"Yahiko, where do we go next?"
That evening, the three of them discussed their next course of action around a campfire. Their strength was not yet enough to interfere with the war, so their goal was to relocate civilians caught in the conflict to preserve their families. After all, no one understood the pain of losing loved ones better than the three of them.
Yahiko's small heart was once again "hurt" by Nagato, but it seemed that after four years, he had grown accustomed to it, and his capacity to endure was steadily increasing.
After hearing Nagato's words, he pondered for a moment and said, "I want to go to the Land of Water."
Konan frowned. "Shouldn't we be going to the villages affected by the war? It would be better to go to the Land of Rice or the Land of Grass."
Yahiko shook his head. "I heard that there are internal problems in the Land of Water, and many civilians have been massacred and suppressed. Although such secret information isn't easily leaked, I still want to see for myself."
Nagato said, "I'll go with you."
Konan hesitated slightly but still said, "I'll go too."
Yahiko looked at Konan's somewhat complicated expression and smiled. "Nagato and I are enough. Konan, you can go to Konoha and visit Teacher Hayashiha and Jiraiya-sensei for us."
Konan shook her head. "No, during wartime, Konoha doesn't allow outsiders to enter the village."
"Also, I have a bad feeling about going to the Land of Water this time."
Yahiko chuckled. "How could that be? You're just worrying too much."
"I hope so..."
Nagato's brow furrowed, and he recalled what Hayashiha had told him. His Rinnegan gaze fell upon Yahiko, and his sight lingered for a long time...
...
Meanwhile, on the battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure, most of the ninjas had retreated to their camps, preparing for the next day's battle. Nighttime was the domain of reconnaissance and surprise attack squads; the main forces would not be participating.
In a hidden corner, a figure knelt beside a corpse, their expression somewhat numb, tear stains still visible on their face, and a pair of spinning patterns in their eyes, alluring and strange...
So… this is how you awaken the Mangekyo. Father, I understand! The clan will regain its glory through my hands!
...
On the border between Konoha and the Land of Grass, Hayashiha finally arrived at the front lines after half a month of travel.
The Land of Grass. Hayashiha had no strong impression of this country, and it seemed to have no particularly outstanding ninjas. However, the news that this country survived by selling intelligence to various nations was widely known. Although this was a way for small countries to survive in the cracks between great powers, Hayashiha found it contemptible. At worst, they could simply declare themselves a subordinate state of a certain great power. Surviving by selling intelligence would sooner or later lead to their destruction by a great power that found them displeasing.
"Is this the Land of Grass? It doesn't look like much, not even as good as Konoha!"
Kushina's initially cheerful mood significantly dampened upon seeing the appearance of the Land of Grass.
"Kushina, we're here to fight, not to go on a picnic..."
Hayashiha was a little helpless. It seemed that the leisurely life of the past half-month had made Kushina truly believe they were on an outing.
Mikoto, standing nearby, giggled behind her hand, but upon noticing Hayashiha's gaze, she quickly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, adopting an air of mature composure.
"Hayashiha, where do we go now? Do we join the battle directly?" Mikoto was a little nervous at this moment, it being her first time on the battlefield. However, she was not afraid. Over the past four years, Hayashiha had brought her on many B-rank missions, and she had participated in numerous battles. At least compared to Kushina, who couldn't leave the village, her combat experience was quite "rich"!
"No, let's go to the Konoha camp in the Land of Grass first and talk to Jiraiya-sensei."
Hayashiha looked at the sky, painted red in the distance. He wanted to see how much Minato Namikaze had grown and whether he should teach him the Rasengan, as it was something the boy would eventually develop himself!
"Is it Jiraiya-sama, one of the legendary Sannin alongside Tsunade-neechan? I've never met him in person," Mikoto exclaimed.
"He's just a somewhat lecherous old man with white hair. Hayashiha said he 'jerks off too much,' I don't know what that means, but it's definitely not a good thing!" Kushina said, tilting her small head.
"Jerks off too much?" Mikoto's beautiful eyes looked at Hayashiha with curiosity, wanting him to explain.
"Ahem..."
Hayashiha's face reddened under Mikoto's gaze. This was not something he could easily explain! He could only say, "Well, it means... Look! There's something going on over there, let's go take a look!"
"Hey? Hayashiha, don't run off! Explain it clearly!"
Seeing that Hayashiha was using this trick again, Kushina's small face puffed out in annoyance. She had been tricked by him like this many times! This time, she absolutely wouldn't let him get away with it!
"Let's go, Mikoto! Let's hurry and catch up, don't let him escape!"
"Ah! Okay..."
This time, Hayashiha wasn't lying. He had genuinely "seen" something. Upon arriving at the battlefield, Hayashiha activated his Kagura Shingan to scan his surroundings, as this area might be the rumored base of Uchiha Madara. The Kannabi Bridge was built on the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass. However, this was merely a precaution. The Kannabi Bridge was still quite far from them. But at the very moment he activated his Kagura Shingan and expanded its range to the maximum, Hayashiha sensed a familiar chakra, but it seemed to be in dire straits.
...
"Damn it! The enemies are too numerous, they've separated us from Jiraiya-sensei."
Minato Namikaze ran across the plains carrying a young girl on his back. His face was pale. Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, which he had not yet fully mastered, multiple times had severely depleted his chakra, even causing damage to the meridians in his limbs.
"Minato, bite me. This will help restore your chakra and heal your injuries."
The girl on Minato's back spoke weakly, extending her slender arm forward.
"No! Sachiko, your body is too frail. You cannot be further harmed, or it will be difficult to recover in the future."
Minato bit the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to stay alert. Hold on! Jiraiya-sensei will break through the siege and rescue us!
Uzumaki Sachiko's pale face was filled with determination. "Bite me, Minato. Otherwise, neither of us will escape. Meeting you was my good fortune, and this may be my destiny."
"There must be a way, there must be a way! Don't give up!"
Minato amplified his senses, hoping to detect any nearby Konoha ninjas, but the result was despair. Besides the hostile chakras behind him, there was no trace of anyone else. Minato chuckled internally. It was true, on this endless grassland, how could there be... At the end of his vision, a touch of red caught Minato's eye.
"Heh heh! Kid, you can't escape. How dare you steal someone from our Kusagakure. Hand her over obediently, and we might spare your life!" The dozens of Kusagakure ninjas pursuing them let out cruel laughter.
"Enough nonsense! Capture that yellow-haired brat alive, or you Kusagakure will pay dearly!"
"Yes! Milords!"
Behind these dozens of Kusagakure ninjas, a well-equipped squad of Iwagakure ninjas was also pursuing Minato, numbering at least twenty to thirty people. This was also the reason Minato chose to flee. There were simply too many enemies. He had already killed dozens of them using the Flying Thunder God, but the number of enemies kept increasing. At one point, Minato even wondered if Konoha had run out of people. Why were there so few extras?
"Damn it! If only I could master another S-rank jutsu!" Minato sighed helplessly.
"Yo? Want to learn jutsu? I can teach you!"