Amid the fierce clash, Hajime suddenly lashed out with a flying kick, sending one of the Cloud Ninja hurtling through the air.
Boom!
The wall crumbled apart as the Cloud Ninja crashed through it, spewing blood as he hit the ground, unable to get back up.
Hajime's strength was overwhelming—just one kick had left him gravely wounded.
"Die!"
The other Cloud Ninja seized the opening, thrusting his lightning-infused sword into Hajime's chest.
Electricity surged through Hajime's body, paralyzing him with numbing force.
But under the mask, Hajime grinned. His left hand lifted—and wooden spikes exploded forth.
The Cloud Ninja was startled. He raised his left arm instinctively, but the spikes pierced straight through it, stabbing deep into his shoulder blade.
"You bastard…"
The Cloud Ninja hadn't expected Hajime, whose body was wracked with electricity, to still fight back. Luckily, he hadn't been hit in a vital spot.
But just as he prepared to finish Hajime off, the wooden spikes embedded in him suddenly branched out, sprouting a flurry of new spikes that pierced his entire body.
Splurt!
Blood gushed from his mouth as he stared wide-eyed at Hajime—then, with a look of bitter unwillingness, he let go of his blade and collapsed.
Cough, cough!
Hajime coughed up blood. His hand, slightly disobedient under the lingering paralysis, gripped the sword and, gritting his teeth, yanked it from his chest.
Trading injury for a kill—it was worth it!
Zzzt! Zzzt!
Sparks of electricity continued to crackle across his body.
Wielding his blade, Hajime staggered, but he still managed to finish off the remaining two heavily wounded Cloud Ninja.
Thus, all three enemies inside the inn were slain by his hand.
"Toku!"
Suddenly, Inuzuka Ryo's furious roar came from outside.
Hajime flashed out of the inn—and saw Sarutobi Toku with a beam of lightning piercing his chest, his body falling to the ground.
Hajime's eye twitched.
The ground under his feet exploded as he blasted forward like a cannonball.
At that moment, a torrent of water surged toward him like a river, slamming into him. Despite his explosive speed, Hajime was forced back, unable to resist the powerful current.
Just as the Lightning Release Cloud Ninja was about to strike Hajime with another jutsu, the ground beneath him suddenly turned into a swamp, pulling him down rapidly.
Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!
Jiraiya's team had arrived.
The Water Release Cloud Ninja was swiftly bound by Orochimaru's twin snakes, who sank their fangs into his neck.
Another Cloud Ninja, though narrowly dodging Tsunade's devastating "Heavenly Foot of Pain," was caught by Inuzuka Ryo. With a ferocious Fang Over Fang attack, he was gravely wounded, then engulfed by a swarm of bugs.
The battle ended swiftly.
Tsunade rushed to Sarutobi Toku's side. After checking him, she silently shook her head.
His heart had been pierced by high-voltage lightning—instant death. Not even Hashirama Senju could have saved him.
Hajime stepped forward, knelt beside Sarutobi Toku, and said, "You died fighting to protect the village—you are a hero of Konoha."
Closing Sarutobi Toku's eyes, Hajime pulled out a sealing scroll and sealed his comrade's corpse within it. Then he stood up and commanded, "Retreat!"
——
They traveled through the night without rest, crossing into the Land of Fire in one push and reaching the main camp of Hatake Sakumo's border defense force. Only then did Hajime's team allow themselves to truly relax.
Late at night, the camp was silent except for the flickering of the campfire.
Hajime and the others still wore their masks. Because of Sarutobi Toku's death, Inuzuka Ryo and Aburame Shino were both quiet and withdrawn.
They had seen comrades die before—but it still hurt.
As for Hajime, what he felt most was fear.
Fear of how fragile and fleeting life was.
He had to grow stronger.
Not just to surpass others—
He had to become invincible, to the point where no one could ever threaten his life again.
