Chapter 115: He is a Legend (Part 2)
In Koshino's heart, the Third Hokage and the Fourth Hokage held esteemed positions. The Fourth Hokage was even Koshino's mentor, yet neither could earn Koshino's respect.
The reason was simple.
Most people respected the Third and Fourth Hokage more for their titles than for their personal qualities.
Only a few, who had close interactions with the Hokage, could gradually come to respect them. After all, staying by the Hokage's side was an incredibly challenging task.
So, despite the Fourth Hokage's guidance and mentorship, Koshino couldn't truly respect him. At most, he felt gratitude.
To date, there were only two people Koshino genuinely respected from the bottom of his heart. The first was his caring elder, Nara Shikaku, standing right before him.
The second, however, might surprise many.
That person was the Genin squad leader standing before Koshino, covered in blood. To most, he was seen as "incompetent" and a "failure."
Listening to the squad leader's words and seeing the wounds covering his body, Koshino, even if he were a fool, could guess that this leader had heard about Koshino's conflict with the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans.
He must have gone to their camps to apologize on Koshino's behalf.
His injuries were undoubtedly the result of a brutal beating by the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans.
The only fortunate thing for Koshino was that there were no Anbu from the Uchiha or Hyuga Clans in the camp.
This meant that even if they vented their anger, it was limited to a beating, unlike Koshino, who could use his Anbu status to kill Uchiha Namida and Hyuga Nichirin directly.
No matter how those severe injuries came about, seeing the blood-soaked leader before him, feeling the warmth of the blood on his hands, Koshino's pupils were tinged with a crimson glow.
Kill!
Kill all the scum of the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans!
That was the only thought left in Koshino's mind, the sole thought.
Then, exuding a chilling aura, Koshino took a deep breath, ready to seek justice for the squad leader.
Unexpectedly, Nara Shikaku, who hadn't reprimanded Koshino for killing Uchiha Namida and Hyuga Nichirin earlier, suddenly shouted when he saw Koshino about to head to the Uchiha and Hyuga camps:
"Koshino, come back!"
"Why?"
Koshino turned to face Shikaku without speaking.
Instead, it was Genma Shiranui beside Koshino who immediately questioned as soon as Shikaku finished speaking,
"Lord Shikaku, what did the captain do wrong? Even if the Uchiha and Hyuga Clans are arrogant, they are still ninjas of the Leaf Village, right?
As fellow villagers, it's one thing to bully us normally, but now they've beaten the captain! What did the captain do wrong?"
"Genma, haven't you realized yet? The captain is just a fool, a complete idiot!"
With reddened eyes filled with tears, Ebisu, unable to control his emotions, shouted at Koshino, like a release, or an eruption of long-suppressed negative feelings,
"Koshino, do you know? Today, I'm really happy! Following this incompetent captain, do you know how much frustration Genma, Guy, and I have endured?"
"When someone comes to bully us, the captain always smiles and says it's okay, it's okay, then turns to apologize to those who bullied us!"
"The last time, Genma and I couldn't take it anymore and fought back against those who bullied us. Do you know what our foolish captain did?"
"Genma and I won! We won!"
"Our foolish captain secretly went to apologize, just like now, coming back covered in wounds!"
"Do you understand now? Why Genma and I stopped you from taking action? Because we don't want to see our foolish captain get hurt!"
"He's just a fool, a complete idiot! We don't need to be bullied, we're not failures, but why do we have to bear the label of a failure squad?
Why... why do Genma, Guy, and I have to suffer everyone's scorn because of you, a foolish captain?"
After speaking, Ebisu fell to his knees with a thud, crying loudly.
Even Koshino found it hard to imagine the kind of humiliation Ebisu had endured, the long-repressed negative emotions that exploded with such force.
Shifting his gaze, Koshino looked at Genma Shiranui.
When Koshino sought confirmation from Genma Shiranui, Genma also nodded silently, giving a bitter smile,
"Koshino, do you understand now why I didn't want you to join our 'incompetent' squad? Even though you're easier to get along with than that guy Kakashi, your temper... I can't imagine how many injuries the captain will suffer because of it!"
"Hah, how ridiculous!"
"For such a foolish guy, Ebisu and I have endured so much."
"Guy, I suppose you won't be leaving, right? Fine then, Ebisu, let's go!"
With that, Genma Shiranui looked at Shikaku, helped the kneeling Ebisu up, and gave a cold smile, "Lord Shikaku, I'm sorry our squad's internal issues have embarrassed you. However, I think this squad won't exist by tomorrow, so let it be."
"Ebisu, let's go!"
Watching Genma Shiranui and Ebisu support each other as they left, Koshino slowly unclenched his fists, while Guy silently lowered his head.
"Koshino, if you want to leave, then go."
"Just like Genma and Ebisu said, I have no reason to leave because the captain..."
"He's my father!"
"Guy, he's your father?"
If Genma Shiranui and Ebisu's words only deepened Koshino's understanding of the "incompetent" squad, making him wonder what lay beneath the label of "incompetence,"
then Guy revealing the true identity of this "useless" captain made Koshino fully realize why he felt such respect for this Genin captain after just one meeting!
Why, despite Genma Shiranui and Ebisu's complaints and venting, their inner emotions expressed respect and reluctance for this "useless" captain!
It turns out, all the reasons were based on this "useless" captain's mysterious identity!
It turns out, the blood-soaked, scarred guy in front of him was a legendary figure from the original storyline!
Guy's father, the man who remained a genin his entire life yet developed the forbidden technique Eight Gates Released Formation!
Might Duy! So, almost upon realizing Might Duy's identity, Koshino took a deep breath, and his previous anger disappeared, replaced by a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Then, after exchanging a glance with Shikaku and understanding his deeper meaning, Koshino looked at Guy and asked, "Guy, setting aside the fact that he's your father, do you respect him?"
"Respect? Do I respect him?"
Listening to Koshino's words, Guy gave a self-deprecating smile and said woodenly,
"Father has always taught me not to have any arrogance, that the essence of a ninja lies in the word 'endure.' But just like Genma and Ebisu said, what good is endless endurance?
I've never been proud because I know my own limitations, so I hope to surpass you geniuses through hard work."
"Koshino, you and Kakashi, you're the targets I want to surpass."
"But slowly, besides feeling the growing gap between us, what else have I gained?"
"Take this time, for example! Everything was resolved, so why did Father have to show off?"
"But..."
"But Koshino, if I really set aside the fact that he's my father, I still respect him!"
"Because..."
As he spoke, a bright smile appeared on Guy's wooden face.
In the next second, he gave Koshino a thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming with a bright light, tears streaming down his face as he smiled brilliantly, forming two extremes, and confidently said to Koshino,
"Because I believe my father is definitely a great ninja! Everything he taught me was right!"
"Indeed, it was right!"
Supporting the unconscious Might Duy in front of him, Koshino first responded to Guy, then turned to Shikaku, his face also adorned with a bright smile, and said:
"Uncle Shikaku, I understand why you wanted me to join this squad!"
"Captain Duy is indeed an excellent captain!"