Chapter 38: Chapter 38: The Cruel of War
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"But without her, how can I go on living? Cough, cough..."
Mūsa's voice was filled with despair, and his body involuntarily coughed again.
Under the influence of his excitement, Mūsa's injuries worsened once again. After calming down for a while, he spoke again.
"I originally thought I would die on the battlefield, but unfortunately, I didn't die. I managed to survive, carrying her final wish..."
There was no excitement on Mūsa's face as if he wished to die at that time rather than survive the war.
Then, anger appeared on Mūsa's face. "Do you know, after the war ended, the village became desolate once again."
"The compensation for each dead ninja was only a few hundred ryo."
"A few hundred ryo! How are ordinary people supposed to live on that?"
"We risked our lives just for a few hundred ryo?!"
"I can't accept it. I wanted to confront them and ask why."
"But what awaited me was not a hero's welcome but heartless mockery."
Mūsa's expression became more and more agitated. "I remember it so clearly, I'll never forget it! The faces of those ninjas from the major villages."
"They said giving us a few hundred ryo was already generous. Weaklings like us are worthless to be alive!"
"I resisted; I wanted to beat them up. But I couldn't beat them, only receiving their merciless beatings and ridicule. Cough, cough..."
"I couldn't bear it! I couldn't accept it! We were the ones who helped them selflessly, yet, in the end, we received such treatment."
"I want revenge. I want all those major villages to know the taste of suffering!"
"But I'm too weak, completely unable to pose any threat to them."
"So I have to become stronger, stronger than anyone else!"
Mūsa's eyes lit up as if becoming strong had become the biggest obsession of his life.
"So, I studied ninjutsu with all my might to enhance my strength."
"But I had access to very few techniques. For an ordinary C-rank technique, I had to risk my life to complete missions."
"Too slow, my progress was too slow."
"Finally, one day, I learned that there was a forbidden technique in the village that could rapidly enhance one's strength."
"I was tempted. I knew forbidden techniques had significant side effects. But so what? What did I have left to give up?"
Mūsa's voice became weaker and weaker, so weak that Yahiko had to listen carefully to discern what he was saying.
"So I applied to the village to learn this technique, but they refused, saying it was the village's most precious thing and couldn't be given to anyone."
"But I was already the strongest ninja in the village! Just because I was born into a small ninja clan, and there was almost no one left in the clan, I couldn't learn advanced ninjutsu?"
"Why? Why categorize people based on their birth? Why is this world so unfair?"
"Why can people from major ninja villages, major clans, live so easily?"
"They told me to wait, saying that one day I could learn forbidden techniques."
"But I can't wait. Without her, even being alive feels like a kind of pain."
"So, I broke into the forbidden technique room. They tried to stop me, but I killed them all."
"I stole the forbidden technique and escaped. I succeeded, successfully learned the forbidden technique."
"Unfortunately, I happened to encounter a brat like you. Well, it's good. I should have died a long time ago."
"I really envy you, with resources, friends, and a master."
"In my damn life, it seems like I've had everything, but it also seems like I've had nothing..."
Mūsa's voice became weaker, but his eyes became brighter.
Seeing Mūsa's condition, Yahiko also realized something.
After hearing Mūsa's story, Yahiko, who already had complex emotions, fell into an even deeper silence.
Looking at the sky, Mūsa felt his consciousness becoming clearer and clearer.
At this moment, he seemed to return to his childhood.
His parents returned to his side once again, accompanying him. The difference was that this time there was no war, and the family of three lived a peaceful adolescence.
He became a ninja again, and once again, he met her.
The two smoothly got to know each other, fell in love, and got married. Under the witness of his parents, the two had their own child.
That pure smile never disappeared from her face.
Everything was so ordinary, yet full of happiness.
"Father, mother, Mayuko, I'm coming. I'm sorry for making you worry."
Slowly, Mūsa's eyes lost their luster, and his eyelids slowly closed.
Yahiko watched Mūsa silently, a tear rolling down his face.
Seemingly oblivious, Yahiko, at this moment, pitied this detestable yet pitiful man.
The sky also darkened, and a gentle rain began to fall, covering the traces of Yahiko's tears.
"I'm sorry... I put an end to your revenge."
"War, it's really cruel."
There was no nausea, only a complex and extreme emotion in Yahiko at this moment.
Having dug a hole and buried Mūsa, Yahiko lingered in front of his grave for a while before turning and leaving.
Outside the mountain range, Konan and Nagato looked up at the sky, where a light rain began to fall.
"Master, it's raining. When will Yahiko resolve the enemies? Will there be any danger without us?"
Asahi looked towards the depths of the mountains. "Ah, don't worry. Everything is over."
"Oh~"
Sure enough, Yahiko soon emerged from the mountains.
"Yahiko, you're out! How was the enemy?" Konan excitedly shouted at Yahiko.
Although his emotions were complicated, Yahiko didn't want to convey negative feelings to everyone.
After organizing his heavy emotions, Yahiko showed a familiar smile from the past.
"He is indeed remarkably strong, a worthy opponent to be respected!"
Hearing this, Konan and Nagato curiously asked Yahiko about the details of the battle, and Yahiko did not hide anything, providing a detailed account of the perilous fight.
Yahiko didn't bring Mūsa's body out, and Asahi naturally knew.
He didn't ask why. Although he didn't know the story of Mūsa, Yahiko's actions naturally had their own significance.
Some people, even in death, would receive the compassion and respect of their opponents, and they wouldn't choose to exploit their bodies.
Watching Yahiko's confident and composed demeanor, with no signs of anything amiss, Asahi nodded.
His performance, along with the subtle complexity in his eyes when he came out, was all naturally registered in Asahi's heart.
'Yahiko has indeed grown a lot!' Asahi silently thought to himself while smiling in satisfaction