Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: Bloodbath at the Fire Country Border

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"War is to protect our shared village!"

"Every single one of us fights not alone, but with our comrades, for the village!"

"If I were not the Hokage, how I wish I could stand on the battlefield with you, protecting you, these young children."

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a deep sigh. His eyes were dim, filled with self-blame and helplessness.

"…"

On the outside, Tsukimi Heshu's face burned with passion. Inside, his heart was dead calm.

This was too much.

Putting on an act like this was going too far.

The business with the Rain Village last time wasn't even settled yet!

And now he'd started the brainwashing operation again.

Summoned by the ANBU to the Hokage's office, Heshu stood with Shisui and the others, 'appreciating' Hiruzen Sarutobi's outstanding performance.

"It is precisely because of you, and countless other ninja struggling on the battlefield, that everyone else in Konoha can live in peace."

"You are the heroes of the village."

"…"

Hiruzen went on and on.

Compared to his first sense of reverence, Hizashi, who now saw things clearly, was exceptionally calm. This speech wasn't for him anyway. It was for Heshu and the others.

Hiruzen tapped his pipe, a pensive gleam flashing in his eyes.

These children before him were still young. Even if they were genius-type ninja, they couldn't possibly have figured out his true purpose in the last mission. And the adults wouldn't dare tell them the truth behind the scenes.

So, he still had the power to manipulate them psychologically.

Thinking this, he relaxed his posture a little, his expression growing ever more benevolent.

Heshu cut in with fervent conviction. "Lord Hokage, you are so right!"

Hiruzen's lips, holding the pipe, twitched. His gaze fell on the young boy before him. A bizarre sense of familiarity hit him.

His sixth sense was accurate.

Heshu smoothly took over Hiruzen's speech. "The purpose of war is to eliminate war!"

"Only by understanding the cruelty of war can we know the preciousness of peace, and strive tirelessly to eradicate war!"

Heshu lowered his eyes with profound solemnity, his whole body radiating a determined resolve to sacrifice. "For love and peace, we will fight with everything we have!"

Hizashi looked at Heshu, feeling a stir in his heart. His interactions with Heshu, the other's kindness and resilience, were deeply etched in his mind.

But…

Hizashi's gaze drifted subtly to the Third Hokage.

The Hokage's actions were truly chilling.

[Ding! Affection level for target Hiruzen Sarutobi: 65!]

Huh?

Heshu was stunned.

Why did Hiruzen Sarutobi's affection suddenly drop from 71 to 65?

How did his own impeccably 'loyal' speech cause Hiruzen's affection to drop?

"Good. Once you reach the front lines, follow Orochimaru's command," Hiruzen said blandly.

Heshu felt sick, like he'd swallowed a fly.

No!

His obsessive-compulsive side couldn't accept this sudden drop in affection!

"Lord Hokage!" Heshu stepped forward, sounding a bit shy.

"What is it?" Hiruzen asked.

"Lord Hokage, my forehead protector was damaged during the last mission. Could I…" Heshu paused, biting his lip nervously before declaring loudly, "Could I receive one given by you personally?"

After saying it, he looked flustered, lowering his head, his little face flushed as he stammered, "I-I'm sorry, Lord Hokage! I… I'm being too presumptuous! B-but… I truly admire you!"

[Ding! Affection level for target Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi: 78!]

Goddammit!

Heshu cursed inwardly.

Now he knew why the affection dropped earlier.

It was because that speech didn't mention Hiruzen at all, and instead stole his spotlight, right?

His inner roasting didn't stop.

"Hahahaha…!" Hiruzen laughed heartily. He stood up and patted Heshu's head affectionately. "Heshu! How is this an unreasonable request? Being admired by children fills this Hokage with pride too!"

He personally took a forehead protector from a drawer and carefully tied it around Heshu's hair, like a hairband.

Heshu's face was bright red, looking at Hiruzen with utmost seriousness. "Lord Hokage, I will work very hard!"

"Good, good, good!" Hiruzen's heart softened.

[Ding! Affection level for target Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi: 80!]

The three of them left the Hokage's office.

Heshu was still carefully touching the forehead protector on his head, his eyes shining with excitement.

"It seems Heshu really does admire the Hokage," Shisui said softly, smiling.

