Choice

"Bloodline limits and all that... aren't they a little too advanced for someone like me right now?"

Li Ke stroked Yuhi Kurenai's cheek and complained to Senju Tobirama in his mind.

"And Second Hokage, aren't you giving me a little too much credit?"

The Second Hokage fell silent for a moment. Using the corner of Li Ke's eye, Senju Tobirama glanced at the wooden cabinet beside them. After another brief pause, he spoke.

"Your potential might exceed even your imagination."

There was something odd in his tone.

In truth, Tobirama had a hand in Li Ke's three-day coma. On the first day, he had indeed done everything he could to help the Konoha ninjas treat Li Ke's heart, successfully saving his life and making sure he wouldn't die after Tobirama left.

But over the following days, he had investigated whether he was really in Konoha, how much control Li Ke had over him, and just how many limitations this technique, which resembled Impure World Reincarnation, had.

That's right. Senju Tobirama had never trusted Li Ke—not for a moment!

Everything he'd said earlier had been intended to keep Li Ke calm. As the Second Hokage of Konoha, he would never be so foolish as to take a ninja's word at face value.

But Li Ke's roots in the village were so impeccable that there was nothing to question.

Tobirama had heard of the Murata Clan when Konoha was founded. They were a family from the Warring States period who specialized in making charcoal.

That's right, the Murata family had sold charcoal for generations. Their clan's secret techniques were all about how to make charcoal and produce various special types of it, even charcoal specifically made for ninjas. They had only become Konoha ninjas in the previous generation.

He remembered it well. After Konoha was founded, the head of the Murata Clan had handed over his rather useless secret techniques to the village in pursuit of a girl from the Senju Clan. His elder brother had even taken Lady Tsunade to the wedding feast.

Then... the two gambling addicts had played cards at the banquet and nearly lost the clothes off their backs.

So there was nothing wrong with Li Ke's identity. After performing further checks, and even returning to his hidden laboratory, Senju Tobirama had finally figured out that Li Ke's "technique"—or bloodline limit—couldn't completely fool his senses. That put him at ease.

But just as he was planning to have Li Ke send him back to the Pure Land once he recovered, Li Ke's sudden burst of potential and vitality caught his attention.

His life force still couldn't match his elder brother's, which was enough to recover from any injury in an instant. But even at Li Ke's age, Tobirama hadn't had his vitality or physique.

In other words, as long as Li Ke grew up safely, the sheer amount of chakra he possessed would surpass Tobirama's at the time.

What's more, his chakra natures were water, earth, and wind, making him exceptionally suited to Tobirama's techniques. If Li Ke was willing to accept his guidance, he could become a jonin stronger than most in just two or three years. In a decade or so, he might even become Konoha's next Hokage.

So, partly out of curiosity, and partly because he wanted to understand the nature of Li Ke's bloodline limit, Tobirama—

He ran a few tests.

He mainly wanted to see what Li Ke's bloodline limit could do, and whether it could use special abilities belonging to other ninjas. That way, even with the cloning technology that had recently appeared in this world, they could make the most of Li Ke's bloodline limit—and perhaps even improve Impure World Reincarnation.

While trying to stimulate Li Ke's bloodline limit, Tobirama discovered that Li Ke could release Ice Release, Transparent Release, and several other relatively simple Kekkei Genkai by following the chakra ratios Tobirama had worked out.

So he decided to test his elder brother's Wood Release, just a little. And then...

Then he decided he didn't want to leave yet.

"So don't sell yourself short. Besides, the reason you can summon me probably isn't a 'technique' at all. It's a talent of your body, right? In other words, Qingtan, you're a bloodline-limit ninja yourself. You just can't let people know about your bloodline limit."

Senju Tobirama calmly explained his reasoning to Li Ke.

"Monkey's done a decent job as Hokage, but the challenges facing the Hidden Leaf Village today are nothing like the ones we faced. If your bloodline limit is exposed, you could very well be turned into a living weapon."

Tobirama sighed.

"Monkey wouldn't do something like that himself, but if there were a shadowy organization to take the blame for it, he wouldn't oppose them. So, Li Ke, you'd better keep your bloodline limit a secret."

Li Ke stared at him, stunned. Had he heard that right? Senju Tobirama was actually advising him to hide his strength?

Tobirama sensed Li Ke's reaction and chuckled.

