Gift

"A few days ago, a Minato Namikaze appeared out of nowhere. Today, you're telling me that besides Rasa, another Pakura has emerged among the Sand Shinobi..."

"Just how many more geniuses are going to appear?! Tell me! Tell me!"

The Third Raikage grabbed the ninja who had come to report the battle results. Violent Chakra surged from his body, and his eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the young ninja before him like a ferocious beast ready to devour its prey.

"Ra... Raikage... sir..."

The young ninja's voice trembled. Fine beads of cold sweat seeped from his forehead, and his entire body had gone stiff. He had no idea how to respond. He knew the Raikage had been extremely irritable lately due to the war's setbacks, but duty had forced him to come report anyway.

"Hmph... Speak... What other intelligence is there..."

The Raikage gradually calmed down and set the reporting ninja back on the ground. Though he had flown into a rage for a moment, he was not some cruel leader incapable of distinguishing right from wrong.

"I-it's a letter from the Tsuchikage..."

The young ninja swiftly handed over Ōnoki's letter, then stood respectfully to one side without daring to make a sound. He remained there like a statue, seemingly afraid the Raikage would remember that there was still someone else in the office.

"Ōnoki! He's gone too far!"

With fire in his eyes, the Raikage quickly read through the scroll. His clenched fist punched a hole through the office wall, while the lightning still bursting from his body made the young ninja swallow nervously.

The Raikage's gaze instantly fell upon the young ninja. The energy radiating from his body made the young ninja take half a step back...

"Go! Send that bastard Ōnoki a reply! Tell those Stone Shinobi to get the hell out!"

"Yes!"

The young ninja, who had just raised his foot to leave, finally processed what the Raikage had said. He turned back, looking at the Raikage with uncertainty.

"Didn't you hear what I said?!"

"But..."

"Hm?"

"Yes!"

The enraged Raikage often made baffling decisions, and the young ninja had long grown used to it. But after receiving confirmation, he understood that the Raikage was not joking this time.

After gently closing the Raikage's office door, the young ninja finally let out a sigh of relief.

Boom!

The sudden crash from behind the door made his face twitch. He knew that when he came tomorrow, he should bring another new desk...

Time slowly passed. As the heavy snow began to melt, Kato Osamu gradually adapted to his new identity—Konoha's newly promoted Special Jonin.

He could participate in higher-level meetings and exchange his merits for more advanced ninjutsu.

Yet compared to those things, the gazes in the Konoha camp that regarded him as though he were some rare beast made him even more uncomfortable.

Those looks seemed to remind him that, in everyone else's eyes, he had completely become a member of Minato Namikaze's faction—though he had never had a choice.

Within the Konoha camp, the snow atop the raised platforms had begun to melt. Beneath the pure white sky and earth, the sunlight seemed to turn everything gold.

Kato Osamu stood alone in an open space far from camp, where a few lingering patches of snow remained. He drew out Kunai and continuously threw them. The Kunai striking the ground scattered countless snow pellets, but his expression did not change in the slightest.

With a faint sigh, Kato Osamu's thoughts churned. A strange light flickered in his eyes as he slowly walked toward where the Kunai had landed.

"They should be heading back soon..."

The Cloud Shinobi had completely stopped attacking. Even their probing assaults had vanished. During this time, Kato Osamu had only encountered three Cloud Shinobi squads. One squad recognized him and immediately retreated, while the other two merely threw a few Kunai before withdrawing into the forest as well.

The tense atmosphere in the camp seemed to be melting away along with the snow. Every ninja with war experience understood that the Cloud Shinobi were about to withdraw.

Following the usual process, there would be ceasefire negotiations, discussions over war reparations, and a renewed non-aggression treaty between both sides. Then they would wait for one side to tear up the treaty again—though that might be years, or perhaps over a decade, from now.

"Osamu... You're here... I've been looking everywhere for you..."

Rin Nohara's voice came from afar. Her breath formed a long silver-white mist in the air. She wore an adorable white rabbit-ear accessory, seemingly a gift from Obito Uchiha on another snowy day.

"What is it?"

Kato Osamu answered as he silently continued walking toward the spot where the Kunai had fallen.

"Osamu, so you were practicing with Kunai..."

Rin tilted her head to look. Perhaps it was because of the rabbit-ear accessory, but she looked especially playful and cute today.

"Obito and I discussed it. We wanted to visit Kakashi Hatake today..."

"He still hasn't recovered?"

Kato Osamu walked slowly ahead, his footsteps crunching in the snow. Rin followed behind him, constantly breathing warm mist into the air.

"No... I don't know why. Obito's injuries have already healed... but Kakashi is still in the infirmary..."

Worry filled Rin's eyes as she followed Kato Osamu. She stopped at the place where the fallen Kunai had kicked up a patch of snow and watched him slowly crouch down and part the snow, confusion appearing in her gaze.

Resting quietly atop the rotting leaves and pine needles beneath the snow was a snow-white fox. Its eyes were full of fear. Kunai surrounded its entire body like a cage, pinning it firmly in place and leaving it unable to move. The Kunai had not harmed it in the slightest, but it did not dare make even the smallest movement.

"So cute!"

Before Kato Osamu could say anything, Rin hurriedly pulled the Kunai from the ground, picked up the white fox, and held it in her arms. She shot Kato Osamu a reproachful look.

"Just what I needed—a fox-fur scarf..."

Kato Osamu's faint voice seemed to frighten the little fox. It bared its fangs and flailed its paws as if condemning his cruelty, then suddenly bit Rin's hand.

"Ow!"

Rin recoiled, and the little fox leaped from her arms. It vanished into the forest like lightning, leaving behind only a stunned Rin, who looked at Kato Osamu with disappointment and reproach.

"Osamu! It's all your fault! You scared it!"

"Next time... I'll give you a white fox-fur scarf..."

Kato Osamu smiled softly and said nothing more. He walked ahead alone, leaving Rin to glare indignantly in the direction the white fox had fled. Only after a while did she finally chase after him.

"Osamu, you said it. Don't forget!"