The long-running Third Shinobi World War had reached its most intense phase.
Two years later, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi finally buckled under the pressure from the front lines and sent every combat-capable ninja in the village to the battlefield.
The term "combat-capable" no longer made any distinction based on age. Anyone called a ninja was sent to the battlefield, including many children barely over ten. Among them was Hatake Sakumo's son, Konoha's renowned prodigy, Kakashi Hatake.
To improve the survival rates of the children newly sent to the battlefield and help the young Genin adapt quickly, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't assign them to the main force on the front lines.
Instead, he arranged for Jonin to take the children along on missions. With a Jonin leader looking after them, the children had a much better chance of surviving. And by carrying out missions on the battlefield, they could not only help the war effort but also grow and mature quickly.
There were quite a few four-person squads like this on the front lines. The most conspicuous was the squad led by the Yellow Flash of Konoha, Minato Namikaze. Minato's squad had an exceptionally high mission success rate, and it also included Kakashi Hatake, a super prodigy of the new generation who was renowned throughout Konoha.
On the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Birds.
Four figures were making their way through the rain. All four were ninjas, and their rain capes obscured their faces. But from their builds, it was clear that three members of the squad were children.
"Minato-sensei, where are we going next?"
"We just finished delivering supplies. Are we already heading to the next place?"
A boy's voice rang out from the traveling squad, complaining.
"Obito, you talk too much. As ninjas,