Chapter 50 I Don't Regret
Uchiha启's return to Konoha didn't cause much of a stir; what he and his team did on the front lines in the Land of Grass had already spread, and almost every Konoha Ninja involved in the war knew how formidable that brat, Uchiha启, truly was!
Their mission was confidential, but with the current stable state of the war, these Konoha Ninja now understood that their mission was essentially a 'suicide' one behind enemy lines.
Yet, even with such a mission, Uchiha启 and his three-person team displayed extraordinary wisdom; they rescued at least fifteen Konoha captives.
Furthermore, when Minato's Team suffered casualties, they stepped in as substitutes and together completed this mission that could end the entire war!
Not only that, the achievements of Uchiha启 and his three teammates were even more astounding!
Uchiha启's decisions led to a sudden appearance of Konoha Ninja in the Iwa Ninja's rear, disrupting their morale and striking a blow to the front-line Iwa Ninja forces.
Afterward, Uchiha启 and his team even raided the Iwa Ninja's defensive line, almost completely wiping out the team led by Kitsuchi, the Third Tsuchikage's son.
Although Namikaze Minato's rescue ultimately saved them, it still showed how capable these young Ninja were.
In the end, Uchiha启 and his team, even with only three people left, still completed the mission.
Namikaze Minato defeated and captured the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, accelerating the war's end, while Imai Kenta, a Civilian Ninja, directly blew up the Kannabi Bridge.
And Uchiha启 was even more exaggerated; he killed Kariya, a member of the Iwa Ninja's demolition unit, and then, surrounded by the Iwashimizu Shū Team, who were rushing back to reinforce, he took out all four of them!
Although Uchiha启 also looked somewhat terrible, the day Namikaze Minato brought him back, he was already collapsed from exhaustion.
But no one dared to mock Uchiha启; countless Konoha Ninja had suffered at the hands of those Iwa Ninja he killed.
Whether it was Kariya of the demolition unit or the Iwashimizu Shū Team, their hands were stained with the blood of countless Konoha Ninja, some of whom might have been friends or comrades.
Uchiha启 killing those Iwa Ninja was akin to avenging them, which filled them with both awe and gratitude; they were naturally happy about Uchiha启's return to Konoha.
Such a talented individual had already done so much on the front lines; the rest could be left to them.
It must be said that ordinary Ninja are indeed quite endearing; Konoha's core may be rotten internally, but its exterior remains 'flourishing.'
"It's just that this makes it even more deadly."
After a few days of honest rest on a stone bed, Uchiha启 could finally get up and move around properly.
Half a month of travel and incessant fighting, consuming so many military rations and even Akimichi Clan medicine as the end approached, his body had been pushed to its limit.
Even though he had rested well for a few days, Uchiha启 knew that his condition hadn't fully recovered; he still needed at least a week of rest and recuperation to fully return to his pre-departure state.
But it didn't matter now; Uchiha启 no longer had to fight desperately on the battlefield; he would be returning to Konoha tomorrow.
Therefore, even though the battlefield's medical Ninja didn't want Uchiha启 to move around, they couldn't stop him from getting truly bored lying down; he was restricted to appropriate activities within the encampment, with no need to think about training or fighting.
As he walked out, countless Konoha Ninja actively greeted him when they saw him; although Uchiha启 didn't feel much about such things, he still maintained a smile and responded to each one.
Even if you don't care internally, responding with a smile to everyone who shows you kindness is basic etiquette.
This will create a feeling of 'being acknowledged' in the other person's heart, and then, whether you're asking someone for a favor or having them do something for you, it will be much simpler.
The demeanor of these Konoha Ninja was not bad, and most of them were from Civilian Ninja backgrounds; their thoughts were the simplest and purest, and 'getting along well' with them was very necessary.
"Hmm?" As he walked, Uchiha启 suddenly saw a familiar face—Yamanaka Masato.
He wasn't wearing his combat uniform at the moment; instead, various parts of his body were wrapped in bandages, making it seem as if he had suffered very serious injuries.
Uchiha启 had originally thought Yamanaka Masato must have died; otherwise, when they broke through the Iwa Ninja's defensive line and faced Kitsuchi's team, they should have been distracting some of the Iwa Ninja in that vicinity, instead of Uchiha启 and his team having to solve the problem with Shadow Clones.
However, it now seemed that this guy was clearly not dead, but his situation wasn't that good either.
"Yamanaka Jonin, long time no see." Thinking this, Uchiha启 simply went up and greeted him.
"Ah, it's Qi-kun." Yamanaka Masato was stunned for a moment, but when he saw Uchiha启, he immediately smiled: "Excellent work! I heard you even killed the Iwashimizu Shū Team. Truly impressive!"
"You flatter me." Uchiha启 humbly shook his head, showing no trace of arrogance.
The Iwashimizu Shū Team also had a good reputation on the Land of Grass battlefield; quite a few Konoha Ninja had fallen at their hands.
Their team of four worked in perfect synergy, with offense and defense integrated, and each of them was a capable Jonin; they had existed for as long as Konoha and Iwa Ninja had been fighting.
It was just that they were unlucky enough to run into Uchiha启, who had activated his Mangekyo, and were ambushed without warning; otherwise, they probably wouldn't have been eliminated so easily, would they?
"Yamanaka Jonin, you seem to be..."
Uchiha启 didn't want to dwell on the issue of that team; the wounds on those guys couldn't stand scrutiny, and Uchiha启 had collapsed from exhaustion before he had a chance to destroy the bodies, so fortunately, the bodies should have been taken back by the Iwa Ninja.
"Ah, I was surrounded." Yamanaka Masato casually looked at the bandages on his body: "Just call me Masato, Qi-kun. I broke a few ribs and had some fractures in my limbs, but thankfully, I made it back alive. It's a pity about the others..."
Uchiha启 fell silent; it seemed that all those decoy teams had truly been buried in the Land of Grass.
Uchiha启 still remembered that Jonin named Kageyama Kōsuke, that Jonin who was infected by the will of fire; he wondered if he had any regrets.
However, Uchiha启 didn't know if others had regrets; he only knew that his choice was indeed correct. Even with so many Jonin and Chunin performing the mission together, the final result was only one person returning alive, and even then, with such severe injuries.
It could be imagined that if Uchiha启 had stayed there, his fate might not have been much better; he might even have been buried in some unknown forest.
"Although I let others die in my place, I have no regrets. All I can say is, everyone has dreams, and each lives their own splendid life."