Chapter 61
That day, when Natsuki got home from school, he saw Tenten standing blankly in the courtyard.
So, she had already returned from her mission.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, Tenten turned her head to glance at him—then suddenly threw herself into Natsuki's arms. She didn't cry or make a sound, just quietly stayed like that.
"What's wrong?" Natsuki asked, heart aching a little.
"Natsuki... my heart feels heavy," Tenten said in a soft voice.
"What happened? Can you tell me?"
"Mhm. Our mission this time was to wipe out a group of mountain bandits... and I killed someone for the first time."
"What kind of bandits?"
"They were scum. They killed so many villagers... including women and children. They really deserved to die. But when I saw the villagers hugging the corpses of their loved ones, crying like their world had collapsed... I just... I couldn't stand it."
"I see."
Natsuki understood, but he didn't know how to comfort her with words. He could only hold her tightly, letting the warmth of his embrace speak for him.
After a long while, Tenten finally calmed down. She seemed more spirited and even gave Natsuki a quick kiss. "Don't worry, I'm not that fragile. I knew from the moment I chose to become a ninja that I would have to go through these things. It's just... this is the first time I've truly felt how fragile life can be—and yet there are still people who trample on it without care."