The group passed through the small path, shuttling through the dense forest without a trace. With the speed of ninjas, they leaped over the mountains and forests in what seemed like a straight line. In just half a day, they had traveled dozens of miles.
Over mountains and across rivers.
Probably only physical strength could hinder the elite team. Except for drinking water and short rests, they didn't delay even for a minute. After half a day of advancing at full speed, a large river appeared ahead, and Konoha was already far behind.
"Stop, let's stay here for today." Namikaze Minato raised his hand and looked back at the team members.
Hiashi Hyuga didn't need to be told, and Kakashi and Otonashi were only slightly panting. Only Obito, Anko, and Rin were gradually falling behind.
"Lord Minato, aren't we going to continue under the cover of darkness?" Hiashi, as a senior Jonin, asked.
"After crossing this river, we'll be in the war zone. Night battles are not advisable. Let's be cautious."
"Alright." Hiashi didn't object. Without Minato's instructions, he turned around and said, "Otonashi, you're on the first shift. Uchiha Obito, you're on watch. The rest of you retreat five hundred meters to rest. We'll rotate after two hours."
Ninja operations were not as relaxed and comfortable as outings. Everyone was an expert in tracking and counter-tracking. In the war zone, even when peeing, someone had to stand guard behind.
"Yes."
The group responded and dispersed, most of them exhausted and looking for a shady spot to sit and rest.
No fires were allowed on the battlefield, so they could only eat some dry rations and then take out their sleeping bags to spread out, planning to make do for the night.
Fortunately, the war had been going on for almost two years. Regardless of their strength, they all had the ability to endure hardship.
The river water murmured. Otonashi was lying behind a stone by the river, stuffing dry food into his mouth with one hand, his eyes fixed on the opposite bank.
In early spring, there were fewer mosquitoes. Occasionally, fish jumped out of the river, creating sparkling ripples that intertwined with the golden sunset, as if covered by a golden curtain. If the dry and hard military ration pills in his mouth were replaced with fine wine, it would have a different kind of charm.
Explosive tag traps had been set, firmly locking down the left and right sides. He had just taken a sip of water when he heard rustling footsteps behind him.
"Who?"
"Senpai, this is for you."
Along with a tender female voice, a long skewer with round things on it was extended to his side. Otonashi was stunned, and upon closer inspection under the setting sun, he realized it was a string of dumplings.
Anko was lying next to him, supporting her head with one hand. With her back to the setting sun, her expression couldn't be seen, only her two rows of white teeth smiling brightly were obvious.
"Don't be polite, senpai. I finally managed to buy these dumplings." Seeing that Otonashi didn't move, the girl said urgently.
"So you were late today to buy dumplings." Otonashi snorted, but took them and stuffed them into his mouth.
Soft, chewy, and the sweet bean paste flavor diluted the dryness and tastelessness of the military ration pills. He immediately ate all three remaining ones.
"Hee hee, so senpai also likes to eat dumplings." The girl shook her head, sincerely happy, as if she had found common ground between them.
"I'm not picky about food, but sweets can always soothe the nerves." Otonashi said something the girl couldn't understand. Looking at the dark golden water surface, he said expressionlessly:
"Mitarashi Anko, I only helped you in the ninja academy incidentally. You don't have to come to the front line to take risks with me."
His eyes sharpened, as if trying to find Orochimaru's conspiracy from the smallest fluctuations in her expression.
"No." Anko blinked her big eyes and subconsciously replied: "You and Orochimaru-sensei are both very good to me. Now that sensei doesn't have a mission, I want to come and help senpai."
Otonashi was stunned, narrowed his eyes, and saw the girl's confused face. After a long while, he laughed dumbly.
He was overthinking it. An eleven or twelve-year-old kid wouldn't understand too much, it was just a vague feeling of closeness.
He wanted to laugh, but he couldn't, because from the moment he arrived in this world, he had lost the opportunity to experience a pure and innocent age again.
Perhaps the reason why the protagonists of shonen manga are teenagers is because things like dreams and friendship can only be experienced at this age.
Otonashi, who had been paranoid recently because of Danzo's matter, suddenly patted his face, startling Anko again.
"Senpai, are you feeling unwell?"
"No, I just suddenly thought that living at this age should have some youthful spirit." Otonashi took a deep breath, forcibly releasing some of the pressure he had accumulated over the past six months.
What Danzo, what Orochimaru, what bullshit politics!
In the face of a bloody battle, the more you think, the faster you die!
At this moment, the ground trembled slightly. Otonashi's heart moved, and he suddenly turned his head, his pupils already lit up.
A fireball in the distance broke through the dim sky, like a mushroom cloud slowly rising. After more than ten seconds, ripples appeared on the river surface, and the branches beside him rustled.
"Don't move, the frontal battle has started." Otonashi pressed the girl's head to prevent her from jumping up, thinking that such a big commotion might be a combined ninjutsu of a whole team of ninjas.
As soon as he finished speaking, there was also a sound from the other side of the river. Several figures rushed out of the forest, stepping on the river surface and running towards them. With the rapidly fading firelight, he could barely see the forehead protectors of the other side.
"No way, are they actually Cloud ninjas?" Otonashi's mouth opened slightly. Without time to think about whether it was the butterfly effect, he threw Anko back and put his hand on the long knife behind his back.
"Go report, it seems that we can't sleep tonight!"
...
The sudden fireball also startled the people resting in the forest. The shock wave made the leaves tremble, and Namikaze Minato was the first to stand up.
"It's the Iwa-nin's explosion corps. The frontal battle has begun." Minato stood on the treetop, frowning.
A surprise attack in the evening with such a big momentum, there would definitely be hundreds of casualties. They were probably using Earth Release to quietly dig to the feet of Konoha's army and then blow them up.
Hiashi Hyuga jumped to his side and said seriously: "The situation over there is probably not good. We have to speed up."
"Yes, I'll go to the front line immediately. I'll leave this side to you."
"Okay, don't worry about this side."
The plan had changed. If the Third Hokage hadn't received intelligence from the ANBU and strengthened the surprise attack force, they wouldn't be blowing up any bridges.
The two immediately revised the plan. But just as they called Kakashi and the others, Obito and Anko came running, panting and shouting:
"Sensei, there are Cloud ninjas attacking across the river!"
Cloud ninjas??
The two Jonin looked at each other and instantly understood that it was bad luck that they encountered the Cloud ninjas' infiltration unit. These Cloud ninjas probably wanted to bypass and fish in troubled waters.
"Kakashi, you lead Rin and the others to outflank them from the side!"
Without time to think about the relationship between the Cloud ninjas and the Iwa-nin, Minato rushed out. If their whereabouts were exposed at this time, they could only retreat.
A kunai pierced into the darkness, and the blond young man's body disappeared along with it, flickering like a ghost. His near-instantaneous speed allowed him to reach the riverbank in just a few seconds. As soon as he stepped onto the riverbank, his footsteps paused, and he was stunned.
Under the rising moon, a group of ninjas on the sparkling river surface suddenly froze, and the person at the front leaned back, with a long knife piercing through his chest.
The white-haired teenager leaned forward, the long knife piercing through his chest, as if he had suddenly pressed the pause button for the Cloud ninjas!