Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

Chapter 244 Though in Hell, My Heart Yearns for Humanity

Seeing that Lord Aoba was angry, everyone around dared not breathe. Even the red-haired youth whose leg injury had just been healed stood there, looking guilty.

"Shiori, come with me."

Aoba turned and walked towards the boardwalk by the sea.

Shiori lowered her head and obediently followed.

The sea breeze blows, stirring up tiny waves that crash against the rocks.

The two stood at the end of the boardwalk, with an endless expanse of azure sea in the distance, sunlight scattering on the water and breaking into countless golden points of light.

"You should know how many malicious people would covet your ability to restore chakra and heal injuries with just a bite?"

Aoba had her back to her, and her voice was somewhat diffused by the sea breeze, but every word clearly reached Shiori's ears.

Shiori was silent for a moment, then whispered, "I—know."

"Know?"

Aoba turned around and looked at her. "Then why did you do it?"

"Because—it's different here."

Shiori turned her head and looked at the Uzumaki clan members who were busy or watching them with concern not far away, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

"Lord Aoba, although I haven't been here long, I really love this place. There are people here with hair like mine, people who cook for me and Xiangling, and people who teach Xiangling to speak—when I was wandering, I never dreamed that there was such a place in the world."

"This is my home now, and they are all my family."

Shiori turned her head, looking at Aoba with unwavering determination: "My family is injured, they're bleeding, how can I just stand by and watch, turning a blind eye?"

Looking into her clear and determined eyes, Aoba was momentarily speechless.

After a moment, he looked away, gazing at the distant horizon, and sighed silently.

To be honest, he didn't know how to refute such an answer.

Even though they themselves are not living a satisfactory life, they still can't bear to see the suffering of the world.

"Perhaps kindness and hard work should not be let down."

Aoba secretly mocked himself.

Yahiko is like that.

The Hyuga clan was the same.

Now, Shiori is the same way.

If it weren't for his intervention, Shiori's final fate would have been tragic, as she was used as a human blood bag by Kusagakure until her life force was completely drained, leading to her miserable death.

Aoba sometimes feels sentimental.

A world like Naruto, plagued by endless wars, with deep-seated hatred and tragedies everywhere.

Yet, ironically, it is in such a hellish place that some incredibly gentle people are born.

Though in hell, my heart yearns for the human world.

In Aoba's words from his previous life, this kind of person is called a "saintly mother".

Of course, I'm not referring to the kind of unprincipled kindness or the pseudo-saintly who resorts to moral blackmail at the drop of a hat.

Rather, they are the true people who, knowing the cost, still choose to lend a helping hand.

Aoba sometimes doesn't understand either.

He considered himself an extremely rational pragmatist, and after transmigrating to this world, everything he did had a clear purpose and calculated benefits.

But every time he encounters someone like that, he feels a momentary tremor in his heart.

"Shioori".

Aoba withdrew his gaze, looked at her, and spoke in a calmer tone, but with even greater seriousness than before.

"Every skill comes at a price."

Shiori's body stiffened slightly.

"Anyone can quickly restore chakra and heal injuries by biting your skin, but have you ever wondered where that power actually comes from?"

Shiori didn't speak, but she unconsciously clenched her arm, which was covered in teeth marks.

"That consumes your life force."

Qingye said, word by word.

"Every time you get bitten, your lifespan will be shortened. You're only in your early twenties, but according to the last checkup, your actual physical age is already over thirty!"

Shiori's eyelashes trembled.

"At this rate, your body will start aging rapidly in a few years at most. How old will Xiangling be then? Five? Six?"

Aoba's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a knife, precisely piercing Shiori's most vulnerable spot.

"Do you want Xiangling to lose her mother at such a young age?"

Shiori's body trembled violently, and her eyes finally reddened.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Because she had no way to refute it.

After a long silence, Shiori hugged her arms tightly, her voice trembling slightly, "I—I understand, Lady Aoba, I won't do it again."

"I will diligently learn the medical ninjutsu that Lord Aoba taught me—"

"Whatever you want."

Aoba sighed and rubbed his temples. "This is your own choice. Just don't regret it later!"

This will be the last time he reminds me.

From the moment Shiori arrived on the island, he arranged for basic medical ninjutsu instruction.

However, due to her long-term life as a wanderer, her physical condition was far inferior to that of a normal ninja. She even struggled with the most basic use of chakra. In addition, she had to take care of the young Karin, so her learning progress was ridiculously slow.

Forget about Healing Palm Technique, he can't even use the most basic chakra healing techniques properly.

Having said everything that needed to be said, Aoba stopped dwelling on it.