Across the campfire—
The heavy, silent atmosphere made Jiraiya restless. He looked around awkwardly before speaking up, "Uh, hey, 'Alpha'… your specialties are kenjutsu and Wind Release?"
Hajime returned to his senses and nodded.
Tsunade said, "You know medical ninjutsu too, right?"
As she spoke, she glanced at the torn section of Hajime's chest area.
Hajime nodded again, maintaining his aloof persona by staying silent.
At that moment, Orochimaru suddenly asked, "Do you regret attacking the Cloud Ninja?"
Whoosh!
Everyone turned their eyes toward Orochimaru.
They all understood the hidden meaning behind his words.
If Hajime hadn't chosen to confront the Cloud Ninja, Sarutobi Toku might not have died.
Looking at Orochimaru, Hajime replied, "All men must die—some deaths are heavier than mountains, others lighter than feathers."
"The greatest meaning in life isn't about why we live, but why we die."
Everyone was visibly moved by his words.
Hajime continued, "You and I will also face death one day."
"Will it be death in battle, death by illness, or death by old age... How will you choose?"
"Will you choose to die gloriously in battle, to die pathetically of sickness, or to fade away quietly with age?"
Orochimaru and the others were deeply shaken.
Without another word, Hajime rose to his feet. "I'm going to train. No need to follow."
With that, he leapt away, disappearing into the night with a few flickers of movement.
Tsunade's gaze followed Hajime's silhouette until he vanished into the darkness.
She hadn't expected Danzo's faction to have someone like him.
Tsunade had to admit—she was beginning to take a certain interest in this man called "Alpha."
Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Jiraiya were still mulling over Hajime's words.
Jiraiya thought about the Child of Prophecy he had been searching for.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, felt a strange thought take root in his heart—a thought about immortality.
Why must one die?
Was his existence meant only to end in a meaningful death?
No. That was not the future he wanted.
——
In a secluded place, Hajime stopped moving.
Although he had put on a performance just now, he didn't feel very satisfied.
"Maybe because... I didn't take off the mask?"
He stroked his chin thoughtfully.
As for Sarutobi Toku's death, Hajime did feel a twinge of guilt.
But he did not regret it.
He suppressed the guilt, turning it into motivation for his training.
Drawing his sword—
Hajime began his practice.
The night passed in silence.
At dawn the next day, Hajime and his team set off and, by midday, returned to Konoha.
Tsunade and the others went to report to Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Hajime went to make a full report to Danzo.
After listening, Danzo said coldly, "Hmph, just as I thought—the Cloud Ninja did interfere."
He showed no reaction to Sarutobi Toku's death. Instead, he asked, "Alpha, how is your Wood Release progressing?"
Hajime answered, "I have mastered the technique of Cutting Wood."
Danzo nodded slightly and said, "For the next half-month, you are excused from missions. Focus entirely on training."
"After that, you will lead a team and fully commit to hunting down all personnel targets of the Sky Ninja."
Hajime immediately responded, "Understood!"
Then he added, "Lord Danzo, I would also like to make further progress in Wind Release. Please grant me access to Wind Release techniques."
Danzo agreed without hesitation. "The Root's secret archive holds all of Konoha's Wind Release materials. I'll have the order passed down—you may go and copy them."
Overjoyed, Hajime bowed deeply in thanks.
After leaving Danzo's office, Hajime first went to eat lunch, then made his way to the Root's secret archive.
The archive was guarded by a Root ninja and heavily trapped and alarmed—any unauthorized entry would immediately trigger the defenses.
Thanks to Danzo's authorization, Hajime entered smoothly and soon saw a vast collection of classified technique scrolls, all neatly organized.
Sweeping his eyes across them, Hajime suppressed his greed and went straight to the Wind Release section. He took out his prepared brushes, ink, and blank scrolls and began copying.
Whether or not he trained in them later didn't matter—he would first copy down all the Wind Release techniques.
Even if he didn't train them right away, they could serve as valuable references for creating his own jutsu in the future.
(End of Chapter)
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