Three teenagers wearing Konoha uniforms squatted on the branches of a big tree, looking at the Kirigakure camp ahead.
There were people walking around in the camp, not many, in twos and threes. Some were moving things, some were standing guard, and some were dozing off against the edge of the tent.
"Three sentries, one at the door and two on the side."
Ebisu lowered his voice and said.
"The changing of the guard is about every two hours. I just counted it."
Genma Shiranui held a Senbon in his mouth and nodded.
"Wait a little longer and get in when they change the guard."
Might Guy squatted on the other side of the branch, pressed his hands on the trunk, and leaned forward slightly.
He kept staring at the camp without blinking.
His green tights were not very conspicuous among the leaves, but the white leggings were very eye-catching. Ebisu told him several times to change to a pair of dark ones, but he refused to change.
"Kay, can you change seats?"
Ebisu said, "Your legs are so bright. If someone from the opposite side looks over, they can see it."
Might Guy looked down at his legs, then looked up at Ebisu. "But this is my specialty."
"Features will kill us."
"Okay." Genma Shiranui interrupted him, "Stop talking and get to work."
The three people came down from the tree and used the cover of the bushes to move forward.
Kirigakure's camp is not big, it is a temporary stronghold, with about thirty ninjas living there.
Konoha sent several teams here to get information about this area. The three of them were responsible for the southernmost one.
They walked around the perimeter of the camp and noted the location of the sentry posts, the layout of the tents, and where supplies were stored.
No one found them.
Ebisu's stealth skills are very good. Might Guy and Genma Shiranui follow him and try not to make any noise.
The mission was half completed. They found an open space to rest on the way back.
Genma Shiranui sat down against a tree, took Senbon out of his mouth, wiped it, and put it back.
Ebisu took out the water bottle from his backpack, took a sip and handed it to Kai.
Kai took it, took a sip, and returned it.
"Kay." Ebisu suddenly spoke.
"Huh?"
"Is your father still Genin?"
Might Guy paused for a moment, then returned the kettle to Ebisu. "Yeah."
"How long have you been a pawn?"
"It's been a long time."
Ebisu smiled. It wasn't a malicious smile, it was a bit like a joke between friends.
"Wannian Genin, I've heard of it. My father said that your father was Genin when he first became a ninja, and he is still Genin now."
Might Guy said nothing. He lowered his head and looked at his hands.
There are calluses on his hands, which are the calluses on the knuckles and soles of his feet, and they were created by practicing Taijutsu.
His father's hands also have calluses, which are more numerous, thicker and harder than his.
"Genin who only knows Taijutsu."
Ebisu shook his head.
"To be honest, I don't really understand. What's the use of practicing Taijutsu? If the enemy comes with a ninjutsu, you Taijutsu can't stop it no matter how strong you are."
Might Guy opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.
He wanted to say that Taijutsu also has the use of Taijutsu, that his father practiced very hard every day, and that those trainings were not meaningless.
But when he said these words, he himself found them unconvincing.
His father is indeed Genin, and he has been Genin for a long, long time. When people in the village talk about his father, they call him "that ten thousand year old Genin".
He had heard it many times, and every time he heard it he felt uncomfortable, but he didn't know what to say to refute it.
"Kay, I'm not talking about you."
Ebisu Seeing that he didn't speak, he added another sentence.
"Your Taijutsu is very good, and you can also learn some ninjutsu. Your father doesn't know any ninjutsu at all."
Might Guy nodded, but still said nothing.
Genma Shiranui leaned against the tree, holding Senbon in his mouth, and looked at the two of them.
He glanced at Ebisu.
This guy's emotional intelligence is comparable to that of an adult border collie.
"Ebisu." Genma Shiranui spoke.
Ebisu turned to look at him.
"That's enough, stop talking."
Ebisu was stunned for a moment. He looked at Genma Shiranui's face, then looked at Might Guy's expression, and suddenly understood something.
His mouth opened and closed again.
The open space was quiet for a while. The wind blew and the leaves rustled.
"That's not what I meant."
Ebisu said, the voice was much quieter than before.
"I just... just chat."
"Yeah." Might Guy said.
"I know."
He knows that Ebisu has no malicious intent.
He remembered how his father would practice kicking in the yard every morning, starting before the sun came up, doing a thousand kicks and then going to work.
He thought of his father saying.
"Kai, Taijutsu will not lie"
"Believe in your youth."
His expression when he said that was very serious.
But my father, sometimes he began to question his youth.
I saw my father being laughed at by the people in the same village. When I was in Konoha, I was often laughed at by the villagers in Konoha, saying that I was a weirdo like my father.
It was only because the war situation had become increasingly intense recently that he came to the battlefield, giving him some breathing space.
The bullying from his fellow villagers was really unbearable for him.
My father has been Genin all his life, and his income is very small, but he uses it to buy food for himself.
You must know that for people like them who practice Taijutsu, nutrition is very important. If his father Tenten doesn't eat enough, he will definitely not be able to exert his full potential.
My father is different from me. I do have some chakra and can perform some simple ninjutsu, but my father has almost no chakra at all. This may be because my father gives me enough food, but my father doesn't have enough to eat.
When I go back this time, I want to have a good chat with my father to see if I can dispel my doubts.
Metkai stood up and patted the dirt on his pants. He looked at Ebisu, who was still standing there, holding the kettle in his hand, not knowing what to say.
Kai stretched out his hand and patted Ebisu on the shoulder.
"Let's go. The mission is not over yet."
Ebisu raised his head and looked at Kai's face.
There was no anger or sadness on Kai's face, it was just his usual expression, with thick eyebrows, bright eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
Ebisu nodded and stuffed the water bottle back into his backpack.
Genma Shiranui stood up from under the tree, took Senbon out of his mouth, looked at it, and then put it back.
He walked to Kai and didn't speak, but raised his chin in the direction of the woods.
He knew Might Guy's character. Although on the surface he was very cheerful and lively, and looked carefree and didn't care much about anything, on the inside he was actually very fragile. Those on the surface were just his disguise, and he still had the confusion of a teenager.
The three of them set off again.