Chapter 91: Being Targeted Again
Fighting is the simplest, most direct way to resolve a dispute.
You don't like someone? Kill them.
What they said rubbed you the wrong way? Kill them.
They stepped into the room with the wrong foot first? Kill them.
It sounds absurd, but for some people, that's really all it takes.
Of course, most people weigh the consequences before acting—questions like Why am I doing this? What will happen afterward? Is the outcome worth it?—those matter.
Sure, in moments of rage, someone might do something irrational. But if a person consistently solves every problem with violence just because they can, they're either a lunatic… or a reckless fool.
So no, a simple fight to the death is rarely the best solution to a problem. Not for most people, and definitely not in most situations.
War? That's a whole different beast.
War is the last resort, the thing you reach for when all other options between nations break down. It's not just a battle between two individuals—it's a clash of ideologies, economies, resources, and military power.
In the shinobi world, war is where the might of hidden villages meets the foundations of nations. Individual skill, teamwork, logistical support, national resources—they all get thrown into the meat grinder.
And the side that can't keep up? They lose. Simple as that.
But just because there's a winner doesn't mean there's a reward. Sometimes, the so-called victors come out worse off than they started. That's why ordinary people and even most shinobi hate the idea of war. It's rarely worth it.
Even the war-hungry higher-ups of Hidden Cloud Village have to admit that. They can't start a war just because they want to. They need a justification—something both their own people and their enemies will accept as a reason. Otherwise, it's just suicide.
That's the difference: fighting is simple. War is complicated.
What Ryosuke was doing now was increasing that complexity, throwing a wrench into the gears of war. The more complicated things got, the less likely a full-scale conflict would break out any time soon.
---
The next morning, even though Hiashi Hyuga hadn't returned yet, Ryosuke wasn't worried.
After a full night's rest, he felt sharp and focused. It had been a while since he walked Hinata to school, so today, he decided to go with her.
One way or another, things would play out. And if the plan he submitted got approved? Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo—the two men pulling Konoha's strings, one in the spotlight and the other in the shadows—would be a lot more anxious than him.
Of course, that all hinged on whether they approved the plan.
Nothing is ever guaranteed, but Ryosuke was confident. He doubted anyone in the village leadership would be foolish enough to oppose it. Even if they couldn't figure out all the layers of his setup, it was still a rare opportunity for the village to regroup and recover.
And everyone knew it—Konoha couldn't afford another war right now. The management understood that better than anyone.
---
The walk to school was smooth. Konoha's streets were peaceful as always, the village calm under the morning sun.
By the time Ryosuke and Hinata arrived at the academy, class had already started. But being late was no big deal for someone like Ryosuke.
At the classroom door, Inuzuka Kiba and Shikamaru were standing with buckets on their heads, clearly caught for something dumb.
Ryosuke gave Iruka a half-hearted excuse, and the man just smiled and waved him in.
"Ryosuke, good to see you back. Feeling better?" Iruka asked kindly.
He'd been calling in sick every time he asked for leave, so it wasn't a surprise the teacher was curious.
---
"I've got good news for you all today," Iruka said as he walked to the podium.
He gestured to the silver-haired man standing next to him. "This here is an old friend of mine—Mizuki."
"He's a Chunin with way more field experience than I have. While he won't be taking over any classes permanently, he has been certified as an intern instructor. He'll be joining us from time to time to share valuable lessons every ninja needs to learn."
Mizuki looked calm, composed, and carried a gentle smile on his face. And yeah—he was pretty handsome. From the way some of the girls in class were looking at him, Ryosuke figured he'd give Iruka a run for his money in popularity soon enough.
But Ryosuke wasn't fooled.
That smile? It was fake as hell. The guy had the vibe of a second-rate actor trying to play the "nice guy" role and failing miserably. Beneath the surface, Ryosuke could see the envy and barely-contained violence lurking in his eyes.
Man… I should really teach him how to act properly.
He shook his head and looked away, unimpressed. Mizuki didn't deserve his attention. At best, he was a disposable pawn of Orochimaru in his prime.
---
Boom boom boom—
A knock on the classroom door broke the momentary calm.
"Sasuke-kun? You're coming to class today?" Iruka asked, clearly surprised.
At the door stood Uchiha Sasuke, drenched in sweat and slightly out of breath. He didn't answer, just walked straight into the room with his usual cold indifference.
Iruka scratched his head awkwardly. "Well, uh, just head back to your seat then…"
But Sasuke didn't go to his usual spot by the window.
He walked past every desk, every pair of eyes watching him… and stopped next to Ryosuke.
Then, without saying a word, he sat down beside him—in Naruto's old seat.
Iruka didn't stop him. Seats weren't assigned in the ninja classroom, after all. Everyone just sat wherever they liked.
As the teacher continued explaining Mizuki's role, Sasuke finally spoke.
"…I like sitting alone," he said bluntly, as if explaining himself.
Ryosuke raised a brow but kept his expression gentle. "That right?"
Then Sasuke leaned slightly closer and muttered, "Let's fight. If you beat me… I'll listen to you."
Oh for fuck's sake… I'm being targeted again, Ryosuke sighed internally, spreading his hands in silent defeat.
He didn't respond. But he didn't tell Sasuke to move either.
According to Hinata, Sasuke had been on leave ever since he failed the graduation exam. Just like Ryosuke. And now, all of a sudden, the guy decided to show up? On the same day he came back?
Yeah. That wasn't a coincidence.
Judging by how winded he looked when he entered, Sasuke must've run all the way from home the moment he heard Ryosuke was at school.
Honestly, Ryosuke wanted nothing to do with him.
Sure, Sasuke wasn't as much of a political powder keg as Naruto, but still… Ryosuke didn't want any part in fast-tracking his graduation. That kind of involvement would mess with too many things.
He'd wondered before whether his presence might've triggered Sasuke's early graduation in the future he saw. But now that he thought about it, helping him graduate early wouldn't do him any good.
Especially not when the future he glimpsed showed Uchiha Sasuke rampaging through the village with a fully awakened Susanoo.
That future? Wild. Dangerous. Unpredictable.
So no—Ryosuke had no intention of being the butterfly that flapped its wings and caused a storm.
Better to let Sasuke stay in class and stew in his obsessions for a little while longer.
That was Ryosuke's current plan.
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