Time flew, and another week soon passed.
Inside the Forward Base.
Indeed, after retaking the lost stronghold, Yechen had volunteered to hold the position himself. He had not advanced any farther because Konoha was negotiating with Kirigakure. A peace treaty would likely be signed soon, bringing the war with Kirigakure to an end.
Early one morning.
Yechen had just stepped out of his quarters when he heard two people talking in the distance. Their voices sounded youthful; neither could have been very old.
"Have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"About the village negotiating with Kirigakure," one of them said, sounding slightly excited.
"Oh, that." The other sounded as though he had known about it for some time, with a hint of smugness in his voice.
"I heard about it ages ago, but I don't think the negotiations have started yet."
At that, the one who had asked the question shook his head.
"Who said they haven't? I heard from a Jonin that the negotiations started a while ago. We just didn't know about them. It's all thanks to Captain Yechen, too. If it weren't for him, Kirigakure wouldn't have agreed to negotiate so quickly."
"Exactly. Captain Yechen is my idol. It's a shame he's from the Uchiha Clan."
"What's wrong with the Uchiha?"
"I want to become his student. Doesn't that mean I have no chance?"
"You? Ha."
After hearing their brief conversation, Yechen shook his head slightly and walked away.
Just as the one who had asked the question said, the negotiations had started some time ago. Otherwise, neither side would have remained so quiet.
The news had simply been confined to the higher-ups and the Jonin, leaving the low-ranking Genin in the dark.
But now even these Genin had heard about it. There could only be one reason: