The Old, Young, Disabled, and Disabled Team

Just after Kakashi and the others left, another ninja team appeared at the village entrance; it was none other than Hongshi and his three companions.

Utatane Koharu, saw the four of them first, and slowly put down the teacup she had brought to her lips. "Men... Homura, look over there."

"Pfft! What kind of team is this?!"

Mitokado Homura spat out all the tea she had just drunk.

At the head of the group were Hongshi, flanked by Maruboshi Kosuke, Genin; Gekko Hayate, who was still getting used to walking with his prosthetic leg; and Hanabi Hyuga from the Hyuga Clan.

The four of them strolled over slowly.

"Hey! Lord Homura, Lady Koharu, so leisurely drinking tea?"

Koharu: " Hongshi! What kind of lousy teams did you choose? Kosuke is one thing, but why is there a little girl? Do you think this is a camping trip?!"

Homura cursed, "An old man, a child, a disabled person, and a brain-damaged person—let's just call you the Old, Young, Disabled, and Disabled Team '!"

The Lord God: "Hmm, I think you're pretty savvy."

Koharu looked at the things everyone was carrying and shook her head again. "They even brought pots and pans. I seriously doubt you guys really went camping. By the way, Hayate, didn't you just recover? Why are you with this guy too?"

Gekko Hayate originally didn't want to participate, but after Hongshi fitted him with a prosthetic leg and he felt pretty good about it, he agreed out of gratitude.

Gekko Hayate said somewhat embarrassedly, " Lord Homura and Lady Koharu, he's already come knocking on our door, so I can't very well refuse."

Hongshi waved his hand. "Oh dear, Gekko Hayate Teacher needs to move around more because he has just recovered."

"How can my leg recover if it's broken!"

Hongshi originally planned to bring Gyokucha along, but Tsunade insisted on evaluating her, so he had to give up the idea.

Homura saw Hanamaru Kosuke, " Kosuke, why are you getting involved too? This mission is very dangerous."

Koharu, though sharp-tongued, is kind-hearted. "You old Konoha, isn't it just suicide for a Konoha Genin to go on such a dangerous mission? The opponent is Sannin Orochimaru!"

Kosuke smiled and said, "Haha, it's alright, it's alright. Hongshi-kun seems very reliable, and I'm just in charge of cooking."

As a ninja Tobirama's time, and having received Tobirama's personal instruction in Water Release Ninjutsu, it's natural that Maruboshi Kosuke Homura and the others. Moreover, because of his intense Will of Fire, he gained the recognition of all of Tobirama's disciples, who affectionately called him "Big Brother."

"Cooking...? Okay, your cooking is indeed delicious. Cough cough, Hanabi from the Hyuga Main Family, why are you getting involved? How could we let Hiashi take such a risk!"

Hanabi Hyuga was only six or seven years old. Seeing the authoritative advisor of Konoha, she didn't dare to breathe loudly. "Um, Father and Neji sent me."

" Neji?"

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura suddenly remembered Tobirama floating up from behind Neji, and their hair stood on end.

Utatane Koharu: "Ahem, I understand. Since it was your father's decision, then it's fine."

Mitokado Homura: "What are you waiting for? Go on, go on!"

The four members of Hongshi: "???"

With the help of Homura and Koharu, the Old, Young, Disabled, and Disabled Team of Hongshi slowly... slowly walked out of the Konoha Gate.

"What is Lord Tobirama trying to do?"

"Who knows? Let's keep drinking our tea, it's a rare break. Slurp! Ha~"

"Hoo-hoo, ha~, I feel so carefree now, the explosion of the Shinobi World has nothing to do with me!"

Old, Young, Disabled, and Disabled Team.

Just as Kakashi and his six companions were frantically traveling under the cover of night...

Hongshi and Kosuke decided to rest on the spot and cook...

The two searched for ingredients for dinner, while Hanabi Hyuga Gekko Hayate.

Gekko Hayate received a message from Mitokado Homura as he left Konoha, urging him to ensure Hanabi Hyuga's safety.

