ALL NOVEL Chapter 52: Decisions Made
Chapter
52: Decisions Made
Tazuna felt like he was on a roller coaster of
emotions. The constant back and forth left him unable to react properly.
"What do you mean, Ninja-sama?
Can you continue the mission?" Tazuna asked Kakashi cautiously. Despite
what he had said earlier, if Team 7 led by Kakashi could continue to protect
him, it would be the best outcome for Tazuna.
People might not fear death, but no
one willingly chooses it, except in rare cases. Tazuna had unfulfilled wishes, making it even more
important for him to stay alive. With Team 7's protection, his dream of
completing the bridge could come true.
"Well, we will continue the
mission, and until you successfully complete the bridge, Tazuna -san, please
don't worry," Kakashi replied with a slight nod.
"Thank you so much!" Tazuna
exclaimed, his face lighting up with
genuine relief. He had felt like he was in hell, but now he was in heaven. It
was no wonder he was excited.
Menma pursed his lips and turned
away, saying nothing. As he had mentioned earlier, Menma didn't care much
whether the mission continued. If the fear of danger made them give up, it
would be a wasted opportunity. This mission was a chance to hone his skills and
take advantage of Gato. Despite his reservations about Naruto's attitude and
Kakashi's behavior, Menma decided to hold his opinion in reserve.
Kakashi must have had a reason for
continuing the mission. If given another chance, Menma would ask him directly.
"Okay, I'm going to deal with
those two Mist ninjas, and then we'll get back on the road," Kakashi said,
relieved that Menma didn't press further. Kakashi had his reasons for
continuing the mission, reasons he couldn't share at the moment.
"Wait a minute, Kakashi-sensei.
Can you let us handle those two Mist ninjas?" Menma asked, a thought
crossing his mind. He looked up at Kakashi, took a deep breath, and spoke in a
lower voice.
"Huh? Are you sure,
Menma?" Kakashi instantly understood Menma's meaning. Naruto and Sasuke
were initially confused but quickly grew serious. Only Haruno Sakura looked
puzzled, not grasping the situation.
"Yes, Kakashi-sensei. I am a
ninja now and should have the tolerance and mentality of one. Kakashi-sensei,
your first experience was when you were five or six. We're already far
behind," Menma said with determination.
"Okay, I understand. Do you
three feel the same as Menma?" Kakashi asked, looking at Naruto, Sasuke,
and Sakura.
"!?" Naruto and Sasuke's
pupils shrank slightly at the question. Sakura, still confused, raised her hand
weakly.
"Well, Kakashi-sensei, what
exactly does this mean?" she asked.
"Haha, this is a lesson all
ninjas must face. You need to execute those two Mist ninjas!" Kakashi
said. Although he initially thought it was too soon, Menma's words made him
realize this was the right time.
"What!?" Sakura's
expression changed, and she trembled slightly. Despite her naivety, she knew
that killing was part of being a ninja. But facing it head-on after only a
month of graduation was overwhelming. Naruto fell silent, while Sasuke immediately
stepped forward.
"I'll do it too," Sasuke
said coldly.
"Alright, let's get this
done," Kakashi nodded. He picked up the unconscious Mist Ninjas and headed
into the deep jungle, with Menma and Sasuke following closely.
As they left, Naruto opened his
mouth but swallowed his words. Sakura's erratic eyes showed her unstable state
of mind. Tazuna looked much calmer,
understanding the gravity of the situation.
Out of sight, Kakashi gently threw
the Mist Ninjas to the ground and touched them lightly. They woke up in
confusion.
"Illusion - Heart Torture
Technique!" Kakashi formed seals and controlled their minds with his
superior mental strength. "Who is your employer?" he asked, beginning
the torture.
The ninja world had its ways of
extracting information, and Kakashi's skills in this area were formidable,
honed from years in the Anbu.