If Not Killing, Then Being Killed

The hall was warm, the wine still heated.

The table was laden with chicken and duck, most of it untouched, steam rising gently.

On the ground, however, was a scene of carnage. Seventeen headless corpses lay sprawled across the floor, the air thick with the stench of blood.

"All taken care of. These missions are so boring... What the hell, Katsuki, you've already started eating?" Otoha turned his head and saw Katsuki sitting at the table, devouring food.

"Mmm..." Katsuki swallowed the chicken leg in his mouth with effort, crushing the bone to powder. "Why wouldn't I eat? No one's touched it."

As he spoke, he tore into a fatty goose from the table and continued eating.

"This is insane. You've only just taken seventeen heads, and you can still eat like this?" Otoha's mouth twitched. Eating amidst a pile of corpses, how can he stomach it?

"Tch!"

Katsuki couldn't be bothered to reply, continuing to eat and drink.

Over the past month, under Sakumo's guidance, Katsuki had completely shifted his mindset. Killing was no longer a burden. This was the world as it was, and if he couldn't change it, he had to adapt. He didn't want to die.

Becoming a ninja meant having one foot in the grave already. It wasn't strange to die any day.

Ninja could resort to any means to survive, but they couldn't be afraid of death. The more afraid of death you were, the faster you died. Those who feared death lacked the courage and ferocity to go all out, and they were the ones who died.

This was what Sakumo had told him. This was the way of the ninja's survival, or rather, not just for ninja. In these chaotic times, those who weren't afraid of death and dared to risk their lives often lived longer.

They weren't always on missions alone. They had cooperated with other squads multiple times to encircle Rain Ninja spies, personally witnessing Konoha ninja, with victory assured, toy with those spies. They used Wind Release to slice those unfortunate souls into pieces like chickens and ducks being prepared for slaughter, all with mocking smiles, as if it were a form of entertainment.

Katsuki's innate kindness hadn't vanished easily. He had pleaded with the leading Chunin to give these spies a quick end.

"Kid, you're truly kind. Unfortunately, your kindness is destined to go unrewarded." The Chunin pointed at the panting Rain Ninja spies on the ground. "Look, their eyes only hold hatred and killing intent. This is us ninja, living in the hatred of others."

The Chunin eventually granted Katsuki's request, giving the pathetic wretches a swift end.

But those scenes were a profound shock to Katsuki's mind. He had never experienced such things in his past life memories. Behind the bloodshed was such coldness. He severed the last shred of his naive fantasies and, once again, silently recited those two sentences.

If I don't kill, others will kill me.

The change brought about by his spiritual transformation was immense. Killing was no longer something he had to ponder. Kill when necessary, without hesitation. That trace of sluggishness and unnaturalness completely vanished. His short sword grew more agile, and Sakumo, for once, did not scold him.

Having a teacher's guidance made a huge difference. After meeting Katsuki and assessing his training progress, Sakumo began teaching him swordplay techniques and directly gave him a short sword. It wasn't a valuable item, but Sakumo had said that when he truly became a ninja, he would give him a chakra blade.

On these missions, Katsuki had used the short sword to take countless heads, accumulating at least fifty to sixty lives.

"But it's really great, isn't it? Konoha's White Fang is your master. You're quite the hidden talent, kid," Otoha said, looking at Katsuki with envy.

It was Konoha's White Fang! So many people had tried to get under his tutelage, including disciples from prominent clans. The younger generation revered this living legend, and Otoha was one of White Fang's biggest fans.

"Hmph, what are you two envious of? Who knows how many people wish they were born into the Uchiha or Hyuga clans," Katsuki scoffed.

Hearing this, Otoha and Tenzan both showed a hint of pleased smiles.

It wasn't that they had ulterior motives. It was only natural to be happy when others praised their clan's bloodline.

They didn't dwell much on Katsuki being White Fang's disciple. After all, what suited oneself was best. The Uchiha had their own fighting style, and White Fang might not be able to help him develop his Sharingan. As for the Hyuga, it was even more out of the question; outsiders couldn't instruct in the Gentle Fist.

The three of them laughed and chatted in the house filled with corpses, the atmosphere lively.

Unbeknownst to them, three people were watching from outside.

"These brats are ruthless!" Jiraiya sighed, looking at the blood seeping through the door crack.

"Hmph, Jiraiya, your naivete should end. Being a ninja isn't about charity; we kill people. This kid is more efficient than that little girl," Orochimaru retorted coldly, a flicker of regret in his yellowish-brown snake-like eyes. Senior Sakumo is truly fast. This young one's talent and disposition are excellent, and his mindset is decisive. He truly moved me, but alas, he's already taken.

Tsunade remained silent, only frowning imperceptibly. She hadn't expected this boy, who seemed so shy and hid behind Kushina, to be so ruthless. He killed without hesitation, sitting among the corpses as if it were nothing. Truly... formidable!

They had been following Kushina and Katsuki for a month on Hiruzen's orders, their legs nearly worn out. To avoid detection by Kushina's Mind's Eye of the Kagura and Hyuga Tenzan's Byakugan, they had gone to great lengths to learn Barrier ninjutsu to block reconnaissance.

"Let's withdraw. They're coming out," Tsunade waved her hand, and the three of them instantly disappeared.

Katsuki finished his free meal, wiped the grease from his lips, and, along with Otoha and Tenzan, left the place with the heads. They didn't linger in the marketplace but hurried back to the main camp to turn in the mission.

Konoha Ninja Main Camp, Merit Office.

Katsuki and his team submitted the heads, completing the mission and successfully adding a record to the merit ledger. After the war ended, or at a certain time, they would receive rewards like bonuses or ninjutsu.

While the bonuses were tempting, ninjutsu was what everyone truly desired. Among the nearly ten thousand Konoha ninja, very few had families or inherited teachings. Ninjutsu was monopolized by the upper echelons, and ordinary people couldn't obtain it. Only by achieving great merit or participating in major battles could one be granted ninjutsu. This was also how the major villages encouraged ninja to fight bravely.

"Katsuki, Lord Sakumo wants to see you."