Chapter 43

Yuzhi, you've come.

Inside the Leaf Village camp in Grass Country, Minato Namikaze saw Yuzhi reveal an enthusiastic smile.

Sorry, I'm a little late.

Yuzhi showed an apologetic expression to Minato Namikaze; he had indeed arrived a bit late, having just barely made it in time.

The distance from Leaf Village to Grass Country isn't short, and since Yuzhi knew some of the actual details of this mission, he wasn't in too much of a hurry.

After all, he needed to think carefully about one thing: the identity issue of Uchiha Guang.

Not solving this problem is indeed troublesome, especially since after the war that bastard Danzo will have the energy to turn his gaze here, making it even more troublesome.

Fortunately, Yuzhi also had an idea; the battlefield is the most chaotic place, so finding a suitable person and identity isn't difficult at all!

Chatting and laughing all the way with Minato Namikaze, the two of them quickly arrived at a small wooden hut.

Kakashi, Rin, and others had already been waiting here; besides them, many ninjas were also ready.

Among them were quite a few members of the Uchiha clan, and to Yuzhi's surprise, he actually saw that brat Shisui Uchiha!

He also came? That really shows how much they value this.

Yuzhi muttered to himself inwardly, but upon further thought it was quite normal.

Since the Clan Leader is competing for the position of Hokage, this operation necessarily requires the cooperation of everyone in the clan.

Especially since Uchiha Fugaku himself brought his eldest son to the front lines, both the Eagle and Dove factions will cooperate.

Alright, everyone is basically here; let's begin.

After scanning everyone present, Minato Namikaze directly spoke up.

This mission is very important and also highly dangerous, but everyone who can be here is someone with resolve and ability.

But I still need to remind everyone to be careful, after all, besides the Mist Village ninjas we need to search for, we also need to watch out for Rock ninjas.

Everyone present nodded, naturally understanding the danger of this mission.

Just as Minato Namikaze said, they each already have their resolve.

Seeing this, Minato Namikaze finally just gave a brief couple of instructions and reassigned the teams.

After leaving everyone a specially made kunai, he departed, as he still had other matters to attend to.

Yuzhi, it looks like we're teamed up again.

After Minato Namikaze left, Kakashi and the others gathered around, with Rin saying somewhat happily.

Yuzhi doesn't have a fixed team; last time he teamed up temporarily with Akai and Aoba.

Now the two have returned to their units, and since this mission didn't conscript them, Yuzhi can only reorganize a team.

Perhaps because they had fought together before, he didn't team up with the Uchiha clan members but was instead grouped with Kakashi.

Your family sent so many people, I didn't expect you not to be with them.

Asuma chewed on a blade of grass and also shrugged his shoulders as he spoke.

They have fixed teams, so I won't get involved.

Seeing Asuma, Yuzhi couldn't help but ask teasingly.

Well, you, I didn't expect you to come too; doesn't the Hokage worry about your safety?

Tch, if that old man doesn't let me come, then I just won't come.

Asuma didn't mind Yuzhi's teasing; he was already used to this situation.

Although his father is the Hokage, he doesn't rely entirely on his father.

Of course, this might be because the Third also hopes he sets an example, or maybe he has now entered a 'rebellious phase'.

Yuzhi, however, remembers that this guy's rebellious phase is very long, and his degree of rebellion is also very high.

By the way, Yuzhi.

Asuma glanced at the red-haired person beside him, and suddenly he thought of something and spoke.

We haven't had a chance before; this time let's have a good match to see who can find those Mist Village ninjas first!

He had long wanted to compete with Yuzhi; although Yuzhi used to be terrible, ever since he stepped onto the battlefield this guy's reputation has undergone a drastic change.

Especially the previous Grass Country mission, which made him a Leaf Village hero.

Many people in the village are constantly talking about him, making Asuma feel like he's hearing about the 'kid next door'.

Most importantly, the red-haired person also keeps talking about this guy...

This made Asuma a bit jealous, though he also has self-awareness, knowing he probably can't win in a fight, but finding someone shouldn't be too hard, right?

Sure.

Yuzhi shrugged, gave an indifferent smile, but he still reminded them.

Since you're interested, let's have a match.

But still, the same rule: mission first, so don't get carried away.

I believe you understand the significance of this mission for the Leaf Village better than I do.

I know.

Asuma pursed his lips, but inside he was thinking, 'You're an Uchiha, how can you still believe that old man's nonsense?'

Asuma's rebelliousness has its reasons; being in a Hokage family, he inevitably has heard or seen quite a lot.

These things also made him waver in his belief in the so-called 'Will of Fire,' and eventually he even became a traitor, doing something like a daimyo-protector ninja.

After a while of casual chatting, once preparations were more or less done, they each left the camp.

Although nominally Kakashi is the captain of this operation, after all he is a true Jonin.

However, Kakashi obviously still remembers Yuzhi's terrifying performance behind enemy lines last time, so he is quite willing to take Yuzhi's orders.

This makes things much easier for Yuzhi; Hikari cannot currently enter the Leaf Village camp, so she's waiting on the periphery.

Yuzhi can completely bring Kakashi and the others in that direction, then let Hikari find them and follow behind.

Yuzhi, I didn't expect we could team up again and carry out a mission so quickly.

Three figures darted quickly through the forest, Lin looked at Yuzhi and said with a smile.

I don't know what we'll encounter this time, but it should be a bit better than last time.

This time we don't need to go deep behind enemy lines, so the situation will naturally be much better than before; we definitely won't have what happened last time!

Kakashi also nodded in deep agreement; this situation could be much better than before.

Come on, this mission actually ended up repeating what happened last time, and even worse...

Yuzhi looked at the two, and couldn't help but complain in his mind.

Don't be too optimistic; the people Mist Village sends to sabotage the negotiations are probably no ordinary foes.

He said this somewhat seriously, but in the end he still laughed.

However, rest assured, I will protect you.

Don't talk big; I'm a Jonin, so it should be me protecting you.

Yuzhi, I will also protect you.

Kakashi and Lin, upon hearing these words, immediately spoke up, and their gazes were especially resolute.

As for them, the matter concerning Obito is already in the past.

Although they still feel uneasy inside, because they failed to protect their comrade.

But Yuzhi had once told them, one must look forward.

And they must carry on living with their comrades' beliefs and will, so that when they themselves enter the Pure Land, they can happily tell them that their sacrifices were not in vain.

Thus they also made a decision: no matter what, they will never let Obito's matter happen to them again!

Yuzhi is not Obito, and cannot replace Obito.

But in their hearts, Yuzhi has already secretly surpassed Obito!

Yuzhi's gentleness, meticulousness, and humor, together with his intelligence and decisiveness when needed, have deeply won them over.

Moreover, having lost one Uchiha, heaven has sent them another Uchiha, so they naturally cherish him all the more.

Alright, don't say these things; no matter what happens, we will share weal and woe.

Yuzhi shrugged, then he said with a smile.

After all, we are companions, right?

Exactly, we are companions.

Kakashi and Lin also nodded at the same time; having said that is enough.

Sunlight fell, and the three of their shadows were stretched long.

The three of them appeared to be a genuine team that trusts each other.

And this scene also fell into Ban's eyes, making Ban involuntarily nod in satisfaction.

(End of chapter)