Minato cried in Ryun's embrace. Hiashi and Fugaku began cleaning the main room, cremating the three corpses, placing the ashes into a scroll.
Although they were not Minato, hearing about his experiences from his words touched them deeply.
The two walked to the entrance, waiting for Fugaku and Shinnosuke to arrive.
"Let's wait a bit before going in. Sensei is comforting Minato right now." Hiashi said.
Inoichi nodded, a look of sorrow in his eyes. Fugaku and Shinnosuke were confused. Hiashi explained Minato's experiences to them.
The two lowered their heads and sighed. The four youngsters pondered at the door, thinking about what this world was really like, why so many people suffered.
After venting his emotions and finishing his cry, Minato murmured, "It's not Sensei's fault. I just never imagined human evil could be so unrestrained..."
Ryun stroked his head and sighed, "That is why I told you, when facing enemies, never show mercy. Because the evil deeds they have committed are too many, far too many."
After speaking, Ryun used Susanoo, tearing the bandit leader in two, as easily as crushing an ant.
"Minato, your teacher does not ask for you to achieve fame and success, nor to have peerless combat power. I only ask that you keep the common people in your heart, treat them kindly, and uphold justice for them."
"Where there is light, darkness will breed. We cannot achieve perfection, but we can eradicate the darkness we encounter, remaining true to our conscience."
"I believe the girls who died would not want you to feel guilty for life because of them. Including the girl who saved you, she certainly wouldn't want you to live in regret." Ryun's words were like a gentle breeze, softly soothing the scars in Minato's heart at this moment.
After who knows how long, Minato nodded. "Teacher, I understand. From now on, I will protect the villagers, protect the people. Regarding evil deeds, I will strike hard and never tolerate them!"
After saying this, he seemed to return to the image of the warm little sun he once was, smiling through his tears.
Ryun also showed a smile. "Then, next, say goodbye to that young lady."
Ryun smiled, waving towards the four youngsters. "Give me a little of that young lady's ashes."
Shinnosuke was startled, but he took out a little, wrapped it in paper, and handed it to Ryun.
Ryun summoned a White Zetsu, then formed hand signs. Tiger, Snake, Dog, Dragon. He clapped his hands together. "Edo Tensei."
A coffin rose from the ground, sucking the White Zetsu inside. Then the coffin opened, and a woman walked out. It was the very woman who had taken the fatal blow for Minato.
"Eh? Is this the place people go after death?" she murmured. Then she looked up ahead, her body suddenly trembling. She covered her mouth with her hands. "Little one, did you die too?"
"He is not dead. I used a ninjutsu to pull you back from the Pure Land. This child feels very sorry about your death and wants to talk to you." Ryun sighed, then led the four youngsters to the side.
"So that's how it is." The woman looked at Minato. The clothes she wore were the cloak Minato had given her. But the bite marks and scars on her body had disappeared, replaced by smooth, fair skin.
"Little one, what's wrong? Crying?" The woman smiled slightly, squatting in front of Minato, meeting his eyes at his level, looking into his pupils with a smile.
"Thank you, for taking that blow for me. You didn't have to die." Minato started feeling emotional again.
The woman touched his blood stained face gently. "You're welcome. After all, you saved the women in our village too. And I did this voluntarily. I have no one to rely on, I couldn't go on living in this world."
"Even if I hadn't taken the knife for you, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to face this world afterward. I would have committed suicide anyway. Rather than that, it was better to let me do something meaningful, like protecting you, letting you live on, to continue doing the right thing."
"This world may be ugly and evil, but there are always shinobi like you mending and repairing it. So, don't be sad, don't grieve. Please continue to rid the people of harm, walk the path you believe is right."
"Finally, big sister wants to tell you, thank you. And then..." She whispered something into Minato's ear. Minato was stunned.
Then he looked up. The woman, with a smile on her face, her soul began to leave the body. The Edo Tensei body gradually dissipated.
Ryun was startled. She released the Edo Tensei technique on her own? Wasn't she just an ordinary person?
Oh, right. There is another way to release the Edo Tensei technique. That is to let go of the lingering attachment in one's heart. Her lingering attachment, unexpectedly, was Minato.
Minato reached out, touching the spot where the woman's light dissipated. He murmured, "Kida Haruyuki. A very beautiful name. Thank you."
Yes, who would have thought the woman's final lingering attachment was simply to tell Minato her name, and to learn Minato's name. With that, she was satisfied.
For a soul without lingering attachments, even the Edo Tensei technique cannot control their body.
However, this is also the best outcome for a dream fulfilling technique.
"Ding. Congratulations host. Your disciple, Namikaze Minato, reset value has been cleared. Moreover, he has comprehended the true meaning of being a shinobi, laying the foundation for becoming a powerful figure in the future. Reward points 500,000. Current balance 1.8 million."
Ryun didn't pay attention to the balance. He led the other four youngsters to stand before Minato, smiling. "So, was your teacher right?"
Minato nodded. He looked at Ryun with a trace of determination in his eyes. "Teacher, I have understood my ninja way."
"Protecting the villagers, protecting the good civilians, punishing evil people without bottom lines. This is my ninja way." After saying this, Minato's chakra amount suddenly surged, reaching the level of a Chunin.
Ryun patted his shoulder. "Well said. As expected of my disciple. But your teacher is still curious, what did you two say at the end?"
Minato scratched his head, not answering. The little sun like smile appeared on his face again.
Ryun shook his head. Ah, the disciple has grown up, already has his own little secrets.
But, it's fine. At least, the disciple has found his own path. As long as he walks his own path, no matter how strong the storms on the road, no matter how thick the thorns, one day he will reach the end, reach the peak of shinobi.
Ryun did not press further. He led the four youngsters back the way they came through the main room. After exiting the entire bandit camp, Ryun clapped his hands together. Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands rose from the ground, destroying this place of sorrow.
It declared that the sins of the past had been purged, telling everyone that the bandits had been eliminated.
This camp represented the greed, desire, and evil in people's hearts. But today, it also paid the price for its crimes, dissipating from the world.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━