But after thinking it over, Aragaki Yasushi relaxed.
No big deal.
With his current strength, bolstered by the Ox and Horse Talismans, he could handle just about anything—as long as he didn't run into Kirigakure's Tailed Beast Jinchuriki or a Kage Level powerhouse like the Mizukage. There was no way things could go wrong!
He put away the transfer order and looked up at Akimichi Doto, unable to stop himself from asking, "Teacher Akimichi, aren't you going with us?"
Akimichi Doto waved a hand, his voice tinged with emotion. "My transfer order sends me to the Kumogakure front, where I'll fight alongside Minato."
"Yasushi, I have complete confidence in your abilities, but be careful on the battlefield. Don't let your guard down."
After a pause, he added a pointed warning. "Make sure you keep an eye on Asuma. If you run into real danger, don't try to tough it out. You can abandon the mission and retreat first. After all, Asuma is..."
Akimichi Doto trailed off without finishing. The meaning was clear enough.
Aragaki Yasushi understood perfectly.
Got it. He was the Third Hokage's precious son, Konoha's little prince.
Don't worry. With the Horse Talisman, as long as Asuma doesn't die on the spot, I can bring him back.
Aragaki Yasushi nodded seriously. "I understand, Teacher."
Akimichi Doto nodded with satisfaction, then added in a sterner tone, "One more thing. The Hyuga Clan is mainly responsible for the Mist Battlefield, but the village has also sent a large number of Uchiha Clan members there."
"Both clans are prestigious families in Konoha. Their shinobi are notoriously arrogant, with their noses practically in the air. Be careful when dealing with them, especially with Asuma. He's impulsive, so don't let him get into a fight with anyone. It'll be hard to resolve if things get out of hand."
Aragaki Yasushi's mouth twitched.
Am I a babysitter now?
Not only did he have to keep Asuma in line, he also had to deal with the arrogant shinobi of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans.
Was this really a war mission?
Still, he nodded and agreed. "Don't worry, Teacher. I'll keep an eye on him."
After leaving the tent, Aragaki Yasushi headed straight for Yuhi Kurenai's tent.
He lifted the flap and saw Yuhi Kurenai absorbed in training her genjutsu. She hadn't even noticed him come in.
Her perception was way too poor!
If someone else had walked in, she'd already be dead.
Then again, maybe she just didn't let her guard down around him.
Aragaki Yasushi gave a light cough, breaking the silence in the tent.
Yuhi Kurenai's eyes flew open. When she saw it was Aragaki Yasushi, she let out a sigh of relief, quickly stopped training, and asked, "Yasushi, did our transfer orders come through?"
Aragaki Yasushi nodded and replied evenly, "Yeah. They're in. We're heading to the Land of Whirlpools to fight Kirigakure."
Yuhi Kurenai froze, confusion written all over her face. She murmured, "Kirigakure? Isn't the Mist Battlefield mainly under the Hyuga Clan's responsibility?"
Aragaki Yasushi shrugged. "It was. But I heard Kirigakure stole a Byakugan from the Hyuga Clan during a battle. The Hyuga Clan panicked and recalled all the Main Family shinobi. The Branch Family had to protect the Main Family, so they had fewer people to spare too. The village had no choice but to send a lot of Uchiha Clan members from other fronts to fill in."
Yuhi Kurenai looked even more baffled, her brows furrowing as she muttered, "Sending the Uchiha Clan to fight the Mist Ninja? What were the village leaders thinking?"
She had a point.
The Uchiha Clan specialized in Fire Release, while the Mist Ninja specialized in Water Release. Wasn't that just sending them in to be countered?
After all, not every Uchiha was an expert in overcoming elemental disadvantages like Lord Madara.
And Kirigakure's Hidden Mist Technique was a major counter to the Sharingan. By contrast, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could see through the mist. They were the ones best suited to counter the Mist Ninja!
Aragaki Yasushi rubbed his chin, thinking it over.
It seemed like a ridiculous move, but there had to be a reason.
Perhaps it was because the truce with Iwagakure had been reached.
The Uchiha had mainly been fighting the Iwa Ninja before. Now that there was nothing for them to do, they'd been sent to plug the gap.
Or maybe the Uchiha had been responsible for fighting the Iwa Ninja, but the Iwa Ninja had still managed to launch a sneak attack and nearly invade the Land of Fire. The village leaders were unhappy and had deliberately sent them on this thankless mission to take them down a peg.
Aragaki Yasushi suddenly remembered the original story.
Shisui had apparently been to the Mist Battlefield too. This was probably when he'd gone there.
The two of them didn't discuss it any further. They quickly packed their things and headed to find Asuma near the camp.
They hadn't gone far when they spotted Asuma standing in a clearing, forming Hand Seals and breathing Fire Release at a tree trunk in the distance.
Obito was nearby, joining in and offering the occasional comment.
So these two Fire Release users had met up?
Although Asuma wasn't a pure Fire Release shinobi—he specialized in wind on his left and fire on his right, mastering both combat styles—he and Obito still had plenty in common.
Hearing footsteps, Asuma stopped forming Hand Seals and turned around. For once, he was sharp enough to guess why they'd come. "The transfer orders came through? Where are we going to fight?"
"We're going to the Land of Whirlpools to fight the Mist Ninja," Aragaki Yasushi replied concisely.
Obito immediately came over. "We're going to fight Kirigakure?"
"Perfect! I have a cousin who's been making a name for himself on the Mist Battlefield lately!"
Aragaki Yasushi's thoughts stirred, and he asked casually, "You mean Uchiha Shisui?"
Obito looked surprised and scratched his head. "Huh? How do you know him?"
Just then, a cool voice suddenly rang out. "Body Flicker Shisui is pretty famous."
Hearing the familiar voice, Obito bristled and looked toward a nearby tree. Kakashi was leaning lazily against its trunk, twirling a short sword in his hand.
"Kakashi! What are you doing here? Are you here to challenge me again?"
Kakashi glanced at him, his voice full of disdain. "Idiot. The transfer orders came through. I'm here to inform you."
Obito froze, then quickly asked, "So where are we going?"
"The Mist Battlefield too," Kakashi replied flatly.
Obito's face fell. "You've got to be kidding! The Mist Ninja all use Water Release. Won't my Fire Release be countered?"
"Damn it. I won't even get a chance to show what I can do."
Seeing Obito's dejected look, Aragaki Yasushi began to think.
Wait, the Mist Battlefield?
Could that old fox, Lord Madara, be waiting for Obito there too?
In the original story, Uchiha Madara had made his move on the Mist Battlefield. He'd manipulated the Mist Ninja into kidnapping Rin and sealing Isobu inside her. In the end, he forced Kakashi to pierce Rin's chest with Chidori, making Obito witness it all and driving him completely into darkness.
But now, he'd thoroughly scrambled the plot. Rin hadn't been kidnapped, and Obito hadn't been buried in a cave. There was a good chance Lord Madara would make his move directly on the Mist Battlefield.
He might skip the earlier steps and go straight to the whole routine of saving Obito, manipulating him, and turning him dark.
Still, it wasn't a big deal. As long as they stayed cautious, they could survive.
If he drew some powerful item, maybe he could just go, "I don't eat beef!"
After all, Jackie Chan Adventures had the Book of Ages!
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