Kapitel 45: Chapter 0045: The Call of War
Night had fallen, and lights flickered on one by one from the houses of Konoha.
"Ugh, my head still hurts..." I grumbled, rubbing the swelling lump on my head, grimacing in pain.
"You deserved it, you idiot." Kurenai shot me a sideways glance. "Saying something like that to Lady Tsunade—it's a miracle you're still alive."
What could I have done? You think I wanted to say that? I was just as shocked as anyone!
"I can help rub it if it hurts that much," Shizune offered, her soft hands gently touching my forehead as she started to massage the sore spot.
Her touch was so gentle it felt like she was petting a small kitten. Kurenai, sitting across from us, was clearly irritated by the sight. "Why are you being so nice to him? Let him suffer, it's his own fault."
"Well, Hiroto looks pitiful like this," Shizune said softly, not quite meeting Kurenai's eyes.
Kurenai muttered under her breath, "Pitiful? He's only pitiful because he brought it on himself."
Before I could retort, a nearby table caught my attention with their conversation.
"Hey, did you guys hear about White Fang?"
"You mean how he got punished for failing that mission? The whole village knows by now."
"No, not that. I'm talking about something new."
"What's the latest?"
The guy speaking glanced around cautiously, his voice dropping as though sharing some forbidden secret. He didn't seem to care that a group of kids like us was within earshot. "I heard from a friend in the Anbu... White Fang killed himself this morning."
"What?!"
"No way, that can't be true!"
"Are you serious?!"
The whole table erupted in disbelief. Even I felt a weight settle in my chest, though I kept my expression neutral.
"Do you really think I'd joke about something like this?" The man shook his head. "Give it a couple of days, and you'll see the news spread all over Konoha."
"Damn... hard to believe he chose that path."
"Yeah, such a waste... going out like that."
"Waste? If it weren't for him failing that mission for some ridiculous reason, we wouldn't be in this mess with Suna."
Listening to their conversation, I couldn't help but sigh softly to myself. I didn't agree with them. White Fang, Kakashi's father, didn't do anything wrong. When you're forced into an impossible choice, it's natural to prioritize the people you want to protect. I'd do the same. Even if the world pointed fingers and criticized, I'd still make that choice without hesitation.
But this is the world of shinobi. In this world, the mission comes first, above all else. The failure weighed too heavily on White Fang, and those who pushed him to this—well, they just finished what the mission started.
"Kurenai, do you know who White Fang is?" I asked, figuring she might not know the full story.
She shook her head. "Not really... Is he important?"
I nodded. "His full name is Sakumo Hatake. He was Kakashi's father... and a great shinobi."
"Kakashi's dad? But if he was so great, why would something like this happen to him?" Kurenai's innocent question revealed how little she understood the dark reality of being a shinobi.
"Probably because words can kill just as much as any weapon," I said, my voice carrying more weight than I intended. Even I was surprised by how worn out I sounded.
Just then, the door to the barbecue place slammed open with a bang. Everyone went silent as Lady Tsunade stormed in, her face darker than the night outside.
Most of the customers recognized her and immediately stopped talking. The aura around her screamed "Do not mess with me," and no one dared to try.
"Five bottles of sake," she ordered the staff curtly, then walked over to sit at our table.
"Lady Tsunade, is everything alright?" Shizune asked cautiously, noticing the storm brewing in Tsunade's eyes.
She didn't answer right away. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, and the only thing louder than the silence was the tension hanging in the air. She downed a cup of sake, finally breaking the silence.
"I had a run-in with that old fool," she muttered, her voice filled with frustration.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what she meant. White Fang. This whole thing probably tied back to him. After all, during the Second Great Ninja War, Tsunade and Sakumo fought side by side against Suna. They were comrades, possibly even close friends. No wonder she was so furious.
There was no way his death didn't have someone pulling strings from the shadows. And I'd bet anything that Lady Tsunade clashed with Hiruzen or whoever was behind it.
The next thing she said caught us all off guard. "I'm leaving Konoha tonight."
"What?!" Kurenai and Shizune gasped in unison, panic filling their voices.
I stayed quiet, watching her closely. "Is this for some kind of special mission?" I asked.
Tsunade nodded, her eyes heavy with burden. "I've been assigned to the western front as the commanding officer. There's a war brewing."
War.
The word hit me like a punch to the gut. Up until now, I thought the war was something distant, something I wouldn't have to worry about. But here it was, standing right in front of me.
"Tsunade-sensei... if you go to the battlefield, what happens to us?" Kurenai asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Tsunade put down her cup, her eyes serious as they looked at each of us in turn. "That's why I'm asking you tonight. Do you want to come with me to the battlefield? It'll be dangerous. Real danger. I can't promise any of us will make it back alive."
We exchanged nervous glances, the weight of her words sinking in. Before I could answer, a familiar and unwelcome voice echoed in my mind.
[New options generated!]
[Host, choose one of the following options:]
[-> Option one: Deny her: "You're not a shinobi, just a plain pervert. The world of perverts knows no rules. Let's elope together."]
[-> Option two: Question her: "Student-teacher relationships aren't against shinobi rules, right? Can I pursue you?"]
[-> Option three: Argue with her: "Some people are born to break rules. Like you..." Now put on a dress and start an awkward dance to prove that rules don't apply to just women! Then do a belly dance.]
[Note: You maybe not gay, but if you fail, the system will transform into Supreme Gay System.]
Damn it! I clenched my fists under the table, internally flipping off the stupid system. After a few seconds of internal struggle, I made my decision.
"Student-teacher relationships aren't part of the shinobi rules... right? So, does that mean I can pursue you?" I blurted out, mentally cursing myself as the words left my mouth.
Silence.
The whole table fell into an awkward, unbearable silence.
Damn it, system!
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