The dim light of dawn barely penetrated the dense clouds above Konoha, coating everything with a leaden-gray cold light.
Senju Chen stood in the courtyard of the mansion, looking around the place he called "home" for the last time. Crystal dewdrops were still hanging on the tomato vines that Kushina Uzumaki carefully cared for, and the burst water balls left by Minato Namikaze after the failed practice were still scattered in the corner.
The faint salty aroma of last night's miso soup lingers in the air.
Everything seemed so peaceful, which was incompatible with the chilling atmosphere outside the village where a storm was about to come.
He took a deep breath of the cool morning air and imprinted this tranquility deeply in his mind. This was the meaning of his fight.
"Little Chen!"
A fiery red figure rushed out of the room, took him into his arms, and ruthlessly ruffled his hair with his trademark, undeniable passion.
"You kid! You got up so early, are you going to practice again? How many times have you told me that I have to eat and sleep well before setting off today!" Kushina Uzumaki put his hands on his hips, his long red hair flying in the morning breeze, and his Shira blue eyes were filled with undisguised worry.
Behind her came Minato Namikaze, who was dressed in a capable ninja costume. He was holding a bulging package in his hand, with a gentle and helpless smile on his face.
"Kushina, don't be like this, Little Chen is ready."
"What are you ready for? Are you ready to go to the battlefield and die?" Kushina's voice suddenly rose, and his eyes were a little red, "How old are you! Is war the place where children like you should go? What on earth is that old man thinking!"
She cursed, but the movements of her hands were much gentler, carefully arranging Senju Chen's slightly messy collar.
A warmth flowed through Senju Chen's heart, but a sweet and heart-warming smile appeared on his face, "Don't worry, Sister Kushina, I'm very strong. Besides, with the teacher here, nothing will happen."
He raised his head and looked at Minato Namikaze: "Brother Minato, are you here to see me off too?"
"Yes." Minato Namikaze handed over the package in his hand, "Kushina has prepared some dry food and a change of clothes for you, so you can change frequently."
He paused, and looked at Senju Chen with his blue eyes seriously, his expression became serious. "Little Chen, the battlefield is different from practice. There are no rules there, and any negligence may be fatal. Promise me, no matter what, you will regard survival as the first priority."
Ever since he saw the incredible talent of Senju Chen, his view of this "younger brother" has transcended the age limit. In his eyes, this is already a genius who can stand alongside him, or even surpass him in some aspects.
"I promise you, Brother Minato." Senju Chen took the package and nodded vigorously, "I want to come back to eat the Anko soup made by Sister Kushina."
A simple sentence made Kushina unable to hold back any longer. She turned around, her shoulders twitching slightly.
At the entrance of the village, it was already bright.
Orochimaru has been waiting there for a long time, and beside him are Shisui Uchiha and Maruboshi Kosuke.
"Teacher." Senju Chen walked up to him, and then greeted Shisui and Maruboshi Kosuke beside him.
"Shisui, Grandpa Kosuke."
"Let's go." Orochimaru said no more, turned around and turned into an afterimage, rushing towards the outside of the village. Shisui and Maruboshi Kosuke also followed closely behind.
Senju Chen looked back at Konoha's door for the last time.
"Ugh!"
His figure disappeared instantly, following the footsteps of Orochimaru, and disappeared into the vast forest.
Leaving the range of Konoha, the team's atmosphere instantly became oppressive and efficient.
No one spoke, only the rustle of leaves being trampled, and the slight whistling of ninjas cutting through the air as they moved at high speed.
They are considered the vanguard to infiltrate secretly this time, and they will continue to add more personnel to assist them in the future.
Therefore, Orochimaru chose inaccessible dense forest trails, perfectly avoiding all inns and villages where there might be informants.
Senju Chen followed him, seemingly walking calmly, but his brain was running at super high speed.
He was not worried about the danger of this mission.
For him now, the so-called war is just a large-scale hunting.
As long as you don't meet the strong Tailed Beast and Kage Level.
You must know that the system he has is not only about stealing talents. It can also extract Chakra and "experience points". This function ensures his continuous and lasting combat capabilities.
This is his biggest trump card for daring to enter the game personally and participate in this grand war.
'And Uncle Sakumo' Senju Chen's eyes swept across the dense jungle ahead, 'I don't know how it is going on your side. Yahiko, Nagato, Konan... These three children who were caught by fate should start running for peace now.'
He does not intend to interfere with "Akatsuki"'s growth prematurely.
An organization with innocent ideals is far easier to guide and exploit than a terrorist group that has fallen into darkness from the beginning. The same premature intervention will also attract the attention of Black Zetsu and Madara Uchiha.
As they continued to go deeper, the moisture in the air became heavier and heavier, and the sky became gloomier. When the first drop of cold rain hit Senju Chen's face, they had already entered the border of Land of Rain.
Here, there is no wind and sunshine, only the never-ending, fine rain.
The rain washed the earth, dyeing everything into a gray tone. The towering industrial towers loomed in the rain, like the skeletons of silent steel giants, adding a strange sense of depression to the land.
"Stop."
Orochimaru's voice sounded in the sound of rain. He stood under a huge fern, his golden vertical pupils shining strangely in the dim light.
"Teacher, it smells like blood."
Shisui was the first to answer.
The perception of Senju Chen has already spread. Less than a kilometer ahead, several waves of Chakra just collided violently and then disappeared.
"That's right." Orochimaru's smile became more serious, "It seems that we came at the right time."