Konoha’s Black Plague

Choice

The sun climbed higher, beating down with growing intensity.

Bai Ye was still at it—repeating hand seals and stepping forward, only to plunge into the river again. The water surged beneath him, and he couldn't stay afloat for even a second before it splashed up and pulled him under.

Drenched from head to toe, he could no longer tell whether the moisture clinging to his skin was sweat or river water.

---

"Yuyan, come with me to buy something to eat. I'm starving."

Yue, hiding beneath the shade of a tree, grabbed Yuyan's right hand and shook it as she leaned in playfully.

Yuyan sighed in defeat under Yue's coaxing and followed her out of the Third Training Ground.

The field fell quiet. Only Bai Ye remained—still relentlessly practicing on the water—while Hizashi Hyuga sat nearby, sipping tea with measured calm. The occasional splash echoed through the air, breaking the silence.

Not even fifteen minutes passed before Yue and Yuyan returned, each carrying a boxed meal.

Yue set one down in the shade, then rushed toward Bai Ye with the other in hand.

"Bai Ye, let me feed you something. If you don't eat, it'll hurt your performance this afternoon."

She hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to speak. If Bai Ye's face hadn't already been reddened from the sun, it might've been obvious he was a little embarrassed too.

"…Thank you."

He paused, then nodded. Though he'd intended to skip lunch, reasoning that he didn't want to waste time, replenishing his energy might actually help more than hinder.

When he agreed, Yue smiled—small, radiant, and sincere. She was clearly flustered but relieved.

She opened the lunchbox, revealing slices of grilled barbecue meat, still warm. Every time Bai Ye returned to the shore, she gently brought a piece to his lips.

As she watched his focused, determined face, Yue's eyes softened. She sighed inwardly. He probably thought she was just helping as a teammate… nothing more.

---

"Alright, I'll head back now," Yue said softly.

"Mm. I'll give it everything I've got. It'd be too embarrassing if I'm the only one who has to repeat a year."

Though Bai Ye smiled, Yue could tell he was trying to keep her from worrying too much.

---

"Yue," Yuyan said once they were alone again, wrapping her arms around her friend from behind as she opened her own lunch. "What should I do? I feel like Bai Ye's going to fail. He hasn't made any progress all morning… It's not just the two of us on this team."

"No," Yue said, her voice firm, almost as if convincing herself. "I believe in him."

But her tightly furrowed brows betrayed her growing anxiety.

---

The sun dipped westward. Less than five minutes remained before dusk swallowed the sky.

That afternoon, Bai Ye finally made some visible progress. He managed to stand on the water for two or three seconds at a time—a marked improvement in chakra control.

But the exam required sustained water-walking. Even with a few more days, he might have passed. Unfortunately, time had run out.

Yue's eyes were red, on the verge of tears, her face pale with worry. Yuyan had even pleaded with Hizashi Hyuga, but he remained silent, unmoved by her pout or protests.

---

"Ah…"

Bai Ye was still practicing, but the motions had become mechanical—an empty repetition. In his heart, he had already given up. He knew the rules. If he failed, he couldn't apply for early graduation again. He'd have to wait until next year.

As the final light of day vanished, a strange calm settled over him. What was done was done.

Maybe this wasn't a bad thing. Slower progress meant more time to build a strong foundation. Rushing to the battlefield could get him killed. He wasn't Naruto Uzumaki—blessed with protagonist invincibility.

Smiling faintly, Bai Ye walked over to the others. He didn't want them to worry.

"Don't cry. I'm just going back to school. It's not like someone died. No need to be so dramatic."

He gently cupped Yue's tear-streaked cheeks, brushing away the moisture with his fingers.

"I-I…"

Yue tried to speak, but her sobs overwhelmed her.

Bai Ye scratched his head helplessly. Did I die in battle or something? Why is she crying like this?

Yuyan, by contrast, kept quiet, hugging herself, her eyes rimmed red. She bit her lower lip but said nothing.

---

"At this point," Hizashi said, stepping forward, "Yue and Yuyan have successfully passed the assessment. Bai Ye has not."

He rested a hand on each girl's head before continuing.

"You now have two options. One: Yue and Yuyan stay, and we assign a new teammate to your squad. Bai Ye returns to school."

He paused deliberately.

"Or two: all three of you return to school together and remain a team after graduation."

Yue and Yuyan instinctively turned to one another.

"I…"

"We choose to go back."

Yuyan interrupted Yue before she could speak, clearly trying to shoulder the decision for both of them.

Yue's smile finally returned, though her shoulders still trembled from earlier tears.

---

"You didn't have to do that," Bai Ye said, clearly moved. "It'd be easier if I went back alone."

"Hmph. Don't flatter yourself," Yuyan replied, raising her chin defiantly. "I'm not letting you ditch us. The more you act like you don't want to team with girls, the more I'll stick to you."

Yue said nothing, but her eyes—clear and resolute—spoke volumes.

"…Well, thank you. Both of you."

Bai Ye extended his right hand between them.

Yue reached out immediately. Yuyan hesitated, then joined in. The three of them laughed—no words needed.

---

"You don't have to decide right now," Hizashi said. "Think it over tonight. Be at the academy gate by noon tomorrow with your answer. And don't eat lunch beforehand."

He took Yuyan by the hand and began to leave, giving them space.

Bai Ye and Yue walked side by side, neither speaking. When they reached the fork in the road, they simply nodded and parted ways.