Evil Old Senju Ghost

"Don't!!"

Li Ke lunged and grabbed Asuma, then covered his mouth again.

Since the Lord Third had sent Asuma to the front lines, the situation was dangerous, but not too dangerous. The main point was to make Li Ke compensate for the value of his arm.

But if Asuma made a scene and blew things out of proportion, then everything would be over!

By then, Asuma would have to be punished under military regulations, and he, a seriously injured man, would also be sent straight to the front lines. There would be no exceptions!

"This is fine, Asuma! You have to understand Lord Hokage's predicament!"

Asuma struggled constantly in Li Ke's arms, unable to hear a word of Li Ke's advice. He had broken the rules, but no one's life had been in danger at the time. Otherwise, his uncle wouldn't have arranged surgery for Li Ke. And now that bastard of a father had actually done something like this!

Sending Li Ke to the battlefield! Wasn't that just sending him to his death?!

Asuma was so furious that Li Ke had no choice but to press down on the carotid artery in his neck. Asuma's head spun violently, and he slumped into Li Ke's arms.

The Anbu Ninja nearby was also taken aback by Li Ke's decisiveness. There was no resentment or unease on Li Ke's face, only calm.

He had known that the boy in the village known as "Clear Mirror Still Water" was exceptionally mature and steady, but seeing him act so maturely still surprised him.

"Sorry, friend. Asuma got a little worked up. Please tell Lord Hokage that I'll talk to him... He just doesn't understand Lord Hokage's deeper intentions."

Lord Hokage's deeper intentions?

Wasn't Lord Hokage sending him to the dangerous front lines because he'd broken the rules? What deeper intentions?

The Anbu Ninja didn't understand, but after glancing at Asuma, who was slumped in Li Ke's arms, he nodded and quickly left.

After all, he still had to notify the others.

But just as the Anbu Ninja left, Senju Tobirama spoke.

"Monkey was watching you just now. It seems he developed a surveillance technique that relies on Konoha's barrier. He should be able to see and hear what you just said."

Li Ke was startled and couldn't help asking in his mind,

"Wasn't that your technique?"

Senju Tobirama fell silent for a moment before replying.

"Don't give me credit for inventing every technique!"

He didn't even need to think about what Monkey would use this technique for. Someone who had never behaved himself, even when he was young, wouldn't use this technique for anything proper.

Besides, were the Uchiha Clan's Military Police Force, the Barrier Team, and the Anbu all asleep?! This Telescope Technique could only see what Konoha's barrier could see. Anything beyond the barrier's view was beyond its reach. There was no way he would have developed a technique like that!

"Forget it. Anyway, you don't seem worried at all?"

Seeing through Li Ke's eyes that the other two girls looked worried, Senju Tobirama asked him.

"Mm. After all, when you're in a military organization, breaking the rules naturally means you'll be punished. Lord Lord Third sending Asuma and me to the battlefield together is already an exception."

Even if the Lord Third hadn't said anything, who would be fool enough to send Asuma out as cannon fodder?

Having the whole team operate together was the opening the Lord Third had given them.

After all, Li Ke's external wounds had healed. He was only a little weak. Even if he couldn't do much on the battlefield, his team could still handle early warning duties.

That was probably the sort of mission they'd get.

Senju Tobirama said nothing more. He was increasingly satisfied with Li Ke's maturity.

If Li Ke showed more of the Will of Fire and a stronger bond with Konoha, he wouldn't mind coming clean and telling Li Ke that he wanted to train him to become Konoha's next pillar.

He took a quick look at Asuma through Li Ke's eyes, and a thought crossed his mind.

Is he close friends with Monkey's son? Given their ages and the current situation, Monkey should step down after the war ends. By the time his son reaches his prime, the next Great Ninja War should be breaking out.

Senju Tobirama settled on a plan.

"Then we'll have our lessons on the battlefield. I'll teach you ninjutsu, but you'll have to be prepared to hand your body over to me on the battlefield... Do you have the nerve for that?"

"Of course, Second Hokage!"

"Fool! How can a ninja trust others so easily? How can you be sure I'm the Second Hokage?!"

His expectations had changed, so naturally his demands had changed as well. Senju Tobirama immediately began scolding him.