Although Shiori is of great value, it's hard to persuade this damned guy with kind words; he has already made the pros and cons clear.

Whether she listens or not is her business.

Moreover, Aoba already has a better replacement, namely Kokoro.

As can be seen from the original plot, Xiangling's potential is significantly greater than that of her mother.

She not only perfectly inherited her mother's [Physical Healing] ability, but also awakened the extremely rare sensory divine skill of the Uzumaki clan, [Kagura's Mind's Eye].

More importantly, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Karin also awakened the Uzumaki clan's unique sealing technique, the Adamantine Sealing Technique.

This is definitely an SSR-level support and control character!

Therefore, in the long run, the core person who really needs to be cultivated is Xiangling.

All Shiori needs to do is live well and live until her daughter grows up.

After dealing with Shiori's matter, Aoba returned to Konoha.

And the situation was pretty much as he had predicted.

Sure enough, a few days later, the third generation came knocking on their door.

The Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, with Tsunade standing beside him.

The old man started by spouting a lot of platitudes about "protecting Konoha," "safeguarding peace," and "the responsibility of the younger generation." If it were before, Aoba would have put on an act.

But now, well...

Seeing this, the third generation sighed helplessly and got straight to the point.

"Aoba, the scale of the Cloud Village's border troops is growing larger and larger. They need someone of sufficient weight to oversee and stabilize the situation. After much consideration, I believe you are the most suitable candidate."

Aoba crossed his arms, his expression indifferent.

This was expected; he had guessed it long ago, but he didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

Sending an ordinary person might not be enough to keep things under control.

Aoba not only shone brightly in the Battle of Kikyo Mountain, but also demonstrated astonishing strength during the Nine-Tails' rampage, and his reputation had already spread throughout the ninja world.

Sending him there would ensure that Yunyin would not dare to act rashly.

Moreover, transferring Aoba away from Konoha would also reduce an uncontrollable variable in the power reshuffling of the three generations in the village.

Killing two birds with one stone.

Tsunade, who was standing to the side, didn't say anything, but gave Aoba a look that said, "You decide what to do."

"Let me go and oversee the border, sure."

Aoba remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

A hint of joy flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, but Aoba's next words made his smile freeze slightly.

"However, I have two conditions."

Aoba held up two fingers: "First, I have to choose the people who go to the front lines myself. I don't want to lead a bunch of useless cowards to the battlefield."

"That's no problem."

The Third Hokage agreed without hesitation. Given Aoba's current rank and strength, it was only natural for him to assemble his own command team.

"Secondly, I can't leave right away."

Aoba lowered his hand. "I need a week to prepare."

"A week?"

The Third Hokage frowned slightly. The situation at the front was tense, and the Hidden Cloud Village could launch an attack at any time. Too many things could change in just one week.

"Yes, one week, not a single day less."

Aoba's tone was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

The Third Hokage glanced at Aoba, then at Tsunade standing calmly beside him, and finally sighed and nodded in agreement.

Aoba got up and left.

A week.

Just enough.

The White Zetsu clone he specially prepared for Kato Dan still needs a few days to mature.

In addition, he also needs time to make final preparations and rehearsals for the resurrection ceremony.

"It's a pity that Orochimaru hasn't defected yet, nor has he started researching the Impure World Reincarnation technique."

Aoba stroked his chin, muttering to himself with some regret.

If Orochimaru had already started using the Impure World Reincarnation technique, he would really like to find this snake to discuss the resurrection mechanism.

After all, Orochimaru has quite a lot of experience in manipulating souls and bodies.

Time flies.

Five days later.

The marshland is dotted with ruins and caves.

This place used to be Aoba's secret experimental base. All the instruments that were originally placed here have long been moved to the Island of Oblivion. Now the cave is empty, with only the murals on the rock walls remaining.

In the center of the cave, a white Zetsu lay quietly on the cold stone ground, bound by a specially made sealing belt.

If you look closely, you'll find that this White Zetsu is significantly different from the ordinary White Zetsu.

Its facial features are clearer and its lines are more defined, and one can vaguely see that it has features that are very similar to those of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

This is a clone offering specially made by Aoba for Kato Dan.

Unlike ordinary White Zetsu, this clone was infused with far more chakra and nutrients than usual during its development, resulting in extremely high levels of cell activity and physical strength.

The sole purpose is to ensure that Kato Dan, resurrected through Edo Tensei, can regain his former strength to the greatest extent possible.

Qingye stood in the center of the cave, took a deep breath, and slowly formed a hand seal.

Yin, Si, Xu, Chen————

Aoba slammed his hand on the ground.

"The Impure World Reincarnation Technique!"

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