Setting Out for the Land of Lightning Front

That afternoon, Ye Yuexin didn't train again. Instead, she went shopping with Kurenai Yuhi.

As they say, training should be balanced with rest.

The main reason they went shopping was that Kurenai had run out of makeup.

So she'd dragged Ye Yuexin out with her.

Ye Yuexin didn't understand why an eight-year-old girl was so fond of makeup.

While they were out shopping, they unexpectedly ran into Might Guy and Ebisu, who were out buying equipment.

From chatting with them, Ye Yuexin learned that they'd been assigned another mission.

And it was on the battlefield in the Land of Water.

When Ye Yuexin heard that, he felt it would soon be his turn.

After all, the Third Shinobi World War was already nearing its end.

The village wouldn't pass up any available combat strength.

During the few days he'd been recovering, Ye Yuexin had also gone to see Itachi Uchiha.

But the Uchiha had told him that Fugaku Uchiha had already taken Itachi to the battlefield.

Apparently, it was the Rock Ninja front under Jiraiya's command, which should be relatively safe.

Ye Yuexin also figured Kakashi and the others would soon be getting ready to leave. In the story, they'd gone to the Rock Ninja front as well.

That meant Kakashi was about to become a jonin.

The youngest jonin in Konoha.

At dusk, after they'd eaten out together, Ye Yuexin finally returned home with Kurenai.

Because Ye Yuexin had been injured, Kurenai had been staying at his house for the past few days.

Now that Ye Yuexin had recovered, she still hadn't left, since he hadn't said anything about it.

Ye Yuexin didn't mind.

After all, he'd lived with Anko before.

He was already quite used to sharing a place with someone.

Ye Yuexin's guess had been spot on.

As soon as he got home, he ran into an Anbu operative who'd come to deliver a message.

"Chunin Ye Yuexin, by order of Lord Third, you will head to the Land of Lightning battlefield tomorrow with Jonin Minato Namikaze, Jonin Akamichi Todō, and Jonin Inuzuka Gaku. Jonin Minato will inform you of the specific mission."

Then the operative handed Ye Yuexin a green flak jacket.

"This is the chunin flak jacket issued to you by the Third Hokage. At Jonin Minato's direction, tomorrow's meeting place is the village entrance. Be there at seven."

"Message delivered. I'll take my leave."

With that, the Anbu operative used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

Ye Yuexin felt that the operative's attitude was noticeably better than before. It was probably a different person.

But it didn't matter much to him.

Once the Anbu operative had left, Ye Yuexin and Kurenai went back inside.

Minato Namikaze had returned by now. Just as Ye Yuexin had expected.

Minato Namikaze had successfully foiled the Rock Ninja strike team's plot.

How could the future Fourth Hokage fail?

But the details of this mission didn't seem to have been made public yet.

Otherwise, Ye Yuexin felt that all of Konoha would be talking about him again.

He'd also sensed that the two men he'd taken down this time weren't ordinary elite jonin, the sort who were just nameless extras.

The news was probably being kept under wraps. That was just as well; Ye Yuexin didn't want to become too famous.

It wasn't as if he dreamed of becoming Hokage.

Still, he was going on another mission with Minato Namikaze.

Ye Yuexin was more than happy about that.

What's more, he had two jonin as teammates this time.

And both came from clans with powerful secret techniques.

Ye Yuexin felt that this time, he could really sit back and take it easy.

Last time had just been an accident.

With two elite jonin and Minato Namikaze in this battle, there'd definitely be nothing for him to do.

He'd just have to mop up afterward, or cheer them on a little.

Ye Yuexin was looking forward to the mission. At last, he wouldn't have to take such risks; he could safely coast and earn experience.

After returning home, Ye Yuexin went to take a bath.

When he was done, Kurenai had already gathered some of his usual ninja tools for him.

She really was two years ahead of him in graduating from the Academy.

There wasn't much, but it was all there.

Ye Yuexin had already sealed the Swift Release scroll and Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Kunai inside a small scroll.

He kept them with him at all times.

He felt there wasn't anything else he needed to do now.

So he said to Kurenai, "I'm going to get some rest. I'd wanted to take you to see a movie today, but I guess I can't now."

That would've been fine if he hadn't said anything, but as soon as he did—

Hearing Ye Yuexin say that, Kurenai's rosy lips drooped.

With a hint of reproach in her voice, she said,

"Sigh... Men really are all talk, aren't they? I've been keeping someone company for five days, and still no movie. Now all you can do is talk."

"..."

Ye Yuexin was suddenly very embarrassed by her words.

But Kurenai was considerate, and she could see how awkward he felt.

She immediately laughed softly and said, "All right, go get some rest. I'll remember that movie, you know. I'll be waiting for you to invite me next time."

After that, she went into the bathroom to take a bath, while Ye Yuexin returned to his room.

Ye Yuexin had always slept well. The fact that he was heading to the battlefield the next day didn't keep him awake.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Ye Yuexin woke up.

As soon as he was up, he heard noises coming from the kitchen.

When he opened the door, he saw that Kurenai had already prepared breakfast for him.

The kitchen light was still on. It looked like Kurenai had been up for quite a while.

Ye Yuexin looked at the fried eggs, still steaming, and felt a little moved.

They ate in comfortable silence.

After breakfast, Ye Yuexin prepared to set out.

At the doorway.

"Yuexin, be careful on the battlefield. You're already very strong, but don't go looking for trouble, or else..."

"All right, Kurenai. I know."

Ye Yuexin cut Kurenai off. She still didn't know about his last mission, so she had no real idea of how strong he was.

Ye Yuexin suddenly leaned toward Kurenai.

Just like she'd teased him last time.

"Smack!"

But Ye Yuexin wasn't merely teasing her.

He planted a kiss on Kurenai's forehead.

Ye Yuexin had seen everything Kurenai had done for him over the past few days.

But the time wasn't right yet. He couldn't make any promises.

After all, they were both still children.

Who knew whether Kurenai would change when she grew up?

After all, Ye Yuexin remembered clearly that in the original story, Kurenai had married Asuma Sarutobi.

"Be careful on your mission, too."

With that, Ye Yuexin turned and left, leaving Kurenai at the doorway with flushed cheeks.

Was he really going to "sit back and take it easy"? The next chapter will be even more exciting!