At the time, he hadn't fully understood the earlier decision.
"Captain, I don't think the higher-ups intended for Mo Ying to come alone… maybe?" Hyena scratched his head, suddenly speaking, though his expression remained stiff as ever.
Suddenly, Tenzō and Fox froze, as if… there was actually some sense in what he was saying. But for such a simple mission, they immediately assumed it was assigned to Mo Ying. Was there really no other suitable task available at the time?
So this relatively simple mission was assigned to him?
That seemed possible.
After all, from their perspective, a mission like this could easily be handled by an experienced lower-level ninja. Xia Li, however, was the only rookie in the team—and since he was a privileged operative, their subconscious concluded that he was specifically chosen for training.
What surprised them, though, was that this kind of experience was perhaps a bit too harsh for a newcomer…
Now it seemed that maybe their assumption was wrong.
"Captain, should we intervene?" Fox asked, thinking along the same lines.
Tenzō glanced at Xia Li, who had already infiltrated the fortress, then shook his head. "No need. Mo Ying is about to finish anyway. It's too late."
After Tenzō spoke, the corners of Fox and Hyena's eyes instinctively tightened. The speed… was astonishing. It reminded them of Xia Li's introduction: "Quick strike."
He wasn't lying.
Through the village, Xia Li followed a trail of blood toward the last person. This one's face wasn't rough—there was a trace of awareness in his eyes. He didn't resist, only stared blankly at Xia Li and the blade, soaked in his companions' blood, as if trying to convey something.
"We only wanted to survive… is that wrong?"
Xia Li paused briefly but still swung the long blade mercilessly. Blood sprayed across the ground.
His clothes had been soaked by now, and the originally colorless mask was stained with crimson. At first, he cared, but soon he stopped worrying.
He glanced at the figure lying on the ground and spoke softly.
"Maybe you're not wrong… but neither am I."
With that, Xia Li sheathed the long sword and walked away quietly. His small frame among the corpses looked like an enforcer of death itself.
The three of Tenzō's men approached slowly. "Captain, the mission is complete," they said.
"Mo Ying, these were criminals who committed heinous crimes. Don't let it weigh on your mind," Tenzō added, concerned about Xia Li's mental state.
"Yes, Mo Ying. Although these people initially acted out of survival, their later actions—arson, murder, robbery—were capital offenses," Fox explained.
At the same time, they also shifted the responsibility to whoever assigned the mission. They described everything so clearly—shouldn't they have just written down the crimes? They even noted that the people were ordinary villagers forced into survival…
It was unnecessary.
"But in the end, from their perspective, they were trying to survive. You can't say it's wrong, even if it's hard to understand," Xia Li muttered, recalling the words of the last person he had taken down.
After hearing him, the three teammates felt a heavy weight in their hearts. If the rookie was struggling with his first mission, their own responsibilities as teammates were equally serious.
Xia Li realized this, glanced at his companions' expressions, and almost smiled—but his face was stiff, unable to force it.
Finally, he said calmly, "Don't worry. I'm fine. I just meant… from their point of view, what they did to survive wasn't wrong."
"But I've never thought that I did anything wrong," Xia Li added firmly. Once he stepped onto this path, he had to accept its reality. Hesitation would only prove his nature.
Yet Xia Li's thoughts inevitably drifted back to the bloodied village, the events with the Toad Sage, and the prophecy that had been made…
And the current situation seemed to confirm that prophecy.
"A bloody storm…" he whispered.
He hadn't expected the prediction to unfold so quickly.
But what did it mean? Corruption? Sin?
Haha… absurd. He was who he was. Even if he had to walk over mountains of corpses in the future, his goals would never change.
Chapter 86: Welcome Home
Hearing Xia Li's words, the three exhaled in relief, though Hyena suddenly felt an inexplicable emotion.
"If the other side was right, and you were right… then whose fault is it?"
Xia Li looked at him oddly. What kind of question was that? Would a normal person even ask this?
Yet it reminded him of a dark, famous anime—one that seemed to contain the "answer" to this question.
"Well… who knows? Maybe the problem lies in this world itself…?"
His light, questioning tone startled the three. They didn't fully understand, but it felt… powerful.
Xia Li, after saying it, found it amusing. Though he couldn't laugh outright, he felt a bit lighter.
The three glanced at the bodies inside the hut. They finally stopped seeing Xia Li as a mere twelve- or thirteen-year-old, and instead acknowledged him as an equal teammate.
