Impending Battle

Gekko Hoshino didn't notice his son's dejection. He entered the kitchen, washed his hands, and started to get busy. The clatter of pots and pans could be heard from the kitchen from time to time. Ten minutes later, Gekko Hoshino came out holding a basin of rice balls!

"Hanfu, time to eat." Gekko Hoshino placed the basin on the dining table with satisfaction, and called his son over for lunch.

Hanfu walked over, feeling a bit dejected. But when he saw the basin of rice balls, he felt instantly worse.

"Dad, what is this...?"

"Rice balls!"

Gekko Hoshino smiled, "Although they don't look like much, they should taste good."

Should?

Hanfu looked at these oddly shaped rice balls, not even sprinkled with sesame seeds. He forced himself to suppress the urge to complain and then softly suggested, "Dad, actually, I really want to try the taste of Military Ration Pills."

"Hanfu, it's rare for your father to cook. You can't let down your father's culinary skills!" Gekko Hoshino seriously placed a rice ball, one end fat and the other thin, into Hanfu's hand and said, "Don't mind how ugly these rice balls look, they are super delicious, I promise!"

...So you admit they're ugly.

Hanfu made a bitter face and took a cautious bite. Instantly, a salty taste filled his mouth.

I believe your evil!

How much salt did you stuff into these rice balls?

Hanfu's throat felt uncomfortable from the saltiness, and he hurried to get some water to drink.

Gekko Hoshino watched Hanfu's retreating figure with a smile, his eyes full of doting and reluctance.

After a depressing lunch, Hanfu was yawning and went straight for a nap.

Gekko Hoshino sighed and walked over. For the past year, he had trained Hanfu, helping him develop the habit of rigorous daily training. But he hadn't expected that in just a few days, Hanfu would have degenerated like this. However...

Perhaps this would also be a good path in life.

At least he could stay away from war!

Hanfu lay on the Tatami, his eyes open, staring at the Ceiling. He was a bit sleepy but didn't want to sleep yet.

If his previous guess was correct, then his Dad was going to the battlefield in the next few days.

The battlefield of ninjas wasn't like turn-based combat in games where you take turns. It was a large group of people swarming forward, with all sorts of ninjutsu pouring onto the enemy like a shower of flowers.

If he was unlucky enough to be hit by a ninjutsu released by a Jonin, he wouldn't even know how he died.

And the enemy was Sunagakure Ninja, with all sorts of puppets, poisons, and assassination techniques. It was impossible to guard against, and the thought of it made him despair.

However, I'm too weak right now. No matter how unwilling I am, I can't change anything.

"No, I must become stronger, strong enough to change everything!"

Hanfu's spirit ignited. He attempted a kip-up from the tatami... but failed to get up.

Forget it, what's the point of all this fancy stuff?

Hanfu pushed himself up with his hands, then sat cross-legged and began to refine his chakra!

Due to his talent, Hanfu's chakra refinement speed was just a tiny bit slower than others, so after a short while, he stopped with a look of disdain.

If cultivation is a long journey, why rush it day by day?

Besides, immense chakra can't be achieved overnight. Why bother fighting for a nap?

And this doesn't align with his principle of "stealthy development"!

"Forget it, I'll take a nap instead. I'm still a child. If I don't nap, I won't grow tall."

Hanfu yawned and fell into a deep sleep on the tatami.

Outside the sliding door, Gekko Hoshino heard the commotion inside gradually fade. He shook his head in disappointment and left.

In the evening, Keiko returned from work at the hospital, her expression very solemn.

Hanfu, with a strong survival instinct, tried his best to act cute and playful, presenting himself as a well-behaved child, but it still didn't bring a smile to Keiko's face.

After dinner, Gekko Hoshino and Keiko left Hanfu behind and went out for a walk.

"What time do we leave tomorrow?" Keiko asked, walking with her head down on the street, flanked by dim streetlights and hurrying pedestrians.

"Gather at five."

Gekko Hoshino looked up at the night sky and smiled, "Don't worry, I'll come back alive. Don't forget, I'm a Jonin!"

"Even a Jonin doesn't have much impact on the battlefield," Keiko said, looking at Gekko Hoshino with worry. "And the Sunagakure Ninja's Puppet Corps and their poison are very powerful. You must be careful."

Gekko Hoshino was a Konoha-Style Kenjutsu ninja, a close-combat specialist. Whether he liked it or not, he would be fighting the Sunagakure puppets up close. If his skin were to be cut by a puppet, he would surely be poisoned!

As a staff member of Konoha Hospital, Keiko had dealt with many poisoned ninjas. If they were lucky and had the antidote, they would be lively again within half a minute of injection. If they were unlucky and didn't have the antidote, they could only wait for death in agony!

"Rest assured, most of the Sunagakure poison has already been deciphered by Lady Tsunade. Moreover, a large number of Medical Ninjas will be accompanying us. You should know this better than I do."

Gekko Hoshino smiled, "Besides, I'm not fighting alone! My clan members, my comrades in the village, everyone will fight side by side! We will definitely bring victory back to the village!"

At home, Hanfeng lay on the grass in the backyard, his hands behind his head, comfortably crossing his legs and swinging his feet towards the moon, feeling quite at ease.

No guests had visited today, and he hadn't used his three Collection Technique opportunities at all. This gave him a sense of guilt, feeling like he had slowed down his path to becoming stronger by another day.

This guilt was even more intense considering his father was about to go to the battlefield.

No!

Hanfeng suddenly sat up from the grass.

I must find someone to collect from, even if it's a waste, I have to use up these three collection opportunities!

Hanfeng's eyes darted around, and he immediately ran to the wall and began to climb over.

At this moment, Gekko Hayate and his son were sitting in the backyard, admiring the moon and enjoying the breeze. The night wind blew gently, rustling the tips of their hair. It was a beautiful scene, but the commotion Hanfeng made while climbing the wall disrupted it.

"Brother, it's Brother, Dad."

Gekko Hayate happily jumped out of Gekko Sekiseki's arms and ran on his short legs to the bottom of the wall to help Hanfeng.

"Yo, Little Brother, good evening!"

Hanfeng, in a doggy-crawl style, climbed from his home to Hayate's Home. He straightened his messy clothes and smiled, "Let's practice sword fighting together!"

"Okay!"

Gekko Hayate's eyes lit up, and he immediately ran inside to get a Wooden Sword.

"Hanfeng, have you eaten?" Gekko Sekiseki stood up with a smile.

"Uncle Hoshiseki."

Hanfeng felt a little embarrassed. He hadn't seen him when he jumped down. "Um, did I disturb you?"

"How could you? Hayate has always loved practicing sword fighting with you," Gekko Sekiseki smiled. "Besides, I'm going on a mission with your father tomorrow. Hayate will have to trouble you, Brother, to look after him from now on."

Tomorrow?

Hanfeng's heart skipped a beat, and then he nodded, "I understand!"