Chapter 5: The Mission to End the War?

You guy, really.

While swiftly moving through the forest on the way to Grass Country, Yuzhi helplessly glanced back at Akai, whose face was full of excitement.

For a moment, even he felt a bit embarrassed.

This morning, when he saw Akai's figure during the mission roll‑call, he knew things were going badly.

As expected, Minato Namikaze assigned Akai and him to the same team.

Although people have joys and sorrows, and oxen and horses dot life, since we can't stop them, we might as well watch how others perform—it's also nice.

But when the problem involves oneself, it's hardly a good thing.

You said your teammates weren't confirmed yet, didn't you?

Akai shrugged indifferently and said with a smile.

We're good friends, after all—you don't have a teammate yet, and we've worked together in Whirlpool Country.

So yesterday I applied to the Hokage for this mission; I put in a lot of effort, and only then did the Hokage agree.

I'd rather you just stay in Leaf Village, smoking and gazing at the sky—enjoying a day is a day!

Yuzhi glanced at Akai—not because he was worried Akai would get into trouble, but because he was worried Akai would drag him down.

In Whirlpool Country, he had seen Akai's ninja caliber and ability.

He was quite reliable and not bad—an excellent ninja.

But this guy has a problem: his emotions sometimes get easily excited, which turns sneak attacks into head‑on clashes.

Could it be that this is why even Tuan Zang's Root wouldn't dare take him in?

All right, let's still talk about this mission.

Just then, another person in the team spoke up.

This mission is probably not simple.

Deploying so many teams at once, plus having front‑line cover that lets us enter enemy rear from different areas.

I'm afraid it's not just a simple matter of having us sneak attack the supply lines.

This person wore a pair of dark goggles, and his hair stood up just like Kakashi's.

Only his hair was black; he was Yuzhi and Akai's classmate, Shancheng Qingye.

Shancheng Qingye is a very capable ninja, skilled in Fire Release and summoning crows.

At one point, Yuzhi even thought he might be a member of the Uchiha clan.

Moreover, he possesses an ability that is quite special in the ninja world—without any device, he can infiltrate others' minds and read their thoughts!

It's likely because of these abilities that he was conscripted for such an important mission.

Furthermore, during their time in Whirlpool Country, Yuzhi had also rotated through his squad, which is why they ended up on the same team.

Speaking of which, Yuzhi really ought to thank him.

It was precisely because of that team‑up that Yuzhi completed a side quest.

This let him extract some Shadow Release abilities from Qingye, successfully upgrading his Sharingan.

"Qingye is right—this mission is indeed not simple."

Yuzhi nodded, after which he became extremely serious.

"Even I suspect that the true purpose of this mission is to end this war!"

"End the war?"

Upon hearing this, Akai instantly became excited.

"If we could end the war, that would be fantastic!"

Please, your focus seems to be misplaced, doesn't it?

Yuzhi and Qingye exchanged a glance, and both of them felt a bit disheartened.

Their meaning is actually quite simple: they just want Akai not to get so hot‑blooded.

For such a dangerous mission, they had to be careful—but the result was that Akai's focus was entirely on ending the war.

However, Qingye also glanced at Yuzhi—even if he wanted to remind Akai, he shouldn't brag so big.

"Akai."

He shook his head; Qingye helplessly turned his gaze to Akai, as he also understood Akai's personality.

"Our meaning is that this mission is extremely difficult and also unusually perilous."

"So, we hope you can be a bit calmer."

Yuzhi nodded; he now doubts whether letting such hot‑blooded Akai join the operation is because he really fits this mission.

"Yuzhi, what do you think?"

Qingye no longer paid attention to Akai; he simply turned to Yuzhi and asked.

"There really is a somewhat immature idea."

Yuzhi replied offhand while continuing forward.

He knows exactly what this mission entails, and right now he's only considering two things.

First, how to survive on this vibrant battlefield where myriad things vie for life.

Second, how to accumulate his own reputation in this mission.

If there were no main mission and his teammates were just two extras.

Then Yuzhi would definitely find a way to become overpowered at the edge of the border between Grass Country and the Land of Fire.

Usually I don't burn incense, but when something happens, let me just...?

Dream on!

Minato Namikaze's mission will surely succeed; Yuzhi just needs to go in and out, sneaking at a few supply squads, and that would count as completing the mission, right?

If my background extra teammate gets hot-headed and gets me killed, that would be perfect!

But the problem is, his teammate now is my old classmate who is upright and unbending.

Moreover, he has a main quest, so he necessarily cannot do that.

On one hand, his persona in Leaf Village cannot collapse.

On the other hand, to achieve "He Can Take His Place" requires reputation.

Uchiha Fugaku was born in Rome, while he was born a mule, incomparable.

The arrogant one wants to be all-powerful, so he must boost his reputation!

So the focus of this mission is to survive, secondary is to complete it beautifully, and also to gain reputation.

If that's the case

"I just said, I suspect this mission is likely to end the war."

Yuzhi glanced around, then spoke softly.

"Moreover, what Aoba said is correct; this mission is not merely about us ambushing the supply team."

"After all, we already did this in Whirlpool Country, and we even won victory thereby."

Whirlpool Country relied on this tactic to throw Mist Village into chaos, and ultimately, when the Leaf Village army pressed in, Mist Village collapsed.

However, after Yuzhi finished speaking, he glanced at Akai, and Aoba also reached out and patted Akai's shoulder.

If it weren't for Akai's father dealing with the Ninja Sword Seven handling rear issues, the war in Whirlpool Country might not have ended.

"Rock Village will likely learn a lesson, so our mission will become more difficult."

Yuzhi withdrew his gaze, then continued speaking.

"Not that they will be indifferent, but their reaction will be faster."

However, Rock Village also has a serious problem: the Third Raikage died at their hands.

The Third Shinobi World War was essentially a massive melee; Leaf Village gets beaten in turn due to its unique positional advantage.

But while Leaf Village is taking hits, other villages are also voicing their grievances; Rock Village and Cloud Village already have enmity, so they naturally won't do nothing.

And now that a Kage has died directly, hatred naturally deepens further; the Fourth Raikage, who lost his father, has focused his gaze entirely on Rock Village.

Now it's good: Rock Village must directly face pressure from both Leaf Village and Cloud Village.

"So, what we need to do now is to delay them as much as possible, right?"

Aoba immediately reacted, he asked in a low voice.

"Indeed, but it's not only that."

Yuzhi shook his head, revealing a faint smile.

"If we could cut off their supply line, even just for a few days, you'd say the war would be over, right?"

Yuzhi's words left Aoba and Akai stunned for a moment, and the next moment they both showed delighted expressions.

Yeah, Rock Village is already like this; if their important supply line is cut.

"So, this mission..." Aoba asked excitedly.

"This mission, Jonin Minato's team is the main force."

Yuzhi had been waiting for this moment; facing the admiring gazes of Akai and Aoba, he could finally spout nonsense.

"Our mission is to cause maximum destruction while surviving, so we can continually restrain those enemies!"

(End of chapter)