Omen

The students' time at the front lines was limited, after all, and the Rain Ninja's compliance wasn't indefinite. As Konoha Ninja continued to eliminate spies, the Rain Ninja became active again. They couldn't just let Konoha completely clean up the rear and then gather all its strength to attack Amegakure, could they?

With the Rain Ninja unable to gain the upper hand and Konoha intent on training its troops, this great war was destined to last for quite some time.

"Finally going back. I feel like I'm going to get moldy after being cooped up in the Land of Rain for so long." Otoha complained to Katsuki and Tenzan, but he didn't hide his excitement about returning to the village, his face flushed with joy.

"Tch, what's so good about going back? Going back to Ninja Academy? Do you think you can sit still now?" Katsuki glanced at Otoha with narrowed eyes.

Otoha was silenced. They had been on many missions over the past month, and the three of them had almost become numb from killing. How could they possibly sit still in Ninja Academy? Just thinking about it was excruciating, and that little bit of rising excitement instantly waned.

Having become accustomed to this exciting life, how could they return to such mundanity? At least until they grew tired of it, it would be difficult to appease the hearts that had tasted the flavor of slaughter.

"When we get back, let's see if we can find a way to apply for early graduation. I'm definitely not going to stay in school."

Tenzan sighed, feeling depressed.

The largest training ground in the main camp was the gathering place for the returning ninjas. Ninjas stood in groups of two or three, talking in low voices. Katsuki, Otoha, and Tenzan hung their heads, feeling somewhat resistant to returning to the village.

At this moment, three more figures appeared at the edge of the training ground.

"Katsuki."

Kushina waved from afar and ran over excitedly, hugging Katsuki and vigorously rubbing his head, messing up his crimson hair into a tangled mess, like he was wearing a bird's nest.

"Sis, have mercy."

Katsuki quickly begged for forgiveness, and Kushina reluctantly stopped.

"Sis, how have you been lately?"

Katsuki combed his hair with his fingers and approached Kushina with a grin.

"Oh, now you know to care about how your sister is doing? I haven't seen you come to me in over a month, huh?" A murderous gaze landed on him again.

Crap, he had buttered up the wrong side of the bread.

Katsuki's eyes twitched, and he forced a wronged expression on his face, immediately crying out, "It's not like the higher-ups haven't been assigning us missions. I barely had any free time, and then the teacher called me over to nag. I couldn't squeeze out any time at all."

"Is that so?"

Kushina squinted at Katsuki, her gaze feeling... not as easy to fool as before.

Katsuki's heart skipped a beat, and he gritted his teeth and nodded.

"It's true. If you don't believe me, go ask Otoha and Tenzan. We've almost worn our legs off lately."

"Alright, Kushina, Katsuki is right. We've been constantly taking on missions too!" Minato interjected with a smile at the right time, and then... Kushina stopped looking at Katsuki with that creepy gaze, obediently making Katsuki's mouth gape open in an O shape.

Was this still the willful, violence-loving sister he knew?

When did she become so easy to talk to?

Katsuki's heart skipped a beat. He felt like something he didn't know about had happened, and he looked at Minato with a questioning gaze. In response, he received a gentle, jade-like smile.

"Is something the matter, Katsuki?"

"It's nothing big, I'm just a little curious about when you and my sister became so close?" Katsuki asked tentatively.

"Who's close to him? Which eye saw me being close to a sissy, huh?" Kushina narrowed her eyes, her hand reaching out like lightning, grabbing Katsuki's cheek, and then pulling hard... it felt like kneading dough.

"No, no, I was wrong, okay? I saw it wrong." Katsuki was always quick to admit his mistakes to his sister, it was almost an instinct ingrained in his bones.

Kushina kneaded him a couple more times before reluctantly letting go.

Leaving aside the commotion between the others, after the Jonin in charge of the team checked the list, nearly a thousand relieved ninjas, along with some wounded, set off on the road back home.

"Katsuki, I think your sister is acting strange, isn't she? Didn't she used to dislike Minato the most?" Otoha stood next to Katsuki, glancing at the two figures in front who were standing a little too close together.

Katsuki bit his lip, his eyes filled with gloom, his mood complex and indescribable, feeling only annoyed.

"We'll talk about it when we get back to the village."

The hundreds of fierce warriors withdrawn from the battlefield traveled unimpeded. Anyone with poor eyesight who approached would be minced into a pile of flesh in three to five seconds. Katsuki raised his knife several times and took two steps forward, then sheepishly slipped back, cursing inwardly that these seniors were unkind, eating meat without leaving a sip of soup for others.

Konohagakure.

Compared to the period when the war had just begun, the village's defenses had clearly relaxed, but in corners that were difficult for ordinary people to notice, Anbu members were still patrolling, like hunting dogs searching for any suspicious scent.

The prosperity of the streets had returned to its former state, with bustling crowds and lively activity.

"Mito-sama, these are the files I've compiled on my three students."

Inside the Senju Clan residence, in a quiet room, Hiruzen respectfully handed over the thick stack of files in his hand, looking respectfully at the old woman sitting by the bed.

"I'll take my time reading them, Hiruzen. You're the Hokage now, so you don't need to waste time here. After I've finished reading them, I'll send someone to find you." Mito pinched the weighty stack of files in her hand and gave a gentle order to leave. "Nawaki, see your Uncle Hiruzen out for me."

"Yes, Grandma."

The boy with the innocent smile responded respectfully and then retreated with Hiruzen.

"Nawaki, how are your classes at the Ninja Academy going?" Walking along the corridor, Hiruzen asked Nawaki with concern.

"It's okay. I'm not as smart as my sister, but I'll make up for it with hard work." Nawaki's smile was so pure, without a trace of impurity.

Hiruzen smiled kindly and reached out to pat Nawaki's head. "If you have any problems, feel free to come to me at any time."

"I will."

Nawaki replied earnestly, making Hiruzen smile wryly. This was truly a good boy, quite different from that pair of siblings from the Uzumaki Clan.

He had naturally been the first to review the records made separately by Tsunade and the others. He could be said to be fully aware of Kushina and Katsuki's actions in the Land of Rain. Among them, Tsunade and Jiraiya favored the little girl Kushina, while Orochimaru praised Katsuki more, believing that the boy had more of the demeanor of a ninja.

His three disciples had differing opinions. He carefully read every detail recorded by the three of them, and he vaguely agreed more with Tsunade and Jiraiya's opinions. Orochimaru was somewhat extreme. It seemed necessary to guide this most valued disciple.