Cannon Fodder Squad

Konoha 38.

The Second Great Ninja War had been ongoing for over a year.

On the Land of Rain battlefield, Konoha, Sand Ninja, and Rain Ninja were locked in a meat-grinder-like melee, with even Ninja Academy students who graduated early having been replaced several times over.

In contrast, the Land of Rivers battlefield had entered a stalemate.

Despite Konoha and the Sand Ninja reinforcing their troops and engaging in constant battles of various sizes, with casualties on both sides daily, both parties were still relatively restrained.

A large-scale army-vs-army ninja war had yet to break out.

The two countries used the Shinano River in western Land of Rivers as a natural boundary, forming a stalemate and tug-of-war situation.

Overlooking the entire Shinano River defense line, the outskirts of both sides' encampments were densely packed with alert patrol squads.

Konoha's side, in particular, relying on the Shinano River and its surrounding mountains and forests, had constructed a three-tiered defense line along hundreds of miles of river, strictly preventing the Sand Ninja's elite forces from infiltrating the heartland.

The Umino Patrol Squad was just one of many unremarkable, cannon fodder scout patrols on the outer perimeter of the defense line.

His cannon fodder squad, if tasked with stopping the Sand Hidden elite from breaking through the defense line, would certainly be unable to hold them back and would likely collapse at the first touch.

However, they were extremely effective at transmitting early warning signals.

The utility was good, but the risk of death depended on whether the Pure Land of the Six Paths would serve them boxed meals that day. They could only pray that the Sand Hidden elite wouldn't choose their sector for a breakthrough.

"May fellow Daoists die, but not this poor monk." The Tetsubishi Squad's sector, which had just received their boxed meals downstream, was a terrain that was easy to break through. Although the Aoba Squad's sector upstream had a wide field of vision due to the terrain, they were the tail-end patrol squad. If a breakthrough occurred at night, they might be able to do it silently.

This scout patrol mission, while seemingly dangerous, was not dangerous at all. Life and death depended on fate. However, for a cannon fodder squad like his, it was already considered a good assignment.

It was the ninja war, after all. Where was a mission not dangerous?

In comparison, this scout patrol mission was a definite plum job. If he hadn't obtained some local specialties from the Land of Wind before and had a friendly exchange with the Nara Logistics Chief Strategist, he wouldn't have gotten such a good mission.

As long as they survived ten days with no incidents in their sector, they would have completed a C-rank mission.

This was far better than those assault and infiltration suicide missions.

Those cannon fodder participating in assault missions not only gnawed on Soldier Pills every day, but the mission merits earned with their lives were, after being divided among the squad leaders, only equivalent to a single C-rank mission.

If the divided merits could still be a B-rank mission, then they could only pray that their own strength was enough to survive and enjoy the mission merits?

Fighting to the death on an empty stomach only barely earned a C-rank mission. Now, this scout patrol mission, although the cycle was a bit long, was stable and relatively safe.

At the very least, they didn't have to gnaw on Soldier Pills every day and go to their deaths. Even if their sector was unfortunately chosen by the Sand Ninja elite, they could at least be a well-fed ghost before being stabbed, couldn't they?

"Captain, is it really okay for us to be stewing soup and roasting Beggar's Fish every day like this? What if the Mobile Patrol Unit discovers us--"

Umino Sasuke directly interrupted, "So what if they discover us? At worst, we'll just make a few more portions. We can even improve our relationship."

"If our sector has trouble then, for the sake of being able to freeload food and drinks in the future, won't they have to provide support faster?"

Umino Sasuke, unconcerned with so-called battlefield food and drink discipline, continued to tinker with the pot of fish soup.

The heat was just right. Umino Sasuke raised his ladle, scooped up a glob of milky white, thick soup flecked with oil from the side of the pot, blew on the heat perfunctorily, and took a sip.

His adam's apple bobbed. The fresh, fragrant flavor on his taste buds shot straight to his head.

He couldn't help but slurp another mouthful, closing his eyes to savor it.

This was truly too comfortable!

The ninja world was indeed a land nourished by Nature Energy. The delicious ingredients were all enhanced versions. The taste on his tongue was so good it was almost intoxicating.

He raised his ladle, filled a bowl to the brim, and directly shoved it into his subordinate's hand.

"Ryo, if you don't want to regret it in the future and still want to become a Jonin, listen to your senior. Eat fewer Soldier Pills."

Umino Sasuke looked at his subordinate, a Genin whose eyes were full of pure, naive innocence, and said earnestly, "These cute Soldier Pills, rather than being wasted by you like this, it's more practical for me to exchange them for some Explosive Tags."

Inuzuka Ryo wanted to speak but stopped, his gaze fixed on the milky white, thick soup in his hand.

"Gulp~"

The familiar taste memory resurfaced, like a beautiful, enchanting image, unforgettable. Inuzuka Ryo couldn't help but swallow.

It seemed his words were all about discipline, but his mouth was being completely honest.

How could battlefield discipline compare to this bowl of thick soup? If one bowl wasn't enough, then two bowls.

