Lin Ze slowly lowered the majestic dragon head, Blue-Gold's Vertical Pupils, and stared coldly at the man lying on the ground below.
Fox.
His captain.
He is also... the only person who has witnessed all his secrets at this moment.
Lin Ze's heart is far less peaceful than he looks on the outside.
Complete Beastification brought not only power, but also an almost instinctive desire to eliminate potential threats. That cold will urged him to completely erase the tiny human being below who might reveal secrets.
But at the same time, another emotion was pulling at him.
This was the first time that Lin Ze saw the true face of Fox - a face that was about thirty years old and pale from blood loss. He could not be said to be very handsome, but his lines were strong.
This is the first person Lin Ze saw after traveling to this dangerous world.
Then, the nearly three years of ANBU flashed through Lin Ze's mind like fragments.
Although initially Fox took care of him with orders and scrutiny from his superiors to explore the secret of his rapid improvement in strength.
Lin Ze knows this very well. How can people like Hiruzen Sarutobi completely trust a foreign orphan?
But it is undeniable that Fox has never treated him harshly.
During the mission, he would subconsciously leave him a relatively safe position; during training, he would teach him ANBU's skills and survival methods without any secret; when he was injured during the mission, he would silently throw him a bottle of more effective medicine.
Lin Ze remembers all these subtle cares.
Therefore Lin Ze has a complicated feeling towards Fox.
But now, all this has been put on the scale, and on the other side of the scale is his biggest secret-Azure Dragon Devil Fruit Powers.
Once leaked, he may face the entire Shinobi World coveting, arresting, or even... slice research.
'Kill him?'
'Only the dead can keep secrets best! This is the safest and most permanent approach. Isn't one of ANBU's rules to eliminate all hidden dangers when necessary?'
Lin Ze whispered in his heart, he had already seen the dark side of Konoha, the roots of Danzo, the calculations of high-level officials, the tragedy of White Fang... all reminded him of the cruelty of this world.
In order to survive, ruthlessness seems to be a necessary quality.
Fox also understood the killing intent contained in that silence from Lin Ze's cold Dragon Eyes.
To Lin Ze's surprise, Fox did not panic and beg for mercy, nor did he try to resist - that was meaningless in the face of absolute power.
Instead, he moved with difficulty, leaned on a piece of gravel, made himself lie down a little more comfortably, and then said calmly:
"Ha... I didn't expect that the little guy I picked up five years ago... actually has such earth-shattering power."
Fox looked at the mythical dragon in the sky with complicated eyes, including shock, surprise, and a hint of indescribable emotion.
He still remembers that when he brought Lin Ze back from the border to Konoha, he personally detected his breath. At that time, Lin Ze obviously had no signs of life, but miraculously he came back to life not long after.
At that time, he only thought that Lin Ze had a special constitution and didn't pay much attention to it. It wasn't until Lin Ze entered ANBU and Hatake Sakumo specifically asked him to ask him to secretly observe and guide the child that he really took Lin Ze to his heart, and gradually developed a special feeling of being both a teacher and a friend.
"Are you considering... whether to kill me or not?"
Fox pointed it out directly, and even had a slightly appreciative smile at the corner of his mouth:
"A very correct choice. If I were in your position, I would most likely do the same."
His words made Lin Ze's huge Dragon Eyes shrink slightly.
Fox paused, took a breath, and continued:
"ANBU's rules, Shinobi World's laws... are so cold sometimes. Captain Hatake Sakumo... my old captain, in the end, maybe he just didn't fully understand this, or... he didn't want to understand."
When Hatake Sakumo was mentioned, Fox's eyes dimmed for a moment, revealing deep regret and a hint of disappointment.
That disappointment was not for White Fang, but for Konoha High Command who forced White Fang to death.
"Konoha... is not always what it looks like under the light. I have seen too many dark sides in ANBU for so many years. For the sake of the village, many things can be sacrificed, including individual lives and innocence."
"You have such power..."
Fox looked at Lin Ze again, his eyes becoming sharp:
"This power is too amazing and too tempting. Once exposed, you will become a 'treasure' or...'a threat' in everyone's eyes. How will the village's senior officials treat you? How will other villages react? Have you ever thought about it?"
Lin Ze was silent. Of course he had thought about these and made countless deductions and plans.
Just because he thought about it, he has been hiding it from the moment he took Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon.
Then Fox spoke again, with a hint of certainty in his tone:
"You did the right thing! Hide it, protect yourself, that comes first."
"Only with your calm and even cold thinking can you survive in this cannibalistic world and... reach the top. I even think that one day, you will become the real 'strongest' surpassing Kage Level."
These words are not like those spoken by a person who is about to be silenced, but rather like the expectations and instructions of a senior to his juniors.
Fox took a deep breath. The severe pain caused cold sweat to break out on his forehead, but his eyes were exceptionally clear. He glanced at Gray Wolf and Night Owl who were unconscious in the distance, and pleaded in his voice:
"My life... you can take it away. I saw something I shouldn't have seen. This is the consciousness ANBU should have. I have no complaints."
"But...Aoda, Lin Ze."
For the first time, Fox called out Lin Ze's name instead of a code name:
"Count me in... please. Let Gray Wolf and Night Owl go. They were unconscious from beginning to end and didn't know anything. They are innocent. Moreover, they have always regarded you as a teammate they can trust."
"Squad B-5 can no longer reduce the number of people. Take them back to Konoha... or let them fend for themselves here. Don't do it yourself... okay?"
Fox's voice was filled with a trace of exhaustion and sadness that could not be concealed. After saying these words, Fox seemed to have exhausted all his strength and slowly closed his eyes, no longer looking at Lin Ze. His expression seemed to be that he would kill him at the neck, waiting for the final judgment.
In the air, Azure Dragon Form's Lin Ze caused huge waves in my heart.
Fox's words were like a hammer, hitting the defense line in his heart.
He didn't expect that Fox would be so direct, so calm, and even... understand the "silence" choice he might make.
'He actually... doesn't hate me? Still thinks my choice is right?'
'Is it to protect Gray Wolf and Night Owl? Use your own life in exchange for the chance of their survival?'
Lin Ze instantly understood Fox's intention. This was a kind of sacrifice, a kind of responsibility and protection between Anbu Ninja and the captain's responsibility to the team members.
This reminded him of Hatake Sakumo, who gave up his mission to protect his companions and was eventually forced to die.
It also reminded me of the characters in the original novel who risked their lives for their companions.
'Hokage World... Isn't there just darkness and calculation?'