allendalepharm Chapter 186 Report, Zhang Village
Chapter 186 Report, Zhang Village
Chapter 186 Report, Returning to the Village
The Land of Rivers, Konoha's front-line camp, central command tent.
After two days of intensive travel, Minato and Taichi finally returned to their camp, covered in dust.
After reporting their observations in the Land of Birds to Jiraiya and Shikaku, the two remained silent. It wasn't that they didn't want to share their thoughts, but rather that they worried their speculations might influence the two men's judgment.
Therefore, they were very careful when reporting, only stating the facts they had seen.
"It seems that Sunagakure and Iwagakure are going to join forces!" Jiraiya sighed.
"It's not necessarily a joint effort. At most, it's just that the higher-ups have reached some kind of tacit understanding. After all, Sunagakure has officially declared war on Iwagakure, and they have just gone through a deadly battle. The hatred between the lower-ranking ninjas is not so easy to resolve."
As expected of the highly intelligent Nara clan, they were able to analyze the mentality of Sunagakure and Iwagakure based solely on Minato and Taichi's accounts.
"Sunagakure!" Jiraiya snorted coldly, clearly looking down on these guys. "They've broken their promises time and time again. We've only had an alliance treaty with them for a short time, and they're already starting to plot against us again."
Taiichi and Minato exchanged a glance. It seemed that their worries were not unfounded; Sunagakure and Iwagakure were indeed going to take action against Konoha.
"Someone come here."
At Jiraiya's command, a ninja walked in from outside.
"Pass down the order: starting today, increase the number of patrol personnel and double the perimeter of the area under surveillance. All intelligence from the Land of Wind must be reported to me immediately, no matter when it comes."
"yes!"
After the messenger ninja received the order and left, Jiraiya then said to Taichi and Minato, "Taichi, your team's mission deadline was two months, right?"
"Ah!" Taiichi was a little confused. Why did he suddenly ask about this? "I didn't even remember if you hadn't mentioned it. It was indeed a two-month mission. Come to think of it, it's been almost three months now."
"Then it's time. Take your squad back to the village while there's no fighting now," Jiraiya said matter-of-factly.
"No, Jiraiya-sensei!" Taichi exclaimed anxiously, "Going back now would be making us deserters, wouldn't it?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Jiraiya said sternly. "Returning to the village to report after completing a mission is just a normal mission procedure. Besides, we're just letting you go back, not forbidding you from coming back."
Taiyi then realized that they had come here on a mission and had not planned to stay for long. Now that war was about to break out, if they did not go back, they might not have another chance to return in a short period of time.
The battlefield situation is ever-changing, and no one can guarantee that they will be safe and sound on the battlefield.
Both Yohei and Saori have families, and they need to say goodbye to Nono and everyone at the orphanage, so this return is very necessary.
"I understand, thank you Jiraiya-sensei."
This is the advantage of having a high-ranking mentor; they can think of things you wouldn't even consider, and can even let you go back directly. At this stage, not just anyone can return to the front lines as they please.
"Minato, your squad should also take this opportunity to go back. It's not too late to come back when the war officially breaks out."
"Okay, teacher, I do need to go back."
After leaving the central command tent, Minato and Taichi quickly found Yohei, Kakashi, and their group in the camp. They had just returned from a mission and were training together in the grove.
The battlefield is the best place to forge people, and that's absolutely true. Although there are fewer formal battles now, people always unconsciously crave improvement in the atmosphere of the front lines.
This was particularly evident in Obito and Rin, perhaps because they were the weakest. After a period of separation, Taichi could clearly sense the changes in them.
Obito had become much more composed, and his aura was comparable to that of some long-serving Chunin.
Lin also appeared more confident, and her every move showed no signs that she was just a newcomer who had graduated a few months ago.
The saying "A scholar should be looked at with new eyes after three days of separation" is probably a good example of this.
When Taichi and Minato appeared at the edge of the grove, the first person to spot them was Yohei, who was fighting against Kakashi, Obito, and Rin while using his Sharingan.
Despite being outnumbered three to one, he was still able to keep an eye on his surroundings while dealing with the three opponents; that's the difference in skill.
"Alright, stop." Yangping forced Kakashi back with a punch, and then took a step back himself. "Taichi and Minato-senpai are back."
After Yangping reminded them, Kakashi and his two companions, who were panting heavily, finally noticed Minato and Taichi in the grove.
