Double Release Today, Enjoy and thank you to everyone supporting the story!
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Tatsuma remained oblivious to Jiraiya's nocturnal activities involving alcohol. Upon waking up and stepping out of the house, he discovered Yuko had once again revovered her will to live. The despondency that lingered the night before, marked by the feeling of imminent demise, had miraculously dissipated.
Meanwhile, Nasu and the others found themselves in the custody of the Waterfall Village Ninjas and the law enforcement authorities from neighboring towns in the Land of Fire. Tatsuma had anticipated this to be a daunting challenge, yet to his surprise, Jiraiya managed to resolve the matter in just one night.
Observing Nasu being escorted away by the Waterfall Village Jonin, Minato questioned Jiraiya, "Jiraiya sensei, given that the Waterfall Village Jonin is already handling the situation, why must we proceed with the mission?"
"Because this is the Land of Fire. Even if they could have made the arrest earlier, they can't take unilateral action here."
iraiya sighed and said, "If Konoha Ninjas take action, even if it takes longer, the only ones harmed will be the civilians that the Daimyo doesn't care about."
But even if the Ninja from the Waterfall Village were to act, even if it could reduce harm to civilians, the Daimyo wouldn't agree. Because in this case, the ones harmed would be those important to the Daimyo—the prestige of a major nation."
Minato continued to grapple with the situation, finding it challenging to fully comprehend, while Tatsuma maintained his silence, recognizing that Jiraiya deemed no need for further explanation; he grasped the intricacies.
As for whether this perspective was ethically sound, Tatsuma found himself unsure how to pass judgment. The preservation of a nation's sovereignty often demands such actions, even at the cost of civilian well-being, though the harm inflicted is typically short-term and limited to a few individuals.
HOnce a precedent is set, the sovereignty of the Land of Fire will be trampled upon. Rebuilding it will be difficult, and Konoha will also be greatly affected. People will question Konoha's strength, leading to a reduction in mission assignments.
Therefore, from a higher perspective, sacrificing a very small number of people to uphold the dignity of the entire country is indeed worthwhile. However, Tatsuma is currently on the grassroots level, where he can see the genuine and tangible harm people are experiencing.
Observing his two students, who had abruptly lost their enthusiasm after completing the mission, Jiraiya sighed, affectionately tousled their heads, and uttered, "Alright, let's head back."
"Jiraiya-sama,"
Upon learning of their imminent departure, Yuko interjected, "The village wishes to arrange a banquet as a gesture of gratitude towards you. If you're not occupied, could you stay and partake in the celebration?"
Jiraiya dismissed the notion with a wave of his hand, remarking, "Forget it, we're ninjas, and ninjas don't crave flowers and applause. Plus, our tardiness only added to the tragedies here. It's rather awkward to linger."
As he spoke, he allowed his hands to hang down, gently resting them on the backs of Tatsuma and Minato's necks. Leading the two away from the village, once a suitable distance was established, Jiraiya inquired, "Ruining the chance for both of you to receive well-deserved praise—does that bother you?"
Minato shook his head, and Tatsuma, nonchalant, shrugged, signaling his indifference. Jiraiya nodded and conveyed, "For ninjas, the greatest fear is being burdened by fame. In Konoha, only one ninja needs to pursue that – the Hokage. If you're not aspiring to be the Hokage or have no interest in it, then steer clear. You shouldn't let even a hint of fame tarnish you."
Upon absorbing Jiraiya's advice, Tatsuma wore a pensive expression. He finally grasped why Jiraiya refrained from embracing the title of Konoha Sannin, later preferring to be recognized as the Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku.
This is because Jiraiya had no aspirations to become the Hokage. Concurrently, he deliberately shed the title of Konoha Ninja bestowed upon him. As he traversed the ninja world in the future, he adorned a forehead protector uniquely inscribed with the character "油" (oil), a symbol of his individuality.
