Fumori Masai was relieved to see that Kana was mostly unharmed.
The incident had occurred because Masaki hadn't anticipated the enemy having spies among the officials of the Land of Demons, and he had brought Kana, who hadn't learned any combat methods, to this place.
While he couldn't be entirely blamed—after all, he hadn't expected the situation in the Land of Demons to be like this—Masaki still felt a sense of guilt.
"I'm sorry, Kana-san, I almost didn't make it in time, and I let you get into danger," Masaki said, leaning against the paper door.
"Why are you apologizing? This isn't your fault, Fumori Masakisan," Kana said, not blaming Masaki for her encounter with danger.
"You've protected our intelligence very well.
The enemy knowing about my existence this time must be because the Land of Demons accidentally leaked the information.
If anyone is to blame, it should be the Land of Demons."
"That may be so," Masaki said, shaking his head slightly.
"After discovering the enemy's true identity, I should have sent someone to escort you back home.
This mission wasn't as safe as I imagined."
"Fumori Masakisan, I already told you, it's not your fault.
It's because the Land of Demons didn't fully investigate the intelligence," Kana said.
"You can't predict the future.
Without accurate information, it's impossible to make the correct judgment, and that's completely understandable."
Kana's understanding left Masaki speechless.
From one person's perspective, it would be natural to resent Masaki for the danger she encountered due to his oversight, but Kana didn't do that.
Instead, she was considerate of the difficulties Masaki faced, which only made him feel more guilty.
"Kana-san, aren't you scared?
If the enemy comes again, I might not be able to protect you.
This time, it was because of Miroku's prophecy—although even without her warning, within the shrine's vicinity, I could sense the battle and rush over quickly.
But if the distance were greater, I might not have arrived in time," Masaki said.
Sometimes, even with great strength, one cannot always protect important people.
Just like in later generations, Minato Namikaze saved countless Konoha ninja, but in two crucial battles, he failed to arrive in time because he was protecting other Konoha ninja, leading to the deaths of his two students.
Kana remained silent for a while before finally saying, "Fumori-san, you never said you could protect me no matter what.
If you had said that, I would definitely feel at ease."
"That statement is somewhat unrealistic to a certain extent.
While it sounds good, no one can guarantee they can always do it," Masaki said.
"I used to appreciate such words and hoped to live by them.
However, as I encountered more and more things, I gradually lost that confidence."
"Even you, Fumori Masakisan, have moments where you feel you can't do enough?" Kana asked curiously.
"I really don't want to admit it..." Masaki didn't explicitly say it, but Kana had already gotten the answer she wanted.
She said, "But you've already admitted it, Fumori Masakisan.
I think that's a good thing, because you haven't chosen to deceive yourself."
Masaki looked up slightly, recalling what Teacher Tobirama had said to Danzo in the original story: "As a ninja, self-sacrifice is necessary, but one cannot ignore the thought of 'I don't want to die yet.' If you're unwilling to face that thought, you won't be able to remain calm when true self-sacrifice is required." This was Tobirama's parting advice to Danzo when he saw Danzo's fear at the last moment.
At that time, Tobirama probably wasn't blaming Danzo's cowardice.
As a teacher, his final lesson to Danzo was to encourage him to face himself.
Unfortunately, Danzo didn't understand Tobirama's intentions, which led to his later concept of sacrifice appearing ridiculous to others.
It wasn't until his dying moment that Danzo truly understood his teacher's meaning.
"That's because of my teacher's guidance," Masaki said.
"Uncle Tobirama?" Kana nodded slightly.
In her eyes, Tobirama was also a person of profound wisdom, just like Masaki.
And what Masaki said was also correct, it's just that Tobirama hadn't personally said these words to others yet.
"Kana-san, you still haven't answered my previous question.
Are you really not scared?" Masaki continued to ask.
"It's impossible not to be scared."
Since Masaki had honestly admitted his lack of confidence, Kana chose not to act tough in front of him, but instead directly expressed her thoughts, "I used to hear from my father how cruel ninja battles were during the Warring States period, but I never witnessed them firsthand.
Even during the Shinobi World War, I only saw the corpses of those village heroes.
And this is the first time I've seen someone killed."
Kana could almost smell the blood, and she couldn't help but grasp her sleeves, her body trembling slightly as she said, "The only death I witnessed firsthand was my father's death from illness, but my father died peacefully.
I never imagined someone could die so horribly."
At that time, Kakuzu had used black threads to directly tear the attendant apart, which was a cruel method of killing even for a ninja, let alone for Kana, who had never been a ninja.
The shock was naturally immense for her, which is why she fainted after the attack.
"I'm sorry, Kana-san," Masaki apologized once more.
"This time, they targeted you not only because you're the only non-ninja among us, but also because of the conflict between the Shinobi Sect ideology you promote in your books and the Jashin cult's doctrine.
That's why they wanted to treat you as a heretic."
"Huh?" Kana was slightly startled.
"While you were unconscious, we interrogated a Jashin cultist.
Although we didn't get more intelligence, we at least learned the reason for their attack on you, Kana-san," Masaki said.
"Kana-san, this is truly because of me.
Because I led you down this path.
Perhaps, it would have been better to make you a ninja."
"Fumori Masakisan!" Kana's voice suddenly became serious.
She quickly got up from the bed, walked swiftly to the door, and pulled open the paper door.
This action startled Masaki somewhat, causing him to involuntarily take a step back and look at Kana in surprise.
"Indeed, I began studying the classics of the Shinobi Sect and, through them, propagated its teachings, intending to revive the Shinobi Sect, influencing nations ideologically to achieve peace.
This was a suggestion I received from you, Fumori Masakisan, which helped me find a new goal after my family went into seclusion."
