[Comprehensive] living to death

Konoha in late summer and early autumn, the heat wave is making its last counterattack as if it knows that it is over.Amidst the cicadas singing one after another, pieces of information from the front line were continuously sent to Konoha's power center, and after screening, they appeared on Hokage's desk.Even so, the documents in front of the third generation's purpose also piled up into hills.

But at this time, Hokage-sama was sitting behind the desk, silently listening to the disciple's report.

"...I see. Then Ziraiya, you can go to work first."

"is teacher."

Jiraiya stood up, turned and walked outside.When he passed the corridor, an old man in a black kimono with a stern and cold face was also walking towards him.

"Master Danzo." Jiraiya saluted.

Although he does not approve of this member of the elders with the dark eyes in his heart, since the other party is the companion of his beloved teacher, Jiraiya is still willing to maintain superficial respect.

But Danzo was too lazy to maintain his superficial demeanor.

"Ah."

After the indifferent nasal voice, he walked by without looking sideways, which was Danzo's response.

Zilai also secretly rolled his eyes.

Danzo doesn't care about Jiraiya; sometimes he can't even look up to the Third Hokage, let alone the opponent's disciple.Moreover, at this moment, he was brewing dissatisfaction with the Konoha leader, which made it even more difficult for him to put on a good face.

However, he warned himself that he should not be too eager to reveal the reasons for his dissatisfaction, so as not to attract Ri Zhan's attention.Therefore, before entering Hokage's office, he let out a breath in his heart to calm himself down completely.

This is not difficult, because Danzo has already turned himself into a deep-minded person through years of hard work.

"Danzo, what's the matter?"

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled when he saw him, probably because seeing the so-called "friend" made him feel relaxed, but to be honest, this kind of relaxation made Danzo feel dissatisfied.

He believes that Hokage should be vigilant at all times, have a steel-like will and awareness, and never let himself relax no matter who he faces.

"Sun Cut..."

Danzo began to speak with a straight face.

All he talked about was official business that had to do with the war.It wasn't until the end that he suddenly remembered, and mentioned: "Speaking of which, about Uchiha Mingyue..."

"Ok?"

The Third Hokage had already lowered his head to read the document, but when he heard a familiar name, his ears twitched slightly, and he raised his head again. "What's the matter, Danzo?" He smiled, half-jokingly, "Are you still angry because I let Jiraiya accept Mingyue as a disciple?"

Of course Danzo was angry.In his opinion, Uchiha Mingyue could be a very useful pawn, but the intervention of the third generation added some trouble to his plan.Zilai is also a disciple of three generations, and Mingyue is accepted by him, which is equivalent to becoming a member of the three generations.If this rare genius accepts those naive and weak thoughts of Ri Zhan, I am afraid things will not go as he wished.

But it's not irreparable.On the point of seeing through and using people's hearts, Danzo is confident that he can grasp it better than Hiruza.Anyway, the time has not yet come.

"There's nothing to be angry about that kind of trivial matter." Danzang said coldly.

"Really..." Ri Zhan smiled gently.

"But it is indeed related to Uchiha Mingyue." Danzo decided to go straight to the point, "I have seen her mission records, and her personal ability is very good. In the case of fierce battles on the front line, a talent like Xue Zang is a good choice for Konoha. loss."

"Oh? Well," Hizhan frowned, with a hesitant look on his face, "But Zirai also said that the child still lacks some things that are very necessary for ninjas..."

Again, that hesitation.A ninja is a tool lurking in the dark, it only needs to be sharp enough to use.As a high-ranking person, if you pay too much attention to the idea of ​​tools, you will lose sight of the overall situation.Danzo thinks so.

"Uchiha Mingyue's ability is enough to become a Chunin." Danzo said unhappily, and his tone became very severe, "Hi Zhan, this is a time of war, and every ninja is a precious resource! As much ability as there is, you have to bear as much responsibility. As Hokage, do you need someone to remind you of such a simple truth?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen is a person who is very tolerant of old friends, and this trait becomes more obvious as he gets older.So now he didn't feel offended by Danzo's attitude, but began to think seriously about what the other party said.

"...Maybe you are right, Danzo." Hirizhan finally let out a half-breathed breath, as if holding a helpless sigh in his mouth, "I see, let's do as you want."

******

The undercurrent between the two high-level officials is not known to the outside world. All Mingyue can know is that her teacher suddenly decided to take her to the battlefield.

"Huh? Could it be that, teacher, you said before that what I lacked, I have made up for it myself?" She was biting a popsicle until it creaked.

It is rare for Zilai to have a correct expression, and even looks serious.

"No, that's not the case." He frowned and thought deeply, "Strange, the teacher clearly approved of my opinion..."

He sighed, and looked up to see Mingyue nibbling on the popsicle with relish, thinking that he had thought about this little girl, but this guy was so heartless, he was too busy eating—even the popsicles he ate were all taken out of him. money!

Ji Lai also felt angry from his heart, raised his hand to Mingyue's head and rubbed it randomly.

Mingyue:? ? ?

Did her teacher eat explosives suddenly?

"Really, there is no other way!" Zilai also rumpled Mingyue's hair into a bird's nest, then stopped and said, "Then let you see it..."

Mingyue ate the last bite of popsicle.The ice melted in the mouth, and after the refreshing coolness faded, there was a somewhat cloying sweetness.The wind on the street still carried the heat of midsummer, but it caused goose bumps on her skin for no reason.

Seeing Jilai, she also turned her head, looking at the mountains in the distance, her eyes were sharper than ever before; the sunlight shone on his white hair, and the refracted light was a bit dazzling.

"... Go and experience the cruelty of war."