"Surprised? Konoha is meant to protect everyone. It isn't a place where people are forced to sacrifice their comrades. If we forget even that, Konoha won't be far from decline and ruin... Still, dark methods are sometimes necessary. But clearly, your value is far greater than that of a disposable weapon."

Li Ke felt a little awkward. Tobirama had picked a rather inconvenient time to bring this up. Yuhi Kurenai was looking at him with such excitement that trying to focus on two things at once was a bit of a hassle.

But since he wasn't used to sharing his mind like this, his inner complaint went straight to Senju Tobirama.

"I'm sorry I'm an old man, but with your current condition, romance matters less than your life. Maybe it's a little early for you to have to face this, but you have the mindset of a Hokage, and you've already fought hard on the battlefield. You should understand what needs to come first."

Tobirama immediately shot back. And Li Ke thought...

"Maybe he's just lonely after three days without anyone to talk to?"

Three days?

At the thought, Li Ke—who had only recently woken up—suddenly realized that Senju Tobirama might have done something to him while he was unconscious.

Cold sweat broke out across his back. And right at that moment, Yuhi Kurenai threw her arms around him.

"Don't you dare act so recklessly again, Qingtan!"

The scent of Yuhi Kurenai brought Li Ke back from his mental conversation. He looked at her, overcome with emotion, then at Asuma, who leaned against the wall like an outsider, and nodded.

Feeling the warmth of the girl in his arms, Li Ke fell silent for a moment before answering her.

"I won't do it again."

He stroked Kurenai's cheek and looked at the girl, her eyes red with emotion. Then he rested his forehead against Yuhi Kurenai's, nearly making her think he was about to kiss her. She even held her breath.

But Li Ke did nothing, because—

They were only twelve.

Still, Li Ke could say something a little over the top.

"Besides, I still want you to help me look after my shop. And the charcoal my family makes is great for grilling meat."

Yuhi Kurenai froze. The technology in Naruto was a little strange—plastic and things like that had already appeared in this era—but society was still rather conservative.

So what Li Ke's words meant was—

I want to marry you.

Whether it was helping him run the shop or thinking about the charcoal they'd use to cook, those were things a housewife would do. Yuhi Kurenai understood Li Ke's meaning at once.

She stared at him blankly, never expecting her tentative advances to earn such a strong response.

Looking at Yuhi Kurenai's dazed expression, Li Ke spoke again.

"As long as you don't mind me, that's all that matters. Even if they manage to reattach my arm, there's a good chance I won't be able to work as a ninja anymore."

Yuhi Kurenai snapped out of it. She puffed out her cheeks, then pushed Li Ke away, blushing.

"Of course I don't mind!"

As she said this, she turned her head and tried not to look at Li Ke. Then she noticed Asuma's expression, which had completely fallen apart.

The atmosphere grew even more awkwardly silent.

Yuhi Kurenai wasn't unaware that Asuma had feelings for her. But you couldn't just choose to change who you liked.

Asuma didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was glad his comrade, his brother-in-arms, the one person who'd never been bothered when Asuma said his dad was protecting him, had survived—and that he might even keep his arm.

But the girl he liked had gotten together with his best friend, and Li Ke might never be able to work as a ninja again.

He didn't know how to face it. Still, looking at Li Ke and Yuhi Kurenai, he spoke, his lips trembling.

"Yeah, Qingtan. When you're better, let's go get some barbecue together! I—I'll go call the doctor first."

Asuma was still happy that Li Ke might be able to keep his arm, but his feelings were a mess.

With that, he quickly turned to look for the doctor. Unfortunately, the doctor walked in just as he turned around, and Asuma nearly ran straight into him.

Asuma was a capable Chunin now, so making such a basic mistake was clearly a result of his muddled thoughts.

"No wonder three-man squads are practically designed to create love triangles... Why not use four-man squads instead?"

Li Ke couldn't help complaining to himself. He'd wanted to make the same complaint back on Earth. Wasn't this just turning everyone into rivals?

Ninja work was especially dangerous, and it often led to all kinds of forced-proximity situations. Once a team was formed, the members really were together day and night. When someone was injured or they had to sleep outdoors, things could get...

Then Senju Tobirama spoke up in his mind.

"Three-man squads are the best setup. They can—"

But Li Ke cut the Second Hokage off.

