Li spoke softly, but a different expression appeared on his face. "But you need to understand—if you truly become useless, what will happen to Miss Nanako? You should trust my medical skills. To be honest, I can still perform this kind of torture-rehabilitation surgery. You don't want Nanako to spend the rest of her life with a cripple, do you? Especially a cripple burdened with the reputation of a rogue ninja who was taken back in by the village!"
Shinnosuke could not help gritting his teeth, his face full of struggle. "You..."
"And you need to understand that all those people outside are waiting for your stance! You're the Hokage's son! That's right! You're important. Even if Danzo has reduced you to this state, as long as the Third Hokage says the word, he won't dare kill you! But what about those former comrades of yours? Those people who want you to prove your innocence!
If you don't step forward, what will happen to them? Will Danzo silence them, or will the Third Hokage silence them? Think it through, will you!
I'm not afraid. My clan has my back! But what about them? Are they afraid of their entire families being wiped out? Sure, whether they live or die has nothing to do with you. But do you believe that, when they're about to die, they can drag Miss Nanako down with them?"
Li's voice suddenly turned stern. Shinnosuke slowly closed his eyes, and the place fell utterly silent. After a long while, Shinnosuke sighed. "I understand. As long as I don't stand with either the Third Hokage or Danzo from now on, I'll stand with you!"
Li nodded lightly, then took out a blue pill the size of a fingernail and stuffed it into Shinnosuke's mouth. "Swallow it, and