The succession of fierce battles had nearly exhausted every member of the White Fang Squad, draining both their stamina and chakra. Their thunderous onslaught had also dealt a crushing blow to the Kirigakure Ninja's fighting spirit on the eastern front. A series of precise, lethal strikes had forced the Mist Ninja to temporarily pull back their forces and reassess the threat posed by this elite Konoha squad. As a result, the eastern front enjoyed a brief but precious respite.
After completing a supplementary border reconnaissance mission and confirming that the surrounding area was safe for the time being, Hatake Sakumo did not lead his squad back to a large base in the rear as usual. His gaze swept over his three teammates, whose faces betrayed their exhaustion, and he made a somewhat unconventional but considerate decision: they would camp beside a quiet woodland stream far from the main routes and rest for two days.
By the time the setting sun cast its last golden rays over the war-ravaged land, the squad had settled into a clearing beside the murmuring stream. Clear water burbled past, washing away the faint traces of blood and smoke in the air, as though it were also cleansing the weariness from their hearts.
Night slowly fell, and cold and damp began to seep through the woods. At the center of camp, however, a fire that Hizashi Hyuga had lit with precise chakra control blazed merrily. The crackling wood was the sweetest music in the silent forest.
The dancing flames did more than ward off the chill. Like a warm beacon, they carved out a small haven of rare safety and peace on this battlefield riddled with danger. Shifting light and shadow played across the faces of Hatake Sakumo, Shinji Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, and Miwa Kato, outlining