"I'm talking about relationships, Second Hokage."

Senju Tobirama: "..."

Don't think I can't tell you're saying I never got married!

The Second Hokage wanted to say something about it, but in the end, he kept quiet.

The doctor quickly examined Li Ke. Once he'd confirmed Li Ke's condition, he couldn't help exclaiming in surprise.

"I knew it already, but your life force really is incredible. You're recovering very well. It looks like we can operate to reattach your arm tonight. Still, it's a shame that a ninja like you won't be able to continue as a ninja. If only Lady Tsunade were still here..."

He couldn't help sighing as he finished.

With their level of medical expertise, they had no way to reconstruct the chakra pathways while reconnecting Li Ke's arm. There was no doubt that it would end his career as a ninja.

Losing a ninja with such a large chakra reserve was undeniably a loss for Konoha, and the doctor regretted it as well.

Li Ke was surprised.

"Already?"

The doctor glanced at Asuma, who was leaning by the doorway. Asuma wasn't looking their way; he was gazing into the distance.

Given Li Ke's condition, there was no way his arm should have been saved. It was only because Asuma had helped that Li Ke's severed arm had been stored in a Sealing Scroll, keeping a hospital bed in Konoha occupied for so long.

After all, they were still at war, and Li Ke's arm wasn't life-threatening.

"Yes. When your surgery was first scheduled, we considered whether we could preserve your abilities as a ninja, but..."

The doctor left the rest unsaid. His implication was clear: Li Ke should remember this kindness. Li Ke nodded.

"I understand."

He looked at the nameplate on the doctor's chest and saw that he was indeed a medical ninja from the Sarutobi Clan. Li Ke nodded to show that he understood.

After making sure of that, the doctor continued with his instructions.

"Then get ready. From now on, don't drink or eat anything. Also, Young Master Asuma and Miss Kurenai, please leave. The patient is about to have surgery."

"You'll be all right, Qingtan... No matter what happens, I'll stay with you. Even if you can never be a ninja again..."

Yuhi Kurenai looked at Li Ke helplessly. But just before leaving, she suddenly leaned close and kissed him. Asuma clenched a fist at Li Ke.

"Don't give up, Qingtan! We're comrades and friends! Don't let me see you acting like a weakling!"

Asuma felt awful, but he assumed Li Ke was devastated and ashamed of his helplessness. Tears kept streaming down his face.

Li Ke smiled and nodded. Then he watched the doctor escort them out, leaving him time to come to terms with the terrible news.

After all, losing his abilities as a ninja was undeniably a terrible blow.

But at that moment, Senju Tobirama spoke again.

"He's a good kid... But your heart is surprisingly calm. Most people would be utterly broken by this."

Li Ke sighed and leaned back against the bed. He honestly didn't feel much.

Still, it had affected him. Not being able to work as a ninja was the biggest consequence.

But although it was a shame to lose the ninjutsu he'd spent ten years tirelessly practicing, he had a cheat now. So there was no way he'd lose all hope in the world like other ninjas might.

Besides, he'd never been the kind of person to regret things that had already happened.

"Since it's already happened, resentment is useless. I should take stock of the resources and abilities I still have, plan for the future, or put my hopes in the next generation and let them shine even brighter."

"I see..."

Senju Tobirama was silent for a while before speaking again.

"But if you don't want to give up the path of a ninja, I do have a way. But you'll have to learn a technique yourself, then develop a new bloodline limit and draw out more of your body's potential."

"Huh?"

"Do you want to learn it? It'll be painful. Even the Anbu's torture sessions aren't this painful... It'll also cost a lot. You'll need to keep taking missions if you want to afford it."

"...You checked my account?"

"The password was simple, and you spoil your younger brother too much."

"..."

Li Ke covered his face. He'd known Senju Tobirama wouldn't just sit around doing nothing!

So he'd dug up everything, had he?!

Thinking of the worry in Yuhi Kurenai's eyes, Asuma's guilt, and the way their teacher had risked his life to help the three of them escape, Li Ke closed his remaining eye and let out a long sigh.

When he opened his eye again, there was only determination in it.

"I'll learn."

He still had plenty of family and friends counting on him. Now he even had a great teacher to guide him. Only a fool would waste this opportunity!

Besides, having a cheat and working hard were two different things.

He couldn't lump them together!