Time flew even in Konoha. Regardless of anything else, Konoha truly lived up to its title as the strongest village.
The incredible variety of delicacies alone was enough to keep anyone captivated and unwilling to leave!
Today was the day Saitama was departing to the front lines, and Shisui Uchiha and others were also heading out.
At Konoha's gates, two groups of ninja stood at different positions.
One group was heading to reinforce the Mist front line, while the other was heading to reinforce the Iwagakure front line.
This time, Third Hokage Hiruzen rarely appeared in person. Wearing the red-and-white Hokage hat, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the Konoha ninja before him.
His once-youthful face now bore inescapable signs of age. Already over fifty years old, his beard and hair had turned partially gray.
Looking at those energetic ninja before him, the Third couldn't help but feel a spark light up in his eyes.
These are Konoha's leaves! Wherever they drift, fire shall blaze in kind!
The Third gained an even deeper understanding of this saying.
"Move out!"
Hiruzen didn't say much more. Everything had been arranged. Now it all depended on how well the Konoha ninja would perform.
A stir passed through the gathered ninja before they vanished beyond Konoha's gates.
Standing still at the spot, the Third had two Hokage Advisors behind him, silently watching the departing ninja slowly disappear into the distance.
"Hiruzen, let's go back," Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses and said to the Third, who was still watching respectfully.
"Hmm." The Third nodded, and the three began walking back toward the village.
Suddenly, Hiruzen stopped walking and turned toward a place behind the gates.
"Danzo?"
His eyes locked onto the silhouette standing in the shadows.
"Hiruzen."
Danzo's right arm was tightly bound in thick cloth wrappings extending from his neck. His right eye and part of his neck were bandaged.
As he watched the ninja forces disappear on the horizon, Danzo's gaze held an inscrutable depth.
"Why do you have time to come out today?"
It had been a long time since the Third last saw Danzo leave Root's headquarters.
Saying this, the Third walked closer to Danzo.
"Just confirming something."
Danzo's voice carried the unique depth of an elderly man's tone—calm yet full of power.
"Danzo, what exactly are you up to?"
Though aged, they had once been elite bodyguards under the Second Hokage. Their strength and perceptiveness remained sharp.
This comment came from Koharu Utatane. Her sensitivity to chakra made her detect something unusual about Danzo.
"Oh, just some old injuries. I had some treatment done recently," Danzo replied flatly after glancing briefly at his own arm, his voice void of emotion, yet firm.
Hiruzen had long noticed Danzo's changes but had never mentioned them. Hearing his words, he simply furrowed his brows slightly.
He deeply trusted this old comrade—whatever he was doing, Konoha's interests always came first.
So he chose not to question or interfere.
Half-closed-eyed, Danzo stood motionless.
Seeing Danzo's attitude, the Third felt no anger. Without another word, he stepped forward and quietly walked past him.
Danzo remained motionless, his lone eye glancing sideways at the Hokage's already graying beard. The cross-shaped scar on his chin twitched slightly.
You're really getting old, Hiruzen...
Without turning around, Danzo kept staring beyond Konoha, silently repeating those words in his heart.
For the future of Konoha, some losses are insignificant!
Feeling sharp pains throughout his body, Danzo showed no expression. Over the past few months, his body and arms had constantly rejected the transplants, causing him pain without reprieve. Yet, his iron will never let even a hint of discomfort show.
Squinting his eyes, Danzo patted with his left hand the right arm resting across his chest.
Need to replenish soon—the two chakras still aren't perfectly balanced!
Turning around, Danzo also left this place, where Hiruzen and others had long vanished down the road.
...
The night before departure, Saitama and Choza Akimichi shared a barbecue meal, with Choza bringing along his other two companions.
Though there was a big age gap between them, no one treated Saitama like a kid.
During dinner, they all avoided mentioning the coming battle. Instead, they casually talked about everyday life.
This was Saitama making good on a promise to Choza—treating him to a meal after declining his previous offer.
It was already December, and a new year was just around the corner.
Of course, Saitama couldn't be bothered with New Year celebrations while on a mission—everything else came second.
Before leaving, Saitama noticed Grandma Ka still asleep inside. He wasn't sure whether she simply didn't want to see him off or if something else was going on.
He heated up the breakfast and left it in the kitchen before hurrying out.
He'd told the old lady the day before, so it was fine if she didn't see him off in person.
...
The unit swiftly moved through the forest near the borderlands, where each tree looked like a giant mushroom—hence the name "Mushroom Forest" on the map.
Saitama followed closely behind Shikaku and the others. The entire unit revolved around Shikaku's command—one hundred soldiers, all essentially under his leadership.
"We'll soon reach Konoha's defense line! Everyone stay alert!"
Shikaku reminded the troops behind him.
"Hei!"
The unit responded to confirm everything was fine.
Tink!
A kunai flew forward and landed on the trail ahead. Naturally, Saitama had already sensed the watchpost but kept quiet.
"Who goes there?!"
A voice called from ahead, and a ninja in a green flak vest stepped out from hiding.
"We're support units. Here's the authorization from the Hokage!"
Recognizing the Konoha ninja, Shikaku unsurprisingly pulled out a scroll from his hip pouch and waved it for inspection.
"Huh, you're Nara Shikaku?"