"Mhm!" Heshu nodded heavily, stating earnestly, "The Hokage is not only Konoha's protector, but also a respectable, excellent ninja."

Hizashi smiled too, though his eyes held a slight heaviness.

[Ding! Affection level for target Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi: 85!]

Hiruzen observed their retreating backs through his Telescope Technique. He smiled and took a deep pull from his pipe.

This child, Tsukimi Heshu, was truly outstanding.

Both in willpower and strength, he was top of his generation.

And he was a recognized excellent disciple of Tsunade herself.

Heshu heard the affection increase prompt in his mind. A sly smile flashed in his eyes.

He knew it. Hiruzen would definitely use the Telescope Technique to watch.

How could he pass up such a good opportunity?

Of course he had to let Hiruzen know just how much he 'admired' him.

…

Fire Country.

Border.

The new summer brought back the oppressive, sweltering heat. The woods were filled with the relentless chorus of cicadas.

Within the lush forest, heat waves rippled through the air, tightening the atmosphere with invisible tension.

A squad moved with light steps, leaping between branches. They advanced in an attack-defense formation, alertness in every gaze.

At the slightest rustle, their searchlight-like eyes would sweep over the area.

Among these ninja, one stood out, not fitting in at all.

Sarutobi Aoki stared at the white clouds in the sky, his mind wandering.

Was Heshu on a mission?

What did Heshu eat for lunch?

Maybe he should bring Heshu a gift when he got back.

Come to think of it, he didn't even know Heshu's birthday.

What would Heshu like?

"What are you thinking about?"

Nara Sōsai, positioned behind Aoki, was the first to notice his companion's dazed, idiotic expression.

This was wartime. They were heading to the front lines.

The journey was dangerous. An ambush would be disastrous.

And here was Aoki, spacing out.

"Heshu…" Aoki's mouth was always faster than his brain. The word left his lips before he felt Sōsai's exasperated stare.

He scratched his head awkwardly. "Hehe…"

Sōsai couldn't stand the dumb look. He glanced away, muttering, "Be careful!"

"Yeah, yeah!"

As part of Team 2, Aoki often went on missions with Team 3. After months of working together, their relationship had clearly improved.

A bee buzzed past Aoki's ear. He lazily swatted it away, his thoughts drifting back to Heshu.

Swish-swish-swish-swish!

The sound of countless projectiles cutting through the air hit everyone's ears at once.

Sōsai looked up. Shuriken rained down from above. He frowned, about to dodge, when he saw Aoki, still somewhat dazed, in front of him.

"Tch!" Sōsai's brow furrowed in annoyance.

He shot out a hand, grabbing Aoki by the collar and yanking him back. A shuriken grazed Aoki's cheek.

The sharp pain jolted Aoki awake instantly.

He looked at the shuriken embedded beside him, touched the bleeding cut on his cheek, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

Sōsai didn't speak, just gave him a stern look before focusing entirely on the sudden assault.

Dense figures gradually emerged from the branches. Sōsai's expression grew grimmer.

The worst-case scenario had happened.

Ambushed. And the enemy outnumbered them drastically.

This felt less like a chance encounter and more like a pre-planned attack.

How did they pinpoint our movements so perfectly? Doubt sprouted in Sōsai's mind.

"Buzz… buzzzz…"

A faint, familiar sound reached Sōsai's ears.

He stiffened. His face then contorted in grim understanding.

Bees.

A clan skilled in insect manipulation, similar to the Aburame. From Iwa. The Kamizuru clan.

"This is bad."

The battle began.

From the start, it was one-sided slaughter.

Sōsai, Aoki, and the others were fresh graduates, barely a year as genin. Their combat experience and skill were far below the Iwa-nin lying in wait.

Aside from the two jōnin sensei leading their teams, everyone present was a genin. This ambush was a massacre in the making.

Time ticked by.

The Iwa-nin watched their struggling, dying prey with malicious enjoyment, letting out contemptuous laughs.

Enemy perspective. National hatred. There was no mercy here.

Only… a twisted, swelling satisfaction.

The Konoha ninja gathered in a ragged, trembling cluster, watching the advancing Iwa forces.

Akimichi Shinden, the jōnin leader of Team 2, stood with Team 3's sensei. Covered in wounds, they blocked the path to the children.