Li Ke let the words go in one ear and out the other as he looked toward the now-awake Asuma.

But Asuma didn't say a word. He sat silently at the barbecue table, quickly eating the meat laid out before him. After finishing all of it, he stood up.

"I'm going back to get ready."

He didn't even look at Li Ke as he spoke, leaving Li Ke feeling helpless.

Someone Asuma's age would never understand this. Even if they were friends, there was no room to change things.

This was something only he could figure out for himself.

And clearly, Asuma wasn't the sort of person who could figure it out easily. In the original story, he only understood what he needed to protect when he was on the verge of death.

But by then, it was too late.

Li Ke looked at Asuma, and a thought came to him.

It's time to change the Ninja System.

No matter how many reasons Hashirama Senju and Senju Tobirama had, this world was still twisted.

"Do you still want to retire?"

The cold voice sounded again.

"I'll decide after I get back from the battlefield... For now, I'm still a Konoha ninja, aren't I?"

Li Ke smiled, ate the rest of the barbecue, paid the bill, and went with Kurenai to get ready.

Anko stood all alone in the street, watching her three friends leave. The happiness on her face gradually faded.

After Li Ke and Kurenai finished preparing, they met up with the silent Asuma at Training Ground Three. There, they saw the team they would be joining.

At this point, even Asuma, who had kept his face stiff all along, looked stunned.

Among this group, Li Ke's injuries counted as minor at best!

Some of the ninja here were even missing fingers! And there were also a lot of Genin who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, clearly frightened by the wounds on the other ninja.

Asuma couldn't say a word. He stood where he was, looking like a fool.

Li Ke quickly found the squad leader and handed over the scroll he was carrying.

Li Ke knew the squad leader, Chojuro Akimichi. He was a loyal ally of the Sarutobi Clan, which finally put Li Ke at ease.

Looking into Li Ke's eyes, Chojuro spoke with a hint of regret.

"Qingtan, you're already a Jonin? I heard what happened to you. Don't worry. You're a hero of the village. Killing two Iwa ninja Jonin is something plenty of people couldn't do."

Li Ke gave an awkward smile. Killing two Jonin had been entirely thanks to Senju Tobirama's skill.

"Thank you, Senior Chojuro. I just got lucky."

Li Ke finished speaking and took his place in the group, as another team of ninja arrived.

Li Ke also recognized the person leading them.

Fugaku Uchiha.

Li Ke wasn't surprised. In this era, clan leaders had to fight outside the village. Fugaku Uchiha had earned the clan's respect because whenever the Uchiha had to fight, he was always on the front lines. As clan head, he could occasionally bring some of the dead and injured Uchiha back home, that was all.

"Looks like Kirigakure is making a huge show of force this time. The news that the Daimyo cut off support is probably true."

Li Ke couldn't help thinking that way. The Lord Third usually avoided sending the Uchiha Clan to battle whenever possible, but now it had clearly reached the point where he had no choice.

Compared with this group of old and wounded ninja, the Uchiha Clan seemed much more excited. Many Uchiha even wore smiles, eager for everything the battlefield had to offer.

Li Ke said nothing. Once Chojuro confirmed everyone had arrived, he led the group alongside Fugaku Uchiha, and they quickly charged toward Konoha's front lines.

Ninja could cover ground incredibly fast. In only half a day, they had traveled half the distance.

That was because Kirigakure had taken advantage of Konoha's inability to mount a timely defense and pushed the front line all the way into the Land of Fire. Konoha now had to drive them out at any cost.

At this distance, ninja could reach the front lines in a single day. The situation could be called a crisis of life and death.

So by the time they had covered half the distance, they were already at risk of being attacked.

"Everyone, rest. First Squad and Third Squad, patrol the area."

At the order, Li Ke and the others quickly found places to rest and took Military Ration Pills.

Just then, Yuhi Kurenai, a little out of breath, hurried over to Li Ke and asked with concern,

"Qingtan, are you all right?"

Looking at Yuhi Kurenai's flushed little face and the worry in her eyes, Li Ke shut off Senju Tobirama's ability to feel through his senses and shook his head.

"I'm fine."

