Konoha's Supplies Arrive

The faces of the four mysterious ninja approaching from inside the gate finally became clear in the moonlight.

The man in the lead was none other than Minato Namikaze. Following behind him were his squad members, Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.

"Jonin Minato, it's been a long time. I never imagined our next meeting would be on the battlefield. But with the village so short-handed, I'm surprised Lord Hokage sent you to deliver supplies."

When Jonin Moonlight heard that Minato Namikaze was delivering the supplies, he immediately came out to greet him. He and Minato had always been good friends.

No, almost every ninja who knew Minato Namikaze got along well with him. After all, few people could turn away someone who greeted them with a smile every day.

"Haha, it certainly has been a while. If I remember right, the last time we met was at Ichiraku Ramen, when you'd taken your team there to eat. I never expected we'd meet again on the battlefield."

Minato Namikaze recalled his last meeting with Jonin Moonlight and grew wistful as well. Perhaps it was that genuine kindness that drew everyone around him so firmly to his side.

"Come along, Minato. Lord Orochimaru has been waiting for you at headquarters for quite a while."

Although Jonin Moonlight felt a little nostalgic, he knew Minato's mission came first. He led Minato toward the command tent at the center of the camp.

"Lord Orochimaru, it's been a long time! These are the supplies Lord Hokage asked me to deliver. Please take a look."

Minato Namikaze followed Jonin Moonlight into the command tent and immediately saw Orochimaru seated at the head, looking down at some documents. He stepped forward and spoke.

"Teacher Sarutobi actually sent you to deliver supplies? He must have given you another assignment as well."

Orochimaru regarded Minato Namikaze with mixed feelings as the latter handed him the supply scroll. Ever since his final confrontation with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru had sensed that Hiruzen would never let him become Hokage.

At present, the only people in Konoha qualified to compete for that position besides him were Tsunade and Jiraiya. Even setting aside Tsunade's fear of blood, her obsessive gambling alone ruled her out.

Jiraiya was devoted to his writing and absorbed in his art. He would not compete with Orochimaru for the position of Hokage. Aside from those two, the likeliest candidate was Minato Namikaze.

A civilian ninja with no power base would be easy for Hiruzen Sarutobi to control. Minato also had Jiraiya's backing, a girlfriend who was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and considerable strength of his own.

Most importantly, he smiled at everyone and possessed an extraordinary ability to put people at ease. Apparently, almost everyone in Konoha, from Jonin to Genin, got along with him. Even knowing they were rivals, Orochimaru did not want to hurt him. If Orochimaru were in Hiruzen Sarutobi's position, he would probably choose Minato Namikaze too.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had probably sent Minato Namikaze here this time to claim a share of the credit.

But this was an open scheme he had no choice but to accept. Their forces were already weaker than the Iwa Shinobi's. Only by bringing together every available fighter could they barely hold the Iwa Shinobi back.

Did anyone really think this was all the strength the Iwa Shinobi had? Ōnoki, Higashishibito, Akatsuchi, the Four-Tails Jinchūriki Roshi, and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han had yet to appear, along with numerous elite Jonin. Kitsuchi, who had appeared already, led only the vanguard.

And that was with the Land of Earth fighting on two fronts, with the Land of Lightning tying down part of its forces. Even so, the Iwa Shinobi still had far too many top-level fighters for them to handle.

Besides, any wariness Orochimaru might have felt toward Minato Namikaze was a thing of the past. Now he had Chihane. When news of the recent battlefield events reached Konoha, it would surely give Teacher Sarutobi a surprise.

"Lord Orochimaru, Lord Hokage sent my squad to reinforce the battlefield. He said that once we arrived, we were to follow your orders."

Minato Namikaze smiled at Orochimaru and spoke calmly.

"With Minato here to help me,

that's wonderful news. We're short-handed on the front lines right now, and the Iwa Shinobi's main force is expected to arrive within the next two days. Before then, Minato, take your squad around and familiarize yourselves with the surroundings." Looking at the smiling, handsome, sunny Minato Namikaze, Orochimaru simply could not bring himself to make things difficult for him, so he spoke pleasantly as well.

"Jonin Moonlight, arrange a tent for Minato's squad to rest in. Put them near Chihane. Minato, your student Kakashi and Chihane are brothers, after all. They haven't seen each other in a while, so this will give them a chance to catch up."

After a moment's thought, Orochimaru instructed Jonin Moonlight to arrange a tent for Minato Namikaze's squad.

"Yes! I'm sure the brothers will enjoy spending time together. Then I'll take my leave, Lord Orochimaru."

Minato Namikaze spoke warmly to Orochimaru.

Orochimaru then waved a hand, and Jonin Moonlight led Minato Namikaze away.

Jonin Moonlight soon led Minato Namikaze's squad to Chihane's tent and chose a nearby tent for them to rest in.

"Minato-sensei, let's go see Chihane! I wonder if he's wet his pants in terror out here on the battlefield without the great Obito looking after him. Haha!"

At the thought of seeing his good friend Chihane again, Obito Uchiha was clearly so excited that he got carried away.

Thump!

"Ow!"

Standing behind Obito Uchiha, Kakashi brought a knife-hand down on his head. Obito could not help crying out in pain.

"Kakashi, are you looking for a fight?"

Once Obito Uchiha recovered, he immediately roared at Kakashi.

"Idiot. (=_=)"

Kakashi cast Obito Uchiha a sidelong glance with his clear black-and-white eyes, then left the tent to find Chihane.

"You jerk! I'm talking to you!"

Seeing Kakashi ignore him and walk straight out, Obito Uchiha immediately chased after him, shouting.

Only Minato Namikaze and Rin Nohara remained where they were, watching the pair with smiles. They had seen this scene countless times and were already used to it. Wasn't this simply how those two got along?

Soon, they reached the area near Chihane's tent. Before they entered, they spotted him beneath a large tree beside the tent, his back to them as he admired the moon.

As Kakashi and Obito drew a little closer, they heard Chihane speak softly to the moon.

"Had heaven not brought forth Chihane Hatake, the Shinobi World would have endured an eternal night."

"S-so impressive!"

Before coming here, Obito Uchiha had imagined what his reunion with Chihane might look like.

But the scene before him undoubtedly exceeded his imagination.

Unlike Obito, who reveled in such theatrics, Kakashi had already covered his face with his right hand in embarrassment.

It was as though he were saying, I don't know them. I have no idea what they're talking about!

But Obito, who loved precisely this sort of thing, was already captivated by the sight of Chihane's back, utterly drawn in by that distinctive, melodramatic aura.

He could not even help imagining himself in Chihane's place, picturing how, the next time he saw Hyuga Sonoko, he would turn his back to her and deliver those same words.