Naruto: We Agreed on a Simulation, But They Actually Came to Life?

Chapter 115: Chapter 115: What Did You Want to Hear?

Genji’s office.

Ao stood before the desk, his voice steady.

"We tracked the target to the northeastern border of the Land of Water and set up an ambush upstream of the ferry crossing. However, the number of personnel accompanying Zabuza exceeded our estimates; there were at least three additional Missing-nin assisting with the rear guard."

He paused.

"The enemy had prepared two separate retreat routes in advance. The mission was not completed."

Genji kept his eyes closed, his fingers slowly stroking the head of his snake-shaped cane. Midori stood to the side, remaining silent, while Terumi Mei stood half a step to the right of Ao, her hands at her sides.

Ao continued his report.

"During the engagement, Terumi Mei used Boil Release to neutralize Zabuza’s opening Water Style attack, then followed up with Lava Style to force him out of a direct breakthrough. She successfully dealt a heavy blow to his left shoulder and back."

"However, two of Zabuza’s subordinates sacrificed their lives to stall us, allowing him to break through into the border waterways and escape."

At the mention of Zabuza being heavily wounded, Genji slowly opened his eyes. His cloudy gaze rested on Terumi Mei for a few seconds before he gave a small nod.

Terumi Mei did not let any pride show on her face; instead, she lowered her head.

"In the end, he still got away. He had a second escape route, and my judgment was a step too slow."

Genji spoke indifferently. "Being able to see exactly where you were slow is far more useful than saying you did your best."

Terumi Mei nodded slightly.

Midori then spoke up, suggesting that the intelligence chain within the village’s ANBU needed to be reorganized.

Ao added, "The fact that Zabuza was able to exit the core area before the first wave of blockades was established suggests that he had already figured out some of the internal ANBU protocols. We cannot place the blame for this failed pursuit solely on the front line."

Genji closed his eyes and instructed Gonbe, who stood behind him, to take notes.

"Convene a small-scale meeting within three days."

"You may leave."

The three of them bowed and turned to exit. Once they pushed open the office doors and stepped into the long corridor, Midori took the lead, her pace unwavering as she headed up the stairs to another floor.

Terumi Mei assumed Ao would also leave immediately, but a voice called out from behind her.

"Terumi Mei."

She stopped and turned around. Ao’s expression was his usual mask—impossible to tell if he intended to lecture her or give her further instructions.

"Your performance on this mission was impressive."

Terumi Mei blinked, stunned. She hadn’t expected him to say that.

Ao continued, "Your tracking judgment, your choice of ambush points, and your decision-making during combat were all excellent."

Terumi Mei opened her mouth, but only managed to squeeze out, "Senior Ao, you flatter me."

Ao didn’t stop there.

"The ambush point you chose at the border was very precise. Zabuza set up two diversions upstream—the bloodstains and footprints were fakes designed to mislead us—but you didn’t let yourself be led astray."

He paused, drawing his gaze back from the distance to look her in the face.

"However, the way you analyze routes... it feels very similar to Kaede’s."

Terumi Mei froze. Ao’s tone was casual, as if he were mentioning a trivial detail.

"There were a few times while listening to you break down the routes that I almost thought he was the one speaking beside me."

He tilted his head slightly. "It seems you two are very close."

Terumi Mei opened her mouth to say, ’We’re just friends,’ but the words died in her throat.

*Friends?*

Since she was twelve, he had taught her everything, bit by bit. What kind of ’friend’ did that?

*Teacher and student?*

They were only a few years apart in age. Moreover, he had never spoken to her with the authority of a teacher; he had always looked at her as an equal.

Then what exactly were they?

A certain word flashed through her mind. Suddenly, her ears grew hot. They burned uncontrollably.

Ao watched her. He saw the rare hesitation after she heard the name "Kaede," followed by the slow reddening of her ears. A veteran’s intuition was often more accurate than the Byakugan.

He cleared his throat. "I see."

Terumi Mei snapped back to reality, her voice low and hurried. "Senior Ao, it’s not like that!"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them. Trying to explain further would only make things weirder.

Ao didn’t press her, a slight smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "I won’t pry into the affairs of you young people."

Terumi Mei swallowed the rest of her words. Ao withdrew his gaze, his tone returning to its usual professionalism.

"Over the years, I’ve partnered with Kaede on many missions. His observational skills and route analysis are exceptionally outstanding for a Chunin."

He paused for a beat. "Kaede is a good guy."

Hearing this, Terumi Mei felt her heart skip a beat. She looked down, her voice barely a whisper.

"Yes... he has always been."

Ao gave her one last look, nodded, and turned to walk away.

The corridor fell silent. Terumi Mei remained where she was, the heat in her ears refusing to fade. She forced her expression back into a neutral mask and began walking downstairs.

The phrase "very similar to Kaede" looped endlessly in her mind.

*It’s true,* she thought. *Almost every tactical judgment I make was taught to me by him, step by step. It’s only natural that my analysis style resembles his.*

But why did it feel so embarrassing when someone else pointed it out?

Terumi Mei shook her head to clear the chaotic thoughts and pushed open the doors of the office building.

She had barely taken two steps when a figure turned the corner from the street, carrying a paper bag.

Kitahara Kaede.

Terumi Mei’s pace faltered. The heat that had just subsided nearly surged back.

Kitahara Kaede walked up to her and gave her a quick scan. "What were you thinking about?"

Terumi Mei looked up at his face, and Ao’s words circled through her mind once more. "Nothing... it’s nothing."

She shifted her gaze away from him and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Kitahara Kaede held up the paper bag. "Buying a few things." He looked at her again, his gaze sweeping from her shoulders to her hands. "Where have you been these past few days?"

Terumi Mei looked left and right, then grabbed his sleeve and pulled him a few steps into a narrow side alley, lowering her voice.

"Genji sent Senior Ao and me to pursue Zabuza. We caught up to him, but he managed to escape in the end."

Kitahara Kaede nodded, his expression devoid of surprise.

Terumi Mei stared at him. "You guessed it?"

"The village gates were sealed, the ports frozen, and ANBU took over the mission. Plus, you were called away by Genji." He paused. "There weren’t many other possibilities that fit."

Terumi Mei muttered under her breath, "Sometimes it really feels like you’ve dismantled the entire village’s bulletin board just to read every single notice."

"The bulletin boards are meant to be read."

Terumi Mei was momentarily speechless, then found it funny. It was always like this with him.

She exhaled and leaned against the alley wall, her voice relaxing. "Senior Ao praised me. He said my battlefield analysis was quite good."

She paused, trying to sound casual. "He even said the way I analyze things is very similar to yours."

She didn’t look at him as she spoke.

Kitahara Kaede didn’t take the bait or get emotional; he simply replied calmly, "If Ao could tell, it means you’re using the techniques well."

Terumi Mei felt a pang of frustration in her chest. "That’s all you have to say?"

Kitahara Kaede tilted his head to look at her. "Then what did you want to hear?"

Terumi Mei’s gaze darted away, landing on the wall across the alley. "Nothing."

Silence fell between them for a few seconds. Kitahara Kaede didn’t linger on the topic.

"Why do you think Zabuza failed?"

Terumi Mei’s expression gradually grew serious. She thought for a moment.

"Because he relied only on himself. He was strong enough and ruthless enough to kill his way into the core area. But he had no retreat plan and no follow-up strategy. Even if he had actually killed Yagura, it wouldn’t have made the village any better."

Kitahara Kaede looked at her and gave a small nod.

"Think deeper."

"Is Yagura himself necessarily the root of the problem?"

Terumi Mei looked up.

"If Yagura were killed, would the person who next takes the position of Mizukage be even worse?"

At this question, Terumi Mei’s expression shifted. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. But these words made her vaguely realize that the village’s problems weren’t caused by a single person.

The ANBU, the mission system, the power struggles among the high-ranking officials, and the completely dead trust between shinobi—these issues ran far deeper than a simple executioner’s blade.

Kitahara Kaede didn’t spell everything out.

"To change the village, killing one person isn’t enough. You need sufficient power, you need to see the truth for what it is, and you need the right people by your side."

Terumi Mei keenly caught the word "truth" and opened her mouth to ask. Kitahara Kaede didn’t give her the chance to press further.

"Ao is one such person. The Byakugan can see many things that ordinary people cannot. His loyalty to the village is not blind obedience to a single individual."

Terumi Mei fell silent. She could tell; he was helping her build her foundation.

She lowered her head, her voice soft. "You keep pushing me forward, while you remain in the back."

Kitahara Kaede’s tone remained unchanged. "Only when someone stands in front can someone else in the back see the path clearly."

Terumi Mei stared at him for a few seconds before speaking seriously. "Then don’t stray too far."

Kitahara Kaede nodded.

***

Meanwhile, in Genji’s office, Ao’s supplemental report lay open on the desk. At the end, only a single sentence was written:

"Terumi Mei is now capable of undertaking higher-level missions."

After reading it, Genji gave no reaction. He pressed the report down beside the files in the corner of the desk. On the cover of the files, a line of text was written:

"Recent Records of Anomalies: The Fourth."

Genji’s finger lingered on the cover for a long time.