Furthermore, Jiraiya's words appeared to hold true. Ninjas burdened by fame, particularly in Konoha, did not fare well. Sakumo Hatake, renowned as Konoha's White Fang, tragically took his own life; Yakushi Nono, the wandering miko, met her demise at the hands of her own people; Shisui, the master of Body Flicker, ended his life after betrayal by his superiors; Shimura Danzo, the shadow of the ninja world, met his demise after his bad karma bit him in the ass.
In the realm of those with prestigious titles almost no one managed to evade being killed. Hashirama Senju, hailed as the God of the Ninja World, ascended to become the First Hokage. Tobirama Senju, renowned as the swiftest ninja globally, assumed the role of the Second Hokage, while Sarutobi Hiruzen, a master of Ninjutsu, held the position of the Third Hokage. All of them were killed!
Subsequently, Minato Namikaze, renowned as the Yellow Flash, rose to the mantle of the Fourth Hokage; Tsunade, one of the Konoha Three Sannin and also known as the Slug Princess, took on the role of the Fifth Hokage; Kakashi, the Copy Ninja, assumed the duties of the Sixth Hokage; and the unexpectedly exceptional ninja, Naruto Uzumaki, emerged as the Seventh Hokage.
Apart from them, the majority of Konoha ninjas bearing prominent nicknames didn't meet favorable fates. Even Might Guy, who modestly dubbed himself the "Azure Beast of Konoha," came perilously close to losing his life.
Perhaps it's superstition, or maybe someone is manipulating things, but indeed, as Jiraiya said, if you're not aiming to be the Hokage or have no intention of becoming one, then fame is unnecessary. After all, in the consensus of many in the ninja world, ninjas are tools.
These tools are wielded by the Kages in the ninja village and the Daimyo in the country. The more dazzling the tool, the more cumbersome it becomes to employ. For such tools, their destiny is confined to either being brought into the light or buried in obscurity.
Observing the contemplative expressions on his two students, Jiraiya shook his head, sighing at himself for broaching such weighty matters so early with the young duo. Nevertheless, he managed a reassuring smile and remarked:
"Let's not linger on that. Congratulations to both of you on completing your first mission in your ninja careers. This mission comes with a reward of fifty thousand ryo, with the village taking a 20% cut. The remaining sum is all yours, considering my less-than-impressive contributions."
Tatsuma arched an eyebrow. Forty thousand ryo, when divided evenly between him and Minato, would amount to twenty thousand each. This equated to their living allowances for the past six months.
And in a mere six days, they had completed the mission. Even accounting for a day or two of travel back, it was just a little over a week. Reflecting on it, earning money as a ninja indeed proved swift. However, considering the newly added responsibilities of covering expenses like rent, utilities, and living costs, their hard-earned reward would barely stretch to last about three months.
Furthermore, their approach to this mission was frugal; they refrained from purchasing any additional ninja tools or explosive tags. Even the Military Rations Pills were generously provided by Jiraiya. If these supplementary expenses were factored in, their financial resilience would likely be halved.
In an instant, the fleeting joy Tatsuma had just experienced dissipated. Minato, however, didn't dwell on it too much. He shook his head and expressed, "No, Jiraiya-sensei. Without your assistance, completing the mission wouldn't have been nearly as smooth." Minato glanced at Tatsuma, who nodded in agreement. Tatsuma, harboring no greed for the money, added, "I echo Minato's sentiments, Jiraiya-sensei. You should take the share you rightly deserve."
Jiraiya displayed a pleased smile. Though money held less significance for him compared to these two students, he appreciated their considerate attitude. Jiraiya chuckled and responded, "Since you're both so thoughtful, I'll gladly accept it! Once we return, I'll treat you to barbecue! Ahaha~"
"Gurgle~" *2
At the mention of barbecue by Jiraiya, the two who had subsisted on Military Rations Pills for a week perked up. Tatsuma wiped his mouth and suggested, "Minato, the craving for barbecue has hit me suddenly."
"Same here. How about we make our way back to the village swiftly?"
"Up for a race?"
Minato nodded and agreed, "Sure!"
"You truly live up to your reputation, Minato. Even after completing the mission, your energy is still soaring. But I bet I'll beat you to the village!"
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