"I'd only just gotten back, and I ran into something like this."
The order in the envelope was not for a special mission, but for this year's new graduates. As the strongest of their generation, they had the duty to lead the new students.
"Orochimaru-sensei was originally supposed to do this. Unfortunately, something happened at the front lines, and he can't return. So it falls to me?"
Uchiha Yū closed the envelope in his hand and wasted no more time, heading straight for the Hokage's office.
At the same time, a yellow figure flashed to Uchiha Yū's side. Minato Namikaze had become increasingly proficient with the Flying Thunder God and was the first to greet him.
"Yū, did you receive a mission from the Hokage too? Looks like we'll be leading students!"
Unlike Uchiha Yū's bored expression, Minato Namikaze, standing beside him, was brimming with enthusiasm.
Being able to become a team leader meant that Minato Namikaze's strength had been recognized by everyone.
"This isn't a good thing. There have been major changes at the front lines lately. What their generation will face is far crueler than what ours faced."
The two recalled the days when they had graduated. At the very least, they had enjoyed a period of safety, following behind their teacher and learning. But this generation might be assigned simple battlefield missions in just a few months.
And battlefield missions had an extremely high death rate! In some respects, they were even deadlier than C-rank missions.
"Isn't this our responsibility? We've lived through a war. Back then, our teachers stood at the front. Now it's our turn to stand at the front. That is the Will of Fire, passed down from generation to generation!"
Minato Namikaze was not discouraged by Uchiha Yū's words. Instead, he clenched his