Decent... Friend

After wasting some time, the three of them finally slaughtered all the survivors on the mountain.

Most of the bandits met their end by Yue's blade.

Ryuga and Yoshitaka didn't kill many, but they still participated.

At first, they hesitated to kill, but after all, they were ninjas. To become a qualified ninja, they would eventually have to step onto the battlefield. They had this resolve, as the current ninja world was far from a peaceful era.

Moreover, these weren't ordinary civilians, but Grass Seed's followers, which had put them in even greater danger. Driven by Yue's actions, the two of them also joined the ranks of executioners.

This mission caused Ryuga and Yoshitaka to see Yue in a new light, gaining a fresh understanding of him.

In short, in their eyes, it was better to provoke anyone but Yue.

The one who proposed killing everyone was this devil with a poker face.

On the way back to the village, it was already dark.

All three looked quite disheveled, mainly due to their heavily damaged clothing.

Ryuga, having used his Kekkei Genkai, was exhausted and had to be carried by Yue as they traveled.

"Once we get back, the village will definitely interrogate us about the mission. Teacher Masada is dead, so we can't submit a mission report. Therefore, we need to synchronize our story," Yue suggested.

"Okay."

Ryuga and Yoshitaka nodded.

"We'll say that the three of us worked together to kill them... While on the way to the mission location and ascending the mountain, we discovered Teacher Masada had separated from the team and was conspiring with Grass Seed's people," Yue said.

"It's that simple?"

Yoshitaka blinked in surprise. "Don't we need to coordinate the specific details? What if our stories don't match? Besides, with the three of us, taking down such a large group, along with Masada and that strong individual named Muramasa... I'm afraid..."

It sounded a bit too unbelievable.

"No need."

Before Yue could answer, Ryuga, on his back, responded.

His family belonged to the Grass Flower faction, so he understood the village's political landscape better.

The people of Grass Seed and Grass Flower were locked in fierce open and covert struggles for control of the village. For either side, a significant blow to the other required no specific reason... a solid spark was enough.

The Grass Flower faction wouldn't pursue the exact details, especially with Ryuga caught up in it. The greatest value of the entire incident for Grass Flower... was providing them with a reason to attack Grass Seed.

They wouldn't care about the specifics.

"However, Yue... is it really okay to say it like that?"

Ryuga thought of something.

Yue hummed in response.

At the Ninja Academy, even without a Kekkei Genkai like Ryuga, Yue was still known as a genius, watched by many. If the truth of this incident were revealed, a mere rookie fresh out of graduation possessing such strength would surely be heavily relied upon by the village... Regardless of whether that 'reliance' was good or bad, Yue's name would certainly become much more prominent.

But by sharing the credit with him and Yoshitaka now, it indicated Yue didn't want to attract attention.

"Even to your father, I hope you don't say too much... I don't want to get entangled in unnecessary trouble," Yue said.

"Okay."

Ryuga fell silent for a moment, then gave his assurance.

After all, he and Yoshitaka owed their escape this time entirely to Yue's kindness.

Furthermore, although he felt a little scared of Yue's true nature, Ryuga felt more respect and admiration in his heart.

By the latter half of the night, the three finally returned to the village gates.

"Halt!"

As soon as they appeared, the guards at the gate stopped them.

The three quickly identified themselves.

Following that, they were taken away by Anbu operatives who had been alerted.

That's right, Grass Village also had an Anbu.

Except for some exceptionally small villages lacking personnel and equipment, most respectable ninja villages essentially copied Konoha's model.

This included the other Four Great Ninja Villages.

Some might have changed names and terminology, but their nature was the same.

The only difference was that Grass Village's Anbu took orders from several elders, not the Kage.

Additionally, aside from the Anbu, there was no organization like 'Root'.

It was just that the conflict between Grass Seed and Grass Flower made the allegiances of personnel incredibly complex and chaotic, with almost every department in the village having operatives from both factions.

The three were separated.

Yue was taken alone to a dimly lit interrogation room.

He detailed the entire process from leaving the village to returning, as well as the unusual behavior of a key person, Teacher Masada, before their departure.

