Night of the Extermination

At noon that day, under the blazing sun, Lu Yu reclined on a lounge chair, basking in the heat while directing Naruto and Sasuke as they performed push-ups:

"Naruto, what are you doing? You're already failing after only a few? Keep it up!"

"They're just a few small rocks, and you're already struggling? How do you expect to become Hokage like this?"

Naruto glanced speechlessly at the dozens of pounds of rocks on his back and curled his lip in frustration.

Boss, we aren't you. These rocks are already big enough, okay?

After finishing his lecture to Naruto, Lu Yu shifted his gaze to Sasuke:

"Sasuke, what were you doing while I was talking to Naruto? Why did you stop your push-ups? Slacking off, are we? Very well, give me another hundred!"

Sasuke gritted his teeth in frustration; even though his arms were already trembling, he continued to push through the exercise.

Over the past year, both boys had tanned slightly, but they had also grown much sturdier.

Although Lu Yu had put them through the wringer, the improvement in their strength was undeniable.

When they held another minor assessment six months ago, their abilities were clearly far superior to those of the other students.

It was precisely because of this that the two of them gritted their teeth and persevered.

Watching them continue their training, Lu Yu lay flat on his chair, glanced at the motionless fishing float, picked up some sweet mountain spring water, and took a refreshing sip.

Lu Yu stretched comfortably, crossed his legs, and fell back into thought.

They say human desire is bottomless, and it's true.

Squinting his eyes to enjoy the breeze, Lu Yu's mind began to wander.

Spending all day with two boys didn't seem quite right; it would be much better if there were an obedient girl around.

"Brother Lu Yu~"

Yes, yes, that's it—that sweet, delicate voice is so pleasant.

Shortly after, Lu Yu felt the faint, fresh scent of a young girl near his nose, followed by a comfortable sensation on his shoulders.

Yes, Heaven, you understand me so well. This is the feeling. It would be perfect if a girl could help me massage my shoulders or something.

Wait? Is there actually someone here?

Suppressing the comfort spreading through his shoulders, Lu Yu forced his eyes open, and a familiar face came into view.

"Ino?"

"Heehee, Brother Lu Yu, it's me~"

"Hiss..."

Hearing Ino speak like that, Lu Yu felt his scalp tingle. This girl only ever called him "Brother Lu Yu" when she wanted something.

Thinking of this, Lu Yu hurriedly stood up from the lounge chair, let Ino sit down, and asked curiously:

"What's wrong, Ino? We're close, aren't we? Is there something you need help with?"

Ino scooted to the side of the chair, gesturing for Lu Yu to sit next to her.

Seeing this, Lu Yu sat down without hesitation, watching her curiously, wondering what she was up to.

Seeing Lu Yu sit beside her, Ino began to flatter him by kneading his calves, saying in a delicate, coaxing voice:

"Brother Lu Yu, I can't stand being at the academy anymore. I want to..."

"Stop right there!"

Lu Yu hurriedly cut her off:

"Ino, don't mess around. You're a good girl. If Uncle Inoichi finds out I helped his precious daughter skip class, guess how I'll end up..."

"My dad isn't as scary as you make him out to be!"

Ino pouted in dissatisfaction, lying pitifully beside Lu Yu:

"Brother Lu Yu, just help me. I know you must have a way. As long as you help me, I'll do anything."

Looking at the young girl's pretty face so close to his, combined with her pitiful tone, Lu Yu sighed helplessly:

"Sigh... fine. But if you stay with me, you have to promise to be obedient, or there's no deal."

"Mm, don't worry, I'll be absolutely obedient."

Ino was overjoyed and couldn't help but throw her arms around Lu Yu, burying her little head in his chest and nuzzling against him.

"I knew it, Brother Lu Yu is the best..."

Lu Yu affectionately ruffled Ino's hair, a plan already forming in his mind.

Three days later, Lu Yu walked out of Iruka's office looking as if a heavy burden had been lifted. No one knew what he had said to Iruka, but regardless, Ino had somehow gained her freedom.

After Ino arrived, Lu Yu suddenly realized how little he had experienced before.

With the two future strongest ninjas in the world responsible for grilling fish, and Ino taking the fish to peel and feed him, this was what you called a life.

With Ino around, Lu Yu's quality of life improved by more than just a notch.

Sipping fine tea—which Ino had stolen from her father—brewed with mountain spring water, the enjoyment was beyond words.

With someone to knead his shoulders and hammer his back when he grew tired at noon, and a fragrant pillow to cuddle during his afternoon naps, Lu Yu truly wished for days like these to last forever.

However, it was a pity that beneath the surface tranquility of Konoha, undercurrents were surging, and the Uchiha clan's rebellion was imminent.

As the night of the Uchiha clan's annihilation drew ever closer, Lu Yu found himself suffering from a rare headache.

The Uchiha clan's rebellion could not be stopped, for there were simply too many people harboring treasonous hearts; from Uchiha Fugaku at the top down to the various clansmen, they all hoped to launch a coup d'état to overthrow Konoha's rule.

If they were allowed to rebel and clash with Konoha, even with the strength of Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyou Sharingan, Konoha would inevitably suffer a pyrrhic victory even if they managed to win.

By then, a weakened Land of Fire would surely attract the covetous eyes of the other four nations; at best, they would be forced to accept various unequal treaties, and at worst, they would be carved up and devoured by the other four.

Therefore, the act of annihilation carried out by Uchiha Itachi and Obito was actually the best solution. Although the Uchiha clan would be wiped out, Konoha would be preserved to the greatest extent possible.

In this way, the people living in the Land of Fire would be spared the ravages of war.

Beyond that, even Lu Yu had no better solution. On one side was Konoha, where his father resided, and on the other was the Uchiha clan, where Sasuke lived. Who could he help?

Other than choosing neutrality and remaining silent while watching the situation unfold, there seemed to be no good way forward.

If he were to jump out now and choose to suppress them with force, Lu Yu would become a thorn in the side of both parties. He himself was fearless, but his parents would undoubtedly be greatly affected.

Being ostracized would be the least of his worries; if things went south, endless assassination attempts would follow, and what would he do then? Seek revenge?

If Konoha carried out the assassination, would he slaughter Konoha? If the Uchiha did it, would he slaughter the Uchiha? That would lead him down a path of no return.

It was precisely because he had considered all these aspects that Lu Yu felt such a headache.

For matters to have developed to this point, one could say it was the trend of the times; human effort could no longer change it.

That day, Lu Yu deliberately kept the three of them a little longer, and only after he felt the most cruel part had ended did he let the three of them go home.

Lu Yu watched Sasuke's retreating figure with a complex expression, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes before vanishing in an instant...