Night Owl fell silent for a moment at his words, then suddenly asked:
"Back then... why did you take them away like that? And those medical ninja, too."
That question had been buried in her heart for a long time.
She believed Lin Ze was not someone who would betray the village without reason.
Lin Ze's hand paused slightly as he stroked Mountain Lord, and his gaze grew calm.
"It was nothing. I was just worried certain people in the village would use the people I cared about to force me into things I didn't want to do. Better to take them away beforehand and settle it once and for all."
Night Owl nodded. The answer did not surprise her.
As an elite member of ANBU, she had some awareness of the filth and darkness within Konoha High Command.
"Oh."
Night Owl gave a casual acknowledgment, then teased him:
"You did get our squad a thorough scolding from Lord Hokage when we returned, though. Our mission rating got downgraded, too."
Lin Ze chuckled at that and said sincerely:
"Sorry for dragging you into it, and thank you for not exposing me back then."
Night Owl waved a hand, indicating that he need not worry about it.
To her, her choice back then had been based more on her trust in Lin Ze as a person than on defying the village's rules.
Just then, the tent flap lifted again, and Jiraiya strode in casually.
"Lin Ze, how are your injuries? What did the medical ninja say..."
He stopped midsentence, his gaze settling with a somewhat odd look on the miniature Mountain Lord, whom Lin Ze was expertly petting.
This enormous beast, which had been like a natural disaster on the battlefield, was now as docile as a house cat. The contrast