The ninja recognized him, somewhat surprised.
"Yeah."
"I've been assigned to guide your team. Jonin Minato Namikaze mentioned this morning that your arrival was imminent."
With minimal formalities, they were quickly led toward Konoha's camp headquarters—to meet its highest commanding officer, Minato Namikaze.
"Shikaku! Choza Akimichi, Inoichi, and Saitama!"
Minato Namikaze looked at the several support ninja before him and nodded approvingly.
These four were practically the strongest ninjas among the reinforcements this time.
Especially Saitama Uchiha, who had recently become famous throughout Konoha.
Minato flashed a bright smile and greeted them one by one.
He and Shikaku were from the same generation, though he was slightly younger.
As for Saitama, even though he was Minato's junior, his reputation had risen rapidly lately, so Minato didn't underestimate him at all.
Noticing that Minato and Shikaku seemed to have something important to discuss, Saitama voluntarily ran outside, without anyone stopping him.
When it came to fighting, he definitely excelled, but when it came to matters that required thinking, he simply stepped aside.
This didn't mean he lacked intelligence—in fact, Saitama had always been very sharp-minded. He simply had no interest in schemes or strategies, firmly believing deep down that overwhelming strength could crush everything.
Just like Madara Uchiha during the Fourth Great Ninja War: The Allied Ninja Forces had their plans and coordination, didn't they? So where did it get them? Allowing Madara Uchiha to say only one sentence: "Do you also wish to dance?"
Saitama's absence from these planning sessions didn't mean he didn't understand them.
After stepping out of the tent, Saitama strolled around casually.
Since they were near the Land of Earth, the climate here wasn't as humid or cold as it had been on the Mist frontline.
Even though it was winter, the temperature wasn't particularly low.
The surrounding landscape was also completely different—most of the scenery consisted of reddish-yellow rocky terrain.
And the wind carried much sand, not quite as extreme as in Sunagakure perhaps, but still nothing to scoff at near Konoha's camps.
"Idiot Kakashi! Still claiming you're strong! See? We Uchiha are undoubtedly the strongest!"
Walking along, Saitama heard a rather familiar voice—it sounded like his clansman, Obito Uchiha.
Following the sound, he saw Obito holding a sheet of paper while mocking the ever-expressionless Kakashi.
Standing beside them was Rin Nohara, her face showing an expression of helplessness as she watched Obito.
"Idiot!"
Kakashi muttered softly in reply, turning his head away stubbornly; he couldn't be bothered to argue with Obito.
"Haha, scared to look, huh?"
Obito felt victorious seeing Kakashi turn away, and shoved the paper toward Kakashi's face.
"Obito!"
Rin couldn't take it anymore and raised her tone slightly.
"L-Lin? What's wrong? I'm just trying to show Kakashi some achievements of our Uchiha juniors!"
As he continued speaking, Obito noticed Rin's growing annoyance and his voice gradually weakened.
"Alright, alright. Enough already, Obito. Just stop teasing Kakashi."
Rin took the paper from Obito's hand and took a quick look at it.
It contained reports of Saitama's accomplishments on the Mist frontline. The village had printed these records onto sheets to inspire many young ninjas, distributing them across Konoha's camps on various fronts.
These battle reports weren't just about Saitama—they included other outstanding young ninjas too.
However, Saitama was the youngest among them, and his record was particularly impressive.
"Cough cough!"
Walking up, Saitama was completely unaware that the previous conversation among those three had revolved entirely around him.
He just wanted to go over and say hello. After all, he had once talked with Kakashi about how to use the Chidori. As for Obito, well, it's always good to become a familiar face.
"Huh? Saitama!"
Kakashi's eyes widened in surprise. Rin gasped, covering her mouth, while Obito blurted out in shock.
"Hello, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin."
Saitama casually waved his hand, greeting each of them one by one.
Kakashi and Saitama weren't particularly close; they were merely acquaintances from a few encounters. As for Obito, despite constantly calling others his juniors, he actually had little interaction with Saitama. He didn't really stand out in the Uchiha Clan, though he enjoyed all its privileges. As for Rin, she was completely unfamiliar with Saitama.
"How come you're here?"
Kakashi stared at Saitama. He remembered hearing that Saitama was supposed to be at the Mist front.
"Just arrived here. I was wandering around and happened to bump into you guys."
Saitama replied casually.
"Hi there, Saitama!"
Obito, who had been standing there awkwardly, finally plucked up the courage to speak. Rin also gave a small nod toward Saitama.
"Hello!" Saitama smiled slightly and nodded.
Afterward, none of them spoke. With little common ground between them, an awkward silence filled the air.
"Do you guys have time? Come walk around with me."
Saitama extended the invitation to the group. He seemed completely oblivious to the tension among the others, his gaze settling on Kakashi specifically since Kakashi was the only one he knew well there.
"Uh..." Rin turned her head away briefly.
"I suddenly remembered the teacher asked me earlier to prepare something for him, so I'll pass. You guys go ahead."
Noticing how awkward things were, she decided not to stay and quickly headed toward the nearby tent.
"Hey, Rin, wait for me!"
Obito nodded at Kakashi and Saitama before rushing after her.
Though he put on a bold front, he knew he shouldn't stick around. It wasn't just awkward—it was downright unbearable.
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