The Anbu member, wearing an animal mask, merely went through the motions as a formality before leaving, leaving him alone in the room.

The masks worn by the Anbu here were not the 'white masks' of Konoha, but were black or dark lacquered. Instead of outlining animal features on the mask, the entire mask was a carved wooden piece. It was somewhat different from the masks in Yue's memory.

Not long after, less than two hours, the Anbu returned and signaled that he could leave.

However, he was instructed not to leave the village for a period of time.

Yue picked up his backpack and slowly walked out of the facility's main gate.

As soon as he stepped outside, he saw a father and son waiting for him.

Both had striking white hair.

Ryuga and his father.

Yue was not surprised; he had guessed that someone must have helped him to be released so quickly.

This was the advantage of having connections. If it were his father, as a mere Chunin with little influence like Fuma Ryoma, he would have been unable to get out at all.

"You must be Yue... Ryuga told me about you. If it weren't for you, it would have been very difficult for you all to return alive this time."

Ryuga's father was not old either, not yet thirty, still very young.

After all, Yue and Ryuga had only just transitioned from children to adolescents.

"My name is Ryuga's Father. Thank you."

The man extended his hand to him.

Yue shook hands with the elder, and his peripheral vision caught Ryuga 'mischievously' winking at him.

He assumed Ryuga had told his father some of the truth, but likely not everything.

There had been an agreement between them.

Ryuga wouldn't 'break his promise' so quickly.

Yue had often heard the name Ryuga's Father.

He was a 'celebrity' in the village, a ninja with considerable status and position, a confidant of one of the elders.

"Strictly speaking, what you experienced was a failure on the village's part."

Suddenly, Ryuga's Father said with a serious expression.

"Sigh... We never expected that some political maneuvering among adults would lead to some people targeting you children."

"Yue, on behalf of the village, I apologize to you."

Ryuga's Father said solemnly.

A good person?

Ryuga's Father's demeanor was quite in line with Grass Flower's style.

Yue's heart stirred, and outwardly, he acted somewhat 'flattered,' waving his hand. "Uncle, you're too kind. Although we were a bit frightened this time, thankfully, Ryuga and I are safe, which is the greatest fortune amidst misfortune. Moreover, to receive such a special mission right after graduation, I believe not only I but Ryuga must have learned a lot."

Seeing Yue suddenly transform into a child, shedding his mature and composed coolness, Ryuga's mouth twitched.

He could tell... Yue was faking it.

But he didn't expose him.

Ryuga's Father smiled.

He patted Yue's head. "Hurry home and get some good rest. Don't dwell on this matter; I will handle it."

"Okay."

Then, Yue waved goodbye to the father and son and ran off.

"Those words... they don't sound like something a ten-year-old child would say, especially after just going through that. At the very least, this child's mindset is truly extraordinary."

Watching Yue leave, Ryuga's Father suddenly commented.

After speaking, he looked down at his son. "Now I'm starting to believe what you told me."

"Yue is really amazing... When I was at the academy, I was a bit unconvinced by him. But now... even though I have a Kekkei Genkai, if it's Yue, I'm willing to defer to him." Ryuga raised his hand and rubbed his nose, grinning.

"Oh?"

Ryuga's Father raised his eyebrows in surprise.

He knew his son's proud nature well. Someone who could make Ryuga willingly 'admit defeat'... this Yue...

"You must have hidden some things from me, haven't you?"

"Hehe... I did hide some things, but they're not important. It's just a little secret between classmates, Dad, so don't pry too much."

"Heh heh... Alright, it seems... you've made a good friend." Ryuga's Father said, holding his son's hand as they turned to leave. "Although the speed at which this happened exceeded my expectations a bit, it's... also quite good."

"What happened?"

"You killed someone, didn't you..."

"Huh? Dad, you..."

"There's a difference between having killed someone and not having killed someone. We are most familiar with this kind of change. It's a step all of us ninjas must take, and it seems you've accepted it well."

"Uh..."

"When you have time, invite Yue over to our house. You two should spend more time together."