Advice

After finishing the paperwork at the Anbu, Shiraishi Yoshijo prepared to head home but was intercepted by Hatake Sakumo.

"Care for a walk?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo nodded.

The two walked side by side out of the Anbu headquarters.

"What are your plans for the future?"

"I'll probably stay in the Medical Team."

"The Medical Team, huh? Your medical Ninjutsu is certainly well-suited for it, it's just that you..."

Hatake Sakumo trailed off, as if there was something difficult to put into words.

Shiraishi Yoshijo was slightly surprised; this was not like Hatake Sakumo at all.

"Captain, please just say what is on your mind."

Hatake Sakumo sighed, his expression turning grave.

"I possess a certain talent that allows me to see through a person's potential."

Shiraishi Yoshijo's pupils constricted, and he wore his signature fake smile.

"Captain, you aren't trying to tell me that you've already seen through my potential, are you?"

"No, I cannot see through you. You are quite a complex person; I have only vaguely sensed something."

"Complex? I feel I'm quite simple. What exactly do you mean, Captain?"

The alarm bells in Shiraishi Yoshijo's heart were ringing at full volume. He had not expected Hatake Sakumo to possess such a talent.

Could it be that he had already sensed his true intentions and reported them to Hiruzen Sarutobi?

"I have looked into some things regarding you over the past few years. The Shide are a prestigious clan in Konoha, and their selfless, death-defying battles during the First War have always been revered by the villagers."

"As for your parents... honestly, I don't understand politics very well, nor am I clear on whether the village did anything, but I just feel..."

The smile on Shiraishi Yoshijo's face gradually faded.

To have investigated to this extent—it seemed Hatake Sakumo had truly sensed something unfavorable about him.

"There is a darkness hidden deep within your heart. I have observed your life at the academy, the hospital, and the Anbu."

"Humble and polite, knowing your place and acting with propriety—even I would say you are worthy of your prestigious upbringing."

"It is just hard to imagine that someone like you doesn't have a single close friend in Konoha."

Shiraishi Yoshijo remained silent.

Friends—he truly had none.

Aside from the occasional encounter, he had no real connection with his classmates from the academy.

Takemoto Anna and Kawadome did not count as friends; there were too many interests intertwined there.

"What does that prove? Not having friends doesn't mean there is darkness in one's heart. Captain, you shouldn't say such things lightly."

Hatake Sakumo gave a bitter smile. "Indeed, it proves nothing. Rest assured, I haven't told anyone else."

Shiraishi Yoshijo did not understand what purpose Hatake Sakumo had in pulling him aside to say these things.

"A person cannot live alone. If such a person truly exists, then they are merely some kind of monster wearing human skin."

"Consider this my advice. I do not wish for us to cross blades one day in the future."

After saying this, Hatake Sakumo turned and walked away.

Shiraishi Yoshijo watched his retreating figure, his brows furrowed tightly.

Just as Hatake Sakumo's figure was about to vanish, he called out loudly, "Captain, I have a piece of advice for you as well: your blade is too fast. Be careful, for that which is too rigid is easily broken."

Hatake Sakumo waved a hand without turning back and disappeared from sight.

Shiraishi Yoshijo pursed his lips, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha—truly a man not to be underestimated.

On the way home, Shiraishi Yoshijo kept pondering Hatake Sakumo's words.

A person cannot live alone; if such a person truly exists, then they are merely some kind of monster wearing human skin.

This sentence kept echoing in his mind.

Sometimes, he gradually found himself unable to understand what he even was.

Having died and then been reborn into this world, could he truly still be considered human?

Everyone is born into this world with some kind of meaning, but what was the meaning of his own birth?

When it comes down to it, must a person always search for a reason to keep living?

The more he thought, the less he understood, and he gradually walked into a dead end of his own logic.

Standing at his front door, he reached out to push it open, but after a moment of thought, he turned and walked away.

Shiraishi Yoshijo arrived at the Takemoto Clan estate.

He did not see Takemoto Anna, but he spotted Takemoto Masamasa in the backyard.

The moment Takemoto Masamasa saw Shiraishi Yoshijo, his face darkened.

"Here to borrow money?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo felt a vein throb on his forehead; was this really the image he had cultivated in Takemoto Masamasa's eyes?

"I came to see Grandpa Shuichi, and, well, to borrow some money while I'm at it."

Since his reputation was already ruined, Shiraishi Yoshijo decided to just throw caution to the wind.

I, Shiraishi Yoshijo, am the type who borrows money and absolutely never pays it back.

"Don't give him a single cent!" Takemoto Shuichi's voice rang out from inside the room.

Shiraishi Yoshijo spread his hands: "Grandpa Shuichi, what's wrong now?"

After entering the room, Shiraishi Yoshijo saw Takemoto Shuichi lying in bed.

"Giving you money is like throwing a meat bun at a dog—it's never coming back. Why would I lend you anything?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo: "Then I guess I'm not paying back the money from before!"

"If you're short by even one ryo, I'll break your legs!"

Shiraishi Yoshijo scratched his head; this old man wanted to marry his granddaughter off to him yesterday, but today he was acting like a stranger who had just pulled up his pants.

"Tell me, why did you come to see me?"

"Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted me to be a jonin sensei, but I refused. I'm going to be the captain of the Medical Team starting tomorrow."

"Are you done? Get out."

Shiraishi Yoshijo's temper flared, and he reached out to wave his hand vigorously in front of Takemoto Shuichi's face.

"What are you doing?"

"You're not senile yet, so why don't you recognize me? Why the sudden change in attitude?"

"You're someone who plans to defect; what else could I possibly expect from you?"

So that was the reason. Shiraishi Yoshijo laughed awkwardly.

"You are forbidden from coming here to borrow money from now on. Also, I've already made arrangements for your family's businesses; you must pay back at least twenty million ryo every year."

Shiraishi Yoshijo's face turned green. The family businesses only made so much money; if he paid back twenty million, he would be left with nothing but air to eat.

"Old man, do you have to be so ruthless?"

"If I were truly being ruthless, you would already be in prison."

"Fine, do whatever you want. I have something I want to ask you."

Shiraishi Yoshijo told Takemoto Shuichi about the situation regarding Hatake Sakumo.

After listening, Takemoto Shuichi sighed and said: "Is this why you came running here?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want to kill Hatake Sakumo?"

"Is it possible?"

"It is not."

Shiraishi Yoshijo clicked his tongue: "Can people really not live on their own?"

"I wouldn't know anything about that."

"You've lived your whole life; do you feel your life has had any meaning?"

"I don't know."

"Grandpa Shuichi, you're almost at death's door. Do you feel happy?"

"You little brat, are you pushing your luck?"

"Don't be so irritable. Life is so beautiful; I think you need a bit more composure."

Takemoto Shuichi: "..."

Takemoto Masamasa chased him out with a fierce expression.

Standing in front of the Takemoto Clan gate, Shiraishi Yoshijo began to scratch his head.

Once certain things are exposed, this is the inevitable result.

Before, they treated him to good food and drink, but now that he was of no use, they started stripping him to the bone.

People, truly, sincerity and things like that have nothing to do with me.

Come to think of it, should I go to other ninja clans to borrow some money?

Since I never pay it back anyway, it would be a waste not to borrow it.

Hmm, that's a pretty good idea.