naruto-story Chapter 150 Heading to the Front Lines
Chapter 150 Heading to the Front Lines
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, put down his pipe and looked at Toru Nishikawa in surprise.
"Are you going to the western front?"
The Third Hokage's gaze lingered on Nishikawa Tetsu for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Nishikawa Tetsuya, you are the vice president of the Science Research Institute, the guarantee of Konoha's technology. With Sakumo at the front lines and you and Orochimaru providing equipment from the rear, this is the safest approach. If something were to happen to you at the front lines, the loss to Konoha would be..."
"Lord Hokage, armchair strategist is ultimately shallow."
Nishikawa Tetsu replied, his eyes resolute.
"To truly understand how our new weapons—electromagnetic guns, radios, and first-aid kits—perform in actual combat, we need someone on the front lines to collect data. Only by going to the battlefield myself can I know how to improve them."
That's obviously an excuse.
In reality, Nishikawa Tetsu was worried.
The western battlefield borders the Land of Rain, which is Akatsuki territory. Although Yahiko and his companions have grown a lot, there are too many variables in this chaotic world.
Moreover, Minato was taking Team 7, who were not yet fully developed, there, especially Obito and Rin, who were the core of the tragedy in the original work. If he didn't keep an eye on them, Nishikawa Tetsu would always feel uneasy.
More importantly, he wanted to find and wipe out Madara's lair, and kill Black Zetsu, the culprit, first.
"Since you insist, then go ahead."
The third generation picked up the pipe again, lit it, and took a deep drag.
"However, you can't go alone; I'll arrange a small team for you."
The third generation took out a list from the drawer, a meaningful smile appearing on his lips.
"Perfect timing, there are a few kids who graduated early. You can take care of them, and while you're at it... be their babysitter."
"nanny?"
Nishikawa Tetsu's heart skipped a beat; he had a bad feeling.
……
The next morning, at the gates of Konoha.
Nishikawa Tetsu, carrying his backpack, looked at the three so-called "teammates" standing in front of him and felt his temples throbbing.
The first one was a little boy wearing a green bodysuit, with a watermelon-shaped haircut and eyebrows so thick they looked like two caterpillars.
He looked to be only about eight years old, not very tall, but he was doing one-handed push-ups while shouting at the rising sun:
"Youth! This is youth! Captain Nishikawa! Let's burn brightly together!"
Might Guy, the man who almost ended the series with a single kick. Now he's just an eight-year-old genin who only knows taijutsu and basic three-body techniques, and is ridiculed by many.
The second one is a cute little girl with ruby-red curly hair and red eyes.
Also around eight years old, wearing a mesh lining and a red dress, her eyes revealed a calmness beyond her years despite her young age.
"Nice to meet you, Nishikawa-senpai. I am Kurenai Yuhi."
Kurenai Yuhi, the future master of illusion, is currently a beautifully sculpted little girl.
And the third one...
Nishikawa Tetsu's gaze fell on the last boy.
He was wearing the Uchiha clan's signature high-necked dark-colored clothes, and carried a short sword on his back.
He was a bit older than Guy and Kurenai, around ten years old, and was already a Chunin.
Those dark eyes were deep and calm, exuding a maturity beyond their years.
"Uchiha Shisui"
The young man bowed slightly, his manners impeccable.
"Chief Fugaku mentioned you to me, saying that you had inquired about me before, and I am honored to be your subordinate."
Instantly stop the water.
Nishikawa Tetsu sighed inwardly.
He had previously asked if there was a genius named Shisui in the Fugaku clan. At the time, Fugaku was wondering how he knew, but he never expected that the third-generation patriarch would actually include this kid in the clan.
I wonder if Shisui still has the kaleidoscope effect?
After all, the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village has improved a lot now, and it is far less tense than it was in the original story.
This isn't just a squad; this is clearly the future of Konoha!
A future master of taijutsu, a future master of genjutsu, and a powerful genjutsu user from the Uchiha clan.
Why aren't there any medical ninjas? Oh, I know medical ninjutsu myself, never mind!
"Third Hokage, are you trying to dump the next generation of Konoha on me?"
Nishikawa Tetsu sighed and rubbed his forehead, but maintained a calm smile on his face.
"Very good, very energetic."
He patted Kai on the head, who was still doing push-ups, stopping him from trying to do his 500th.
"Since we're all teammates now, I'll get straight to the point. Our mission is to head to the western front, support Minato Namikaze's squad, and collect combat data on the new weapons."
"This is not a drill, it's a real war. Kai, Hong, although you graduated early, you are still young, and you must follow orders in all actions."
"Yes, Captain!" Kai answered loudly, his voice deafening.
Hong nodded, her expression serious.
Shisui remained calm, only slightly tightening his grip on the short sword on his back.
"Set off!"
With a wave of his hand, Nishikawa Tetsuya led this team with unlimited potential out of the Konoha gates.
On the way, Nishikawa Tetsu watched the energetic green figure and secretly made a plan in his mind:
"Giving Kai a powered exoskeleton would be a waste of his physical talent. Let's get him some weight-bearing equipment, like a gravity adjustment ring."
"As for Shisui, we'll give him a chance to meet Obito. Since they're both from the Uchiha clan, they might be able to create some interesting sparks."
"As for Red... illusion magic isn't my forte either, so let Shisui guide me."
……
Meanwhile, on the western front, in the forests of the Rain Country.
Minato Namikaze was leading Team 7 through the forest, while the other squads were positioned on the northwestern border of the Land of Fire.
The most dangerous mission—infiltrating the Land of Rain to investigate the movements of Iwagakure—was taken on by Minato's team themselves.
"Minato-sensei! How much longer do we have to walk?"
Obito followed behind, panting heavily, his goggles fogged up, looking utterly dejected.
"The bottom-ranked car can't even go this far."
Kakashi walked ahead, muttering to himself without turning his head.
"What did you say?! You want to fight?!" Obito instantly bristled.
"Alright, alright, you two stop arguing."
Lin reluctantly stepped in as a peacemaker, saying, "We're on a mission."
Just then, Minato suddenly stopped.
He suddenly raised his head and looked northwest. A hint of surprise flashed in his azure eyes, which then turned into deep nostalgia and a smile.
"Something's up?" Kakashi immediately gripped his kunai tighter, his other hand reaching for the short sword on his back, looking warily in that direction. "Sensei, is it an enemy?"
"No."
Minato shook his head, a smile playing on his lips—a smile that Obito and Rin had never seen before, one that was full of warmth and kindness.
"Not enemies, but family."
"Family?" Obito and Rin were completely confused.
"The chakra fluctuations over there... are Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan."
Minato explained, his tone light and cheerful.
"That was the Akatsuki organization. A few years ago, Che, Jiraiya-sensei, and I lived with them in the Land of Rain for half a year."
"To Che and me, they are like brothers and sisters."
Minato looked at his three disciples with a gentle gaze.
"Come on, I'll show you around. That's Jiraiya's disciple."
"The Akatsuki?"
Kakashi put away his kunai, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes. He had heard his father mention this organization before; it seemed to be quite famous in the Land of Rain.
Obito, however, became excited: "Jiraiya-sama's disciple? Doesn't that mean he's of a higher generation than Kakashi? Great! I'm going to tell on him!"
"...Idiot," Kakashi rolled his eyes at him.