Naruto: I, the villain template, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 206 You must come back alive!

creak...

A cool night breeze blew across the lake, and the boat swayed slightly in the wind.

A breeze lifted the curtain at the boat door, and a white dove perched on the stern, its red eyes darting around as it pecked at its feathers.

The water flowed, the insects chirped, breathing filled the air, and everything around me was quiet.

"war……"

After finishing his meal, A-She stood at the bow of the boat, feeling the fishing boat swaying with the waves beneath his feet, staring blankly at the river in front of him.

"Your food intake today doesn't match your current weight," a teasing voice came from behind him.

Asa, picking her teeth with a toothpick, walked out of the cabin, turned around, leaned against the bow, looked at A-She who had a troubled expression, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "What's wrong? No appetite? I think Mom's cooking was pretty good today, wasn't it?"

"No." Ah She shook his head, sighed, and said casually, "You'll understand when you get to my age."

"..."

Looking at his younger brother, who was pretending to be mature, Asa's eye twitched involuntarily, and he subconsciously wanted to twist his ear.

But then, as if remembering something, his raised hand froze in mid-air.

I'm about to leave, this kid must be worried.

Thinking of this, his slightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he placed his hand on A-She's head, saying gently, "Don't worry, I'm very strong."

"Huh? What are you worried about?"

Hearing this, Asahisa snapped out of his daze, paused for a moment, and slapped the hand off his head, complaining, "Don't touch my head, Yahiko said it will stunt my growth..."

Asa finally couldn't resist pinching his ear and squinting as she said, "So, what are you thinking? Hmm?"

Ah She scratched his head, hesitated, and coughed lightly, "Ahem. It's nothing serious, it's just, it's just..."

"What?"

"Promise me you'll listen to me and won't lay a hand on me..." Ah She muttered.

Asa frowned, becoming wary, but still said without hesitation, "Okay, okay, I promise you. Why are you beating around the bush so much?"

Ah She pursed her lips and whispered, "I want to go with you."

"Huh? Going together?" Asa was taken aback. "Where to?"

"Of course, we're going to the battlefield, bro!"

"……ha?"

Asa's eyes widened, then he slammed a fist into his head, growling, "Don't call me brother, you're my brother!"

"Why are you so surprised?" Ashe retorted, rubbing his head and pouting. "I'm already very strong. I only narrowly lost to you just now!"

"You brat, I was just teasing you! You really think you can take on me?"

Asa took a deep breath, straightened up, and said in a serious tone, "You are still young and have a lot to learn. You can go to the battlefield after you graduate from the academy."

"But you never went to school either, yet you still went to the battlefield!"

Ah She hung his head, looking at his clenched fist, and said in a low voice with resentment, "What's more, I feel that my breathing technique development has hit a dead end, and staying here won't make any progress at all!"

Breathing techniques are primarily used to strengthen cardiopulmonary function, thereby allowing the blood to absorb a large amount of oxygen in a short period of time, which can instantly boost physical capabilities and temporarily grant superhuman physical strength.

The highest level of breathing techniques is to maintain complete focus and control over one's breathing even while asleep, achieving a state of "full concentration and constant focus." Once mastered, one can continuously develop the body's potential day and night, making that explosive state a normal part of oneself.

However, "Sun Breathing" is not something that everyone can master, nor is it suitable for everyone.

"Breathing of the Sun" allows the user to radiate heat energy like that of the sun, which can be directly attached to the blade to form a burning crimson blade.

It can inflict the pain of being burned by raging flames on enemies, and the burned body will collapse and be extremely difficult to heal. It is extremely lethal to enemies who have or are good at healing.

So far, among these "first generation members," only Yahiko has learned "Sun Breathing." The others have all failed after trying, so they are now exploring their own paths and developing new styles with various characteristics.

However, apart from the original "Sun Breathing" and "Moon Breathing," the only other breathing style developed so far is "Rain Breathing," which was developed by Yoshitaka based on his past experience.

Compared to "Breathing of the Sun," "Breathing of the Moon," while also using a long sword, is a high-speed, wide-range killing move that can unleash a wide range of sword energy that changes unpredictably with the crescent moon blade.

