Genye's Choice

Genye sidestepped the long blade and slammed a palm into Murata, the terrifying force instantly piercing through the man's meridians.

"Pfft!"

Murata spat out a mouthful of blood, which snapped him out of the genjutsu, and he stumbled forward, swinging his blade at Genye.

"Sword Style: Tide Strike!"

Even while severely wounded, Murata's blade still unleashed the sound of crashing waves, causing Genye's heart to skip a beat.

This guy...

He quickly dodged to the side, the long blade grazing his skin as it descended; the icy sensation made goosebumps rise all over his body.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Asuma opened his mouth and exhaled a torrent of fire, the scorching fireball slamming toward Murata from the other side and forcing him to turn to defend himself.

Swish!

Genye threw a shuriken and took the opportunity to retreat, having no intention of continuing to tangle with Murata.

Even the strongest ninja would be dead or severely injured if struck by the Gentle Fist, as internal organs could not be trained.

(Of course, excluding cheaters like Madara and Hashirama.)

In Genye's eyes, Murata's internal organs were already ruptured; he was like a candle in the wind, his life nearing its end, so there was no need to keep fighting him.

He just needed to wait quietly for him to expire.

Although this is my first time killing someone, I feel no ripples in my heart, Genye thought, looking at his hands and sighing to himself.

It seems I have gradually adapted to this cruel world.

On the other side, Murata suddenly collapsed to his knees in agony, coughing up blood incessantly.

"Is it over?" Asuma landed beside Genye and asked with a frown.

"Yeah, he's beyond saving," Genye replied with certainty.

"Oh." Asuma nodded and said nothing more.

The mission was nearing completion, yet he didn't feel the excitement he had imagined; instead, he felt a sense of irritation.

No sooner said than done, from the moment Murata tried to break through to now, only a minute or two had actually passed.

"Uncle Murata!"

The children came running over, crying and screaming, throwing themselves onto Murata regardless of the bloodstains.

This scene made Genye's eyelid twitch.

You're putting pressure on his organs like that—you're only going to make him die faster and in more pain, hey!

However, the look of agony on Murata's face gradually faded, and as he looked at the children around him, he even managed to squeeze out a smile.

Murata struggled to turn his head to look at the three of them, blood bubbling from his mouth as he spoke vaguely.

"My... my fault... spare... the children."

"Rest assured, we certainly won't lay a hand on the children," Yuhi Kurenai said, her voice trembling.

Unfortunately, Murata did not hear her reply; after saying those words, he had already stopped breathing.

"Ah, Uncle Murata is dead, Uncle Murata is dead!" the little girl wailed.

A young boy turned to look at Genye, his eyes filled with hatred.

He used all his strength to lift Murata's long blade, dragging it as he charged toward Genye, roaring:

"I'm going to kill you and avenge Uncle Murata, ahhhhhhh—"

Bang!

The next moment, the boy went flying, slamming heavily into the ground, too hurt to speak.

"Whew." Genye clapped his hands, feeling slightly better.

"Genye..." Kurenai's face showed signs of intolerance.

"The mission is complete. Dispose of that guy's body, and let's return to Konoha," Asuma said in a low voice.

Ignoring the children's obstruction, the three of them used a combination of Fire and Wind Style to let Murata return to dust and earth.

Then, the three turned and left.

"When we grow up, we will definitely go to Konoha and kill you all!"

Watching their retreating backs, one child cursed.

Immediately after, the other children chimed in one after another.

"That's right, we'll kill you and bury you with Uncle Murata!"

"No, we should kill their families and make them feel the pain of losing their loved ones too!"

Born into a chaotic era, having lived a life of displacement and been influenced by what they saw and heard, they had long since lost the innocence of children.

Perhaps they could no longer be treated as children.

"..."

Asuma kept his head down and walked forward, seemingly deaf to the children's curses.

"You, you people...!"

Yuhi Kurenai turned around, the hostile, venomous glares of the children sending a chill down her spine.

"Hmph!" Xuanye turned as well, sweeping a cold glance over them.

Anyone who dared to threaten him was his enemy, and enemies had to be dealt with early.

The tangible killing intent radiating from Xuanye chilled the children to the bone; they immediately lowered their heads, not daring to speak another word.

This Byakugan monster is different from the other two. If we provoke him, he might actually kill us!

That was the thought running through their minds at that moment.

"Xuanye, let's go." Yuhi Kurenai tugged at the corner of Xuanye's clothes and whispered.

Looking at Kurenai's face, filled with guilt and self-reproach, Xuanye hesitated for a long time before ultimately deciding not to strike.

"Hyuga Genya."

The moment the three of them stepped into the woods, the voice of Shimura Hofu reached Xuanye's ears.

He looked at his companions, only to find them completely unresponsive, still walking forward with their heads down. It seemed only he could hear the voice.

Xuanye looked around in surprise, but his Byakugan failed to provide any feedback, which filled him with a sense of crisis.

The Byakugan is still too weak. I need to find a way to upgrade it, or get my hands on other Kekkei Genkai!

At that moment, Shimura Hofu's voice came again: "Don't look around. I speak, you listen."

Unable to locate the speaker, Xuanye nodded at the empty air to signal his understanding.

"I ask you: if you were given another chance in that situation, would you choose to cut the weeds and dig up the roots to eliminate future trouble?"

"Or would you choose womanly benevolence, letting them leave to grow wild in places you cannot see, until they become a threat to you, your loved ones, and even the village?"

"You don't need to speak. Nod if you agree with the former, shake your head for the latter," Shimura Hofu said.

Good grief, he's giving me a multiple-choice question.

Xuanye fell into deep thought. After a long while, he gave a heavy nod toward the empty air.

"Then, as you wish." In the shadows, Shimura Hofu revealed a satisfied smile.

Inside Konoha Root, a figure with bandages wrapped around his right face and right arm stepped out from the shadows.

He was the one who inherited the Will of the Pot, the greatest pot-bearer in the Hokage series—Shimura Danzo.

"How was it, Hofu? Was there any child in the class who caught your eye?"

Danzo flicked his sleeve and sat in a grand armchair, his eyes slightly closed.

"There is a promising sprout, but I intend to observe him for a while longer."

Shimura Hofu knelt on one knee before Danzo and replied respectfully.

In Hofu's view, to achieve anything in these chaotic times, strength was only one part; what mattered more was a firm will and a ruthless heart.

The only one who could barely meet his expectations was Xuanye.

"Oh?" Danzo raised his eyelids and asked casually, "Is it Hiruzen's son?"

"No." Hofu shook his head. "It is a little brat from the Hyuga branch family."

"Oh." Upon hearing it had nothing to do with Hiruzen and was merely a Hyuga branch member, Danzo lost interest and said indifferently.

"Just a Hyuga branch member. Limited by the Caged Bird, his potential is destined to be capped. With war approaching, don't waste too much energy on him."

"This war is a challenge for our Konoha, but it is also an opportunity for you and me, father and son, to realize our grand ambitions. Do not disappoint me."

"I understand, Father," Hofu replied in a deep voice.