Chapter 74: Bottom Line

"Understood!" x3

Hearing that they could avoid doing these annoying low-level tasks.

The three who had just walked out of the Hokage building replied in unison.

Especially Yuzhibo Zhe, his excitement overflowed. He clenched his fists on the spot, jumping three feet high, even forgetting the scar on his face.

"This is also the main purpose of letting you graduate early!"

"After over a month of shared mission experience, you all have had some tacit understanding."

"It's also time to put you through special training!"

Seeing his three disciples' energetic response, Yuzhibo Chongzheng looked at them solemnly. His expression was the most serious since the team was formed.

He couldn't help but be serious.

According to the information gathered by the clan, prices of war-related supplies such as food, iron, and medicine have been rising recently.

Foreign ninjas have infiltrated the borders of every country, and border friction is further expanding. All of this indicates that another Ninja World War is about to break out.

The training of these children can no longer be casual as before.

"It's already late today, so gather at the clan training ground at 6 a. m. tomorrow!"

"Get ready—this special training won't be as easy to pass as the ninja academy!"

After saying that, Yuzhibo Chongzheng vanished with a 'whoosh', leaving his three disciples where they stood.

Having just received their mission payment, the three parted ways without lingering there.

【It seems the situation is getting worse; otherwise, Teacher Chongzheng wouldn't be rushing to put them through special training like this!】

Idly walking down the streets of Leaf Village, Dong Shilang couldn't help but think. Regarding the impending war, he still harbored a hint of confusion.

As a former urban white-collar worker who lived in peaceful times in his previous life, war, death, and killing seemed extremely distant to him.

Although he had gained some superficial understanding through literature, film, and the internet, that understanding only scratched the surface; the pain and sorrow one would actually endure from firsthand experience were beyond his knowing.

Furthermore, regarding becoming a ninja afterwards,

He wondered whether he could kill someone else's husband, wife, children, or parents with a clear conscience.

His soul was ultimately just that of a modern urban white-collar worker; these things clashed with his worldview. Until the very end, he could not fathom his own nature.

Four years had already given him a thorough understanding of the ninja profession.

The ninja profession begins at the ninja academy, where their training teaches how to kill their own kind more precisely and effectively, whether they are ordinary people or ninjas.

Completing the village-assigned mission is the primary objective.

Abandoning personal thoughts and emotions, hiding in dark corners, enduring loneliness and solitude. Like a cold weapon, they mercilessly carry out the reaping of life.

How could he accept such a profession that obliterates humanity and is perverse?

【The history of ninjas is nothing but a chronicle of slaughter and war!】

While thinking this over, Dong Shilang also set a code of conduct for himself in his heart.

If they are ruthless bandits or rogue ninjas who kill for pleasure, he will unhesitatingly raise his weapon and slay them.

If he ends up on the battlefield, for his own safety he will unhesitatingly kill the enemy. In war, life and death are left to fate. Although that is a comforting saying, he believes it holds some truth, given how many uncontrollable factors exist in the chaos of battle.

He is also not the saintly type.

However, when facing children about his own age, he will still show mercy as long as his own life is safe.

No matter what, pointing his weapon at young children would be utterly contrary to his previous life's worldview.

【As a feeling human being, it's best to leave oneself some moral boundaries!】

Just like the ninja way of this world, when faced with choices that go against one's nature, it can point the direction. It won't let one's heart fall into confusion and become numb.

Don't underestimate this.

Countless ninjas repeatedly trample their own boundaries, going against their nature.

Gradually they become like cold machines.

They merely mechanically accept orders, kill mission targets, complete the mission, and then die silently and unnoticed during some mission.

"You jerk, do you realize that if the teacher hadn't intervened just now, Lingzi would have fallen to her death!"

As Dong Shilang was thinking, three people approached from the opposite direction at the intersection; their attire marked them as a regular mission team from Leaf Village.

At that moment, a boy about twelve years old in the team was loudly accusing a white-haired little imp, blaming him for not saving someone who had just fallen.

Beside him was a girl of similar age, her eyes bloodshot, face pallid, a look of lingering shock, as if she had just endured a tremendous fright.

At the front of the group, a middle-aged ninja in his thirties wearing a green vest walked expressionlessly, ignoring the argument behind him.

"The first precept of ninja teachings: at any time, a ninja's primary goal is to complete his mission."

Faced with his teammates' accusations, the white-haired little imp remained expressionless, not even lifting a facial muscle.

He replied in a neutral tone.

"Mission! Mission! All you know is mission! Just now Lingzi fell off a cliff, and you were right there, yet you ignored it and kept carrying out your mission!"

"Don't you think your comrades are less important than your mission? You bloody monster!" Facing the white-haired imp's reply, the boy was clearly dissatisfied.

His expression shifted from indignation to anger.

His face also twisted with the emotional shift, becoming even more grim.

Even his tone changed from reproach to a scolding.

Even the girl beside him, having recovered from her recent terror, looked at the white-haired boy with a resentful expression, hoping he would give her an explanation.

"A ninja's first duty is to complete the mission. My actions were not wrong."

"A ninja must always keep inner emotions stable; you're too agitated, violating the fifth precept of ninja teachings."

"If left unchecked, it will be all too easy for enemies to spot an opening in future missions, leading to your death and mission failure."

Facing his teammates' accusations and shouting,

The white-haired boy's expression and tone remained calm and unruffled. He even pointed out that the other's emotional outburst would affect his own future life and mission.