As for Yoshitaka's "Rain Breathing," it is a breathing style derived from "Moon Breathing" and combined with the assassination techniques of Amegakure's short swords. It emphasizes the frequency of attacks and the speed of the attacks is extremely fast, as dense and silent as rain.

A-She tried to learn all three schools of thought, but none of them suited him at all.

His physique wasn't as light and agile as Yoshitaka's, his personality wasn't as headstrong as Yahiko's, and he didn't even like using a longsword like the others...

Seeing his classmates all on their own paths while he still didn't know where his own path lay made him feel extremely uneasy and anxious.

"you……"

Looking at A-She's resolute expression in front of him, Asa was at a loss for words.

He couldn't very well tell this brat that he was actually a "ghost," could he? If he hadn't become a "ghost," he wouldn't have the strength he has now.

"Demons" are created quickly; as long as they are infused with "blood," they can possess strength comparable to a Chunin and healing abilities unmatched by humans. However, to gain power, one must pay a price.

Becoming a "ghost" means being burned by light. Although it won't kill you as long as you're not exposed for a long time, the disgust and fear that comes from the depths of your flesh and blood is uncontrollable, and you'll live in the shadows for the rest of your life.

Asa and his companions were prepared to become "demons," but that was because Dawn desperately needed power to protect himself. So, rather than becoming a "demon," Asa preferred that his younger brother take things one step at a time.

"...No means no, don't even think about it."

Thinking of this, Asa tightened his skin and said in a deep voice, "War is not as simple as you think. If you treat it as a testing ground, you will surely die a gruesome death. You better stay obediently in the academy!"

The two brothers stared at each other, neither willing to back down an inch.

"Asa, Ashe!"

Just then, the voice of their mother came from the cabin behind them: "The beds are made, go to sleep early!"

"……snort!"

After a moment of silence, A-She and A-Sa looked away, snorted, and went into the cabin.

"You brat! How long has it been since you took a bath! Move your feet to the side, you smell awful."

"There's only so much land, we can't move it."

"You're going to get so fat!"

"I call this voluptuous!"

The two lay back to back, and A-She snorted and ignored him, looking at the rising full moon through the gaps in the awning.

His mind was a tangled mess, impossible to unravel. Before he knew it, a wave of weariness washed over him, and Ah She slowly closed his eyes.

I don't know how much time has passed.

The stars and moon were faintly visible in the sky, but the horizon was slowly brightening, marked by the early fishing lights all around.

A faint sound reached his ears, startling A-She awake. He instinctively rolled over, opened his eyes, and saw that the seat next to him was empty; there wasn't a soul in the cabin.

"Father, Mother, don't worry, I will come back, and we'll build a new house together..."

"Keep an eye on that brat, make sure he studies hard at the academy..."

"Yes, yes, take care of yourselves..."

Ashe lifted the curtain and saw Asa saying goodbye to his parents on the distant shore. Although the voice was low, he heard it clearly.

After saying only a few words, Asa waved his hand, smiled, and turned to leave.

The parents stood there like rocks for a long time, only returning to the boat after their figures disappeared from sight.

Ashe could see and hear his mother being supported by his father, covering her mouth and sobbing softly.

Seeing this, A-She's originally firm resolve became heavy. After hesitating for a long time, he looked down at the standard longsword at his waist, then turned to look at the hammer he had used before, which had always been hanging in the cabin...

He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, picked up the hammer and tucked it into his waistband, then stepped out of the boat.

thump!

Without hesitation, A-She knelt down in front of the cabin where his parents lived, the dull thud echoing throughout the ship.

The faint sobbing inside the boat stopped instantly.

"Father, Mother, I..."

Ah She's lips moved slightly several times, but he couldn't say anything. His throat felt extremely dry, as if he had swallowed a block of iron.

It was hard to describe; it was a mixture of surprise and bewilderment, and an unspeakable sadness filled the air.

After kneeling for an unknown amount of time, a voice finally came from inside the cabin; it was the voice of her father, Shuiyu.

"I knew it all along, you two brothers are equally stubborn..."

Upon hearing this, A-She lowered his head, suddenly choked up, feeling ashamed and fearful.

He finally understood Asa's thoughts.

It's not that I'm afraid of death, but I'm afraid that if I leave this world, I'll never have the chance to see my parents again. I'm afraid that if my brother and I die, what will happen to my parents...

