[Hokage] Summer Festival

The sky in the distance turned pale, and the stars overhead were no longer visible to the naked eye. Clouds gathered from all directions at an unusually slow speed.

The sound of birds flapping their wings and flying away from the branches can be heard constantly in the woods. The dew on the leaves occasionally slips onto the shoulders and smudges on the clothes.

The sky is gradually spreading, and the sun is still sleeping under the horizon.

We shuttled through the jungle, and the smell of soil and vegetation in the morning made our senses very sensitive, and we didn't feel sleepy even if we didn't sleep all night.

The surrounding weeds are growing lush, about half the height of a person, and the insects living in the grass are rare without singing, and the dark green is dead and quiet as far as the eye can see.

Mornings in the forest should not be like this.

Hatake Sakumo stopped, his eyes were lightly closed and his head was tilted slightly, as if he was listening intently.

After a while, he opened his eyes, his black pupils were radiant, and he whispered:

"We are surrounded."

The tone was very plain and natural, as if he was talking about the most common and trivial matter, without the slightest sense of tension and anxiety of being in an enemy's ambush.

"There are seven in the west and north," Shinya said.

Haruna followed up: "There are three in the east."

Was it to count the number of enemies?

So I also said: "There are 5 in the south."

15 to 4, our numbers are at a disadvantage.

Haruna was the first to form a seal, and dozens of hidden weapons that appeared out of thin air flew towards the four directions of southeast, northwest, respectively. The usual silence.

The wind blew the grass stalks and swayed.

There is the sound of creatures jumping and landing shoes stepping on gravel.

One, two, three, four, five, six... fifteen.

No more, no less, sure enough, 15 enemy ninjas surrounded us.

"Let's join up with the big troops ahead as soon as possible."

As Hatake Sakumo said, a cold gleam flashed in his eyes, and he glanced around the sand hidden ninjas who were holding weapons and facing us, waiting in full force.

He didn't even draw out the knife, he was very calm, different from the captain's order to the team members, but said in the tone of the senior instructing the younger:

"Except for the captain-level junin who is the first one from the left in the south, the others are probably only at the level of a chunin."

"It's okay for one person to deal with it, right?"

"Don't worry, Captain Shuo Mao. It's just a few miscellaneous fish."

Shen also smiled lightly.Then the voice became cold and imposing:

"Illusion · Tree Binding!"

Immediately behind the enemy in the north, several big trees rose from the ground. The vines danced and wrapped the enemy tightly around the tree trunks, and Shen Ya's figure had disappeared in place.

Haruna's wine-red pupils were eager to try, and she smiled brightly and said:

"Then I'm going too."

"Just to test the new technique that I have practiced recently."

Saying that, he rushed up to the west.

"Don't be dumbfounded, Xia Zi. Let's make a quick decision."

Hatake Sakumo drew his sword and rushed to the south, and dropped these words when his body was about to move.

When I looked up, I saw the arc drawn by his white-glowing knife flashed in mid-air, blood splashed down like the wind blowing cherry blossom petals, and an enemy fell to the ground instantly.

Then I heard an exclamation from the other side:

"Konoha White Fang?!"

Before I could take a closer look, my attention was forced to shift back.The three sand ninjas in the east jumped up, and the kunai attached to the detonating talisman fell to my feet one after another, and there was a crackling sound of explosions.

Speaking of it, I hate the naughty children throwing sand cannons at the feet of pedestrians during the festival.

I jumped away from the detonation point and circled them.Xia Zi's physical skills are barely above average. In the case that both sides do not use ninjutsu and illusion, a simple fight with fists and feet will not give you an advantage, but it will not easily kill you.

But if I'm only satisfied with this level, why should I take such a big risk to practice that technique.

Three months ago, I was helpless under the siege of Yunyin's three Chunin. I don't know if I can change the predicament of being so frustrated and powerless now.

With one foot on the tree trunk, he jumped a few steps with his strength and formed a seal.

Spiky vines sprang out from the ground and tree roots, instantly entangled and bound the enemy's limbs in a strange posture, and I even heard the cracking sound of bones breaking.

Just as they were about to scream, the slender but tough vine branches slid into their mouths, wriggling deeper like a snake.It may be that their throats were pierced, they could not make a sound, their eyes stared abruptly like frogs, and blood flowed from their eye sockets.

Probably the internal organs have been crushed by the vine branches as hard as steel bars.

The three Sand Ninja tilted their heads and lost their breath.

It's an extremely cruel technique.

And I am afraid that I am also a cruel person who has practiced this technique.

Hatake Sakumo, Shinya Haruna, and the others also cleaned up. Apart from the four of us, there were only fifteen corpses left in the woods in this area whose body temperature gradually became cold.

They looked as usual, as if what just happened was just a few caterpillars that were accidentally trampled to death while passing by.

Yes, in war, the life of the enemy is not life.

***

We continued on our way until two forked roads appeared ahead.

The trees and flowers along the road are almost exactly the same, so you can neither see the end nor predict what will be on the road.

Hatake Sakumo frowned at the fork in the road and thought about it, while we waited for his decision.

After a while, he turned to face us and said:

"Let's split up. Shinya and Haruna are in a team, and Natsuko and I are in a team. We'll meet up at the main force ahead."

Shinya and Haruna nodded and answered "Yes" in unison, then turned and rushed towards the road on the left.

I followed Sakumo Hatake on the path to the right.

Two hours passed, and the road seemed endless.

So far, we haven’t met any enemies or companions on the way, let alone the big troops ahead, not even a single person, only hares that jump out of the grass from time to time and are frightened when they see people.

It was already bright, but the sun still hadn't come out.

From the early hours of this morning to the present, we have walked the mountain road for six hours non-stop.

Although the end point is to catch up with the large troops at the forefront, the paths chosen by Hatake Sakumo are all tortuous and circuitous, and they seem to be specially picking the path where the enemy may ambush.

Could it be that the task given to him by the wind is to wipe out the enemies hidden in the woods?

"Take a break."

He finally stopped and said as he passed a small stream.

I squatted by the stream and washed my face. Looking at the reflection on the water, I realized that there was a small blood stain on my neck and a few blood stains on my cuffs, which should have been splashed from the enemy during the fight just now.

Suddenly, their hideous faces, broken limbs and bloody eyes appeared before their eyes.

Then I realized belatedly—ah, that was the one I killed.

Although it is Xia Zi's hand and Xia Zi's body, it is really my own will.

No more hesitation, no more soft-heartedness, this is what I thought from the beginning - die, let me disappear all the enemies that hinder me.

Obviously, he didn't even dare to kill a chicken or duck before, and every time he passed by outside the slaughterhouse, he would cover his ears and dare not listen to the screams of the slaughtered poultry inside.

How long did it take to be able to kill with eyes open, and to walk away as if nothing had happened after killing someone.

What will become of me in the future?

Will one day unknowingly abandon even the former self without nostalgia?

Suddenly I was terrified and disgusted with myself for being like this.

My right hand was pulled away by a force that was neither light nor heavy. I looked down and saw that the wrist of my left hand was red and swollen, and the blood and five fingerprints were clearly visible.

Pulling my right hand away was a big man's hand with slender fingers and well-defined bones. It was Sakumo Hatake who was also squatting next to me at some point.

"It's a bad habit."

He said.

"The most important thing a ninja should avoid getting hurt is his hands."

In the water, Xia Zi's face was surprisingly pale. I pursed my lips, but I couldn't suppress the overwhelming fear in my heart.

Didn't he act as if nothing had happened just now, so it turns out that he is afraid only now.

It turns out that killing someone is not without feeling.Does this mean that no matter to what extent concepts and wills have been reduced, at least the heart has not been so numb that it is indifferent to death.

I have already died once, but the extra future that the Lord gave me is used to take away the fresh life of others.

And the most unfortunate thing is that even if you know it is a sin, you have to keep your eyes closed.

For me, Natsuko's family and companions are indeed more important than others.

"Xia Zi."

The man next to him let go of his hand, and there was a bit of hesitation in his eyes, but he continued:

"I remembered the technique you used later."

