Having a Hook is Amazing?

Returning to the cave, Genma looked at the somewhat awkward atmosphere and smiled at Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba: "What's wrong?"

Shizune whispered: "I just feel that this Igata Kaito is also a very pitiful person. He must have been a good man in the past!"

Yamashiro Aoba nodded and said: "Although eliminating him is our mission, after learning some of the truth, it's hard not to feel like... like we're doing the dirty work for the bad guys."

Shizune nodded repeatedly; she felt the same way.

Even though they clearly knew that Igata Kaito was, in fact, a villain.

Genma could understand the confusion and inner conflict of Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba.

They were all just children.

Not to mention them, even adults would struggle with such things.

After all, this was their first time "killing."

"Genma, do you have any thoughts on this?"

Hatake Sakumo asked.

The reason he let Genma handle the execution was precisely because this disciple was far more mature than his peers.

Hatake Sakumo hadn't immediately stepped in to offer guidance, partly because of this disciple's maturity, and partly to further understand him.

Moreover, if Genma could think it through himself, it would be a better way to guide Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba than for him to "preach" to them.

The flickering firelight made the expression on Genma's face uncertain, but his tone was firm: "Teacher, my thought is this: don't listen to what a person says, look at what they do."

"Good and evil are not so absolute."

"Shizune, am I a good person in your eyes?"

Shizune nodded heavily without hesitation: "Of course."

Genma said: "But I just killed Igata Kaito. Do you think I'm a bad person now? You don't."

Shizune shook her head in agreement.

Genma smiled and continued: "But to Igata Kaito, we are the bad guys."

"For those innocent villagers he murdered, didn't Igata Kaito deserve to die?"

"It's obvious."

"We accepted a commission from the Land of Fire Daimyo Estate. The Daimyo Estate is the governing body of the Land of Fire. We are standing on the side of the Daimyo Estate and the side of those dead villagers, so it is reasonable for us to kill him."

Where you stand determines what you see.

Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba nodded in agreement, and the discomfort in their hearts instantly vanished.

Hatake Sakumo smiled.

With this disciple around, his job as a teacher was much easier.

He couldn't help but think of Kakashi and chuckled to himself: Minato must still be having a real headache!

With the ideological problem resolved, the squad rested for half an hour before setting off to leave the Land of Rain.

This time, Hatake Sakumo increased their pace, pushing Genma and the others to their limits, and they arrived back at Konoha by the afternoon of the next day.

Upon arrival, Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba both let out long sighs, their exhausted faces showing signs of relief.

Genma remained calm, his breathing steady.

This level of intensity was nothing more than average for him.

"This mission was completed very well. We will rest for one day tomorrow, and meet at the Hokage Building the morning after."

"Dismissed!"

After entering the main gate, Hatake Sakumo announced the end of the mission.

Genma walked Shizune to Tsunade's place as usual.

"Lady Tsunade, I'm back!"

As soon as she entered the door, Shizune called out loudly.

But there was no response.

Pushing open the door to the study, Shizune didn't see anyone: "Eh? Where did Lady Tsunade go?"

Genma didn't overthink it: "She probably went to an izakaya!"

"Should we go look for her?"

Shizune thought for a moment and said: "Forget it, I'll wash up first, then cook some dinner and make some hangover soup for when Lady Tsunade gets back!"

So sensible!

Genma sighed inwardly, then ruffled Shizune's hair: "Alright, then I'll head back."

Shizune waved with a smile: "Bye-bye!"

Genma waved back, took two steps back, and vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

Genma returned home to find it empty, though he noticed his parents had already finished work for the day.

"Did they go for a walk after dinner?"

"Probably not, right?"

Seeing no traces of a meal having been prepared, Genma shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it, and headed straight for the bathroom.

He was desperate for a soak.

After filling the tub and sliding in, Genma let out a long, comfortable sigh.

He then lowered his eyelids to check the Setting Collection.

Setting Value: 0.1

This was the harvest from his latest mission.

It could only be said that the influence of a background character on this world—or rather, on the collective of humanity—was extremely limited.

So, is the progression of the world steered by a select few?

Genma curled his lip in secret, then emptied his mind to rest.

Half an hour later.

Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, Genma stepped out with his hands in his pockets to find something to eat, as he had no desire to cook for himself.