Kana looked at Masaki earnestly, "But now, I'm not doing this just because of you, Fumori Masakisan.
I believe the Shinobi Sect taught by the Sage of Six Paths is truly great.
Its ideas are more advanced than those of the current ninja world.
What we have now is a blatant regression; revival is the correct path."
"If I had to choose, I'd rather have my current profession than be a hired ninja fighting others, because I believe this is the right path.
So, Fumori Masakisan, please don't blame yourself.
This is the path I chose myself, not something you forced upon me," Kana said, gazing deeply at Masaki.
"Even if you encounter danger, you won't regret it?" Masaki asked, looking back at Kana.
"Fumori Masakisan, will you regret your goal?
Even if you encounter unimaginable difficulties and make heartbreaking sacrifices along the way, will you stop because of them?" Kana retorted.
"I... won't," Masaki said after a slight pause, his voice serious.
He had asked himself many times in his heart about his goal, if it was truly good, but the only answer he ever got was no, he wouldn't regret it.
"Then, neither will I," Kana said, a smile gracing her lips, looking exceptionally beautiful under the cold moonlight.
Masaki gave a somewhat helpless smile and said, "You've really got me, Kana-san.
You truly are Hashirama-sama's daughter; you possess the same brilliance as him."
"Don't think of me as just my father's shadow," Kana said, walking in front of Masaki with her hands behind her back, then turning around.
"I will definitely become a greater person than my father.
Perhaps not in terms of martial prowess, but in other aspects, I won't lose to him."
"Then, I look forward to seeing that day, Kana-san," Masaki said with a smile.
"You definitely will," Kana nodded emphatically.
Just then, Tsunade got up from the floor, making a sleepy sound.
She rubbed her eyes and, seeing the bed empty, was startled, her somewhat muddled mind clearing considerably.
Fortunately, she quickly spotted Masaki and Kana by the door.
"Honestly, Aunt Kana was clearly overly surprised, why isn't she resting properly instead of talking with Masaki by the door?" Tsunade grumbled slightly.
"Sorry," Kana smiled apologetically.
"Get some good rest.
When our comrades arrive, it will be time for revenge against those people," Masaki said.
#
A few days later, a team secretly entered the territory of the Land of Demons.
It was Masaki's team: Hyuga Kei, Sarutobi Yukinojo, Inuzuka Shigeru, Yamanaka Takuma, and Senju Risa.
Although entering a country's borders was an unwritten rule among great nations, they couldn't do so openly, so their arrival was very discreet.
Upon entering the Land of Demons, they witnessed the architectural culture with its strong Shinobi Sect traditions, which surprised them somewhat.
As Konoha ninja, they had, of course, read the books written by Kana and Masaki, and thus had been exposed to the ideas of the Shinobi Sect.
However, they had no intention of lingering; the mission was paramount.
So, they quickly made their way to the capital of the Land of Demons, heading to the shrine's location.
After informing the guards at the entrance, they entered and met with Masaki.
"Long time no see, Captain Masaki," everyone greeted Masaki, then Hyuga Kei said, "With Captain Masaki's strength, the mission should have been no problem, but we didn't expect the intelligence to be so flawed."
"We can't entirely blame the Land of Demons; after all, the enemy isn't simple," Masaki said.
"One of them is the ninja named Kakuzu, who once assassinated Hashirama-sama."
"It was him?" Everyone knew about Hashirama's assassination attempt, as it happened after the establishment of the ninja villages.
As the God of Shinobi who ended the Warring States period, only a handful of people would dare to assassinate him, so they all knew Kakuzu, the one who had once attempted to assassinate the First Hokage.
"It's said that Hashirama-sama used his Wood Release secret technique to defeat that person.
In other words, he could withstand Hashirama-sama's other non-Wood Release techniques," Yamanaka Takuma said.
"Even if most of Hashirama-sama's power lies in his Wood Release secret technique, that's not to be underestimated."
"Indeed, I don't know where he learned his secret techniques, but he seems to have modified his body into a different form, possessing five hearts and five chakra pathways.
If we can't destroy all five hearts, it's probably impossible to kill him," Masaki said.
"I will deal with Kakuzu; you don't need to worry about him.
Just eliminate the others."
Hearing the fact that Kakuzu had five hearts, the others were, as expected, surprised.
Then, hearing Masaki say he would face him alone, out of trust in their captain, they didn't doubt whether Masaki was boasting, but truly believed he had a way to defeat Kakuzu, just as he had during the Shinobi World War.
"So, what's our current mission?
Is it mainly to gather intelligence on the enemy?" Hyuga Kei immediately asked for instructions.
"Coincidentally, we captured a Jashin cultist recently.
He definitely has information, so we'll need Takuma's help," Masaki said, looking at Yamanaka Takuma and confirming, "No problem, right?"
"Oh, we have a captive, that makes things easier.
With our Yamanaka clan's secret techniques, we're sure to extract the information," Yamanaka Takuma nodded slightly.
"If his brain has a sealing jutsu to protect information, it might be a bit troublesome, but I imagine they wouldn't have a very powerful sealing jutsu.
As long as it's not extremely potent, I should be able to break it."
"Exactly.
With your skill, getting the information shouldn't be too difficult.
Of course, if the opponent's jutsu is unexpectedly strong, Kei can also assist you," Masaki said, looking at Hyuga Kei.
The Byakugan can directly observe subtle chakra flow, and a Gentle Fist master can even disrupt chakra flow, thereby breaking jutsu.
Hyuga Kei nodded and said, "If you need anything, just say the word.
I'll do my best."
"Good, I'll take you to see that Jashin cultist," Masaki then stood up and led everyone to the place where the Jashin cultist was being held.