Feeling the chakra getting closer and closer, Ling only felt his mind in a mess. Logically speaking, when seeing a stranger near the clan territory, shouldn't one first analyze the target's information and then go back to report? What's the deal with walking towards a suspicious person after the analysis?
[There's a way to heaven but you don't take it; there's no path to hell but you charge in on your own. (An idiom meaning someone is making a foolish and self - destructive choice)] Ling sighed silently in his heart and quietly switched the staff sword to his left hand. [What a waste of my rare kindness.]
Senju Qin didn't deliberately hide his movements. So, after seeing Ling's reaction, he immediately stopped in his tracks. "I have no Malice. Are you a wandering samurai? It's very dangerous here. Don't stay here anymore."
Ling, who had been about to launch an attack, paused. He looked up in the direction of the voice. "…Why do you say so?"
The killing intent emanating from Ling made Senju Qin feel as if he'd fallen into an ice - cold cave. He felt his vocal cords tighten and his legs turn to jelly. But he still stubbornly said, "Anyway, it's very dangerous. I made an appointment with someone to train here. You won't be able to leave when they come. Just follow the river downstream and you can leave the Minato River..."
Ling laughed. "Hehe... I'm just blind, not stupid. With your voice quivering like this, don't bother trying to fool me with such a lame lie... But since you mentioned the two clans in the Minato River, that's even more reason not to let you go. After all, ninjas are very good at tracking..."
Under the mutual silence, Senju Qin couldn't stand it any longer. But instead of running away, he sat down on the spot, hugging his knees, and buried his head between his knees like an ostrich. "…Then just do it. Anyway, I'm no match for you."
But after he said this, Senju Qin noticed that the killing intent on the man opposite him suddenly diminished. He subconsciously looked up and saw the young man tilting his head to look at him. However, although the young man had a blank expression, Senju Qin could sense the confusion conveyed from the other side.
Thinking of this, Senju Qin became more composed. However, his words were full of self - mockery. "Anyway, I don't have any family left, and I have only a few fellows. My combat ability is extremely weak. I'll die sooner or later on the battlefield..."
Hearing this, Ling couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated. "Can't you put up a bit more of a fight? What if I soften my heart because of your pleas? It's really disgraceful for a ninja to have such a weak fighting will..."
"My teacher said that pleading for mercy is the most useless thing when facing an enemy." Senju Qin glanced at Ling and quickly buried his head again, speaking in a low voice. "I don't want to die so uselessly... Although I really am useless.
This era is really hateful... I really don't want to fight at all. Why can't everyone just live in peace together? And it's really hard to live alone. If possible, I really want to go to the others earlier..."
Listening to the sobs in his ear, Ling was silent for a short while and then reached out to turn over his roasted rabbit. "To be honest, I don't really like this era either, but I'm not so hateful of it that I want to give up my own life... After all, there are so many things I'm reluctant to part with and so many things I want to do."
"You're really so strong that it makes people envious..." Senju Qin sniffed. His eyes fell on the roasted rabbit whose skin was turning yellow and oozing grease. "Hey... Can I be a glutton who dies with a full stomach?"
As he said that, Senju Qin's stomach made a very timely growl.
"Pfft, hahaha - What an unexpected thing to say, haha. Instead of pleading for mercy, you want to have a good meal? " Ling placed the staff sword that was originally standing beside him across his lap. "Alright, alright. Let me play the kind - hearted guy just this once, even though I'm a real 'executioner'. I'll spare you."
Looking at Ling, who was smiling brightly and suddenly had no more killing intent, Senju Qin felt his mind was in a complete mess. Just as he was about to say something, his stomach growled even louder.
After a brief silence, Senju Qin buried his head even lower while listening to the loud laughter beside him.
"What's up? Does my cooking smell so good?" Ling was in a lazy posture. Along with the crackling sound of the burning firewood, his gentle and smiling voice had a kind of magic that made people relax. "When you're not against us, you guys are actually quite cute."
"Against you guys?"
"Hmm - let me think," Ling stroked his chin. "Korega guy named Cheng should have finished his mission and gone back. Could it be that he didn't bring back news about me?"
Senju Qin suddenly opened his eyes wide, his pupils constricted sharply. "Uchiha Ling!?"
Ling neither answered nor denied. He just laughed softly and looked extremely delighted. "So, what do you think?"
After you go back, you can brag to your clan members about this: "I'm such a strong - one that I managed to get away from that monster unscathed and even forced him to cook for me." —— Cool, right?
But Senju Qin blushed because of Ling's words. "I don't want the pity of the Uchiha!"
"Really? —— Then, do you still want to eat the roasted rabbit? It'll be ready soon."
"Don't even think about bribing me! You cunning guy..."
But Senju Qin's stomach clearly didn't share his backbone. Before he even finished speaking, it growled, and it seemed like it wouldn't stop until it got something to eat.
"Hahaha, I can't stand it anymore! Hahaha!" Ling raised his hand and leaned it against his forehead. "You guys are so funny when we're not on opposite sides. I've met two such interesting kids in just a few days. Hahaha — Well, as funny as it is, you'd better run away when you see me on the battlefield."
But Senju Qin angrily covered his stomach, puffed out his cheeks, and tried to look intimidating. But when he saw the silk cloth covering Ling's eyes, he deflated. "… Aren't the Senju and the Uchiha enemies? Why did you let me go? Do you mean I'm not even worth killing?"
"Didn't I say so? Let me be kind just for today, even if I'm a cold - blooded killer." Ling still smiled. "And don't talk nonsense. Where are the Senju and the Uchiha here?"
"Isn't it just..."
"No no no —" Ling waved his finger. "Today, there's only a naive and idiotic kid and a young wandering warrior here."
Senju Qin was stunned. Only then did he remember that Ling hadn't mentioned anything about the Senju and the Uchiha from beginning to end. It was all him talking.
"The roasted rabbit should be ready. Go back after you eat. Go home — even if no one's waiting for you at home, at least it holds the good memories of you and your family. You can't just give up so easily."
Ling stood up, picked up his things, and waved to the dazed Senju Qin. "Also, don't say things like 'it doesn't matter if I die soon'. Your relatives fought desperately. They didn't want you to join them so soon...
And, kid, life isn't a cheap thing. Once it's lost, it can't be retrieved. Besides, you're all alone now. At least you should treat yourself better."