Chapter 34
Transporting supplies meant enemy ambushes were nothing unusual!
If Nawaki happened to be among the dead, Hiruzen Sarutobi could wash his hands of it completely.
He could put on an innocent face and claim Nawaki had slipped out on his own!
Liuyun's thoughts raced, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
In other words, whether Nawaki came or not, they had already been abandoned!
Their target was not just Nawaki. It was... him too!
Or rather, he was their primary target. Nawaki had been an afterthought.
Liuyun sifted through the clues, and he had a fair idea who had devised this plan.
"The Pot King, Shimura Danzō? That old bastard really is something!"
"Fine! Just fine! In three days, I'll see what trump card you've got!"
A day later, news that was both alarming and exhilarating spread throughout Konoha!
The Sand Ninja, led by the Third Kazekage, had formally declared war on Konoha!
White Fang had faced the Third Kazekage and narrowly won!
With their morale shattered, the Sand Ninja had retreated to their border. Konoha had pursued them and slain many enemies!
The news sent a jolt through Konoha's residents.
The tense atmosphere from before vanished at once.
Liuyun sneered. That old bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi truly was Konoha's finest politician.
A narrow win? There had been no report of the Kazekage's death. Most likely, both sides had been badly hurt!
How many troops did Konoha have? They had to divide their forces four ways, always guarding against surprise attacks from the other Three Great Shinobi Villages.
And the Sand Ninja? Their land was desert everywhere. Even if you offered someone a place there, they would not come! It was a godforsaken wasteland.
The Sand Ninja could throw their entire nation's strength against Konoha.
They were bound to have an overwhelming advantage in numbers.
And Hanzo of the Salamander was lurking nearby, ready to pounce.
But none of that was Liuyun's concern. Right now, he needed to prepare for his departure in two days.
That afternoon, Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders arrived!
Because of Kushina's special status, Liuyun and Mikoto were ordered to form a special team and join the mission to deliver provisions to the front lines.
Once the provisions were delivered, they were to follow the frontline commander's orders.
Liuyun took the orders without expression. So it begins!
It was exactly what he wanted!
Two days later, Liuyun and Mikoto met at the Konoha Gate, each carrying a simple pack.
The packs held only ordinary belongings. He had put everything valuable in a Sealing Scroll, including Mikoto's seven-piece set.
Not far away, Uchiha Yunda and Uchiha Su'er lay hidden.
"Liuyun! Mikoto! Please be careful!"
Kushina's eyes were red, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Don't worry, Kushina! We'll be careful! You're the one who needs to look after yourself while we're gone!"
Mikoto held Kushina's hand, her own eyes reddening.
"Come on, Kushina. We're just escorting provisions to the front, not marching off to our deaths. You don't have to cry like this!"
Liuyun patted Kushina's head with a reassuring smile.
"I can't help worrying. If you get into a fight, make sure you protect yourselves!"
"And if you can't win, run. You have to stay alive!"
Kushina kept fretting, unable to stop talking.
Liuyun and Mikoto were not annoyed. They felt only warmth.
As the sun quietly rose, four figures appeared before them.
Liuyun knew it was time to leave.
He took out a Sealing Scroll and whispered in Kushina's ear.
"This is my gift to you. Remember, when I get back, you can only wear it for me!"
Kushina nodded firmly.
"I'm the commander of this supply mission. You can call me Jonin Aoto Iseki!"
"These three are the squad leaders, Chunin Background Extras A, B, and C!"
"Enough talk! Let's go!"
Aoto Iseki waved his hand and stepped through the Konoha Gate first.
Liuyun and Mikoto waved goodbye to Kushina and followed him.
Once outside, Liuyun took a closer look at the Ninja in the transport group.
He sneered inwardly, more certain than ever that a plot was afoot.
He did not recognize all of them, but he knew seven or eight.
He could not recall their names, but they all had one thing in common: they were civilian Ninja.
He did not need to guess to know the other Genin were probably the same.
There were a few Genin from prominent clans like the Hyuga Clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho, but no more than five altogether. They seemed to be there just to make up the numbers.
As for the Uchiha Clan, there were only him and Mikoto!
"Heh! Surprised?" A familiar, goofy voice sounded behind him.
The familiar face and clothes made Liuyun's mouth twitch. The kid had managed to get out after all!