The commercial district of Konoha under the night sky remained bustling, lively with the flow of people.

"How about some barbecue?"

Genma suddenly stopped in front of a barbecue restaurant, thought for a moment, and walked inside.

"Eh?"

Just as he was about to find a seat, Genma halted, blinking his eyes, nearly convinced he had seen wrong.

Sitting not far away were none other than his respected Ran'ya and beloved Mrs. Kazekaze.

The two were laughing and chatting, sipping on small cups of sake.

It felt... like a couple in the throes of new love?

They were never like this when eating at home!

Could it be that I was the accident?

Genma turned around and walked out.

As a single man, he had no appetite for public displays of affection.

Strolling along, Genma stopped again in front of an izakaya.

He remembered that Tsunade liked to come here to drink.

"Should I check it out?"

Genma pondered for a moment, then pushed the door open and walked in.

The person at the front desk was a tall young woman with a gentle smile.

Seeing Genma enter, she quickly blocked his path: "Little brother, this isn't a place you should be~"

Genma immediately replied: "I'm here to find Tsunade!"

The young woman paused, then asked: "Are you a ninja?"

"Tsunade is over there. Do you want me to take you?"

"No need, I can go myself."

Genma waved his hand and turned away.

He walked over and sat down opposite Tsunade, who was drinking by herself. Without even greeting her, he called the waiter to order food.

Once he finished ordering, Tsunade exhaled a breath of sake fumes: "Hey, this isn't a place for a kid like you."

Genma was indifferent: "Don't worry about such things when it comes to eating."

"Tsunade, aren't you going to ask how our mission went?"

Tsunade curled her lip: "Tch, with Sakumo-senpai there, even if there were some surprises, it wouldn't be a problem."

"However, since you're back, let's play a round."

As she spoke, she pulled a deck of cards from her bosom.

Genma's face twitched as he watched.

Having cleavage doesn't make you special!

Don't you know there's a child present!

Genma looked at Tsunade with disdain.

Since he had tomorrow off, he had nothing to fear: "Tsunade, there is no way you can beat me!"

Tsunade's gaze was slightly hazy as she pulled out the two jokers and set them aside, humming softly, "Don't get too cocky, kid."

"This time we'll play for points. Two cards each. Do you know the rules?"

Genma nodded, "I do."

"If Lady Tsunade loses, you're paying for this meal. If I lose, I'll pay for your drinks. How about it?"

Tsunade shuffled the deck rapidly, "Fine, it's a deal!"

Once the shuffling was done, Tsunade dealt Genma's cards first, alternating one by one.

As the dealing finished, Genma flipped both his cards over at once, revealing a 10 and a 9.

19 points!

Tsunade's eyelid twitched: This guy, how is his luck so good?

Still, she had a strong chance of winning.

Taking a deep breath, Tsunade flipped her first card, which turned out to be a face card.

"Hahaha, you're done for this time!"

Tsunade beamed with delight.

Then, she carefully lifted the second card, inch by inch.

Suddenly, her expression shifted, and her smile began to fade: Oh no, it's not a face card.

It has to be a 10!

Tsunade took a deep breath and continued to lift it, her expression changing again: It's not a 10 either!

An Ace!!

Seeing the constant shifts in Tsunade's expression, Genma knew he had this in the bag; it looked like he'd be getting a free meal tonight.

Slap!

Tsunade slammed the cards down, her shoulders slumping in defeat as she revealed an 8 of diamonds.

"Consider yourself lucky today!"

Tsunade huffed.

Having gained the upper hand, Genma immediately reached out to collect the cards, laughing, "In terms of skill, I'm certainly no match for Lady Tsunade, so I have to rely on luck. It just so happens my luck is good right now."

Tsunade's expression softened slightly as she took the cards, tidied them up, and returned them to their spot.

Just then, the server began bringing out the food.

Beef, lamb, vegetables, and prawns—it was quite a feast.

"I'm digging in!"

With a quick greeting, Genma picked up his chopsticks and started eating.

Tsunade rested her cheek in one hand, occasionally taking small sips of sake.

But watching Genma eat so happily and with such gusto, her stomach let out an uncooperative growl.

She was hungry!

She wanted to eat.

Licking her lips, Tsunade suddenly slapped the table and called over the server, "Bring me a serving just like his, and make it quick!"

Watching Tsunade, Genma offered a faint smile.