[Affection detected]

[Multiple sources: +1000 points each]

[Total accumulated: 3,000 points]

[Energy transferred to Rika]

[Development progress: 67.6%]

Chiba suddenly realized just how much suffering Shiratori had gone through before coming to Ame.

A war orphan struggling with everything he had just to survive in the chaos of war...

He gently rubbed Shiratori's head.

"Come on, let's go home."

Shiratori smiled at him.

"Yeah!"

"We're going home!"

Kuroi's voice carried barely suppressed excitement.

He had thought he would never be able to return.

On the way back to Ame, Chiba, Sakikawa, and Kuroi ran into a reinforcement unit led by Mizu.

Mizu immediately pulled Shiratori from behind Chiba and carefully checked if he had lost any limbs.

After confirming that he was completely unharmed, Mizu finally let out a huge sigh of relief.

"You were too reckless!"

Mizu placed his hands on Shiratori's shoulders and said seriously, his eyes filled with gravity.

"I wasn't reckless. I thought everything through carefully before taking any action," Shiratori explained.

Seeing his stubborn expression, Mizu couldn't help but think back to the last war with Suna.

If Shiratori hadn't snuck onto the battlefield back then, hemight've died. Whenever he thought of that, he found himself unable to scold the boy.

"Forget it," Mizu sighed. "Let Hanzō-sama deal with you when we get back."

"..."

He already had a few tricks up his sleeve to handle Hanzō.

---

The next day, Hanzō's gaze swept past the three kneeling ninjas and landed on Shiratori.

"I'm sorry, Sensei,"

He lowered his head.

Hanzō withdrew his gaze, expressionless. He glanced at the scroll handed over by Chiba and said, "Chiba, Kuroi, Sakikawa, this mission was well done. Go rest."

Kuroi lifted his head and glanced worriedly at Shiratori.

"Hanzō-sama, he—"

He didn't finish his sentence.

Hanzō stared him down with a warning look.

Kuroi bit his lip and lowered his head. He was dragged out of the office by Chiba and Sakikawa.

Chiba shook his head at him.

"He's Hanzō-sama's student. Leave it to him."

Kuroi looked helplessly at the tightly shut office door:

"I'm just worried that he'll be punished by Hanzō-sama."

"I doubt it," Sakikawa crossed his arms, "Who could bear to punish him?"

"That's true," Kuroi nodded unconsciously.

Wait, no, but this is Hanzō-sama we're talking about!

The coldest, most ruthless leader of Ame.

---

Inside the office, Hanzō stared coldly at Shiratori.

"No mission. No orders. You left Ame on your own. Do you know what the consequences are?"

Shiratori looked up at Hanzō and shook his head.

"Exile from Ame. Branded a missing-nin."

Hanzō spoke each word clearly and deliberately.

"Sensei, if I had asked you in advance to join Chiba-nisan's mission, would you have agreed?" Shiratori asked directly.

Hanzō didn't respond.

He didn't need an answer. His shoulders sagged slightly.

"You wouldn't have agreed. You've always treated me like a child."

"I hope you'll treat me as a ninja of Ame, not as some kid who can't do anything."

He lifted his head and stared straight at Hanzō.

"I want to go on missions with everyone, to fight on the battlefield together. If I have the power to save others, why should I hide away in the village?"

"I know you're worried about me, Sensei, but I worry about you too. I worry about all of you!"

His voice grew stronger, more determined.

"Please, let me fight alongside you all!"

He looked at Hanzō with earnest conviction.

[Affection detected: Hanzō +2000 points]

[Energy transferred to Rika]

[Development progress: 67.8%]

"You're not afraid of dying?"

Hanzō stared at him.

Shiratori shook his head.

"What's so scary about death? If I die for my dreams and beliefs, there's nothing frightening about that!"

[Reminiscence detected: Hanzō +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Choso]

[Development progress: 44.6%]

"What are your dreams and beliefs?"

"I hope the wars in the Land of Rain will end, and that both civilians and ninja can live peaceful, happy lives. I want a world where no one has to worry about war breaking out at any moment, where people only worry about whether their crops are growing well, how the harvest will turn out, how business is going… Where no one has to keep wandering and starving…"

As Shiratori spoke passionately, Hanzō's gaze grew distant.

[Reminiscence detected: Hanzō +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Choso]

[Development progress: 47.6%]

After a long silence, when Shiratori finally stopped talking, Hanzō slowly opened his mouth. By now, all of his earlier anger had completely dissipated.

"The battlefield is more terrifying than you can imagine. Last time, you got a taste of it, but let me tell you, compared to a real war, that was nothing."

Shiratori looked at Hanzō seriously. "But I'm your student, Sensei!"

"…What?"

Hanzō froze.

"I'm your student!" Shiratori repeated with conviction.

"I'm the student of the Salamander! I can overcome my fear. I won't be defeated by it!"

"I'll prove myself to everyone!"

"I'll make you proud to be my teacher!"

His eyes blazed with determination.

[Reminiscence detected: Hanzō +3000 points]

[Energy transferred to Choso]

[Development progress: 50.6%]

Hanzō's pupils widened slightly. It was as if he saw his younger self letting out an earth-shaking roar.

He took a deep breath.

Shiratori was a ninja who possessed the same spirit he had in his youth. He truly shouldn't be confined to the village under the pretense of "protection."

The battlefield really was a place of growth and tempering.

Yes, it was dangerous everywhere, but the boy was his student. As his student, he wouldn't be brought down so easily by a bit of hardship.

"Very well."

Hanzō looked at him and said in a deep voice.

"I approve your participation in missions, battles—even war!"

"Thank you, Sensei!"

Shiratori ran up to Hanzō, his eyes full of admiration:

"I knew you were the best!"

[Affection detected: Hanzō +1000 points]

[Energy transferred to Rika]

[Development progress: 67.9%]

Beneath his breathing apparatus, the corners of Hanzō's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly.

"Starting tomorrow, your training is doubled!"

Hanzō declared firmly.

Shiratori: "..."