"Hmm, I understand the situation. Although this act is somewhat reckless, considering it's your first offense, I won't pursue any punishment."
The instructor-Ninja took the commission from Minazuki Yoru's hands with a stern face and a tone full of warning.
[His acting is terrible; he should go to Root for some training.]
Where is insincerity most likely to show? The answer is the eyes, heartbeat, and breathing.
And although this instructor-Ninja looked very stern, his eyelids were clearly turning crescent-shaped, not to mention those three most important elements.
[It seems I'm bound to the other two for a while.]
This is the downside of forcing a performance with poor acting skills. Thinking this, Tian Yin walked with Minazuki Yoru towards Ameyuri Ringo.
By her calculations, it was about time to see what kind of reaction she would have.
"Classmate Hibiki really has the feel of a captain."
On the way, minazuki suddenly smiled and blurted out this sentence, causing Tian Yin's footsteps to pause involuntarily.
It seemed... not wrong? Had she unknowingly gotten too serious?
However, after running through it in her mind, Tian Yin found she truly didn't regret acting this way, because although it would bring her some troublesome responsibilities later, it was very interesting~
"Then, if we were choosing a captain, would you choose me now? Let's be clear first, don't forget I just explicitly stated my willingness to go to the battlefield. That means if I were captain, I would accept c-rank missions."
Tian Yin observed Minazuki Yoru's reaction with great interest.
"That really is troubling. So, Classmate Hibiki, is the reason you want to participate in the war to help that Mr. Nakamura? Is that really worth risking your life for? War is a terrifying thing."
As if remembering something, a shadow passed over Minazuki Yoru's face, and the Chakra within her became somewhat restless.
"Because Mr. Nakamura taught me many skills. Although he would prioritize my safety, I've also thought about whether I should obey him, which would fulfill Mr. Nakamura's wish. But..."
Tian Yin looked at her palm, then clenched it into a fist and continued: "I've also experienced moments of life and death. I've faced crises where death could come the next second. But precisely because of that, I've come to understand one thing."
"Living in this world, a safe and happy life is the most extravagant wish one can have. So, we must fight!"
[Perfect, all true.]
Therefore, as a child, Minazuki Yoru could more clearly and directly feel the absolutely genuine emotion contained within these words.
It wasn't simply repaying a debt of gratitude, but about honing her own strength to survive resolutely!
"Classmate Hibiki is truly strong-willed..."
Minazuki Yoru sincerely felt the gap between her own heart and Tian Yin's.
[Strong-willed? In my past life, although I understood it, I thought it was meaningless, so I always slacked off. In the end, being strong-willed still requires hope and a reason.]
"Just call me Tian Yin. As for you, being from a Bloodline Limit Clan, are you willing to study as a Ninja more for the sake of Kirigakure, or for your own advancement?"
Faced with Tian Yin's inquiry, minazuki fell into obvious thought. This was no wonder. No matter how precocious people in the Ninja World were, the person before her was a girl under ten years old; the question was a bit too philosophical.
But it was definitely highly effective for showing off, especially for a child of this age.
"I hope the Hidden Mist Village can become better and better. But I really do dislike fighting; I'm afraid of getting hurt, and even more afraid of death."
Minazuki Yoru's voice grew softer as she spoke, apparently feeling that the things she feared should be seen as shameful for a Ninja.
"It's normal. No one likes... well, pain isn't necessarily disliked. At least, being afraid of injury and death is human nature. It means you're a normal person; there's nothing to be ashamed of."
Minazuki Yoru suddenly widened her eyes.
"A normal person?!"
Tian Yin's footsteps paused again. She had considered Minazuki Yoru's possible reactions, but she didn't expect her to react so strongly to this point.
[Is this a Kirigakure phenomenon or a Ninja World-wide phenomenon?]
After a quick mental calculation, Tian Yin felt it necessary to properly establish the correct mindset for this child.
At this moment, there was no calculation involved. Her conscience, as someone aspiring to be a teacher in the future, wouldn't allow her to remain ignorant of this!
"Of course it's normal! Even the most powerful Ninjas are human, not machines. Did you think they don't feel pain when injured? Then I suggest you visit the Medical Department sometime and see how Ninjas with severe injuries wail in agony."
"But..."
"You want to say Ninjas should be fearless of death and such? That's for carrying out missions. Even if afraid, they must step forward. Otherwise, how can they protect their comrades beside them and their families behind them?"
"Afraid of injury, afraid of pain, afraid of death. Only after understanding the terror of all this will a person actively endure and shoulder it all to prevent their important people from tasting it. That is what is called a [Ninja]."
In an instant, a thunderous explosion went off in Minazuki Yoru's mind. Something that had always been blocking her thought process was suddenly blasted open by these words!
So this is what a Ninja is!
Precisely because they know the pain of injury and the fear of death, they actively shoulder and endure it all, just so their important people can stay far away from this suffering!
The look in Minazuki Yoru's eyes as she gazed at Tian Yin was filled with fervor, completely unlike her initially somewhat cool image.
"So that's it! Thank you, Hib... Tian Yin! I understand! I finally understand the path I must take! Originally, my reason for wanting to be a teacher was just to stay away from fighting, and to make Kirigakure's next generation understand the horrors of war, hoping this would make future Kirigakure abandon thoughts of war!"
[In the original work, you wouldn't have been secretly dealt with by Kirigakure, would you?]
Hearing her original plan, Tian Yin broke out in a cold sweat.
Making the next generation understand the horrors of war is understandable and necessary. But in this Ninja World, that's just too... not politically correct. That aside, actually thinking of using it to make Kirigakure abandon thoughts of war in the future?
"But now I understand! I will teach more children what a [Ninja] is, and make everyone understand the true meaning and the weight these two words carry!"
Minazuki Yoru was extremely excited. It seemed she had truly resolved her inner conflict and found her life's path.
"Then I wish you success."
At least this concept was correct. In Tian Yin's view, Ninjas in the Ninja World were essentially a term for a nation's military. It's just that this 'military' held the same autonomous sovereignty as the national government.
(Ninja villages are truly not subordinates to the Daimyos of the Ninja World; the two sides have an equal relationship. For specifics, you can look at the beginning of the Land of Waves arc; Kishimoto explained it through Kakashi's words.)
"Mm! Thank you! And... could you also just call me Yoru?"
Minazuki Yoru said with a red face.
"Mm! Please take care of me, Yoru."
[Next is you! Little Apple (Ringo)~]
Adjusting non-existent glasses, the corner of Tian Yin's mouth lifted slightly.