Hinata Hanabi, who had received her education and training within the Main Family since Hanabi Hyuga, timidly moved closer to Gekko Hayate upon seeing the wild animals in the surrounding trees. "Haya... Hayate- sensei! The nights in the wild are so scary!"

Gekko Hayate, who had also attended the Ninja Academy, smiled and patted Hanabi's head, " Hanabi- sama, don't be afraid. Wild animals in the forest will avoid flames. Just keep the fire burning while you're in the wild. Besides, Hongshi and Uncle Kosuke are around. You can hear them as long as you stay calm."

Hanabi Hyuga took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and listened carefully. Sure enough, she heard Kosuke and Hongshi's footsteps around her. "It really is! Hayate- sensei, you're amazing!"

"It's nothing, Lady Hanabi. You'll learn when you become a ninja that you must remain calm under any circumstances during a mission."

As the daughter of Hanabi Hyuga, the head of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family, Hyuga Hiashi possesses an extremely noble status, and Gekko Hayate should rightfully address her as "Madam."

Upon hearing the word "ninja," Hanabi Hyuga's eyes lit up with anticipation. "So, it's about becoming a ninja like my sister and Naruto-kun! That's wonderful!"

Gekko Hayate: "Yes, but becoming a ninja isn't necessarily a good thing. First, you need a strong will and exceptional strength. Just like this campfire, you can't light it during battle, as it will reveal your position."

"Really? But it will be very cold without a fire."

"Haha, Lady Hanabi, you're such a considerate person. However, when carrying out a mission, we must choose the safest method. Only by staying alive can we complete the mission."

When Gekko Hayate fought against Baki at Kikyo Castle, his right arm and left leg were severed by the Wind Blade. At this time, he was equipped with metal prosthetics that Hongshi had customized from the Nuclear Ninja Village. With a certain amount of skill, he could move the joints. After mastering them, they were almost like normal limbs, and there were even some mechanisms.

Hanabi Hyuga, seeing Gekko Hayate's metal prosthetic limbs, said, " Hayate- sensei, your hands and legs... were damaged during a mission..."

Gekko Hayate rolled up his sleeves. "Ah, yes, so becoming a ninja is quite dangerous, you know."

Hanabi Hyuga pictured Hinata diligently training in her mind, her eyes filled with unwavering determination. "That's right. I will become an excellent ninja too!"

Gekko Hayate: "Really? I believe that with your talent, you can definitely do it!"

"Hooray! I found some fresh mushrooms. Wild mushroom soup is the best."

Kosuke returned carrying some wild ingredients and some plump mushrooms.

"Wow, it looks delicious!"

Gekko Hayate: " Kosuke, you've worked hard!"

"Ah. It's nothing. You need to eat well while you're out to have the strength to gather Chakra."

Gekko Hayate: " Kosuke, you've been Genin for a long time now, haven't you?"

Kosuke took the iron pot off his back, placed it on the fire, poured water into it, and then spoke, "Ah, come to think of it, this year marks the fiftieth year. Hmm, it has indeed been a long time."

Gekko Hayate: "But why is that?"

Kosuke skillfully prepared the ingredients and placed them into the pot one by one. "I made a very serious mistake before, so I've always been Genin, well, it was Lord Tobirama's era."

"Tobirama- Lord Tobirama's era... that was truly amazing! It was the era when the Will of Fire awakened!"

"Heh heh heh, what's so great about it? It was just a chaotic era where countless ninjas lost their lives on the battlefield."

"Haha, look what good stuff I got!"

Hearing the voice of the Hongshi coming from the forest, Hanabi Hyuga turned her head to look, and almost burst into tears.

"Ah! Hayate- sensei! Kosuke! A set of teeth has come to life and floated out on its own! Ah!"

Hongshi: "(°ー°), Hanabi, you can't be that mean!"

Gekko Hayate laughed, "Hehe, it's nothing, it's Hongshi-kun."