"It's a forbidden technique, the load on the caster's body is uncontrollable."

I know.

The ultimate secret of that forbidden technique is to exchange one's own lifespan for the life of the other party.

That's why I'm afraid of being seen by Ah Duan. He has always cherished and cared for his younger sister from the bottom of his heart. He shouldn't do such a thing that would make his brother sad.

Xia Zi probably won't be as willful as me.

In the last life, I heard people joke that people who died once will live a more unrestrained and unrestrained life after being reborn.

Looks like it was just a joke after all.

Never since I have been conscious and conscious in this world have I lived a day without restraint.

"Senior Shuo Mao, please pretend that you don't know, please." I said.

I have concerns about his relationship with Shinichi, and Shinichi is also Natsuko's older brother.

He turned his head away, didn't say yes or no, and looked at the gurgling stream in silence.

After a while, he seemed to sigh and said:

"You can do it yourself, Xia Zi."

After another half hour, his eyes fell on the wrist of my left hand, and he said softly:

"The way you looked just now is very similar to when I killed someone for the first time."

My heart skipped a beat.

Then I thought, would those of them who have received harsh ninja training since childhood also feel scared and uneasy because of killing people for the first time?

Thinking of this, I heard his voice say very softly:

"The first person I killed was my companion who was in the same team at that time."

When he graduated from ninja school more than ten years ago, the first ninja war was not over yet.

Just like now, young ninjas are sent to the battlefield, using their bodies as shields to protect their families and villages behind them in the midst of gunpowder and slaughter.

During a mission, his teammate was controlled by the enemy, and he held Kunai to face his companion.He could only be forced to confront it, and even if it was a fight, he had to pay attention not to use heavy hands.But in this way, there is no way to continue the task.

Later, the child regained a moment of sobriety by virtue of his perseverance, but he begged him very sincerely:

"Kill me, Sakumo. Konoha's information must not fall from my mouth to the enemy's hands."

"After killing me, continue to perform the task. Everyone in the village is waiting!"

"If you really value me as a companion, don't make me a sinner of Konoha."

……

……

"So you ended up killing him anyway?"

I asked.

In fact, he has already said the answer just now, but I still can't help but want to confirm it again.

All the time I have heard from other people how Hatake Sakumo valued and cared for his companions, but he did not expect that there would be such a scar behind it covered by bright clothes.

Just like the real and shocking long scar on his back, as long as he is not exposed to others, he is still an invincible super genius ninja in everyone's eyes.

"Yeah, he held my hand and plunged the knife into his heart."

"Although I have been thinking afterwards that maybe there is a better solution, but the lost companions will never come back."

I don't know what kind of struggle he went through when he was young, and he watched his companion die by his own knife while suffering.

When he said these things, although he had deliberately made his tone sound like an understatement, if he looked into his eyes, he could easily detect that his heart was not as relieved as in his tone.

It should be said that instead of letting go, it is still brooding.

"So, since then, I have sworn to his name on the comfort monument, and I will never let my companion die in front of me again."

I saw something in his eyes that was so firm that it would not collapse even if the earth collapsed and the mountains collapsed, just like the faith that would never die in the heart of the most devout believer, it was more radiant than the sun and the moon.

It’s not the kind of light that shines on all things in nature, but just looking at it, you will feel that you are also infected, full of hope and firmness, a kind of wonder that reaches people’s hearts and can’t help being moved by it s things.

I really can't tell what that is.

"I'm so sorry for telling you so many irrelevant things."

"Maybe Shinya and Haruna have already reached the main force, let's go too."

I followed him to stand up and was about to continue on my way when I saw him step forward and walk in front of me, with his right hand raised and holding the handle of the knife behind his back, he said in a deep voice:

"Be careful, there are enemies."

This look of facing a big enemy is completely different from the time when I met those enemies just now, it seems that this time it will be a very powerful enemy.

Things came out of the woods step by step, and there were quite a few of them. The strange and gloomy feeling was not human.

It wasn't until they were fully exposed to the sunlight that they could see the appearance of those things clearly - they had limbs, body, head and five sense organs like humans, but they were indeed not human beings.