The Decision

That night, torrential rain poured outside the cave.

It wasn't even the cold season yet, but the air was already filled with a bone-chilling cold.

Even deep inside the cave, with a bonfire burning, Chiba couldn't stop shivering.

For a moment, Chiba couldn't help feeling grateful. If Yahiko and the others hadn't taken him in, who knew how he would have survived such a cold, rainy night?

After all, he'd lost his bedding, raincoat, and other belongings while fleeing. He had nothing left to protect himself from the elements.

Just as Chiba was staring out at the downpour, Yahiko walked over.

Yahiko pulled a worn-out coat from somewhere and tossed it in front of Chiba and Konan.

"You two can use this to keep warm tonight."

Then Yahiko retreated to his corner.

While Chiba was still stunned, Konan had already gotten to her feet.

"Yahiko, why don't we take turns? I can take over for you later."

Chiba had noticed something too. The coat was just barely big enough to cover two people, and even then, it couldn't cover them completely. It was almost certainly what Yahiko and Konan had been using to keep warm at night. Now Yahiko had given up his share for Chiba.

That meant Yahiko had nothing to keep himself warm tonight.

Chiba was deeply moved. He said earnestly, "Why don't you two use it instead? I—"

Yahiko impatiently waved a hand, cutting them both off.

"Enough. Do you think I'm as scrawny as you two? This kind of cold doesn't bother me at all."

As he spoke, Yahiko deliberately showed off his arms, which were indeed sturdier than Chiba's and Konan's, as if he really weren't cold.

"There's no need to take turns. That would just keep everyone from getting a good night's sleep."

"But—"

"No buts. If you get sick, that'll be a real problem. I can't afford to take you to a doctor, and I don't have time to look after you either. Just go to sleep, and sleep well. We've got work to do tomorrow, so we need to get up early."

Yahiko turned onto his side and faced away from them, ignoring Chiba and Konan as he settled down to sleep.

That night, Chiba suddenly opened his eyes.

"Achoo!"

Even in his sleep, Yahiko shivered all over and couldn't stop sneezing.

As Chiba watched Yahiko sneeze in his sleep, with Konan quietly holding him, all kinds of thoughts welled up inside him.

No one knew just how conflicted Chiba felt at that moment.

To be honest, according to Chiba's plan, he hadn't intended to get too attached to Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato.

That was because Chiba understood better than anyone what kind of hardships lay ahead for them.

They might grow incredibly powerful one day, even standing at the very pinnacle of the Ninja World.

But far behind them, even stronger and more terrifying enemies were waiting.

Nearly every major villain in the Ninja World was destined to become their enemy.

Otsutsuki Kaguya, Uchiha Madara, and Uchiha Obito were all future supervillains capable of easily destroying the world and taking on the entire Ninja World by themselves. Every one of them had their sights set on the group.

Perhaps Naruto and Sasuke, the reincarnations of Asura and Indra and two of the world's mightiest shinobi, would eventually defeat those villains and bring peace to the world.

But that peace would have nothing to do with the others. Those schemers would have killed them long before then.

To stand shoulder to shoulder with them, Chiba would have to face the greatest forces in the world.

The pressure would be so immense that it could drive anyone to despair.

That was why, from the very beginning, Chiba had set himself just one goal: join their group, learn ninjutsu over the next few years, then find an excuse to leave the Land of Rain and part ways with them.

Objectively speaking, there was no doubt this was the best plan.

After all, the Land of Rain was probably the only place in the entire Ninja World where Chiba could learn ninjutsu. And once he'd learned it, leaving in time would help him avoid getting caught up in such a terrifying whirlpool.

But could Chiba really be that cold and heartless?

Though he kept reminding himself that he had to be ruthless if he wanted to survive, a voice inside him kept arguing back.

Chiba had overestimated his ability to remain detached. On the very first day, a huge crack had already opened in his defenses.

His plan had barely even begun, and Chiba was already wondering whether he'd ever be able to leave them.

Just as Chiba was lost in thought, Konan suddenly opened her bright eyes.

"Why are you still awake?"

She lightly touched Chiba's cold feet with hers, as if she understood.

"Are you still cold?"

As she spoke, Konan gently lifted Chiba's feet and held them against her chest. She shivered involuntarily.

"Hehe, warmer now?"

"Yeah. I'm not cold anymore."

Chiba turned his face away. In the darkness, he didn't want Konan to see his expression.

He really wasn't cold anymore. Especially not inside.

"Hehe, if you're warm now, hurry up and sleep. Later, we'll sneakily take turns warming Yahiko without letting him know."

"Okay."

On that cold night, they might not have had a warm house or enough clothes to keep out the chill, but they had one another's warmth.

Somewhere deep inside, Chiba finally made a decision—a decision that might put him at odds with the whole world.