"How did you get out?"
"I used the Transformation Technique to turn into a backpack, and my classmate carried me out!"
Nawaki proudly pointed to a boy not far away!
The boy gave them an awkward smile.
"What's that boy's name? Are you two close?" Liuyun narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, he's Shimura Youzheng. I had to beg him for ages before he agreed!" Nawaki chuckled.
(Got any flowers? Would you like me to introduce you to Asuna, the anime girl?)
Foolish Nawaki, First Signs of the Enemy! (Third Update!)
Shimura? Liuyun's face darkened. To lure Nawaki out, Danzo had even roped in a younger member of his clan.
Besides, he refused to believe the Jonin and Chunin around them had failed to notice Nawaki's Transformation Technique.
It seemed all four of those Ninja worked for Danzo!
But Liuyun narrowed his eyes, and a strange smile spread across his face.
He walked up to Aoto Iseki and spoke loudly.
"Jonin Iseki, I have something to report. Someone who isn't on the roster has joined us! It's Senju Nawaki!"
Liuyun pointed straight at him. I've laid it out in the open. Let's see whether you send him back.
Liuyun's words immediately drew everyone's attention!
Senju Nawaki's name was famous among these Genin!
Unlike Minato Namikaze and Liuyun, whose reputations rested on strength and talent, Nawaki was known for something else.
He was the First's grandson and the young heir of the Senju Clan.
Aoto Iseki narrowed his eyes, his expression unreadable.
"Senju Nawaki? That can't be right. I checked everyone carefully before we left!"
He followed Liuyun's pointing finger and saw Senju Nawaki standing there awkwardly, scratching his head.
"Senju Nawaki! You are not on the supply transport roster. We've only just passed the Konoha Gate, so you can still go back on your own!"
Aoto Iseki walked up to Nawaki and spoke in a low voice.
His tone was neither stern nor resolute. It sounded as though Liuyun's report had merely forced him to go through the motions.
"No, Jonin Iseki. I want to go to the front with everyone! I want to fight alongside them!"
Senju Nawaki clenched his fists, his face alight with eagerness.
"Senju Nawaki, I'll ask you once more. Do you really want to go to the front? You know who you are!"
"The front is incredibly dangerous. Even I can't guarantee my own safety! There's still time for you to turn back!"
"No! I'm going to the front! I want to fight alongside my sister!"
Senju Nawaki spoke again, determination filling his eyes.
"Very well. Stay with Uchiha Liuyun's group for now. Once we reach the front, the commander can assign you elsewhere!"
Aoto Iseki considered it for a moment before answering.
"Keep moving!" he roared from the head of the group.
They were all Ninja, so they traveled quickly.
The provisions and supplies were stored in Sealing Scrolls, leaving them with no heavy loads to carry.
Now that Aoto Iseki had allowed him to stay, Nawaki stopped sneaking around and walked openly beside Liuyun.
"Heh! That wasn't very nice of you, Liuyun! You actually reported me!"
"Good thing Jonin Aoto Iseki let me go to the front!"
Senju Nawaki could not hide his delight.
Liuyun shook his head slightly. There was no saving this kid. He was as carefree as the Prince.
Aoto Iseki, a good man? Liuyun did not believe that for a second.
What gave him the authority to send the sole surviving boy of the Senju Clan to the front when he knew who Nawaki was?
Either he had lost his mind, or someone was backing him.
If he actually delivered Nawaki to the front, Tsunade would be the first to beat him half to death.
Or perhaps Aoto Iseki had set out on this mission expecting to die.
"Ugh."
Liuyun sighed. This was only a glimpse of Konoha's dark side, and it was already giving him a headache.
"Ding! Host, please choose!"
1. Protect your future brother-in-law Nawaki and get him safely to the frontline camp. Reward: Chakra increased by 10%!
2. Kill every approaching enemy, regardless of whether your future brother-in-law lives or dies. Reward: physical constitution increased by 10%!
3. Kill every approaching enemy, find the mastermind, and get your future brother-in-law safely to the front. Reward: Mental Energy increased by 20%!
Up to now, Liuyun had only been guessing.
But with the system's new task, his suspicions were all but confirmed.
Liuyun chose the third option without hesitation. Mental Energy was exactly what he needed right now.
[Uchiha Liuyun]
Physical constitution: Kage Level