Two children raised their whole lives received only a jar of lifeless ashes in the end.

This is far too cruel for the two elderly people.

"Don't worry, go ahead."

As A-She's thoughts were in turmoil, Shui-Yu said in a deep voice, "The day you two brothers return home after killing the enemy on the battlefield and eliminating them all... You both have to come back alive."

"Father……"

Ah She's breath hitched, and he abruptly raised his head, his expression resolute. "Yes, we will definitely come back alive together! Take care!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ship fell silent again, and the figure kneeling in front of the cabin was gone.

After an unknown amount of time, the woman's voice, still slightly nasal, rang out.

Aren't you leaving yet?

"...I knew I couldn't hide it from you."

"We've been together for most of our lives, how could I not have noticed... You, go if you want to."

"Alright." In the dimly lit cabin, the scarlet vertical pupils opened, and he said in a low voice, "For those two brats, this old bone of mine should take a risk."

--------

Meanwhile, inside Dawn City.

Looking at the black buildings that were faintly visible in the morning mist in the distance, A-She felt both nervous and excited.

The tension stemmed from the impending departure for the battlefield.

He was excited because he was going to the Hall of Heroes to see "Teacher Yun Chuan," whom he hadn't seen in a long time.

Anyone who knows the identity of "Teacher Yun Chuan" or his role as a leader will be excited.

Soon, with this feeling of trepidation, A-She arrived at the Hall of Heroes.

It's amazing enough from a distance, but even more breathtaking up close.

It is dawn, and the air is thick with a sense of oppression.

The hall, with its doors open, was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder.

This scene should have been bustling with activity, but what A-She saw was completely different.

The pure black hall was completely silent; even the breathing of the crowd was barely audible. Only the wind outside seemed so bold, blowing swiftly.

Figures in robes of various colors stood together, black, blue, and white robes fluttering behind them, silently gazing up at the giant white stele at the far end of the hall. Their faces were shrouded in their robes, making their expressions impossible to discern, but they all appeared solemn and dignified.

Many people noticed Ah She, but no one spoke up to drive him away.

Seeing this, A-She's mood eased slightly, and his gaze swept around the hall.

His gaze suddenly froze, settling on the front of the black-robed group.

There stood six figures of different shapes, each with a long, brown-red table in front of them, upon which was placed a scarlet flag with numbers on it, and behind each of them stood a group of hundreds of people.

Of the six people, A-She immediately recognized one of them.

"...Brother." Upon seeing the person clearly, he subconsciously paused for a moment.

At this moment, Asa was not wearing his usual clothes, but was dressed in a black robe like the people behind him. The only difference was that there were four scarlet characters embroidered on the pure black collar.

——"One of the lower strings".

A-She could "smell" an incredibly terrifying aura of iron-bloodedness and cold hardness emanating from him. If they weren't so familiar with each other, A-She wouldn't even believe that he was the older brother who had always liked to bully him since childhood.

Asa, who was standing some distance away, seemed to sense something. His expressionless, icy face turned around and met Asa's gaze, which was staring in astonishment.

Those scarlet vertical pupils, engraved with "Lower Moon" and "One," and incredibly chilling and eerie, first contracted, then instantly became even colder.

goodong...

Stared at by those blood-red vertical pupils, A-She subconsciously swallowed and gave a somewhat guilty smile.

Just then, one of the "ghosts" standing at the end of the line seemed to receive an order. He broke away from the line, walked up to Asa with a blank expression, and said in a calm tone, "Commander Asa invites you."

Having said that, without waiting for A-She's response, he turned and walked towards the head of the team.

Ashe quickly followed, stopping his somewhat flustered steps only when he reached Asa's side.

"elder brother……"

"Shut up."

Ashe was about to say something, but Asa interrupted him coldly.

He stared intently at the giant white monument, his face expressionless, and said, "I don't have time to deal with you now. Now that you're here, you'd better keep a close watch on me."

Before A-She could react, the words had barely left his mouth.

Boom...boom...boom...

The sun's rays rose from the horizon.

The figures of the waiting crowd appeared like ink paintings, reflecting the dawn, their forms gradually emerging on the high platform of the white giant monument.

The bells of dawn finally rang.

(End of this chapter)