(The double Kamui must be our Shaoyu, okay~_~)
Northern defense line, Konoha camp.
It was getting dark, and there was a thick layer of clouds on the eastern skyline, as if someone had poured a bucket of gray paint there.
The morning breeze blows from the direction of Land of Grass, carrying the smell of earth and dew, as well as a faint smell of rust.
That's the smell of war.
The bonfire in the camp had been burning all night, and now there were only piles of dark red embers.
The ninjas standing vigil leaned against the fence, their eyelids as heavy as lead weights, but no one dared to close their eyes.
According to intelligence, Iwagakure's vanguard troops have arrived at the Land of Grass border, which is only half a day's journey away.
Minato stood on the east side of the camp, looking at the gray skyline in the distance.
Standing next to him were Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi, all three of whom looked unattractive.
"The vanguard force has about two thousand people." Shikaku Nara squatted on the ground and used tree branches to draw a simple terrain map on the soil. "The main force is behind, and there are six thousand people. The total number is eight thousand, which is much more than us."
"I didn't expect that Iwagakure suffered heavy losses at the hands of Uchiha Shaoyu, but it actually has such a background. This old devil Ōnoki has really made Iwagakure develop very well over the years."
Minato nodded and did not answer the call.
His golden hair was blowing slightly in the morning breeze, and his young face didn't have much expression.
"Minato." Shikaku Nara raised his head and looked at him, "Three of your students are also going to the battlefield?"
Minato was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Kakashi Hatake has been promoted to Jonin." He said, his voice was very calm, "I want them to experience it."
Shikaku Nara looked at him and said nothing. Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi also fell silent.
None of the three people spoke to persuade. They knew what Minato meant - war is not a training ground, and no one can hide behind it forever.
Sooner or later those children will have to go to the battlefield, and sooner or later they will have to face life and death.
Rather than being pushed forward when they are unprepared, it is better to let them learn how to survive in the safest environment by being with the most reliable people from the beginning.
"I understand." Shikaku Nara stood up and patted the dirt on his knees, "I will let people watch them."
Minato shook his head.
"No," he said, "They have to learn it themselves."
Shikaku Nara glanced at him and said nothing.
On the other side of the camp, three teenagers stood together.
Kakashi Hatake leaned on the tent support, with his hands in his pockets and a careless expression on his face.
He wore a brand new Jounin uniform today, a black stand-up collar jacket with the Konoha emblem embroidered on the back.
The uniform was just received from the logistics department the day before yesterday. It was half a size too big and the cuffs were a bit long, but he didn't change it. He didn't think it was necessary.
Rin Nohara stood next to him, holding a bulging medical bag in his hand with a bright smile on his face.
Her hair was a little messy by the morning breeze, but she didn't fix it, she just looked at Kakashi Hatake with a smile.
"Kakashi Hatake, congratulations on your promotion to Jonin."
She handed over the medical bag, her eyes sparkling.
"This is the gift I prepared for you. It contains some bandages, hemostatic medicine, disinfectant, and some wound medicine that I prepared myself. You will need it on the battlefield."
Kakashi Hatake looked down at the medical bag and reached out to take it.
His movements were very fast, as if he was completing a task that had to be completed, but the moment he caught the medical bag, his fingers tightened slightly.
The proud part.
"Thanks." he said
But Lin heard what was behind those two words and smiled even more happily.
Kakashi Hatake hung the medical bag on his belt, then turned his head and looked at Obito Uchiha standing aside.
Obito Uchiha is one of the few younger Uchiha among those Uchiha who chose not to leave Konoha.
This kid Obito Uchiha can be said to be the complete heir of Will of Fire. In his eyes, people like Uchiha Shaoyu are simply defecting from Uchiha and betraying Will of Fire. His uncle Obito Uchiha will not associate with him.
After all, he, Uncle Obito Uchiha, wants to become a Fifth Hokage man.
I wouldn't go to a rural place like Kumogakure.
Obito Uchiha was dressed casually today, with the same orange goggles hanging on his forehead, Forehead Protector tied crookedly around his waist.
There was an indescribable expression on his face, which seemed nervous, excited, and a little unconvinced.
Kakashi Hatake looked at him, didn't speak, just stretched out his hand.
The hand was hanging in mid-air, with the palm facing up and the fingers slightly spread.
Obito Uchiha was stunned for a moment.
"What for?" he asked, his tone a little irritable.
Kakashi Hatake didn't take back his hand, just looked at him.
"A gift." He said, his voice still very calm, "Lin gave it to me. Where's yours?"
Obito Uchiha's face suddenly turned red.
The red color burned from the neck to the tips of the ears, which was particularly conspicuous in the morning light.
He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
His hands dug in his pockets again and again, and finally he pulled out only a few candies, a crumpled to-do list, and a pair of goggles with a broken leg.
He stuffed those things back, and the redness on his face deepened.
"I... I'm not prepared." He muttered, his voice as low as a mosquito's cry.
Kakashi Hatake's hand is still hanging in the air.
Obito Uchiha looked at that hand, the expression on his face became more and more complicated.
There was reluctance, annoyance, and something indescribable - like something was blocking my chest, and I couldn't get up or get down.
He and Kakashi Hatake have never dealt with each other.
That genius can learn everything at once and is the best at everything. Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, illusions, tactics - none of them are comparable to him Obito Uchiha.
Nowadays, everyone has been promoted to Jonin.
And the most important thing is that he likes Rin Nohara, but he can feel that Lin has a different feeling for Kakashi Hatake. He can only tell himself that it is worship.
Why should he give gifts to Kakashi Hatake?
But Lin gave it away.
Why didn't he send it?
Obito Uchiha stood there, clenching and unclenching his hands in his pockets, loosening them and clenching them again.
He felt Kakashi Hatake's eyes falling on him, not heavy, but like a needle, making him feel uncomfortable all over.
"Forget it if you are not prepared." Kakashi Hatake retracted his hand, his voice still very light.
He put his hands back into his pockets, turned his head, and looked at the gray skyline in the distance.
"Anyway, a guy like you won't prepare any special gifts."
"What? Kakashi Hatake You bastard..."
Lin stood aside, looking at the two boys, and the smile on her face faded a little. She wanted to say something to ease the atmosphere, but she opened her mouth and closed it again.
"Gathered."
Minato's voice came from the front. It was not loud, but as clear as a thread. It passed through the noise of the camp and fell accurately into the ears of the three teenagers.