Tsume Inuzuka realized that her attempt to "heal" Saiki's psyche with praise had failed miserably.
The boy's detachment was too deep. She felt a wave of helplessness.
This kid... can he not be so "transcendent"? Fame and glory mean nothing to him. How are people supposed to relate to someone like that?
If Saiki continued his path, he would eventually become a true Sage.
Indifference to worldly status was a natural byproduct of his evolution.
However, things had taken a "sideways" turn.
Having embarked on the path of Dual Cultivation, he was destined to be perpetually entangled with women, regardless of his spiritual heights.
Tsume sighed internally, deciding she'd have to find a better time for a "heart-to-heart."
Once the discussion about the battle ended, Tsume straightened her posture.
"Alright, food's done. Don't wander off. Get some rest this afternoon; we have an assignment tonight."
"What kind of mission?" all three asked at once.
Genhai and Kurenai were vibrating with excitement.
After hearing about Saiki's rampage, they were already imagining themselves earning glory on the field.
Saiki, however, merely frowned.
Setting aside his own need for recovery, Genhai and Kurenai had literally just arrived. They needed time to acclimate, yet they were already being put to work.
With no time for rest, Saiki suspected that the Cloud were already preparing a follow-up after their defeat last night.
Tsume noted their reactions. While she worried about Saiki's mental state, she couldn't help but marvel at the difference between them.
Saiki was already calculating the strategic implications, while the other two were just happy to have a job.
The other two still had the "spark" of childhood; Saiki was far too deep, far too somber.
She remembered the first time she met him. He had been a bright, sunny youth.
Even during their mission to the border, he was alert and serious, but he still had that "light" in him.
But since the exams, the shadows of the war had settled over him, turning him moody and grim.
Tsume felt an urgent need to guide him back to the light.
But her efforts were destined to fail.
War is brutal, but a soldier's resolve is anchored by their "standpoint." Saiki had no standpoint.
He didn't care about the Leaf. His only anchor was Tsunade, and she had abandoned him.
He cared about the orphanage and Nono'u, but they were being exploited by the village leadership. Saiki had zero incentive to bleed for Hiruzen Sarutobi's interests.
He liked Genhai, Kurenai, Tsume, and Kushina. He would protect them.
But his personal morals weren't simplistic enough to make him a loyal lapdog for the village.
Luckily for the Leaf, Saiki was currently awakening his more "violent" and "lustful" side.
His personality might be warping, but he wasn't about to defect just yet.
"It's not a high-risk combat mission," Tsume said, smiling to ease the tension. "We're on night patrol tonight."
"Huh?"
Genhai didn't hide his disappointment. Like the original Naruto, he wanted the high-rank, flashy missions that came with promotions and glory.
The moment Genhai's dismissive "Ah" left his mouth, Saiki's hand blurred.
He delivered a sharp, heavy punch to the top of the boy's head, turning his moan of disappointment into a genuine cry of pain.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Boss! What the hell was that for?!"
Genhai clutched his head, looking at Saiki with teary, wronged eyes.
Saiki stared at him with a terrifying, cold intensity. He then shifted his gaze to Kurenai, who was watching curiously.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Never look down on a mission, and never let your guard down because things seem 'easy.' Have you already forgotten how close you came to dying last time?" Saiki's voice was a low, dangerous warning.
Under Saiki's freezing glare, Genhai went perfectly still.
"Don't think of sentry duty as a vacation. This is the front line. The enemy can strike at any moment, and their first goal is always to silence the scouts. With your current attitude, you'll be a corpse before you even know you're under attack. Stop thinking you're hot shit."
He turned his focus to Kurenai.
"Kurenai, you too. I've been watching you both. You have zero sense of urgency. In this state, you're just easy prey for the first Cloud assassin that finds you."
Watching Saiki lecture them, Tsume felt even more impressed by his maturity.
She'd been planning to say the same thing, but Saiki had beaten her to it.
The only problem was Saiki himself. He was too good. Tsume didn't know how to "guide" someone who had already figured everything out.
Seeing the two kids properly cowed, Tsume didn't offer any comfort. She doubled down on Saiki's warning.
"Saiki is right. Genhai, Kurenai—look around you. We are at war. Whether you're in a trench or in the middle of this camp, if you relax for a single second, you die. Do you understand?"
"We understand, Sensei!"
The joy of Saiki's earlier victory was completely gone, replaced by a heavy, necessary weight.
It was cruel to strip away their innocence like this, but it was the only way they'd survive.
Tsume's expression softened.
"Don't be too terrified. You have me and Saiki with you. Just remember: never, ever be careless."
The "Dual Education" was a success.
Genhai and Kurenai had been getting cocky after the exams and Saiki's fame; they needed this reality check to keep their heads on their shoulders.
Once they were properly focused, Saiki looked at Tsume.
"Sensei, which sector are we patrolling tonight?"
"The Back Mountain," Tsume replied.
Saiki's heart skipped a beat. "Fucking hell."
"Why the Back Mountain? That's right next to the Medical Camp and the recovery wards. It looks like the rear of the camp, but it's the most vulnerable target for an infiltration team."
The two kids instantly grew tense again. Tsume acknowledged his point with a grim nod.
"We aren't alone," Tsume explained. "A Hyuga scout team is handling the outer perimeter. If anything crosses the line, we'll have a warning."
"I hope so," Saiki muttered.