The moonlight was as cool as water.
In the path of cultivation, persistence is key. The foundation of a ninja's power is built on grueling training that ordinary people cannot even begin to imagine. Even for those born with special abilities, like the Jinchuriki, constant training is essential for them to grow stronger. There is no such thing as a naturally born super ninja.
After dinner, Shikamaru walked out of Tazuna's house, preparing to begin his training.
The sky had darkened, and the surrounding houses started to light up. As an island nation, the advanced fishing industry was evident even in the construction of the houses. Most of them were made of wood, built along the river, and although the layout appeared random, the houses were interconnected, serving a fixed purpose. Between the houses were wide river channels, reserved for boats.
Each wooden house had a small dock, presumably for fishing boats, though they were mostly empty at the moment.
"What a pity..." A soft sigh came from behind Shikamaru as Tazuna leaned against the doorframe, his gaze slightly lost as he stared at the river reflecting the faint moonlight. It seemed as if he was reminiscing about something. He spoke to Shikamaru: "At this time, it should be bustling around here."
"In the past, people would gather around this time, each bringing their own fish cakes and dried tofu, sharing and chatting. The young people liked to drink, while the children played along the river." Tazuna gestured toward the wooden path connecting the houses, speaking with nostalgia. He then glanced at his small dock, where a slender figure sat alone on the wood. "Inari's father—Kasha. He was a charismatic man. Since he arrived, our dock has become a place for young people to gather. Inari wouldn't play with the other kids at the time, but liked to sit by Kasha, listening to him talk with the adults."
Shikamaru nodded noncommittally. Tazuna had been talking for a while, likely hoping to ignite a sense of "justice" in the young ninja to get him involved, since he no longer had the money to hire more ninjas.
Tazuna didn't approach Asuma for help because, although Asuma despised Kado's actions, he was a seasoned Jonin who wouldn't be easily swayed by words and would avoid unnecessary conflict. As for Choji and Ino, their abilities were limited. Even if they wanted to help, they lacked the strength and means to do so.
During their time together, Tazuna had observed that Shikamaru, aside from Asuma, was the second leader of Team 10. His combat prowess was evident in the fight against Zabuza. Tazuna had been truly amazed at how such a young child could display such skill, causing him to deeply admire the quality of the ninjas.
Shikamaru ignored Tazuna and calmly closed his eyes. Aside from the gentle sound of the flowing river, he could hear intermittent sobbing nearby, a stark contrast to the quiet night.
With his mind focused, Shikamaru gathered chakra in his feet. Slowly, he began to walk across the water, his movements steady, as Tazuna watched in awe.
To an ordinary person, ninjutsu seemed almost supernatural.
"Mr. Tazuna," Shikamaru turned and asked, his voice calm and his gaze cold, "What do you think would happen if I set a fire here, in this residential area? How would people react?"
Tazuna stood in stunned silence, unsure of how to answer. Shikamaru continued, answering his own question: "Ah, they might panic, run away, and later get angry trying to find out the cause. When they discover it was a child who set the fire, they will likely try to punish them..."
Shikamaru sneered, his eyes sweeping across the lifeless town. "But, once I reveal my identity as a ninja and kill the leaders, the rest would hesitate. They might comfort themselves, thinking that as long as they aren't burning in the fire, it's better to survive than to risk death."
Human nature is to avoid harm, and while some brave individuals may act fearlessly in danger, most people wouldn't. This isn't a flaw unique to a certain nation or group. If one were to say it, it's part of human nature.
In a safe and stable environment, who wouldn't cherish their life? Heroes may arise in turbulent times, but the truth is, when survival is uncertain, people begin to take their lives less seriously, and thus become brave.
If there were no Kasha, no ninja to intervene with Kado's plans, and no one like Tazuna trying to build a hopeful bridge in the face of danger, Shikamaru wouldn't disdain the actions of the people of the Land of Waves. In the end, they were merely shortsighted fools, incapable of caring until the fire was burning at their doorstep.