He scooped another bowl and placed it directly in front of Inuzuka Ryo's ninja hound, Akitaru.

Faced with such deliciousness, Akitaru wagged its tail happily, barking.

Inuzuka Ryo naturally felt the same way. It wasn't the first time. But with battlefield regulations in place, he still felt a burden to completely abandon the Glory of his ninja family.

However, seeing his good brother Akitaru so happy and already starting to eat, the thick soup in his hand immediately occupied his mind. Inuzuka Ryo no longer insisted.

"Thank you, Captain!"

Even though Inuzuka Ryo desperately wanted to start eating, he still maintained the most basic ninja family etiquette, politely expressing his thanks before carefully blowing on the heat in the bowl and taking a gentle sip.

"Mmm~"

Inuzuka Ryo's eyes immediately lit up.

The impact on his taste buds shot straight to the crown of his head. Such a heavenly delicacy, so fresh that his eyeballs almost popped out.

For a moment, what ninja family etiquette? He immediately gulped down several more large mouthfuls.

"It's so delicious! Captain's cooking improves every day!"

With such delicious food before them, who cared about battlefield discipline? Let whoever wanted to eat Soldier Pills eat them.

Umino Sasuke looked at Inuzuka Ryo, who was teachable, and nodded with a smile. Ninjas should break conventions.

Even [Number One Teacher in the Ninja World] Jiraiya taught us that ninjas should act unpredictably.

Jiraiya went on to train a large number of Kage-Level Experts. His words surely wouldn't be wrong, right?

Tejudo and Xiao Xiao, the two gluttons beside them, saw that even the stubborn Inuzuka Ryo had started eating. They quickly got to work, filled their bowls to the brim, and began to devour the food.

Tejudo, the little glutton, was eating what was in his bowl while eyeing what was under the pot. He seemed to be contemplating when the Beggar's Fish in the fire under the pot would be ready.

A bunch of little gluttons. If they weren't good at managing finances, they would have been eaten broke by these half-grown kids.

After the meal, they had saved a few more Soldier Pills.

A patrol mission cycle, ten days, was just enough time to save about 40 Soldier Pills, which meant one more Explosive Tag.

Now, being on the Front Lines of the Land of Rivers, these extra few meant more than just an Explosive Tag; they were a lifeline.

Explosive Tags were good stuff. Ninjas were generally fragile with high offense and low defense. Even a Kage-Level Expert would likely be finished if they took a direct hit.

Soldier Pills weren't as precious as Explosive Tags, but they were emergency food that ninjas carried on missions, as well as military supplies. One pill was equivalent to two meals, could restore Chakra, and was convenient to carry.

A few Soldier Pills combined with a small amount of water could sustain a month-long field mission.

They could be called a necessary medicine for killing and arson.

Even if they didn't trade on the Black Market, for about 40 Soldier Pills, with a 20-30% discount, one could have a friendly chat with Jonin Mitokado from the Logistics Department and exchange them for an Explosive Tag.

Saving a few more Explosive Tags would never be wrong.

The Ninja War was far from over. Even if these Explosive Tags weren't needed now, as a strategic material even more scarce than Soldier Pills, their prices would surely skyrocket later.

An Explosive Tag now already cost twice as much as during peacetime, truly embodying what strategic material meant.

Having the three little guys eat fewer Soldier Pills, besides saving Explosive Tags, was also genuinely for their own good. This was a lesson learned from his own blood and tears.

Soldier Pills, as wartime emergency food, could be eaten as meals and restore Chakra. They had countless benefits, but unlike rice, they weren't nourishing. Not only was the taste extremely poor, but eating too many, while rapidly increasing a ninja's strength, would gradually hollow out their Potential.

It was a complete double-edged sword.

The future versus the present, the choice seemed obvious.

But in reality, often there was no choice.

No matter how good the future was, if you were gone in the present, how could there be a future?

For cannon fodder ninjas at the bottom, eating one or two Soldier Pills daily not only easily solves logistical issues after missions but also allows them to rapidly explore their potential and improve their strength in the short term, thus surviving the most difficult Genin consumable period.

Afterward, as long as they experience a few life-and-death battles, becoming a Chunin will not be difficult.

Chunin who have experienced war are definitely the backbone of Konoha. Although they are still at the cannon fodder level, they have at least escaped being low-level consumables and are considered high-level cannon fodder, not easily discarded by the village leadership.

If they can survive high-risk ninja wars and enter the Ninja World Peace period, Konoha Chunin will definitely be high-income earners.

At that time, it might be an exaggeration for matchmakers to break down their doors, but finding a good-looking wife will be quite easy. If he marries a commoner, not only will there be no betrothal gifts, but he might even be able to ask for a large dowry from her in-laws. He would truly be a winner in life.

The good news is that Umino Sasuke, whom he transmigrated into, is precisely a member of Konoha's backbone, a high-level cannon fodder Chunin whose potential has been fully explored.

The bad news is that he is on the front lines of the Land of Rivers during the Second Ninja War, thinking about how to survive and strive to last until the end of the war.