klisemfg Chapter 604 Shadow
Chapter 604 Shadow
Without hesitation, he abandoned his plan to attack the stronghold. His figure flashed, disappearing into the shadows, and he swiftly departed, chasing after the direction from which the eagle had come. He took the intelligence scroll from the eagle's talons, unfolded it, and saw only a few words and coordinates. He put the scroll away, his chakra surging, and sped towards the designated location at top speed.
When Zhang Hai arrived at the designated location, covered in dust, night had completely fallen. A strong stench of blood and acrid burning filled the air, making his heart sink. Looking around, he saw only ruins and rubble everywhere. Huge craters looked as if struck by a meteorite, and broken weapons and ninja headbands were scattered across the scorched earth. The air reeked of blood, and the dried blood on the ground testified to a brutal battle that had recently taken place. He could even see uprooted giant trees and rocks torn apart by chakra. This was no ordinary battlefield; it was a living hell.
His thoughts were pulled back to reality by the horrific scene before him. Zhang Hai's gaze swept across the chaotic battlefield; apart from scorched earth and signs of ruin, he saw no one. A sense of foreboding arose within him, and he whispered, "Teacher? Teacher White Fang!"
Just then, a deep, weary voice came from not far away: "I'm here." Zhang Hai looked in the direction of the voice and saw Bai Ya slowly emerge from behind a clump of fallen trees. His clothes were somewhat disheveled, and his usually incredibly sharp chakra blade was sheathed. In its place, he was tightly protecting a group of ragged, terrified children in his arms. They huddled together, their eyes filled with fear and unease, like frightened young animals.
Upon hearing Zhang Hai's voice, Bai Ya instinctively responded, then sighed heavily, his eyes filled with complex emotions—weariness, helplessness, and an inexplicable pity. "I stumbled upon this outpost, initially thinking it was just an ordinary supply point, but I unexpectedly encountered the two strongest puppeteers I've ever encountered. Their strength exceeded my expectations; the battle was exceptionally fierce." Bai Ya's tone was heavy, clearly indicating that the battle had taken a toll on him. "I initially thought that such powerful puppeteers would be desperately protecting the most important strategic resources of Sunagakure, or classified intelligence… but I never imagined that the reason they were so desperately protecting them was these children." Bai Ya's gaze fell on the trembling children, his expression complex.
Zhang Hai's heart skipped a beat. Puppet masters? And the "two strongest" at that? This puzzled Zhang Hai. Bai Ya was always decisive and ruthless on the battlefield, rarely showing such emotions. "So?" Zhang Hai asked, puzzled by Bai Ya's intentions. "Why did you call me here?" Did he need him to deal with these children?
White Fang's sharp gaze was fixed on Zhang Hai's masked face, his eyes seemingly piercing through the mask and reaching Zhang Hai's heart. He didn't beat around the bush and directly stated his request: "I know you have a way to infiltrate Sunagakure. Whether it's infiltration or disguise, you have methods that are beyond the reach of ordinary people. I called you here today because I want you to return these children to their village."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Hai was instantly stunned. He blurted out in surprise, his voice filled with disbelief, "Teacher, are you joking? Sending the enemy's child back to the enemy's village? It sounds utterly absurd!"
Bai Ya's expression, however, was unusually serious, without the slightest hint of jest. He shook his head, his tone firm: "No, Zhang Hai. Only you can do this."
Zhang Hai's doubts deepened. He pointed to the trembling children, his tone tinged with confusion and skepticism: "Teacher, this isn't just any place, it's a battlefield! Since they're here, regardless of their fighting ability, they're enemies! Even if you're soft-hearted and let them go, I can understand. But you still want me to save them and send them back to the village? Do you want them to grow up and use swords to kill our Konoha ninjas?" Zhang Hai's logic was simple: on the battlefield, it's either friend or foe, and any potential threat should be eliminated. Bai Ya's almost saintly behavior baffled him, even seemed somewhat illogical.
Zhang Hai's words plunged Bai Ya into silence. A night breeze blew by, bringing a chill, and Bai Ya's face was filled with struggle and helplessness. Finally, he let out a long sigh, his voice tinged with weariness and self-reflection: "I don't know if what I did was right..." He paused, his gaze drifting into the distance, as if recalling something, "But the two puppeteers I killed, before they died, were still telling me not to hurt those children, begging me to spare them... I admit, I softened."
He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, a hint of teacherly kindness shone through. "Furthermore, I've thought about the future. If one day, Kakashi, or any of your other comrades, unfortunately encounter the same fate on the battlefield, I would hope that the enemy ninjas would set aside their hatred, spare them, and allow them to return home safely." After saying this, White Fang fell silent, quietly awaiting Zhang Hai's reply, leaving the choice to his disciple.
Looking at White Fang before him, Zhang Hai felt as if he were meeting his teacher for the first time. In his memory, White Fang on the battlefield was the ruthless and decisive "White Fang of Konoha," a "Hero of Konoha" feared by his enemies. He had slain countless enemies, never showing mercy on the battlefield. But this White Fang before him, who softened for the sake of an enemy child and even considered the feelings of his own disciple, felt somewhat unfamiliar to Zhang Hai, yet a strange warmth welled up in his heart. He suddenly realized that beneath White Fang's ruthless exterior lay such a gentle person at heart.
He suddenly realized that perhaps Bai Ya's relentless fighting, his constant travels between battlefields, and his indiscriminate killing weren't just about completing missions or seeking glory. Perhaps it was so that he could end this chaotic world as soon as possible, so that all children, including the enemy's children, could return to peaceful, war-free days. This thought deepened Zhang Hai's respect for Bai Ya.
Zhang Hai turned his gaze to the group of children. They were trembling, huddled together like lambs to the slaughter, their eyes filled with fear of the unknown and grief over the loss of their loved ones. They were innocent, victims of war, regardless of which village they came from.