On the third day, early morning.
Uchiha Jin and the other squad members stood once again in the open clearing at the village gates.
Takada Fujiwara's tone was extremely solemn. "This is a joint C-rank mission to transport a batch of supplies to the Sunagakure front line. Aside from us, there are five other squads. The three of you must be careful about everything on the road. Once a real battle breaks out, I might not be able to look out for you."
Hearing this, the three of them wore grave expressions.
None of them had expected a wartime mission to be assigned so soon.
Though it was merely delivering supplies to the front lines, none of the three present were fools, and naturally they wouldn't treat this mission as a simple outing or a spring excursion the way ordinary graduating ninja might.
Seeing the three of their reactions, Takada Fujiwara couldn't help but inwardly nod.
"Seeing you all be so cautious, I can rest a little easier."
"Still, don't worry too much."
"We won't actually be going to the front lines, and under normal circumstances, we won't encounter the enemy."
Uchiha Jin and the others nodded slightly at his words.
Ten minutes later.
Other ninja squads gradually arrived as well, but compared to their own squad, these people were all laughing and chatting, their eyes filled with naivety and fantasy.
Uchiha Jin was somewhat puzzled. "It's not even graduation season; how can there be so many naive fellows?"
"They're last year's graduates who haven't been to the front lines yet," Nara Shikaichi said in a low voice. "Konoha and Sunagakure only clashed three months ago, and right now the front lines are all veterans who graduated long ago."
"During the clan meeting a few days ago, I heard our clan head say that the situation at the front lines has changed. Sunagakure dispatched Rasa and Pakura, which is why Konoha suffered heavy losses."
"This is also why us newbies are being temporarily drafted to the front lines. Although the frontal battlefield doesn't have a use for us for now, the logistics side is also very easily targeted by Sunagakure, so we must be careful during the upcoming operations."
"Because according to the clan head's words, Sunagakure is definitely plotting something in secret."
Nara Shikaichi's expression was grave.
Uchiha Jin and the others naturally felt their hearts sink as well. Nara Shikaichi's clan head was none other than Nara Shikaku. Although this man was not among Konoha's core higher-ups, he was Konoha's universally acknowledged tactician and planner. His understanding of the front lines definitely far exceeded that of ordinary people.
It was right at this moment that the supply caravan approached.
A man with a scar across his face emerged, called over the captains of all the squads, and after finishing the distribution of each squad's tasks, he spoke directly to everyone: "For this mission, everyone must stick to their respective duties. Regardless of who makes a mistake, they will be severely punished."
"Move out!"
Uchiha Jin's eyes narrowed slightly.
He recognized the man before him; this person was among Hatake Sakumo's legacy.
Toyama Ryuichi, a Konoha elite jounin!
He was also someone whose life had been saved by Hatake Sakumo, so he could be considered one of Hatake Sakumo's absolute loyalists. Previously, he had even been an Anbu squad captain. When Hatake Sakumo was heavily wounded by rumors, he had also tried to speak up for Hatake Sakumo, after which his post as Anbu squad captain was stripped away.
Later, after Hatake Sakumo specifically put out word telling everyone not to act rashly, this fellow before him had suppressed his anger and chosen to remain silent—until the war broke out between Konoha and Sunagakure, whereupon he was dispatched to the battlefield in the capacity of a free ninja.
In the original work.
Kakashi being able to become the Sixth likely had something to do with this group of people as well.
As for why Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't take the opportunity to purge and wipe out this group, it was presumably because most of them hailed from civilian backgrounds, making them one of his basic support bases. He likely believed that with Hatake Sakumo's death, given enough time, he would also be able to bring them to heel.
"Alright, everyone."
"Our mission is to protect the flank. Let's move out."
Takada Fujiwara walked over, briefly explained the mission, and then took the lead as he walked out of the village.
Uchiha Jin and the others naturally followed closely behind.
The others also went to their respective positions, and thus escorted the caravan out of Konoha.
The Land of Fire possessed picturesque scenery.
It was truly one of a kind throughout the entire shinobi world—rich in produce and with distinct four seasons, it could well be called a blessed realm of geomancy.
The caravan traveled along the grand road, flanked by dense forests on both sides, countless reclaimed fertile fields, and even utility poles and street lamps densely dotting the roadsides.
Uchiha Jin sat atop a supply wagon, crossing his arms as he gazed at the blue sky and white clouds, the golden sunlight scattering warmly over his body.
"The Land of Fire is truly blessed by nature!"
"No wonder during every World War Ninja, the Land of Fire gets collectively targeted by the four great ninja villages."
Uchiha Jin felt a wave of emotion in his heart.
When he left Konoha last time on a mission, because he needed to hurry on his way, he hadn't had the time to appreciate the scenery. This time, however, it gave him the opportunity.
Within the caravan.
Civilians labored diligently, while ninja provided protection all around.
Yes!
Even for supplies being transported to the front lines, the ones actually doing the heavy labor were ordinary people. Ninja did not need to do such miscellaneous chores; they needed to conserve their energy to deal with emergencies.
Among the ninja.
Team leaders with battlefield experience wore stern expressions, while those who had not been to the battlefield were divided into two groups.
Those from ninja clans were relatively vigilant; due to their family upbringing, they possessed a basic understanding of war.
Only the fellows of civilian origin who had yet to experience the battlefield seemed entirely relaxed, as if on a pleasure trip. Even when their team leader reprimanded them, the effect was limited, and after a short while, they would relapse into their old ways.
"Clan ninja, pah!"
"What a bunch of cowards, look at how nervous they are."
"Even though we come from civilian backgrounds, our ninja academy grades are all ranked at the top. We must perform exceptionally well in this war to let this bunch from ninja clans understand who the real powerhouses are!"
Within a civilian squad, murmurs of resentment faintly spread.
Uchiha Jin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Yet he was long accustomed to such matters. Those who could make a name for themselves in the original work were all elites; civilian powerhouses like Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru could hardly be called a tiny minority, though calling them rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns would not be an exaggeration.
In reality.
Civilian ninja and clan ninja effectively belonged to two different social strata.
Aside from the few among them with good tempers and a degree of cognitive awareness, virtually the vast majority of them were at odds with clan ninja—no different from ordinary folks back on Earth harboring a grudge against the wealthy.
Especially with the existence of things like ninjutsu, they felt even more strongly that as long as they put in the effort, they could bridge the gap and even surpass the ninja clans. Consequently, this atmosphere was all the more extreme.
And toward this.
The ninja of clan origin mostly looked on with cold detachment.
No anger, no mockery.
The education of their clans made them understand that these civilian ninja before them were essentially cannon fodder.
The ones who could truly mingle and play with clan ninja were barely a handful of exceptions like Might Guy and Rock Lee, or perhaps someone with a gentle disposition like Nohara Rin. Of course, Nohara Rin herself could also be counted as something of an elite.
After all, she knew Medical Ninjutsu. If she hadn't run into a jinx like Obito, she definitely could have become an elite jounin of Konoha.
"Uchiha Jin, Hatake Kakashi, come and compete!"
"I'm not afraid of you Uchiha! As the number one in class B, I am definitely not inferior to the two of you who are number one in class A!"
"I'll prove that even if you come from a ninja clan, I, Omura Sawa, am a hundred times stronger than you!"
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