Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō both turned toward the door of the office.
Amamiya Rei had moved too swiftly; the ANBU stationed at the entrance had no power to stop her.
When the ANBU tried to close the door and escort Rei back out, the Hokage himself raised a hand to halt them.
Rei stood at the doorway, gazing at Sarutobi Hiruzen as she repeated:
"I am willing to go to the battlefield."
Hiruzen looked at her with complex emotion before asking quietly,
"Do you understand what the battlefield is like?"
Rei answered with complete honesty.
She shook her head.
"I don't know."
"I've never been there."
Hiruzen studied the girl before him, and what he saw in her was stillness—an unshakable calm.
"You might die."
There were no words that could truly capture what a battlefield was.
Even if someone managed to describe it, without seeing it firsthand, one could never grasp its reality.
Thus Hiruzen used the simplest, most direct truth to convey its terror.
"I know."
Pain surfaced in Rei's eyes.
"Staying here is indeed safe. My body does not hurt. There is no imminent threat of death. But my heart feels suffocated."
Tears welled in Rei's eyes.
"Even if I survive here in Konoha, my heart is as good as dead."
"If that is the case, I would rather go to the battlefield."
"Even if death could come at any moment, at least my heart would still be alive."
Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.
"I cannot bear knowing that somewhere I cannot see, someone is suffering and dying."
Rei wiped the tears from her face and pleaded,
"Hokage-sama, please let me go!"
Hiruzen looked at her for a long time before exhaling a deep, heavy sigh.
"…Very well."
He knew better than anyone that no one could stop Amamiya Rei.
He could stop a shinobi from sacrificing their life for Konoha, but he could not stop a kind person determined to save lives.
Danzō looked at Rei and scoffed before turning his gaze away.
"Sentimental woman's compassion."
"This afternoon," Hiruzen said to Rei, "a Konoha unit will depart to reinforce the front lines."
"You will go with them."
Rei nodded. "Understood."
As Rei's figure disappeared from the office, Hiruzen tapped his fingers against the desk, deep contemplation flickering through his eyes.
"Bring Asuma to me," he suddenly ordered.
The ANBU behind him vanished instantly.
---
Rei went to the hospital to say goodbye to Honma Mei.
"All this time, you've always taken care of me, Mei-nee. Thank you."
Rei looked at Honma Mei with genuine gratitude.
Honma Mei opened her mouth, yet not a single word could come out.
What was she supposed to say?
'You're welcome'?
Could she say that?
Had she taken care of Rei?
No.
She had pushed Rei toward the abyss.
Rei stepped closer and gently embraced Honma Mei, who had stood frozen, pale and hollow-eyed.
"I have no friends, no family.
In my heart, Mei-nee has always been my friend… my family.
Mei-nee, please take good care of yourself."
Rei rested her chin lightly on Honma Mei's shoulder, her hand softly patting her back.
Honma Mei's pupils contracted, and a searing pain tore through her chest as though her heart were being ripped apart.
Her eyes reddened, tears rising uncontrollably.
What have I done?
What have I done to her?
She had pushed someone who trusted her unconditionally straight into a fire pit.
"Rei… don't go!"
Honma Mei's voice scraped out of her throat, raw and faintly tinged with blood.
She pleaded in despair,
"Don't go, Rei…"
Rei curled her lips into a gentle smile.
"I have to go. I must."
"Just like you said before—there are so many shinobi on the battlefield dying without treatment. I'm going to save them."
Honma Mei grabbed her shoulders, trembling violently.
"You'll die… You'll die!"
"I'm not afraid of death."
Rei looked at her softly, smiling faintly.
"Because I've gained so many precious bonds."
Honma Mei's tears burst forth, flooding her face within seconds.
Twisted by pain, guilt, and regret, her expression collapsed.
Her legs gave way, and she crumpled to the ground before Rei, clutching desperately at Rei's clothes.
"Mei-nee, what's wrong?"
Rei looked down at the top of her head, her gaze cold, yet her voice filled with concern.
Mei clenched at Rei's clothing.
"It's my fault… all my fault…"
"Mei-nee, what are you saying?"
"Going to the battlefield was my own decision. It has nothing to do with you."
Rei reached out and gently stroked her hair.
Honma Mei sobbed uncontrollably.
"It was me! I accepted Danzō's orders,
I encouraged you to go to the battlefield!"
She finally said it.
A long, suffocating breath escaped her.
The boulder crushing her chest finally fell away.
No more fear.
No more running.
She lowered her head, waiting for judgment.
"…I see."
Rei's tone revealed no emotion.
Honma Mei squeezed her eyes shut.
No matter how Rei chose to vent her anger, she would accept it.
After all—she had wronged Rei.
But retaliation never came.
Instead—
Two hands firmly pulled her upright.
Rei wiped the tear tracks from her face.
Mei stared blankly at her.
On that face, so beautiful one could look at it ten thousand times, there was no hatred, no anger.
Not even disappointment.
"Mei-nee must have been suffering all this time too, right?"
Fresh tears poured from Honma Mei's eyes.
What was this?
Why—
why was Rei comforting her?
She was the one who had betrayed Rei!
"It's alright. I wanted to help on the battlefield anyway. Mei-nee only made my resolve stronger."
Rei said gently, full of understanding.
She glanced at Honma Mei in concern and added softly:
"Mei-nee, don't burden yourself with this anymore.
But I hope you won't do this to others again.
Doing such things hurts you too—it's better not to repeat it."
Honma Mei nodded repeatedly, tears flowing.
"Alright."
"Don't cry anymore."
"Mei-nee, I'm leaving."
"Goodbye."
Rei smiled at her and waved.
Honma Mei suddenly grabbed Rei's wrist.
"Stay away from Danzō and Orochimaru!
They definitely have designs on you!"
Seeing her anxious eyes, Rei gave her a gentle smile and nodded.
"I understand."
Honma Mei watched Rei's departing figure and prayed with all her heart—
Rei must come back alive.
Her gaze hardened.
She would never betray Rei again.
But she also did not plan to break ties with Danzō.
As long as she remained useful to him,
she could continue to learn his movements,
and warn Rei in time.
***
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