boundaries and gone against their nature.

Gradually, they become like cold machines.

They mechanically accept orders, kill their targets, complete missions, and then die silently in some mission.

"You, do you know that if the teacher hadn't acted in time, Reiko would have fallen to her death!"

While Fuyu Shirou was deep in thought, three people were walking towards him from the intersection, dressed as a regular Konoha mission team.

A boy around 12 years old was loudly accusing a white-haired child of not helping when Reiko was in danger.

Beside him, a girl of similar age had red eyes and a pale face, clearly still shaken from a recent scare.

At the front of the group, a middle-aged ninja in his 30s, wearing a green vest, walked expressionlessly, ignoring the argument behind him.

"The first principle of the Ninja Code is that a ninja's primary goal is to complete their mission, no matter what."

Facing his teammate's accusation, the white-haired child remained expressionless, not even lifting his head.

He responded indifferently.

"Mission! Mission! All you care about is the mission! When Reiko fell off the cliff, you were right there but ignored it and continued with your task!"

"In your eyes, is a teammate less important than a mission? You're a 'cold-blooded monster'!" The boy was clearly unsatisfied with the white-haired child's response.

His expression changed from anger to rage.

His face contorted with emotion, becoming even more gloomy.

His tone also shifted from accusation to scolding.

Even the girl, who had just recovered from her terror, looked at the white-haired boy with a pained expression, hoping for an explanation.

"A ninja's primary mission is to complete their task. My actions were not wrong."

"A ninja must maintain emotional stability at all times. You are too agitated, violating the fifth principle of the Ninja Code."

"If you don't control your emotions, you will easily expose yourself to the enemy during missions, leading to your death and mission failure!"

Facing his teammate's accusations and scolding, the white-haired boy's expression and tone remained calm and steady. He even pointed out that their emotional outbursts could affect their lives and missions in the future.

(End of Chapter)