A Man Who Says One Thing and Means Another

Bingsan rubbed his head and thought, You only took one look at the map and came up with all that. Are you even human?

A moment later, Bingsan asked again, "But how can we block a gap this wide quickly?"

Danzo took a deep breath. "Normally, we couldn't. But with you, we can.

"Look, there are waterfalls on both sides. Torune and Orochimaru can use the Great Waterfall Technique to bring the water over. Shinnosuke and Jiraiya can use the Earth Flow Fortress Wall to hold the water back for a moment, and I'll use Wind Release to push as much of it as possible toward the earthen wall. Then you can use Ice Release to freeze the water and the wall together.

"That'll let us quickly build a wall that's both thick and sturdy, one that the Sand Ninja can bombard with ninjutsu for ages without bringing it down.

"Then we can stand on top of the wall and attack them with powerful ninjutsu. They won't be able to hit us, so they'll have no choice but to retreat.

"If a lot of their Ninja charge at us, we can even use the difference in elevation to wipe out most of the Sand Ninja here."

After Danzo finished, everyone looked at Bingsan. He scratched his head. "Why are you all looking at me?"

Shikaku said, "In other words, you'll have to go to the battlefield yourself."

"Can't I use a clone?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because your clones are way too slow. They can't even dodge shuriken. What if an enemy blasts one to bits?"

After saying that, Shikaku added, "Your clones can't even outrun a rabbit. I have no idea how you came up with them."

Bingsan rubbed his nose. Go to the battlefield? Strictly speaking, it really would be his first time.

Usually, he was treated like a tool. They'd call over one of his clones, have it use a ninjutsu or do something, and then it would get killed.

Bingsan had barely ever seen what he looked like after using a ninjutsu.

Bingsan had no ambitions. He just wanted to live. He didn't want to be some savior or play the hero.

Jiraiya clapped Bingsan on the shoulder. "It's time. A real man has to stand tall and shout out something passionate. Come on, 'Peerless of the West, Legendary Commander!'"

Bingsan asked timidly, "Can I just not go?"

Everyone: (ー`ー)

Bingsan: (⊙﹏⊙)

Once everyone had settled on a plan, they got to work. Shikaku stuck with Bingsan the whole time. (Mostly because he was afraid Bingsan might run off.)

That night, Bingsan lay in bed, nerves jangling. Tomorrow, he'd be going to the battlefield to fight for his life. He wasn't even a Genin yet—he was still a baby!

After a long while spent feeling nervous and excited, Bingsan finally decided to do a draw to unwind. It was draw day again.

Bingsan watched the spinning wheel nervously. It spun rapidly, then a golden orb of light appeared on it. Bingsan was thrilled. But when he opened his inventory, his spirits immediately sank.

Golden Set Meal (Expired) (From Cooking Papa). Effect 1: Explosive Undergarments; after eating this food, your clothes will mysteriously explode. Effect 2: Reduces hunger by 50%. Effect 3: Lose 1% of your health every second.

(Note: Due to differences in the world's rules, the Golden Set Meal was perfectly fine at first, but expired the instant it arrived in your world. If you don't mind being poisoned, it's still pretty tasty.)

"Tch." Bingsan rolled his eyes and fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Bingsan climbed out of bed. First, he recalled his three clones and dispelled them, letting all their Chakra return to his body.

Bingsan took stock of his Chakra. He now had about as much as an ordinary Jonin. Then he made three more clones, and all four of them began stockpiling Chakra by eating Ration Pills.

Danzo watched Bingsan sit beneath a tree and gather Chakra. He said nothing, but his furrowed brows and clenched fists made it clear the man was deeply unsettled.

They set out promptly at seven. There were no stirring speeches. Everyone headed for the front line in silence.

Bingsan, Shikaku, and Uchiha Yue traveled near the middle of the group.

Hyuga Go went with Aburame Torune and the others to the very front.

Orochimaru and his team had left the night before. Danzo had also sent orders the previous night for his troops to march toward the Kikyo Mountain camp.

Shimura Yujin had gone back in person to lead the team laying traps.

Before leaving, Orochimaru had told Bingsan, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If we fail, we can just defend the Kikyo Mountain camp.

"Those few ragtag Sand Ninja don't concern me."

Orochimaru then formally summoned the Summoning Scroll and had Bingsan write down his name.

Along the way, they ran into scattered squads retreating from the battlefield. The closer they got to Wind Ravine Valley, the more Ninja they encountered.

It seemed Shikaku's assessment had been exactly right.

By the time they reached Wind Ravine Valley, it was already past five in the afternoon. They'd stopped only briefly to eat some dry rations and hadn't even had a chance to drink water.

Everyone quickly got to work setting up at Wind Ravine Valley. With Shikaku's help, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi organized the defenses without a hitch.

By ten that night, many Konoha Ninja had already passed through on their retreat.

Shikaku chewed his fingernail as he calculated the timing. He kept muttering, "Hurry up. A little faster. Please, just hurry up."

They waited at Wind Ravine Valley until after four in the morning, when the sky began to brighten. At last, they heard the din of battle from up ahead.

At the sound, Shikaku sprang up and climbed a tree to look into the distance. A gigantic figure was leading a large number of Ninja as they fought while retreating.

"That's Choza's dad! Hurry, Bingsan! Fire the signal and call for a team to help them! Hurry!" Shikaku shouted, gripping Bingsan's arm hard.

Feeling the strength of Shikaku's grip, Bingsan realized just how anxious this young man—who'd always smiled and reassured him—really was. Of course he was. That was his father.

Bingsan fired the signal flare in his hand. With a whoosh, a red flare shot into the sky. The Ninja who'd been lying in ambush in the woods all night charged downhill like tigers unleashed from their mountain lairs.

Bingsan turned to Shikaku. "You should go too. Whether you're here or not won't make any difference."

Shikaku clenched his teeth, then shook his head resolutely. "Even if it costs us our lives, we'll protect you.

"Only if we achieve our strategic objective can we preserve as much of the retreating front-line force as possible.

"Bingsan, I'm counting on you."

Bingsan simply gave a quiet nod. He wasn't nervous anymore. He just felt sad.

Everyone else had a mom and dad. What about him? He was only a Cyborg. One day, his cells might lose their balance and turn him into a heap of rotting flesh.

Bingsan gave a self-mocking chuckle and headed for the highest point.

Shin'nosuke Sarutobi and the others were already waiting there. For the first time—truly, the very first time—Bingsan felt utterly alone, as though he didn't belong in the world at all.

He looked up at the sky. In this vast world, where could I call home?

Danzo suddenly appeared beside Bingsan. He grabbed the back of Bingsan's collar and whispered in his ear, "I can't be bothered to collect your corpse, so you'd better stick close to me. Understand?"

For just a moment, the back of this frail, dark, blood-soaked, unscrupulous man seemed impossibly broad.

Bingsan rubbed at the corner of his eye, which had grown a little sore, and said, "I'm not going to die!"