Chapter 48
"Hmph, you even need me for something this minor?" Zemu Koichi muttered under his breath. "A bunch of useless ninjas."
His voice wasn't loud, but in the dead of night, with chakra users around, every word reached the nearby ninjas' ears.
"You—!" Uzumaki Kushina clenched her fists, her temper rising, only to be held back by Uchiha Mikoto.
"Kushina," Mikoto said quietly, shaking her head, "a ninja must learn patience."
Kushina looked ready to throw a punch, but in the end, she let out a sharp breath and sat back down.
Seeing this, Zemu Koichi snorted and walked into the caravan's central tent without another word.
"Alright, everyone get some rest. If anything happens, I'll alert you immediately," Asakawa Naoki spoke up, breaking the tension.
With the matter settled, most of the group headed back to their tents, eager to salvage what remained of the night. But Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Mikoto, Uzumaki Kushina, Asakawa Naoki, and Nawaki stayed behind, sitting quietly around the dying campfire.
"That guy really gets on my nerves," Kushina muttered, breaking the silence first.
"He treats refugees like they aren't even human," Nawaki added, scowling. "If it weren't for the rule that attacking your employer gets you stripped of your ninja status, I would've knocked him flat."
Though Nawaki was still young, Zemu Koichi's large gut and obvious lack of training made him an easy opponent. It wasn't a lack of strength stopping Nawaki—it was the law.
"This is the life of a ninja," Asakawa Naoki said quietly, looking into the flickering flames. "We're tools, hired by merchants, dispatched by villages."
"I wonder when the world will finally find peace."
For all their skills and training, the status of ninjas wasn't as high as outsiders imagined. In peaceful times, they acted as bodyguards for the rich. When war erupted, they were sent to the frontlines to kill other ninjas. And though they ranked above refugees and peasants, that wasn't saying much.
You only had to look at how Koichi treated the refugees to see it.
"Is that why you want to become Hokage?" Nawaki asked, glancing over at Asakawa Naoki.
"Partly," Naoki admitted. "I want to change this world. Ninjas shouldn't be mindless weapons. There has to be a path to peace."
Nawaki stared at him, then let out a wry chuckle. "Your dream's a lot bigger than mine. I just want to protect Konoha."
His words caught the others off guard. Namikaze Minato, Mikoto, and Kushina exchanged looks—they hadn't expected that from Naoki.
Namikaze Minato gave a sheepish smile. His own reason for chasing the Hokage title was no different than Nawaki's: to protect their village.
"There's no such thing as a big or small dream," Naoki said, a light smile on his face. "The closer a dream is to reality, the easier it is to chase."
He didn't know how he was going to make it happen. Even with knowledge from a past life and a physique suited for Sage techniques, changing the world wasn't something that could be done overnight.
In a way, Uchiha Obito's descent into darkness hadn't begun with Rin's death. It had started when he saw the truth of the ninja world—the endless cycle of war and betrayal. The creation of ninja villages hadn't changed that. Friends still killed friends for the sake of missions. Loved ones were lost for political gain.
But unlike Obito, Naoki wouldn't fall into hatred. He saw the darkness, but he also believed in the light. The world wasn't one-dimensional. It wasn't all evil, nor was it purely good.
His power wasn't enough yet. His influence was limited. But one day, he'd find a way to bring about true peace.
"I believe in you, Naoki-kun," Uchiha Mikoto said softly, a warm smile on her face.
"I'll help too!" Kushina grinned, pumping her fist.
"Thanks," Naoki replied, the warmth of their trust settling into his chest.
"Naoki, I admire your dream," Namikaze Minato said with a chuckle, "but I'm not backing down either. Being Hokage is my dream too!"
"Same here!" Nawaki grinned, his spirits lifting.
"I want to be Hokage too." Mikoto's lips curved into a small, proud smile.
"I won't lose either!" Kushina declared.
The conversation had suddenly turned lighthearted and competitive. Naoki couldn't help but laugh.
"Then let's all give it our best. Chase your dreams without regrets."
The night was meant for sleep, but the five of them sat around the fire, talking deep into the hours. At this age, there was always energy to spare. If nothing happened, they'd probably keep chatting until dawn.
But the quiet was soon broken by the faint sound of approaching footsteps. Someone was deliberately moving softly, but in the silence, it was easy to catch.
A glint of steel flickered in the distance.
"Shengshu, wake the others," Naoki whispered, his voice sharp and steady. "We've got trouble."
"Got it," Nawaki replied, crouching low and slipping away without a sound.
Whoever was approaching hadn't realized their presence was already detected. They crept closer, believing they still had the element of surprise.
But Naoki and the others were already prepared, waiting for them to step into range.
By the time Nawaki roused the other ninjas and alerted the caravan guards, several of the attackers had unknowingly entered the kill zone.
"Enemy attack!"
Naoki's shout shattered the stillness. The ronin froze for an instant—an instant too long.
The sharp whistle of shuriken cutting through air was the last thing they ever heard.
Four bodies dropped to the ground almost simultaneously, blood spilling onto the cold earth. The ronin's faces were frozen in shock, unable to comprehend how they'd been discovered.
According to their informant, this convoy's ninjas were all fresh academy graduates. The leader was supposedly a kid.
And yet, it was Asakawa Naoki—a youth tall and composed beyond his years—who'd been in charge.
"Naoki, your shuriken technique is incredible," Namikaze Minato breathed, impressed.
They'd divided targets beforehand, one enemy each. Although all four of them had aced shuriken throwing at the Academy, this was their first real battle.
For safety, Minato, Mikoto, and Kushina each threw two shuriken to be certain of a kill.
Only Naoki used one. And it found its mark perfectly.
It wasn't just skill—it was confidence.
"I just trust my aim," Naoki replied with a small smile.
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