"What stubborn little bugs."

A giant queen bee carried a woman into view above them. Her eyes held no emotion. "What are you waiting for? Kill them all."

The Iwa-nin surged forward as one.

"Fight to the end!" Akimichi Shinden ground his teeth. Blood vessels bulged in his eyes. He could taste the blood in his own mouth.

"RAAAAH!"

Shinden's body swelled violently. Cracks appeared on his exposed skin, like a vessel about to shatter under pressure.

His massive weapon swung through the air. Iwa-nin blood and flesh sprayed.

The scene was bloody, terrifying.

Elsewhere, Heshu and the other three leapt through the trees.

"What's wrong?" Shisui noticed Heshu suddenly press a hand to his brow.

"Nothing." Heshu rubbed his twitching brow and shook his head. An inexplicable sense of panic churned inside him.

He didn't know where this strange feeling came from.

…

Schlick!

A cold blade sank into flesh.

Pulled out cruelly, blood spurted instantly.

The Iwa-nin kicked the lifeless body of Akimichi Shinden away from his blade, twisted pleasure on his face.

"Bastard! Finally dead!"

Because of the man at his feet, many of their comrades had been hurt.

"Sensei!"

Sarutobi Aoki's eyes nearly burst from their sockets.

His respected teacher, who had fought to carve a path for them to live, was not only dead by enemy hands, but was being disrespected like this.

"Calm down!" Nara Sōsai gasped for air, his eyes bulging as he stared at Aoki.

"How can I calm down?!" Aoki roared. Reason was swept away by a tidal wave of emotion. He charged toward where Shinden lay.

"Sarutobi Aoki!" Sōsai's eyes widened, his back teeth grinding as if they'd crack.

"Aoki!" Iwai Yuzu, from Aoki's team, couldn't hold back a sob.

Aoki was rushing to his death.

Hyūga Rin clenched his fists, glaring hatefully at the Iwa-nin. "We're gonna die today anyway. Might as well take some with us!"

His hand dove into his weapon pouch, pulling out a stack of explosive tags.

"Brother! What are you doing? Brother!" Hyūga Motogin's eyes instantly reddened. She grabbed Rin's arm, her whole body trembling.

"Ah…" Sōsai agreed, his voice flat. "Rin's idea sounds good."

If death was unavoidable, might as well drag a bunch of Iwa-nin down with them.

The war hadn't taught these children the meaning of life. It had taught them how to die with 'value.'

The Iwa-nin watched the genin charge at him with a kunai. He couldn't hold back a derisive laugh.

"Hahaha! What an idiot kid!"

His expression suddenly darkened, voice turning icy. "Then I'll send you to join your teacher!"

Aoki only felt a tremendous force crush his wrist, followed by a suffocating pain.

His throat felt like it was being crushed. The world began to darken.

"Hah…" The Iwa-nin lifted Aoki's body high, slowly waiting for him to suffocate.

The face and body of a person before suffocation were grotesque.

Downright terrifying.

Yet, on the battlefield, some among the victors saw torturing the enemy as a way to relieve war's pressure.

Clearly, this Iwa-nin was one of them.

"Ugh… ugh…" Iwai Yuzu trembled, raising her kunai, wanting to save Aoki. But under the mocking gazes of all the Iwa-nin, her legs locked. She couldn't take a step.

ZZZTT—BOOM!

A devastating silver pillar of light erupted from deep within the forest. It pierced through space instantly, carrying a tearing, scorching heat, moving too fast to follow.

The sound of severing—hairsplittingly clear—reached every ear.

All eyes froze on the Iwa-nin holding Aoki.

The ninja's face twitched. His body, in that instant, was cleanly severed at the chest. The bisected halves twitched briefly before going utterly still.

The thick scent of blood flooded the air in a second.

Aoki's vision darkened as he fell into someone's arms.

"Heshu…" Aoki's voice was a broken wheeze.

Every syllable felt like a blunt knife sawing at his throat.

"Disappointed? It's me!"

Jūri, who had initially felt sympathy for Aoki, fought the urge to drop him upon hearing that name.

Heshu?

Still clinging to that little fantasy even now?

Jūri narrowed his eyes and snorted.

"…"

Aoki's world went completely black.

He passed out cold.

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