Jiraiya's voice was a little heavy.

"Mingyue, you have to be careful." He said, "You must be serious. This is not a joke, you must be serious, understand?"

Otherwise you will die.

He didn't say this sentence since he came, and the meaning in it was already contained in his eyes, even floating in the surrounding air.

Mingyue nodded.

Of course she will be serious.She has been very serious.

However, she didn't really understand what Jiraiya meant at the time.

Mingyue practiced hard.Graduation early.Spend time with family and friends.Work hard for the future of the family.Live every day well and never waste it.

She had blood on her hands.She knows that it is difficult for a ninja to live brightly.

She knew what she was supposed to do, and she did.

However, all of these are far less profound than the feeling of fighting on the real battlefield.

Swinging a blade just because it's an enemy.

The roar in the ear is day and night.

The smell of blood in the nose has never faded.

Those who spoke friendly yesterday are dying before their eyes today.

There are always explosions, sometimes in reality, sometimes in dreams.

Something grew out of reality, struggling to tear open the air bubbles around her, grabbing her firmly, and dragging her into reality bit by bit.

But she is still holding on to something.She didn't know what she was insisting on, and she didn't even want to insist on it, but she was still resisting the pressing reality.

No no no...she should...should...

You should swing the knife decisively, you should give full play to your strength, you should understand that war is life and death, you should know that life is about making choices, you should work hard, work hard for that damn reality show...

Then she heard the news of Obito's sacrifice.

She shouldn't be surprised.She should have known long ago that war is a carriage running wildly beside hell, and every soldier has the possibility of falling into the abyss forever.

She should be moderately sad.

She should cheer up soon and turn grief and anger into motivation.

She should try to make herself stronger so that she can protect the person she wants to protect in the future.

she should...

"woo woo woo woo……"

Mingyue knelt on the ground, hugged her head, and cried bitterly.

"Uuuuuuuuuu..."

All the past experiences, those horrors hidden in the peace, the shadows under the light, the reality that looks like flowers and brocades but is full of blood and thorns, at that moment all turned into a blood-colored river, pouring towards her.

She can no longer wrap herself in a transparent bubble, can no longer maintain an already crumbling "semi-drawn" state; all self-preservation evaporates in that instant.

She is like a person floating in mid-air.After drifting for two years, she was finally dragged back to the earth by the heavy reality. From now on, the earth under her feet will be unprecedentedly real.

Mingyue finally understood why Jiraiya repeatedly warned her to "be serious" before leaving, and finally understood what he said she lacked.

That is a life living on the tip of a knife, knowing that he will perish at any time, but he still has to devote all his feelings and desires, and strives to burn his consciousness on the verge of death.

——"You must be serious."

She must be serious.

She will be serious.

No matter whether every struggle is just futile, no matter whether every end can only return to the abyss.

On that day, the blood and the flames burned into the red in her eyes, and the two black hook jades solidified in it, like the solemn marks left by the gods of life and death.

******

The sister disappeared.Father also disappeared.

For a toddler in his early twos, something is "disappeared" if it can no longer be seen.As a precocious toddler, Itachi doesn't understand completely, but for the time being, he can only vaguely understand the difference between "leave" and "disappear".

"Father and sister have gone to the battlefield, fighting for Konoha."

Mother said to him with a smile.When the mother smiled, it made people feel comfortable and gentle, but the young Itachi keenly found something that seemed to be a "shadow" on the mother's face.

"Are you worried, mother?" he asked.

Mother seemed surprised.She was sighing, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, but then she patted his head and said softly, "Don't worry, Itachi, father and sister will definitely come back safely."

rest assured?Why reassure him?If "rest assured" is the opposite of "worry", isn't it the mother who should "relieve"?

Itachi was confused.

Also, what does "battlefield" mean?

He wasn't much of a questioning kid; Itachi was more inclined to find answers on his own than to ask others to teach him.But for some reason, the last question was asked by him.

"The battlefield..." Mother frowned even deeper, "It's a dangerous place."

"Danger" is the limit.In Itachi's short life, he remembered being told by his parents and sister what was "dangerous" and where was "dangerous".

He thought that "danger" was an insurmountable boundary, but now it seems that this is not the case.

What was my sister doing in "Jeopardy"?

Compared with his father, Itachi wants to know about his sister's situation.

"Can I see my sister?" he asked his mother.

She was decisively rejected by her mother.

"Itachi is still too young... Let's wait until it grows up, and when Itachi is strong enough, he will be able to protect his family by himself."

Is it strong...?

That night, after dinner, Itachi quietly ran into his sister's room, tiptoed to take down the ugly toad doll, and stared at it for a long time.

"Come out, Shenlong, and make my wish come true!" Itachi said seriously.

Nothing happened.

He was a little depressed.Sure enough, seven must be collected, one is not enough?

A month later, my sister came back.

As long as he can remember, the elder sister Itachi has seen has always been smiling.But the elder sister who appeared in front of him at that time had a pale face and no smile, only her eyes were black and bright, as if a fire was burning inside.

The older sister hugged her mother, then waved to him.

Itachi walked over.He reached out his hand to touch his sister's eyes, wondering why her sister was different from what he remembered, but he was hugged by her sister before touching it.

It turned out to be the one who liked to hug him.Itachi thinks so.

"I will protect you."

My sister's voice was low, hoarse, but powerful.

The father said to his mother, "One click is the Sharingan of Lianggouyu", with an excited tone.Didn't the father notice the abnormality of the sister?Itachi didn't understand.

Since that is the case...

Itachi hugged his sister's neck.

He will become stronger and protect his sister.

My sister repeated again: "I will protect you."