In the end, Senju Qin didn't dare to touch the roasted rabbit, but every word Ling said to him left an indelible mark in his heart — What puzzled him the most was that Ling let him go even though he knew he was from the Senju.
[Shouldn't those who are destined to be enemies be killed without hesitation? Why did he let me go? Does he want to shake my resolve as a ninja?]
Thinking of this, Senju Qin couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. [No... It's overestimating myself to think like this. Judging from his appearance, it should be my self - pitying words that amused him, so he let me go. But still, isn't he from the Uchiha?
Why...
"Senju Qin! There you are!"
Senju Qin was so startled by the voice ringing in his ear that he almost jumped up, but the hand about the same size as his own firmly held him in place. The voice came again, "Calm down, calm down. It's me, Hashirama, Hashirama!"
Senju Qin covered his heart that was pounding so hard it seemed about to burst out of his chest. His voice carried a bit of complaint, "Come on, Hashirama! Don't scare me like that. I'm really a wuss!"
"Don't call me Hashirama with a title. Just call me Hashirama." The young boy with a watermelon haircut smiled brightly. "The clan just gathered everyone to talk about the dangerous people we need to watch out for during missions. It's a bit of a pity that you missed it... By the way, where did you go this afternoon, Senju Qin?"
"Huh? I went to train at the back mountain of Minato River..." Senju Qin shifted his gaze downwards. "What did the clan say?"
"Not much. They just mentioned some powerful characters. If we encounter them, it's okay to abandon the mission and run away," Hashirama put his hands behind his head. "But I really didn't expect that Uchiha Ling, the one we met on the last mission, was unanimously rated as a dangerous person by the seniors, and they all said he was the most dangerous."
"Huh?" Senju Qin was taken aback and looked up. "Why would they say that?"
"Well..." Hashirama folded his arms, looking troubled. "That's what confuses me. They didn't say anything specific. Everyone just kept saying how dangerous he is. But when it came to specific examples, all they could think of were adjectives like 'cunning and devious'..."
"But you've met him, Hashirama?" Senju Qin reached up to scratch the back of his neck, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Even so, you can't make a judgment?"
"How should I put it? He's just an Uchiha who acts very strangely. Well, I think all Uchihas are a bit odd in that mysterious way... Didn't the clan also say? Never try to figure out what those crazy people are up to at any time."
Hashirama turned to him. "Anyway, do you have time tonight, Senju Qin? If so, I'll tell you what I heard this afternoon... What's wrong with you? You look terrible. Did I really scare you that badly? If so, I'm sorry first... Do you want me to accompany you to the medical department?"
Looking at Hashirama's apologetic expression, Senju Qin stiffened his body and shook his head. "No, it's not you. It's my own Mondai..."
"Did something happen?"
"I... I... I'm sorry."
"It's okay, Senju Qin. You don't have to say it if you don't want to. There's no need to force yourself." Hashirama gently patted Senju Qin's back. "But if you want to talk, you can come to me at any time. I'll definitely help if I can."
Senju Qin's face turned even paler. He opened his mouth several times but failed to say anything, and Hashirama just quietly stayed by his side, patiently waiting. Just when he was about to change the subject, Senju Qin spoke up.
"I... I actually saw Uchiha Ling just now... In an open space upstream of Minato River."
Hashirama finally put aside his idle demeanor, and his aura instantly became steady. "Just now?"
"Yeah, he occupied the spot where I usually train," Senju Qin nodded slightly. "He hid his aura well and wasn't wearing any clothes with the clan emblem. So I thought he was a wandering ninja and went to remind him to leave... But when I got closer, I was locked down by his killing intent. I didn't even dare to run away at that time."
Hashirama tightened his hand on Senju Qin's shoulder slightly, looking serious. "Yeah, I know. I was also locked down by his killing intent. Then he said a lot of bewildering things..."
"But he's really strange. He clearly had killing intent, but no hostility," Senju Qin lowered his head and unconsciously raised his hand to touch the back of his neck. "Finally, for some inexplicable reason, he let me go. He also told me to run away if I met him on the battlefield. Before leaving, he even helped me solve my inner conflict.
I really don't understand now... Hey, Hashirama, what do you think that Uchiha Ling is up to? He didn't kill me but instead let me go. Does he think I'm too weak to be worth killing?"
"Don't say that," Hashirama turned his head to look at his contemporary. "People aren't objects. Words like 'worth', which are used to measure objects, shouldn't be applied to people. As for what that Uchiha Ling said..."
Senju Qin looked up and happened to see Hashirama's twitching mouth. He tilted his head in confusion. "What that Uchiha Ling said...?"
"Just ignore it for now," Hashirama's gaze fell upon the direction of the Uchiha clan territory, looking much more serious. "One day, I'll ask him face to face...
Hey, Qin, I have a hunch, a very, very strong hunch.
That Uchiha Ling isn't an uncommunicable Uchiha. If our two clans, the Senju and the Uchiha, can have an open and honest talk, maybe our two clans can jointly kick off the prelude to peace. By then, people won't have to—"
"This is far - fetched," Senju Qin interrupted Hashirama. "Even if, as you said, the ninja world ushers in peace, it's impossible for the Senju and the Uchiha to be the first to join hands, right? Given the current situation, one of our two clans will wipe out the other before considering peace, right?"
"How do you know if you don't try?" Hashirama smiled, his eyes full of expectations for the future. "By then, children can grow up peacefully without having to prematurely pick up heavy weapons for survival.
Everyone can live to a venerable old age. No one will be affected by the war without reason and then be grief - stricken because of the loss of their loved ones. Everyone can pursue what they like according to their own wishes...
Even those who love fighting and conflict have an inviolable peaceful haven in their hearts. Doesn't this just show that everyone is longing for peace deep down?"
As long as someone can stand up, open their heart, and accept everyone equally, an era where everyone can live and work in peace and contentment will surely come. If no one is willing to take the first step, let me be the one! I will prove to everyone that world peace is not just an empty promise – I've always believed this firmly!"
Senju Qin looked at Hashirama's determined expression and couldn't help laughing. "Haha, what a grand wish! But it does sound pretty cool... However, compared to this wish, Hashirama, you'd better be more careful. If the clan leader hears these words, he'll surely chase you around with a stick again."
Hearing this, Hashirama suddenly shuddered. He quickly turned his head and looked around. Instead of the glory when he was making grand speeches, he now looked a bit furtive. "Well, I've still got to build up my strength... Ahem. Let me first tell you about those dangerous people you need to watch out for?"
"Okay, thanks..." Senju Qin nodded, but then he thought of the encounter with Uchiha Ling just now. "Hey, Hashirama, before that, let's go and report to the clan first?"
"Hmm, you're right. Let's go! Let's first tell the clan about that sick Uchiha."