The Same Road

Sanshao's words left Hanyu deep in thought for a long time. There was a simple truth he had always refused to consider or accept: as an outsider who didn't fit into this world, the only thing he could do was change himself to adapt and fit in—not expect the whole world to accommodate him.

How could that ever happen?

Hanyu's unwillingness to change himself just to fit into the world had laid bare the conservative side of his personality. But that wasn't right. He realized it might be time to make a change... At the very least, he should have a little more of a young man's energy.

"Lord Sanshao, the enemy were from Iwagakure. Their mission was a standard infiltration and sabotage operation, including but not limited to harassing the rear, disrupting supplies, and targeted incursions. They had no special objective." Kagami Uchiha soon finished interrogating the captives. He had found no intelligence worth noting. In a sense, that was good news: it meant Iwagakure had no special designs on the Land of Fire for the time being.

No one asked what had happened to the four enemies. Everyone knew their fate.

"Since Konoha and Cloud Village suffered heavy losses, Iwagakure seems to have grown especially active," Sanshao said after hearing Kagami's report. But Iwagakure's increased activity was only to be expected. In war, fortunes shifted. When one side was weak and its enemy strong, the enemy naturally made more frequent moves... With Konoha and Cloud Village having lost their leaders, their old rival Iwagakure was bound to seize the opportunity to gain an advantage in the war.

"Most of the recent clashes along our defensive line have also been with Iwagakure. We have to admit that they've taken the initiative on both the battlefield and the strategic front," Mitokado Homura said. His face showed his concern over the state of the war.

"That's why we're making this journey: to reduce the number of our enemies as much as possible and ease some of our worries," Sanshao said.

In the current war, Iwagakure's main offensives were aimed at Cloud Village and Konoha, while it took a defensive stance against Sand Village. Sand Village, meanwhile, was focusing its attacks on Konoha and Iwagakure. Konoha, in the Land of Fire at the center of the continent, had already begun a full strategic retreat. After repelling Cloud Village's invasion, it had turned to holding its ground. Cloud Village had originally been attacking Iwagakure and Konoha, but after losing the Raikage, it had been forced to follow Konoha's example and pull back. Mist Village, isolated across the sea, was dealing with Cloud Village and the more distant Iwagakure. In this Shinobi World War, it had no immediate intention of launching a major assault on Konoha.

Add the smaller ninja villages caught between the great nations, and the whole world had long since become a complete mess. That was why there were so many people like Hanyu, whose homes had been destroyed by war.

Hanyu couldn't contribute to a discussion about the state of the world, and after what had just happened, he didn't feel much like talking anyway. But he wasn't sleepy, either, so he rekindled the campfire, hoping to dry his damp clothes before dawn.

A glimmer of light broke the darkness. Then the younger ninja sat down beside the fire. He removed the hood from his head and tossed it into the flames. His striking white hair emerged naturally into view.

When he noticed Hanyu looking at him in surprise, he explained, "It's covered in blood and no longer usable. Otherwise, the enemy's scouts could easily spot me."

He didn't realize that Hanyu's surprise had nothing to do with what he'd just explained.

"Ahem. Thanks for saving me back there. I haven't asked your name yet... What should I call you?" Hanyu looked away and asked as if it were just a matter of courtesy.

"Hatake."

"And your given name?"

"Hatake Sakumo."

"...I see."

"What?"

"Nothing." Hanyu couldn't exactly tell him he now understood why the boy was already so good at cutting people down.

Still... Were all geniuses already making a name for themselves at such a young age? What was that phrase again?

Right. They stood out from the crowd.

"I have to ask: how can someone your age pull off those moves?" Perhaps to cover for his earlier manner, Hanyu continued with another question.

The Taijutsu and swordsmanship Hatake Sakumo had displayed were clearly practical techniques honed through countless battles to the death. But how could someone that young have so much experience fighting?

Hatake seemed unaccustomed to praise. Somewhat embarrassed, he rubbed the back of his head and thought for a moment before answering earnestly, "Nothing special. I just kept practicing until I got the hang of it."

"..."

Take that back. The boy didn't seem embarrassed at all. Just kept practicing until he got the hang of it? Was that even something a normal person would say?

"What about you, then? How did you suddenly learn Water Release Ninjutsu—and a high-level B-rank technique, at that? I heard you only awakened your chakra recently," Hatake asked in turn.

Hanyu opened his mouth, then realized he couldn't explain it. After a moment, he managed, "I just kept practicing until I got the hang of it, too."

Hatake clapped his hands together and looked at Hanyu as if to say, "See? That's all there is to it."

But it wasn't the same at all. Whether it was becoming a ninja or learning Water Release, Hanyu had the Second to thank. Those were things he'd gained through external circumstances, not the same as Hatake Sakumo's extraordinary talent.

"Maybe I'll pick up a nature transformation soon if I keep practicing," the boy said, blissfully unaware of how lucky he was.

Hanyu glanced at him and gave the faintest shake of his head. Young people were young people. Hatake was still a long way from becoming the White Fang of the Leaf, and he was already getting greedy.

Hanyu really wanted to ask why he wanted to learn a nature transformation. What was the point? Could even the most dazzling ninjutsu stop his beheading slash?

Between the older generation's worries about the situation and the younger generation's ignorance of the world, the night passed quickly. At dawn, the well-rested ninja team set out again.

But Hanyu's fatigue hadn't eased. His chakra had been draining continuously since the day before, especially after he released a B-rank Water Release technique. He still hadn't recovered much, but he had no choice but to grit his teeth and keep up with the others.

Since their mission wasn't combat but the more important work of diplomacy and politics, the team avoided contact with Konoha's front-line forces as they crossed the border. Instead, they deliberately took a covert route where neither allies nor enemies were likely to appear.

"Is this... the Land of Fields?" After leaving the Land of Fire, Hanyu found the scenery around him strangely familiar. He'd lived here for a long time, and their current route was very similar—almost identical—to the one he'd taken when he left the Land of Fields after meeting the Second.

"Does it look familiar? We didn't take the shortest route to the Land of Lightning, which would have gone south through the Land of Iron. We chose this way so we could pass through here. You'll lead us from now on... You secured the Second's remains, but you left the enemy's bodies where they were, right? Hopefully they're still there." As the forest ahead grew denser, Sanshao spoke to Hanyu.

"If we find them, they'll be our best bargaining chip in negotiations with Cloud Village."

Hanyu still remembered the route. Even if he only had a rough idea, finding the burned-out tree would make everything fall into place.

So he was moved back to the front of the group.