Rei looked at Honma Mei, who had appeared at the doorway.
Honma Mei sat down on the chair beside the bed, and the gaze she directed at Rei carried deep helplessness.
"You… why did you push yourself so recklessly?"
Rei lowered his gaze, staring at his own hands.
"If I don't, they'll lose their lives."
Honma Mei looked at him, her eyes flickering, her voice heavy.
"We're iryō-nin, not gods. We cannot save everyone."
She sighed deeply, paused for a moment, then spoke with powerless resignation.
"Even more shinobi die on the battlefield. Even the iryō-nin there cannot save everyone. So… you have to accept that."
Mei gently patted Rei's shoulder.
She stared at Rei's fingers, which were tightly entwined with tension.
A look of quiet compassion settled across Rei's face. Mei was caught completely off guard when their eyes met.
"Many of the ninja on the battlefield didn't actually have to die, right?"
"It's just that there are too few frontline medical ninja… and too many wounded…"
In those clear, mirror-like crimson eyes, Honma Mei saw her own pale, panic-stricken face reflected.
Her heart tightened sharply. She hurriedly looked away, unable to face the purity in those young eyes.
Such eyes only forced her to confront her own ugliness more clearly.
"Yes…"
No matter how desperately she tried to steady herself, her voice still trembled.
Fortunately, at this moment, the trembling in her voice could be interpreted as grief—not suspicion.
Moreover, the young girl before her… was so innocent… so wholeheartedly trusting of her…
"That's right… there are far too few iryō-nin on the front lines…"
She heard her own pained voice as if it belonged to someone else.
She quietly raised her eyes.
The young girl was no longer looking at her but gazing toward the blue sky outside the window.
"Such beautiful blue skies and white clouds… and they can no longer see them…"
Honma Mei heard the girl's distracted whisper, and she swallowed nervously.
At last, she heard the words she had been hoping for.
"I want them to see the blue sky and white clouds again… to bathe in the sunlight once more…"
Honma Mei let out a silent breath of relief.
Perfect.
The mission was complete.
Her peaceful life would no longer be disrupted.
She was, truly, relieved.
"Why are you crying?"
Rei looked at the tear-streaked Honma Mei in puzzlement.
Am I crying?
Honma Mei stared, stunned.
How could she possibly be crying?
If anything, it should have been tears of joy.
She wiped her face.
Her hand came away wet.
A soft, gentle touch brushed her cheek.
Her pupils widened slightly as she stared at Amamiya Rei, who was quietly wiping away her tears.
The handkerchief carried a faint floral scent.
Honma Mei stared at Rei without blinking.
Her mind wavered—
Rei's face was covered in blood.
The young girl's pupils were dull, devoid of light.
Lifeless.
Honma Mei jolted violently. She looked again, horrified—only to see Rei's face clean and pale, without a trace of blood.
Her breath quickened. She seemed to be slipping into a trance.
"Don't be afraid."
"Mei-nee, don't be afraid."
"Just relax."
Rei's gentle voice echoed in her mind.
She abruptly pushed herself up from the chair.
Facing Amamiya Rei's confused but understanding gaze, she trembled as she said, "The hospital… the hospital is busy… I need to go back… yes, I need to go back!"
She rushed out the door.
Slamming it shut behind her, Honma Mei fled from Amamiya Rei's home—only to realize she couldn't even find the direction to the hospital.
She leaned against the cold wall of the street, her entire body trembling.
Would Rei die?
Would Amamiya Rei die if she were sent to the battlefield and targeted by Danzō?
Would she be the one who caused her death?
A violent shiver ran through her.
The moment the door closed, Rei's expression turned cold.
"Heh."
Rei gave a soft, derisive laugh and tossed the handkerchief onto the floor.
Trying to act in front of him.
Judging from Honma Mei's state, Rei had already deduced who was behind her.
She was pitiful, truly.
Not virtuous enough to be a good person, not ruthless enough to be a villain.
A person like that, once falling into his hands, could only experience continuous suffering.
System: "…"
Whether they're true saints or absolute villains, once they run into you, don't they all end up suffering anyway?
Aren't Shisui and Black Zetsu perfect examples?
"Waaa—waaa—waaa—!"
The nanny came in carrying a bawling Naruto.
The tiny boy flailed his arms, trying to climb onto Rei.
Rei immediately stood up and told the nanny,
"I have to go see the Hokage."
The nanny: "…"
Rei half-heartedly patted the howling Naruto.
The moment Naruto saw Rei's form disappear, he let out a shrill, piercing cry sharp enough to make the nanny's ears bleed.
Rei arrived at the Hokage's office door but did not enter.
The ANBU guards stepped in front of him.
"Hokage-sams is speaking with the Elders."
One of the ANBU looked at Rei as he explained.
Rei had no choice but to wait outside.
The office door did nothing to block sound.
Everything being discussed inside was perfectly audible outside.
"You've seen the reports from the front!"
"Kumogakure has already deployed their bijū onto the battlefield!"
"Konoha's casualties are severe!"
"And that's only the Two-Tails!"
"If the Eight-Tails joins the battle next, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Shimura Danzō's furious voice echoed from inside.
The ANBU guarding the entrance acted as though they heard nothing, their faces expressionless.
Rei raised an eyebrow—Danzō really was attacking from both sides.
"I know what you intend to say."
"Danzō."
Inside, Sarutobi Hiruzen fixed a calm gaze on his old comrade.
Hiruzen had long known Danzō wanted Amamiya Rei sent to the battlefield.
However, Rei had entered the shinobi world too recently. Though her strength was great, her personality and conduct were too innocent and kind.
Sending someone like her to the battlefield, it frightened Hiruzen.
He feared her heart would be twisted by war, and he feared she would lose her life because of her innocence.
Sarutobi Hiruzen struggled to make a decision.
The battlefield could make Rei grow rapidly, but he feared the battlefield would break her, drown her, and cause her to lose herself.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, you are the Hokage!"
"You cannot prioritize one individual's interests—you must prioritize the interests of the village!"
Danzō's voice was cold.
"Or do you want to see more Konoha shinobi die?"
He looked down at Hiruzen seated at the desk, striking his cane heavily against the floor in displeasure.
Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose in exhaustion.
"I am willing to go to the battlefield."
***
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