"Right..."
Seeing the slight look on Nara Shikaku's face that suggested he had been persuaded, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Choza spoke up.
It was not that they were not worried about Chiba. To be honest, the anxiety in their hearts was no less than that of their old friend before them.
After all, that child was now practically the village's greatest hope.
Not only did he possess unparalleled talent, but even more precious was his blazing heart, willing to risk life and limb for the village.
No one would have imagined that a boy who had grown up amid the village's disgust would repeatedly brave danger for its sake without holding any grudges. Even during the perilous Third Great Ninja War, he had turned the tide alone, charging single-handedly into five thousand Iwa soldiers and saving the village.
Through his actions, he had practically shattered every doubt and every ounce of disgust.
Through his actions, he had proven what a "hero" was supposed to be.
Honestly, there were still quite a few people in the village who could not hold their heads up before this child. Compared to his magnanimity, the vast majority of the village was petty and narrow-minded.
When word had come from the front that Chiba had faced five thousand enemies alone, saved the village, and seemingly perished in the process, no one knew how many ninja and ordinary villagers had been too ashamed to sleep that night.
It was also then that the entire village had finally and completely changed its view of Chiba. Even those who still disliked him could not possibly allow anyone to harm a child who had been willing to sacrifice his life to save the village.
That was precisely why they were so anxious and worried.
Chiba should not die here!