Kakashi and Rin were both fine, just looking happy. After all, they were teacher and friend, and it was always a joy to see each other again after a long time.
But Obito, what the heck is that? Are you crying tears of joy? And what's with that relieved expression on your face?
All my previous comments about you are now null and void. The idea that you've become much more composed is utter nonsense.
"Minato-sensei, you're finally back!" The idiot Obito rushed towards Minato, but suddenly turned back halfway and quickly arrived in front of Taichi. "Taichi, you need to do something about that Uchiha Yohei! It's outrageous! He only ever makes trouble for me!"
Taiichi was full of questions, not understanding what Obito was up to this time. He looked up at Kakashi and the others, and saw that Rin and Saori were already covering their mouths and chuckling. He immediately felt relieved.
Even Rin could laugh, so Taiichi knew what was going on. This was most likely Obito's fault. You see, when Obito and Kakashi argued, Rin usually helped Obito smooth things over.
"Were you slacking off during training?"
That hit the nail on the head. Obito froze on the spot. Seeing his reaction, Taiichi knew he was right and ignored him. All I can say is, Obito is a leopard can't change its spots—he deserved it!
Taiichi bypassed Obito and approached Yohei and Saori. "How have you been lately?"
Yangping chuckled, looking at Obito drawing circles in the distance, and deliberately raised his voice, saying, "Luckily, I have my little cousin, so these past few days haven't been too boring."
Well, these two brothers are really going at it.
Taiyi gently punched Yangping's arm and whispered a reminder, "Enough is enough. If they become successful in the future and come looking for revenge, don't come looking for me."
Yangping was stunned for a moment, then pointed at Obito, then at himself, his face full of disbelief, as if to say: I'm afraid of him!
Taiyi smiled and said no more. No one could say for sure. If Obito could awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan, then it was really hard to say.
"I just came out of the central command tent. I have received Jiraiya-sensei's approval. Our mission can be considered a complete success. We can go back to the village tomorrow."
Taiyi changed the subject and revealed the real purpose of his visit to them.
"real!"
This time, it was Saori who exclaimed in surprise. After all, she is a girl, and her emotions are more delicate. After these months of intense fighting and witnessing so much life and death, she had long wanted to go home.
It's just that considering it's wartime now and Taiyi is often away on missions, that's why we haven't told them yet.
"Of course." Seeing Saori's reaction, Taichi felt a little ashamed for not considering their feelings. "Let's go back and pack up. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning. This is the first time we've carried out a mission that lasts this long."
Over there, Minato must have told Kakashi and the others about returning to the village. Obito, a grown man, was even more excited than Rin. His previous pitiful expression vanished, and he became like a restless sparrow, fiddling around here and there.
But when he saw Taiyi leading Yangping over, he immediately became obedient, it seems he had really been punished quite severely during this period.
"Senior Brother Minato, let's travel together tomorrow. That way, we can keep each other company on the journey," Taiichi suggested.
Before Minato could even agree, Saori and Rin had already walked together, holding hands and nodding happily in agreement, completely ignoring Obito's pitiful gaze beside them.
"Okay, no problem, let's go together!" Minato's face showed a smile again, no longer as solemn as when he first returned.
That night, in the tent where Taiyi's squad was resting.
Taiichi was soothing Yangping's eyes, while Saori was packing her personal belongings.
"Taiyi, is another war about to begin?" Yangping asked with his eyes closed, asking a question he couldn't ask during the day.
Saori stopped what she was doing and turned around to listen to Taiichi's answer.
Despite his carefree and easygoing demeanor, Yangping and Obito are completely different "species." Yangping was once among the top two students in his grade, a species commonly known as a "top student."
"Yes, it should be soon. We can only go back and rest during this free time, otherwise we may not have the chance again."
A silence fell over the tent. Few normal people like war, especially those who have experienced its cruelty.
Coincidentally, the three people present were all perfectly normal people. Although Taiyi wanted to run to the battlefield all day long, he just wanted to force himself to improve faster through actual combat. In reality, he was also a person who hated war.
Yangping closed his eyes, enjoying the faint comfort emanating from them, but this did not alleviate the irritation in his heart.
"Taiichi—" he finally spoke, his voice filled with a rare confusion, "Tell me, why are there wars, like those between Sunagakure and Iwagakure, who were fighting to the death one minute, and then suddenly they can scheme against each other to make peace, and then immediately start fighting other villages."
