Knock! Knock! Knock!
"May I come in?"
Gong Yi's heart stirred. "Come in!"
The Third Hokage entered with a genial smile and first asked after Gong Yi's health.
Then he brought up the mission rewards and the time Gong Yi would have to rest.
The mission had been a bloodbath. Even Kakuzu, a notorious Missing-nin from the Underground Black Market, had taken part.
Gong Yi had also been badly wounded and could spend a long, long time recuperating.
After all the formalities, the Third Hokage finally informed Gong Yi of something.
"In three days, the village will hold a funeral for the ninja who died on the mission. As their comrade and Ogawara's squad leader, please come if you can."
The Third Hokage left, and Gong Yi was alone in the hospital room.
"Ogawara..."
Gong Yi murmured to himself, remembering the time he and Ogawara had spent together.
In their day-to-day interactions, Ogawara hadn't been particularly likable.
Often, he'd been rather hostile toward Gong Yi, the new member of the squad.
But truthfully, the boy had cared a great deal about his comrades.
When Gong Yi had first gone on a mission and taken a long time to return, Ogawara had called him a rookie, but in reality, he'd been very worried about Gong Yi's safety.
Yet someone so sharp-tongued but kindhearted had died on a mission at such a young age.
Gong Yi hadn't even noticed how he'd died.
The battlefield had been too chaotic.
Every Konoha Ninja had faced enemies several times their number.
Even Minato Namikaze couldn't protect everyone at once.
"Phew..."
With a sigh, Gong Yi lay down on the bed. At that moment, he felt that life was so fragile.
But soon, he steeled himself again.
Only by making himself stronger could he take control