But because of people like Kasha, Tazuna, and the others, Shikamaru felt nothing but contempt. Cowardice wasn't the issue—what bothered him was the numbness and habituation.
"You've built nothing but a bridge, not a fortress," Shikamaru said, pitying the old man, "You can't stop Kado from controlling this country. How could you ever stop him from taking control of the bridge?"
"..."
Tazuna remained silent in response. Compared to the sea route, the bridge was far easier to control. Kado's opposition to the bridge wasn't about the bridge itself; it was a symbol of resistance against his rule. Even if the bridge were built, once the protection of the ninjas was gone, Kado could still take it by force.
"I know, I know!" Tazuna suddenly exclaimed, his posture slumping as if losing all strength. He lowered his head and buried his face in his hands. "I just wanted everyone to stop being afraid of Kado. I wanted them to see that there is still hope."
"Your approach is wrong," Shikamaru said flatly, "You're overestimating their intelligence. They won't understand."
At these words, Tazuna looked up, meeting Shikamaru's steady gaze, and listened as he continued: "You should make them understand what Kado's actions and their own numbness represent."
Only when things become personal will these fools start to understand and shift their numbness. However, this isn't easy. Only harsh reality and evidence can break their remaining fantasies and illusions.
"They certainly understand that life is getting harder, how could they not?" Tazuna retorted.
"No!" Shikamaru interrupted sharply, looking directly into Tazuna's eyes. "They don't understand what their actions represent."
Tazuna looked at him in confusion, not grasping the meaning behind his words.
"Child," Shikamaru murmured softly, almost to himself, but the words struck Tazuna like a thunderclap.
"Inari... I should... I should have Inari speak to them," Tazuna mumbled after a moment of silence. His expression was complex, as if he had just realized something important. At last, he understood the biggest mistake he and Kasha had made.
Numb adults might convince themselves to endure hardship and adjust, but they don't understand—or perhaps some do, but hesitate to act, unsure of whether others understand as well—that their children and future generations will live in the same environment, perhaps suffering even more.
It was like a nation in the past, which was only awakened by a horrific massacre that shocked the world. All the beautiful illusions were shattered, and they were forced to face the choice—survival or death.
Had someone documented the massacres by the colonizers and released it, it would have had an effect.
Shackled and oppressed like cattle, with no hope for the future... If the people of the Land of Waves could still endure without resistance, Shikamaru felt they might as well die.
At that moment, Tazuna, who had been murmuring to himself, suddenly snapped out of his reverie. He knelt, bowing his head to the ground, and performed a deep bow towards Shikamaru. "Thank you, thank you, Shikamaru-kun!"
"Kun" was an honorific. For an elderly man like Tazuna to bow to a young Shikamaru like this showed just how deeply moved and grateful he was.
Shikamaru remained indifferent, not attempting to shy away from the gratitude. This realization was his signal to intervene in the struggle between Kado and the Land of Waves. There would be more complicated matters to deal with, but he could shoulder the weight of this old man's bow.
Of course, Shikamaru didn't believe that a mere show of power would make an elderly man bow like this. It was the influence of their shared journey—the ninja identity, the leadership among his peers, the killings, the intelligence, and the decisiveness. All these aspects had shaped Tazuna's view of Shikamaru.
Shikamaru smiled faintly, glancing at Inari, who was watching them with a mixture of shock and fear. Neither Tazuna's bow nor Shikamaru standing on the water was something the child could easily comprehend.
In fact, the child was easy to convince. For adults who already had a developed worldview and value system, setbacks lead to growth. But for a child, a sudden blow could push them onto the wrong path, making their thoughts grow more extreme. They might believe it to be maturity, but it was merely another form of childishness. As long as they were eloquent, they could easily change someone's mind.
"Maybe now's a good time to see what the world of samurais is like..." Shikamaru thought idly to himself.