The Meaning of a Ninja

At noon, the sun hung high overhead, and the entire training ground was filled with heat.

Training had entered its midday break. The ninjas had scattered to the shade at the edges of the field, drinking water in small groups beside the rock walls.

Temari stood at the edge of the field, gripping her water bottle without drinking from it. She had been staring toward the raised platform.

She stood there hesitating for a long time, until even the water in her bottle had turned warm. Then she lowered it and walked toward the platform.

The Kazekage's temporary resting place was behind the platform, a stone chamber reinforced with Earth Release. Two bodyguards stood at the entrance.

When Temari approached, the two guards lowered their heads in salute and did not stop her.

Rasa was sitting inside, reading through a scroll.

Hearing her footsteps, he looked up, his face expressionless. "Do you need something?"

Temari stood before him with her hands at her sides. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out at first. After taking a deep breath, she finally forced out the words.

"Father, the person who sparred with me today said some things."

Rasa put down the scroll.

"He said they aren't Kazekage guards at all. They're test subjects being used to test Gaara. The next time Gaara loses control, they'll all die."

Temari spoke faster and faster. "He also said that all those jonin around us aren't here to watch the training. They're here waiting for Shukaku to go berserk."

After saying that, she stared straight at Rasa. "Father, he was slandering you, wasn't he?"

Rasa did not answer immediately. He looked at his daughter calmly.

The stone chamber was silent for several seconds before Rasa spoke. "No. Everything he said is true."

Temari's shoulders trembled.

Rasa continued, "Being able to offer one's life to the village is a ninja's highest honor. Even if their parents were still alive, they would certainly support what I have done."

"I have bestowed the highest honor upon them. They will sacrifice themselves to protect the village in the name of the Kazekage's guards."

Temari's lips trembled. "But aren't they descendants of heroes? Can't you test this some other way? They don't have to die. Didn't you teach us..."

Rasa cut her off directly. "Who told you about this?"

Temari did not answer at once. Her lips moved, then pressed tightly together.

Rasa continued, "Was it one person? Or do they all know?"

Temari bit her lip. She did not want to say.

Rasa slowly rose to his feet. "A ninja is someone who can endure anything. You think you're saving them, but you're actually hurting them!"

"They could have died in the most dignified way, as Kazekage guards, carrying everyone's respect with them. You have ruined the village's plan to control the Tailed Beast and turned them all into criminals in the village! You ruined all of this."

Seeing the hesitation that had appeared in Temari's eyes, Rasa immediately raised his voice. "Tell me! Who told you? Who else knows?"

Temari stared at her father. Her lips moved twice, and her voice was so quiet it was nearly inaudible.

"Jiro Hijikata... His name is Jiro Hijikata... Only him. No one else knows."

Rasa nodded. He did not ask anything further, because he did not need to.

From the few things Temari had relayed, he had already guessed how much information that brat named Jiro Hijikata possessed.

He had seen through the core logic of the entire plan, connected the surrounding deployment to the purpose of the mission, and precisely chosen Temari as a point of breakthrough in an attempt to persuade him to abandon the plan of using them to test the Tailed Beast.

He was sharp, intelligent, and perceptive, but he lacked the resolve to sacrifice himself for the village.

He knew the truth. He knew the village was sacrificing lives to test the Tailed Beast.

Though a small number of ninjas could see the importance of this plan from the larger perspective, most of the ignorant masses feared sacrifice. If this reached their ears, it would plunge the whole village into a crisis of trust.

Someone who had seen through a secret yet refused to keep quiet was a liability if left alive.

Rasa spoke, his voice even. "Temari, this ends here. Do not mention it to anyone again."

"But..." Temari still wanted to say something, but Rasa cut her off directly.

"This is the value of a ninja's existence. To protect the village, some things must be sacrificed. You do not understand now, but one day you will."

Temari stood where she was, her head lowered.

Rasa did not keep her any longer. He slightly raised a hand, indicating that she could leave.

Temari turned and walked out of the stone chamber, her steps quick, as though she were fleeing.

Rasa sat at the table in silence for a moment. Then he beckoned, and a bodyguard silently appeared at his side.

"Look into the one who sparred with Lady Temari today, the one named Jiro Hijikata. Once you confirm it, dispose of him. Do not draw attention."

The guard lowered his head in salute and vanished into the shadows.

Rasa picked up the scroll again. His fingers brushed along its edge before he turned to the next page.

It was indeed a pity to kill that brat, but pity was pity. The more intelligent a disloyal person was, the less he could be allowed to remain.

On the other side of the training ground, Lin Chongshu was sitting beneath a wooden post, chewing on dry rations.

Fatty came over carrying his lunchbox, plopped down beside him, and sighed.

"Brother Shu, do you think I'll be chosen?"

Lin Chongshu took a bite of his biscuit and chewed twice. "You will. You will fulfill your wish and sacrifice yourself for Lord Kazekage..."

Fatty's eyes lit up. Lin Chongshu's affirmation pleased him greatly.

As they spoke, a Chunin walked over and stopped a few steps away. He beckoned to Fatty. "Jiro Hijikata."

Fatty froze for a moment, then hurriedly stood up. Rice grains still clung to the corner of his mouth as he nodded and smiled at Lin Chongshu. "They're looking for me?"

Lin Chongshu lowered his eyes and stuffed the biscuit back into its bag without answering.

"Jiro Hijikata!" the man called again.

"Coming!" Fatty ran over with an excited look on his face.

Lin Chongshu watched Fatty follow the Chunin behind the rock wall. Then he stood up, brushed the sand from his pants, and walked away without looking back.