He opened his eyes, and although the green chakra light blurred his vision, he still stared at Taiichi. "For the desires of a few people, the whole village has to fight to the death."
Taiyi's chakra remained stable, but he couldn't help but glance at Yangping again. This guy actually managed to ask such a profound question!
He looked at Yangping's face, which showed a rare look of bewilderment and heaviness, and then glanced at Saori, who had come closer to him.
War, what a heavy topic that can crush naivety.
"Profits!" Taiyi's voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually clear, carrying a maturity rarely seen in him. "Or rather, resources for survival."
"The Land of Wind is a vast desert, and the whole country survives on a few oases; the Land of Earth is full of rocky mountains; the Land of Lightning is located on a plateau and is surrounded by thunderstorms all year round; and the Land of Water is a large island with scarce resources."
"Look at the Land of Fire. It is located on a plain with a moderate climate and abundant resources. There is no place more suitable for living than this."
"Why should we be able to live here, while people from other countries can't?"
Do you think they might feel envious, jealous, or even hateful?
And all of these factors ignited the war. If ninjas could fight each other because they didn't like each other, how much more so would nations?
The essence of the ninja world is the power struggle and resource plunder between major nations; "peace" is often just a respite before the next war.
"But—" Yangping sat up straight, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of agitation and resentment, "They knew people would die, many people would die, and some of them were even their own relatives. How could they just stand by and watch these people die!"
"If individuals can still be rational, then when it comes to the collective or even the nation, rationality ceases to exist. At that point, only the interests of the nation matter, which are independent of individual will." Taiyi softened his tone, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"As ninjas, we are swept up in this torrent. All we can do is try to see the way forward, not be swallowed up by meaningless hatred, and—"
Taiichi's gaze swept over Yohei and Saori, becoming unusually resolute. "We will do our best to protect those we respect. That is our reason for fighting. War may be unavoidable, but at least we can choose who to protect and who to oppose!"
Yangping remained silent, his clenched fists slowly relaxing. Saori quietly walked back to her sleeping berth and sat down, placing her hands clasped on her knees, her gaze lowered, without saying a word.
Although war remains terrible, the belief in protecting others has always sustained everyone, making them understand why they are fighting.
The green chakra gradually subsided, and Taiyi gently patted Yangping's shoulder. "Rest well. When you get back to the village, have a good time with your family, and you won't be confused anymore."
On their last night on the front lines, everyone went to sleep with their own thoughts on their minds—some were calm, some were conflicted, and some were hopeful.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, the tent of Taiichi and his squad was opened, and the person who came was none other than Obito, who had looked dejected the day before. Looking at the dark circles under his eyes that were so obvious even through his goggles, it was clear that Taiichi's squad was not the only ones who hadn't slept well the night before.
"Taiichi, Yohei, Saori, get up quickly! Let's leave early today so we can get back to the village and see Grandma sooner!"
Even his dark circles couldn't hide Obito's boundless energy. Yohei, who had originally intended to use this opportunity to cause trouble, silently withdrew his hand from the pillow after hearing Obito's words—forget it, he'd let him off the hook.
With Obito around, Tai and the others couldn't sleep anymore and had to get up and leave their tents.
They ran into Minato, Kakashi, and Rin outside.
Seeing Obito emerge from Taichi's tent, Minato smiled sheepishly and said, "Please excuse me, Taichi! Obito was so excited he didn't sleep all night and still bothered you so early."
Taiichi looked at Obito. This guy really does sometimes act without thinking, and he's quite a headache.
Taiichi deliberately spoke loudly to Yangping, "Obito still has too much energy. You should train him properly on the way. We're doing this for his own good!"
Yangping was taken aback, but then he understood what Taiyi meant. He nodded meaningfully and said, "No problem. I happen to have a new training method that is particularly effective. I'll let Obito try it out too."
In an instant, Obito, who had been full of enthusiasm, froze on the spot. His neck turned around like a rusty gear, and he looked at the two people who had said such heartless words. He was on the verge of tears.
This scene made Minato and the others burst into laughter, and even their spirits, which were initially a bit low due to waking up early, were greatly boosted.
Of course, this little incident was just something to laugh about. Since everyone was already awake, they should hurry up and wash up and eat, and getting on the road early would indeed get them home sooner.