The Meaning of a Ninja

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

Training broke for lunch, and the ninjas scattered to the shade at the edges of the field, drinking water in small groups against the rock walls.

Temari stood at the edge of the grounds, gripping her canteen without drinking from it. She had been staring in the direction of the raised platform.

She stood there hesitating for a long time, so long that the water in her canteen had grown 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 guards 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 expression unchanged. "What is it?"

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

"Father, the person I sparred with today told me something."

Rasa set 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 all those jonin around us aren't here to watch the training. They're waiting for Shukaku to go berserk."

After she finished, 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 fell silent for several seconds before Rasa finally spoke. "No. Everything he said was true."

Temari's shoulders shook.

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

"I gave them the highest honor. They will sacrifice themselves in the name of Kazekage guards to protect the village."

Temari's lips trembled. "But aren't they descendants of heroes? Couldn't you test it another 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 harming them!"

"They could have died with dignity under the name of Kazekage guards, carrying everyone's respect. You 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 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 soft it was almost inaudible.

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

Rasa nodded. He did not ask further, because there was no need.

From the few words Temari had repeated, he had already guessed how much information that brat Jiro Hijikata possessed.

He had seen through the core logic of the entire plan, linked the surrounding deployment to the purpose of their mission, and even precisely chosen Temari as his point of breakthrough in an attempt to persuade her to abandon the plan to use them to test the tailed beast.

He was perceptive, intelligent, and insightful, 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 ignorant civilians feared sacrifice. If word of this reached their ears, the entire village would fall into a crisis of trust.

Someone who had seen through classified information and refused to keep quiet was a danger if left alive.

Rasa spoke in an even voice. "Temari, this ends here. Do not mention it to anyone else."

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

"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 raised a hand slightly, signaling that she could leave.

Temari turned and walked out of the stone chamber, moving quickly, almost fleeing.

Rasa sat at the table in silence for a moment, then beckoned. A guard appeared soundlessly at his side.

"Look into that Jiro Hijikata who sparred with Lady Temari today. 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 its edge before he turned to the next page.

It was indeed a pity to kill that brat, but a pity was just a pity. The smarter a disloyal person was, the less they could be allowed to remain.

On the other side of the training grounds, Lin Chongshu sat beneath a wooden post, chewing on 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. Your wish will come true. You'll sacrifice yourself for Lord Kazekage..."

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

As they spoke, a chunin walked over, stopped several steps away, and beckoned at 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 slipped 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, brushed the sand off his pants, and walked away without looking back.