At first, Haseo believed there were two burdens within the ninja squad assigned to this mission—one being himself, and the other a child far younger than him… As for Teacher Sansho, she was acceptable enough, but judging by her appearance, clearly not a combat-focused ninja. Naturally, no one had expectations or demands regarding her performance in battle.
Previously, Sansho had pushed Haseo to the front of the squad—not at all with the intention that he defeat the enemies. It wasn't just about rookie versus veteran; it was one against multiple. Such a feat was simply impossible.
Clearly, Sansho's goal was to see whether Haseo could actually perform that technique. And as results went, perhaps it was talent, perhaps sheer luck, or maybe even The Second watching over him from the other side… Regardless, when Haseo successfully unleashed the [Water Dragon Jutsu], his trial ended. Those observing now had no justification to let him fight alone anymore—or worse—die at the hands of enemy ninja.
Haseo succeeded in performing a high-tier B-rank Water Release Ninjutsu under an extremely rushed learning period. Regardless of the reasons behind it, right now, he had proven something very important.
It was time for Konoha ninja to make their move—but what surprised Haseo was that before Kagami Uchiha and Homura Mitokado stepped forward, a single unremarkable little ninja alone had already blocked the enemy's offensive.
That child was fighting against two opponents simultaneously, clearly gaining the upper hand. His small body moved swiftly, dodging and weaving skillfully while his short blade flashed through a flurry of strikes. Under his rapid assault, the enemies couldn't even find space to perform any jutsu. This intense battle felt more like a slaughter than a fight.
In just a brief moment, the boy's performance was far superior to someone like Haseo who had barely used one jutsu before collapsing. Someone capable of displaying such astonishing battle talent certainly wouldn't be just some nameless recruit.
Still, no matter how excellent a ninja this age might be, it would remain difficult for them to deliver decisive impacts on the battlefield. Therefore, the seasoned fighters in this squad still needed to step in… The newbies had gotten enough practice time; they couldn't let the fight drag on forever.
Then Kagami Uchiha stepped forward, opened his eyes—and instantly, the fierce battlefield fell silent.
Not every member of the Uchiha clan possessed a Sharingan, nor did every Sharingan have the power to cast strong Genjutsu. Yet coincidentally, at Kagami's level, Mangekyo Sharingan paired with powerful illusions became almost standard abilities—those enemies trapped by the Sharingan's illusionary techniques had become nothing more than fish on a cutting board.
Yet Kagami didn't hurry to execute them. Instead, he intended to drag the enemies deeper into the woods… Expert-level interrogation awaited them next. Everyone needed to uncover exactly where these intruders came from and why they had entered the Land of Fire. With the Sharingan, secrets hidden were few and fleeting.
Meanwhile, Haseo splashed around briefly in a puddle before struggling back onto his feet. Looking left and right, he noticed that the young ninja was helping Kagami Uchiha carry the subdued enemies while Homura Mitokado remained vigilant in place.
He shook the muddy water from his body and made his slow way back to Sansho.
"How do you feel?" Sansho asked Haseo, who had just returned from actual combat.
From her expression, she appeared satisfied with Haseo's performance, though her feelings ran much deeper—known only to herself.
"It was quite... intense," Haseo replied. Though facing death wasn't something you could just call "thrilling," it really did feel that way.
"Remember this—what you used earlier is called the [Water Dragon Jutsu]… Now stretch out your hands," Sansho ordered.
Haseo thought he already knew—it was the [Water Dragon Jutsu]. He obeyed and stretched out both hands. Sansho then also reached out, gently holding his palms and giving them a slight squeeze.
"If I'm not mistaken, you're someone naturally ambidextrous… You've got the gift to be a true ninja."
She had a sharp eye for detail.
That was exactly the case with Haseo—he was neither left-handed nor right-handed; both hands functioned equally well for him. For regular people, this might seem convenient, but for a ninja, it was considered a talent.
Just when that enemy charged at him, each hand seal he formed was faster than the last—one after another—at an accelerating rate. This definitely had to do with how quick and coordinated both of his hands were.
Sansho released Haseo's hands and continued, "Our mission this time is heading toward the Land of Lightning to reestablish an alliance with Kumo… You're probably wondering why we brought you on such an important mission—especially since you're not even a real ninja yet. And more than that, you're still seen as an outsider in Konoha."
Haseo nodded; he indeed found it puzzling why they included him on such a crucial assignment.
"The jutsu cast upon you previously by the Second Hokage was an Ultimate Art-level Water Release technique known as the [Water Dragon Blast]. Under normal circumstances, average individuals like yourself wouldn't survive a direct hit from such a move. Even elite ninja would struggle to live through it. Yet, you survived. That goes beyond what 'luck' can explain—it's fate," Sansho continued.
Haseo thought to himself—this wasn't fate at all. Back then, he just happened to have a suitable "shield" in his hand.
Seeing the skeptical look on Haseo's face, Sansho knew he wasn't convinced, but she paid no mind and pressed on: "It was precisely because of that [Water Dragon Blast] that you developed the Chakra Corrosion Phenomenon. And that became your starting point toward becoming a ninja… Looking at things now, it seems to mean much more than just a starting point."
"Huh?" Haseo looked confused.
"In time, you'll understand," Sansho said without offering further explanation.
"No matter what happens, since you've just successfully performed a Water Release technique like this one, you've proven there's truly a bond between you and the Second Hokage. And now, it can also be counted as the connection between you and me." She added.
This explains why she was willing to teach Haseo about ninja knowledge... She saw what happened between Haseo and the Second Hokage as a form of inheritance.
She had expected Haseo to be talented; otherwise, why would she value him? And in hindsight, her expectations turned out to be correct.
Previously, Haseo had already sensed something—Sansho seemed to share a close connection with the Second Hokage or even the Senju clan. Now her words practically confirmed it. Although Haseo thought Sansho misunderstood their relationship with the Second—they had only met once and were otherwise strangers—this explanation was easier to accept than pure generosity.
"That kind of 'thrill' you mentioned just now, you should try to remember it always. The Third and others praised your behavior greatly, calling you mature, but I don't agree. Whatever you've been through, there's no such thing as real maturity beyond your years—it's not wisdom, just numbness. And a person simply can't stay numb forever."
Haseo opened his mouth, but found no words with which to argue back.
Was he mature? Definitely. But was he numb?
Much more numb, in fact, than Sansho had accused him of being.
In this unfamiliar world, Haseo hid behind a thick shell. His worldview, values, and approach to problems weren't entirely incompatible with others', just different.
Then he realized: the "young people" Sansho referred to must have meant the likes of the Third himself.
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