Tahm's Choice

After half a day without any trace of the Hokage, the guards finally waited in desperation for their backbone, the Third Hokage, to return—even if he did leap out of a toad's mouth.

Not long afterward, Kakashi also jumped out of the toad's mouth.

"What a convenient ability!" Kakashi couldn't help exclaiming after experiencing the Tahm-mobile for the first time. "This mission took such a convoluted turn. If not for Tahm's ability, we'd probably have died in the desert."

The Third Hokage nodded in agreement and looked at Tahm encouragingly. "I didn't expect you to shoulder such a heavy responsibility so soon. I'm really looking forward to seeing you become Konoha's trump card."

"There's nothing else to do now, right? I kind of want to go home." After learning that Karin had already been sent back to her residence, Tahm only wanted to hurry home and reunite with her. He couldn't even be bothered with the usual empty platitudes about owing everything to the organization and thanking his leader for cultivating him. After all, in the Shinobi World, strength spoke louder than anything else.

"There's nothing else. Go home first. If there's another mission in the future, I'll have Kakashi notify you," the Third Hokage said understandingly.

"Mm." Tahm turned around and was about to leave.

"Wait!" The Third Hokage stopped Tahm. "It seems you've forgotten something."

"Ahem. The old man's memory really is sharp!" Reluctantly, Tahm took out the scroll containing one billion in cash, and he and the Hokage began dividing the spoils right there in the office.

Six hundred million in cash was taken out and piled up in the office. The spectacular sight made the guards wonder whether the Third Hokage had previously robbed a treasury with that toad.

In the end, Tahm left with four hundred million.

On the way home, Tahm began reviewing his performance in the battle.

Without a doubt, he had been the key figure who changed the course of the battle. Without his long-range transportation of living people, he and Kakashi would have become experimental specimens long ago.

However, this battle had also truly made Tahm realize his own powerlessness.

All his methods of attack were physical. With his physical abilities, hurting or injuring an ordinary jonin was no difficult task. But what about Orochimaru? It had been like massaging someone with his tongue.

As for his vaunted "never-miss" targeted attacks, Kakashi had directly demonstrated one thing to him: as long as one's reaction speed was fast enough, even the most common Substitution Technique in the Shinobi World could counter him.

His usual trump card, Devour, was extraordinarily effective against puppeteers like Sasori. But against Kage-level powerhouses, the terrifying energy consumption meant that the moment he swallowed one, Tahm himself might lose all combat ability first.

Am I really only capable of healing people and teleporting them, becoming the best support?

Then, during future great wars, will I just serve as transportation for my underling Naruto?

Thinking about it, he couldn't help feeling unwilling.

No matter how Tahm studied the matter afterward, he couldn't figure out how to improve his offensive abilities. He could only hope that the Favorability System would grant him more attack skills in the future.

He finally made it back to the little courtyard, but the moment he stepped inside, Tahm sensed that something was off.

Hinata and Karin were staring straight at him together, their eyes filled with delight, though the corners of their eyes were still red and swollen from crying.

"What happened?" Tahm asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Tahm, you're back safely!" The worry in the two girls' hearts instantly vanished, replaced by overwhelming joy.

Karin's reaction was even more intense. She trotted over like a swallow returning to its nest and threw herself into Tahm's arms. Her tear-streaked face pressed tightly against him as she murmured, "There was no news for half a day. I thought you... Thank goodness!"

"Haha! I'm fine. I'm not the kind of character who dies that easily." Feeling the tears that had yet to dry on Karin's face, Tahm smiled reassuringly.

Hinata, who had been one step too slow, instantly fell into a foul mood. She stood to the side, her little face dark as she watched them.

That should have been my place. I should be the one saying those words.

The girl's gaze grew sharp.

"Tahm!"

"Hmm?" Hinata's call still held first priority with Tahm's central processing unit.

"Is Karin going to live with us from now on?" Hinata wore a dangerous smile that gave Tahm an inexplicable chill.

Did Hinata just use her Byakugan to give me a literal dirty look?

Hinata is terrifying like this.

Why do I suddenly feel the unease of a husband being caught by his wife with his mistress? Wasn't my role in this household supposed to be the dad who takes care of the kids?

Tahm fell silent, but Karin's expression instantly turned pitiful.

With her face still streaked with tears, she looked up at Tahm, her voice carrying a weakness it had never shown before. "Tahm, it's okay if it isn't possible."

"After all, I'm just a war orphan nobody wants. I can survive on my own."

"I can still treat people and earn money. Being bitten by people isn't a big deal. I'm already used to it..."

I... What am I supposed to say to that? Tahm was completely dumbfounded.

Why does a toad like me have to go through such a bizarre situation?

Karin's performance even softened Hinata's heart, and she actually took the initiative to say, "Then let her stay here." But even Tahm's toad brain could hear the reluctance in her voice.

Karin immediately broke into a smile through her tears and happily followed up, "That's wonderful. Then thank you, little sister Hinata!"

The red-haired girl had also instinctively learned to bite down hard on the words "little sister," making Hinata's face turn pale with anger.

Tahm interrupted the hostile exchange. "Why are you calling her little sister?"

That form of address was far too strange. As the dad who took care of the kids, Tahm felt immense pressure.

"Because I look a little older than little sister Hinata." Karin explained without the slightest guilt. And that was true. Having weathered hardship while wandering outside, Karin did indeed look somewhat more mature.

Hinata puffed up angrily, seemingly about to start steaming, making no attempt to hide the displeasure in her words. "Tahm, go make dinner. I want to eat the food you cook!"

Her eyes, however, were fixed on Karin, who was still clinging to Tahm's arms. Her sharp gaze practically carved the words "get down" into the air.

Sensing that something was wrong, Tahm silently set Karin down.

"Then let me help. I always cooked for myself while I was wandering, so I'm quite familiar with cooking." Karin pretended not to understand and spoke on her own.

"Is that so? You just got here, so don't trouble yourself." Hinata sneered. These few short minutes had nearly shattered her entire persona. "Besides, my cooking skills were taught by a renowned master, and Tahm has taught me many things as well."

"Tahm, who do you want to help you?"

Hinata looked at Tahm. Her eyes held none of the girlish tsundere emotions everyone loved to talk about, but genuine sorrow.

Tahm fell silent. He knew that his unintentional actions had hurt Hinata's delicate, sensitive heart. Perhaps he only thought he had helped a miserable girl and done the right thing, but in Hinata's heart, many more thoughts had arisen.

"Of course, you."

Tahm wore a relieved expression. There was no so-called "choice." He wasn't the male lead of a dating game. From the very beginning, he had only ever had one route.

Tahm gently lifted Hinata onto his head and said, "Come on, let's go cook."

"Mm." Hinata sat atop Tahm's head and answered softly, the ice in her eyes melting completely.

Karin watched from the side as the two of them shared such a harmonious scene, looking just like family bound together by blood.

A wave of helplessness and indescribable emotion rose in her heart. The academic name for this feeling was being force-fed dog food. Yet she could find no reason to ruin the beautiful scene.

After pondering for a long while, Karin's clenched little fists suddenly relaxed. She became that naturally strong-willed girl once more.

I won't give up so easily, either!