"None of you have ever been on a battlefield, have you?"
Sitting in front of the campfire, Sarutobi Asuma glanced at the ninjas around him who were about the same age, unable to stop himself from speaking. His expression carried a faint hint of pride.
Amamiya Rei looked at Sarutobi Asuma, then swept his gaze over Yūhi Kurenai, who wore an openly disdainful expression. Acting surprised, he asked, "Asuma, does this mean you've already been to a real battlefield before this mission?"
Yūhi Kurenai couldn't bear to let the innocent Amamiya Rei be fooled by Sarutobi Asuma, who had absolutely no shame. She immediately said, "Don't believe him. He's bragging."
Amamiya Rei let out a confused "Ah," and glanced at Sarutobi Asuma. Though he didn't say anything, his expression said everything.
Sarutobi Asuma's face flushed bright red. His eyes widened aggressively as he shouted, "I… I haven't gone, but I've heard about it!"
He looked fierce on the outside, but his cowardice was leaking all over.
"So amazing!"
The most enthusiastic person in the entire group was Amamiya Rei.
Resting his chin in his hand, he smiled with narrowed eyes, staring unblinkingly at Sarutobi Asuma. "Then what is a real battlefield like?"
"Ahem."
Under Rei's gaze, Asuma regained some confidence. He cleared his throat, puffed out his chest, and said, "A real battlefield… just hearing about it would scare you to death…"
Yūhi Kurenai frowned so tightly she could probably crush a fly between her brows. She stared at Asuma with utter disgust.
Among this group, aside from young ninjas like Amamiya Rei and the others, there were also many who had genuinely experienced war.
Listening to Asuma's exaggerated claims, those veterans could only shake their heads helplessly, their eyes filled with bitter amusement.
"That sounds so terrifying…"
As Asuma continued his storytelling, Rei cooperated by showing a worried expression.
"You don't have to be afraid!"
Asuma pounded his chest confidently, lifting his head high. "I'll protect all of you!"
The smile at the corner of Amamiya Rei's lips deepened.
He intended to make Asuma's promise come true.
Drowsiness crept in between the crackling sounds of the blazing campfire.
The ninjas sitting around the fire could barely keep their eyes open.
Except for Sarutobi Asuma and a few others who were on night watch.
Asuma glanced around at the sleeping faces and couldn't help yawning, moisture gathering at the corners of his eyes.
Kurenai shot him a sharp look, her voice carrying a warning. "Stay awake!"
Asuma muttered discontentedly, "We're between the Leaf and the frontline. How could any enemy possibly approach without being noticed?"
He leaned back lazily with one leg crossed, hands behind his head. His sloppy, careless posture made Kurenai snort before she turned away.
"No matter where we are, we must take our mission seriously," Kurenai said.
Seeing how serious she was, Asuma pursed his lips, but eventually straightened up and took the watch properly.
For night-watchers, the night was painfully long.
Human stamina was limited—no one could stay perfectly alert forever.
Eventually, even Kurenai's sharpness began to fade.
As the night deepened, their eyes grew increasingly dull with exhaustion.
Half-asleep, Asuma felt a shadow move in front of him.
He forced his eyelids open. The swaying shadow gradually sharpened.
"What are you doing?"
Staring in confusion at the ninja approaching him, Asuma spoke in a daze.
The ninja took big steps toward him, and just as he came fully into view, a sudden chill washed over Asuma. He jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.
"Y–You… who are you?!"
Asuma shouted, and almost at the exact same moment, a kunai slashed toward his neck.
With a speed he didn't even know he possessed, Asuma blocked the deadly strike.
He fell onto the ground in a messy heap.
Everyone woke up instantly.
All eyes turned toward Asuma.
"What happened?"
"What's going on?"
Yamanaka Kaiichi walked up to Asuma and asked.
The others surrounded him, all talking at once.
Asuma stared around blankly, then said to Kaiichi, "E–Enemy attack!"
Yamanaka Kaiichi's brows knitted instantly, his sharp gaze fixed on Asuma.
Asuma didn't understand. At a moment like this, shouldn't the captain tell everyone to stay alert?
Why was Kaiichi looking at him like that?
"Pfft!"
A laugh slipped out.
Asuma whipped his head around and glared at the ninja who couldn't hold it in.
"S-Sorry! Sorry!"
The ninja covered his mouth, though the amusement was still leaking from his eyes.
Why are you laughing?
Is this a time to laugh?
How can anyone laugh right now?
Asuma stared at him in disbelief.
"Asuma, you were having a nightmare," Yamanaka Kaiichi said, placing a hand on his shoulder and patting lightly, comforting him. "There's no enemy attack."
Asuma looked around in shock.
Everything was exactly as it had been before he fell asleep—not a hint of disturbance.
Lowering his gaze, he saw no footprints, no signs of struggle.
It really… might have been a dream.
Asuma shivered violently.
There was no chance he could sleep now.
Soft whispers drifted into his ears.
"Hahaha, Asuma really is cowardly!"
"He actually had a nightmare!"
"He was scared out of his mind!"
"He sure didn't act like this when he was bragging to Rei earlier!"
"…."
Asuma clenched his teeth hard. His fists tightened.
Soon, the night swallowed all sounds again.
Asuma, now skittish like a rabbit, reacted to every rustle, every flutter.
Kurenai glanced at him but said nothing.
The grass swayed.
Asuma's head snapped toward it, his eyes sweeping through the darkness like searchlights.
The forest beyond the fire's glow was pitch black.
A pale face flashed through that darkness like a streak of white.
Asuma's whole body trembled uncontrollably. He could hear the frantic pounding of his heart and his teeth clacking together.
It felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar—his face drained of all color.
"S–Someone's there!"
His trembling voice escaped his throat.
Only Kurenai heard him. She turned immediately, looking toward the spot Asuma was staring at so rigidly.
Pitch black.
Nothing.
Kurenai pressed her lips together. Looking at the terrified Asuma, she said, "If you're scared, go sleep."
She could tell. Asuma's condition was extremely off.
There was no need to force him to continue the watch.
But Asuma couldn't sleep at all now. His heart was practically lodged in his throat. He didn't dare relax for even a moment—sleep was impossible.
How could he sleep?
"Ah…"
Asuma suddenly opened his mouth wide, his entire face filled with horror.
A chill shot up Kurenai's spine, making her whole body go stiff.
Because reflected in Asuma's pupils, she could see—right behind her—another human figure.
***
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