"Mo Ying, rest. I'll handle the cleanup," Tenzō said. The corpses couldn't be left exposed—there was risk of disease.
"Don't you need help? There are so many…" Xia Li asked.
"Don't worry, Mo Ying. The captain is well-suited for cleanup," Hyena said, patting Xia Li on the shoulder.
Xia Li nodded, watching Tenzō as he placed his hands on the ground.
In the next instant, to Xia Li's mild surprise, countless trees shot up from the ground, quickly covering all the bodies. Now Xia Li understood exactly what Hyena meant by "well-suited."
"Captain… you're amazing," Hyena said.
"Yes. Truly strong," Xia Li replied, eyes glinting. Indeed, Tenzō was a formidable Bloodline Limit user—a true powerhouse. If he were the opponent, one might only stand a chance if unaware of Tenzō's lightning-based abilities.
"Alright, let's head back," Tenzō said.
"Yes!"
That night, Xia Li wanted to continue the night watch, but all three insisted he rest.
Reluctantly, Xia Li returned to his resting area.
"Mo Ying… are you really okay?" Tenzō asked, still worried. Could he trust his teammate?
"I'm fine. Nothing can happen to me," Xia Li said after a pause. "Captain, don't worry. Before the next mission, I'll make adjustments."
Though not an ordinary ten-year-old, and even in his previous life just a common laborer, Xia Li's mind had endured far more than most could imagine.
Even now, he wondered if he was naturally cold-blooded—otherwise, how could he think so calmly in such situations?
Sometimes, you only know your limits when you try.
And Xia Li was in exactly that state.
Tenzō, hearing this, fell silent. Even after a short time together, he could sense Xia Li's extraordinary talent. Could the Hokage have trusted him enough to entrust such a genius?
The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on Tenzō. He also relayed Hyena's thoughts to Xia Li.
Xia Li blinked, shook his head, and said, "It's okay, Captain. I feel the same way. And yes… I'm fine."
"Go sleep, rest properly," Tenzō finally sighed. This mission held no lethal risk, but could his heart ever be truly safe?
Even after completing such missions, a break was necessary—otherwise, he might regress to how he once was.
"Ah."
Fox remained silent, though he, too, felt relief. Perhaps they had really found a worthy teammate.
The next morning.
Xia Li woke, looking unusually fatigued. Rarely had he slept so poorly—he had been plagued by nightmares all night.
He glanced around. He was the last to rise. He had lingered too long in bed.
"Haha, it's early. You can rest a bit longer," Tenzō said, walking over.
"No need. Let's return to the village early," Xia Li replied.
"Alright. Nightmares happen to everyone at first. It'll get better," Tenzō said thoughtfully. The village likely had family members who would help him recover.
"Yes," Xia Li nodded, unconcerned how Tenzō knew. Perhaps they simply shared the same stage in life.
"Here's your breakfast," Tenzō said, handing Xia Li a bowl… of porridge?
Xia Li was surprised, then remembered Tenzō's Wood Release. Other ninjas might not carry such a bowl, but for Tenzō, it seemed standard.
"Hyena, Fox, hurry up," Xia Li said after finishing.
"Yes."
Xia Li's home.
By now, Xia Li had left the team and returned to his empty house. His mother mentioned she was still at work.
Xia Li thought she would be happy to see him. She must have been worried—but there was no avoiding it. He could never give up being a ninja.
These things were inevitable; only time could heal the wounds.
Thinking of Xina, Xia Li recalled how she panicked when her salary unexpectedly increased, feeling his work didn't deserve it.
In the end, Xia Li said the extra money had been given through Xina by the Third Hokage. Xina calmed down and accepted it as normal.
Because Xia Li smiled. In his mother's eyes, he had to be the best. No matter how unusual the method, in her eyes it was justified.
Still, Xia Li warned his mother not to tell coworkers about the raise, fearing jealousy.
Xina agreed—but still wanted to show off her son!
Xia Li chuckled. His mother loved showing him off, so he had to keep improving to give her more reason to boast.
"That's good… maybe this can continue…"
Xia Li murmured, lying down and closing his eyes.
This time, he didn't dream any nightmares and slept soundly.
That evening, Xina returned from work, her face tired, worried.
Yet upon opening the door, she saw a familiar figure.
Suddenly, her face lit up with unprecedented joy. All fatigue vanished instantly. Seeing him, she finally smiled—a gentle, blissful smile.
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