He really was fine. The chakra pathways in his arm were still a little sluggish compared with the rest of his body, but even so, he was in better shape than he'd been at his previous peak. His physical injuries had mostly healed, and he could use Senju Tobirama's eyes, so there was no need to worry about the battle ahead.

"Don't push yourself."

Asuma spoke up then. His tone was still cold, but there was no doubt he cared.

"Mm."

Li Ke smiled and nodded, but right then, he suddenly sensed a large number of unfamiliar chakra signatures rapidly approaching. He could even sense their strength, along with a strange feeling.

It was cold, oppressive, and even a little crazy.

As he began to feel pain from those chakra signatures, the Second Hokage spoke.

"Kid! Enemies are coming from the southeast! They're likely an elite Kirigakure squad!"

Is Konoha's defense line really full of holes?!

Li Ke actually cursed aloud. He knew that, with the Five Great Nations taking turns fighting Konoha, it wasn't unheard of for enemies to make it all the way to the outskirts of Konoha Village.

But an enemy ambush squad this close, after only half a day's travel? Had the defense line reached its limit already?!

Where was Minato Namikaze? Come save us! Minato Namikaze!

Li Ke ranted wildly in his mind, but still got to his feet at once, his one remaining eye full of grim focus.

"Enemies spotted to the southeast! Twenty-three in total, likely a Kirigakure ambush squad!"

As soon as Li Ke finished speaking, a Hyuga Chunin on patrol immediately activated his Byakugan. The next moment, his expression turned horrified.

"There really are twenty-three ninja approaching!"

At that, every ninja present went on guard. The Uchiha berserkers all looked toward Fugaku Uchiha, who nodded to Chojuro before charging forward without hesitation with the Uchiha ninja.

What Li Ke saw was a mass of ninja charging forward with red light shining in their eyes. But the new Genin were clearly panicking. One even tried to flee back to Konoha, but a ninja beside him grabbed him before he could become a full-fledged deserter.

Looking at the terrified Genin, Li Ke sighed.

It's gotten this bad already?

Konoha Village had become this weak.

But he also noticed that ever since the Uchiha ninja had appeared, Senju Tobirama hadn't said a word.

Just as Li Ke wondered about it, Senju Tobirama spoke.

"Go with them. The most important thing now is to drive off the enemy and reinforce the front as quickly as possible. The Mist Technique is highly effective against the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. In a moment, I'll teach you a Wind Release technique to blow away the mist and make this battle easier."

His words left Li Ke scratching his head, but he still quickly followed the Uchiha ninja and handed control of his body over to the Second Hokage.

But he couldn't help grumbling to himself.

You're definitely not the Second Hokage! The Second Hokage would actually help the Uchiha Clan?!

He was still complaining internally when Senju Tobirama, without another word, used Li Ke's body to perform an incredibly fast Body Flicker Technique. Then he landed between the two groups.

At that moment, the Uchiha ninja who had encountered the Kirigakure ninja had just formed the hand seals for Fire Release, while the Kirigakure ninja had also formed the seals for the Mist Technique. A countless mass of violent, chakra-filled mist appeared around them, meant to block both vision and chakra sensing.

As the Uchiha ninja spat out their fireballs, Senju Tobirama finished his hand seals. The next moment, he took a deep breath through Li Ke's body and unleashed a terrifying gale.

The moment the wind took shape, it became a series of violent tornadoes. They swept up all the flames spat out by the Uchiha and continuously sucked in the mist from the Mist Technique.

The scale of it made Li Ke doubt that he could have possibly unleashed the technique himself!

In an instant, tornadoes of fire filled an area more than a hundred meters wide!

The raging tornadoes swept straight into the Kirigakure ninja. Several unlucky ones who couldn't dodge in time were flung into the air. And because the attack covered such a wide area, several ninja caught in the flames reacted by using ninjutsu to spray out water and hold back the terrifying fire tornadoes!

"Wind Style: Hurricane Divine Wind!"

At that moment, Senju Tobirama also announced the technique's name. Using Li Ke's body, he turned toward the dumbfounded Uchiha and gave them a mocking smile.

"Uchiha bast—... You lot, is this all you've got?! You're not even as good as trash!"

Li Ke: "..."

Watching the Uchiha ninja's eyes turn three shades redder after those words, he cried out in his mind,

I knew it! You really are an evil old Senju ghost!