Hongshi's dark skin blended into the night, with only his white teeth standing out. However, when he stepped into the Kakkō, he was seen carrying a wild boar weighing sixty or seventy pounds on his shoulder.

Kosuke: "Wow, it's a wild boar! That's excellent food!"

Gekko Hayate: "You're in for a treat!"

Hanabi Hyuga looked at him with a gentle smile, despite his ugly appearance. " Hongshi-kun is really amazing!"

Hongshi rubbed his nose. "Hmph, I am the strongest ninja in Konoha."

Hanabi Hyuga: "R-Really?!"

Kosuke: " Hanabi- sama, Hongshi-kun defeated Sannin, one of the Orochimaru. He's incredibly powerful."

Gekko Hayate: "So it really was you. I thought it was just something the Konoha High Command said to hide a secret weapon."

"Oh, it was just something I did casually."

Hanabi Hyuga looked on with admiration. Hinata often talked to her about Hongshi, but most of the time she was referring to Naruto. Now that she had seen him in person and confirmed it, an idea quickly took root in her mind.

"My dear sister, the progress you've made since giving me your guidance has been so impressive that even Father has praised it highly. Please... please accept me as your apprentice!"

After saying this, Hanabi Hyuga stood up and bowed deeply to Hongshi.

Gekko Hayate was startled. "Lady Hanabi! You are not entitled to bow!"

Kosuke didn't care about what happened between them. Instead, he took out a kitchen knife and cut the wild boar into neat slices, then put them into the boiling iron pot.

Hongshi looked at Hanabi Hyuga and patted her head. " Hanabi, don't bow your head anymore. There's no need for you to become my disciple. I can guide your training. Seeing how sincere you are, you can easily defeat Sasuke, but you can easily defeat Six Paths Madara instead."

Madara: "Why am I getting beaten up again?!"

"Ahem, it means it will make you very, very strong."

"Really!"

"I, Hongshi, never lie, but before that, you must protect Uncle Gekko Hayate and Grandpa Kosuke."

Gekko Hayate: "Hey, you look older than me. Just call me by my name."

Kosuke: "Oh dear, oh dear, I can't accept that, you should just call me Uncle."

Hongshi: "(°ー°) Are you guys serious? I'm only fourteen years old. I'm not an adult yet. I'm just a kid."

Kosuke: "You look more mature than Kakashi, never mind."

Gekko Hayate: " Hongshi-kun, I want to become stronger too."

"Sure, how about you marry Uzuki Yugao first? I can let the two of you beat Madara to a pulp."

Hanabi Hyuga suddenly smelled an enticing aroma of meat. "Wow! It smells so good! Kosuke, your cooking is amazing!"

Kosuke was very pleased with the praise. He ladled out a bowl and handed it to Hanabi Hyuga, his eyes filled with affection. "Hahaha, I'm the strongest culinary ninja! Here, Hanabi- sama, you're still growing, you need to eat more to become stronger!"

"(•͈ᴗ•͈ૢૢ) Hmm!"

The four of them ate with great enjoyment, and cheerful laughter echoed through the woods.

"Marvelous!"

"It's delicious!"

"This isn't a mission, this is camping!"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the forest, Kakashi and his six companions, led by their Ninja Dog Pakkun, were swiftly traversing the dense woods.

Between Otogakure and Konoha, there is a dense forest, making movement extremely difficult. Because they failed to discover Sasuke's kidnapping immediately, they chased for a long time but still couldn't catch up. Instead, they triggered a trap set by Kabuto Yakushi.

Kakashi raised his hand. "Stop!"

Everyone stopped.

" Kakashi! Why did you stop? I don't feel tired at all!"

"Gurgle~"

All that could be heard was Kai's stomach screaming in agony.

"Everyone, rest here for two hours to replenish your energy!"

"Yes!"

All they did was take out their Military Rations Pill and chew them a few times.

Naruto almost burst into tears. "What?! There's no food to eat! Why aren't there any chef ninjas?!"