Chapter 34: Wartime Mission!

In the 43rd year of Konoha, April 22nd.

Team Fujinaka Genma received a mission.

This was a wartime mission: escorting a medical team to the front lines.

The mission wasn’t particularly dangerous.

The Sand Village had launched a war, catching Konoha off guard at first.

But tensions had been rising for the past two years, and Konoha’s border defense forces were already substantial, so they quickly stabilized their position.

Moreover, Konoha’s reinforcements arrived promptly.

On the very day the war news reached them, the reinforcements had already departed.

Under these circumstances, the rear was generally relatively safe.

But only relatively.

Because disrupting logistics and targeting medical units was a basic, straightforward wartime strategy.

And ninja were precisely the kind of small-unit forces best suited for behind-enemy-lines infiltration.

Even this war between Konoha and the Sand Ninja wasn’t a large-scale frontal clash.

It was small-unit skirmishes, just with significantly more numbers than usual.

Regardless of danger, Fujinaka Genma took it seriously.

Fully armed, he left home after seeing his mother Akie’s worried expression, then joined the rest of his team.

Then he saw someone familiar.

Hyuga Mio!

She was part of the medical team—the very group he was assigned to escort.

“Genma!”

From afar, Hyuga Mio waved, her face lit with a gentle smile, showing no fear or tension about the war.

For her, nothing was happier than seeing Fujinaka Genma.

Walking up to Hyuga Mio, he looked down at the girl who stood a head shorter than him and ruffled her short hair: “Be extra careful on the battlefield—don’t let your status as a medical ninja make Itachi complacent!”

Hyuga Mio closed her eyes like a cat, savoring it, then nodded vigorously: “Don’t worry!”

After a few more words, Fujinaka Genma went to join Kiba and the others.

As soon as Fujinaka Genma left, two girls his age immediately surrounded Hyuga Mio, chattering excitedly about him.

Hyuga Mio instantly shed the gentle, adorable demeanor she’d shown in front of Fujinaka Genma, becoming like a big sister.

…

After joining Kiba and the others, Fujinaka Genma noticed other teams arriving one after another—and familiar faces.

Sarutobi Asuma!

Yūhi Kurenai!

Fujinaka Genma’s gaze swept across them and realized nearly a dozen others on this mission were around his age.

Though he’d gradually grown used to this world’s distortion, he still couldn’t help muttering: “Damn world!”

Now he finally understood why Hashirama Senju had founded Konoha in the first place!

Who would want their descendants to live in such an environment?

He certainly wouldn’t.

“Maybe I should think further ahead…”

Fujinaka Genma began thinking unexpectedly.

His original goal had simply been to survive—to live through the Third Shinobi World War.

With the help of the Mount & Blade system, and after becoming disciples of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato, he’d thought surviving the war wouldn’t be hard if he stayed cautious.

Then came the Nine-Tails attack.

After that?

Hokage?

Fujinaka Genma opened his system and looked at the Hokage mission listed after the wartime mission.

“Could I possibly become Hokage?”

A spark of heat rose in Fujinaka Genma’s heart.

Of course he could!

As long as Minato remained in the position of Fourth Hokage.

He was Minato’s disciple; Minato was Jiraiya’s disciple; Jiraiya was the Third’s disciple—pure lineage!

“If I’m determined, then I must start changing my mindset from now on…”

As he thought this, Fujinaka Genma suddenly felt a hand slap his shoulder—he snapped back to awareness and turned to see Guy practically pressed against his face.

“Guy!”

Fujinaka Genma jumped back in alarm.

He had no desire for any close contact with Guy.

Guy crossed his arms: “Genma, Itachi’re acting strange—this isn’t like Itachi!”

“The whole team’s about to leave, and Itachi’re standing here daydreaming.”

Fujinaka Genma turned and saw that all other teams had already departed—only his own team remained, with Murokami Yajū and Ebisu waiting nearby, their expressions filled with concern.

“Nothing’s wrong—I just suddenly decided I want to become Hokage!”

Fujinaka Genma grinned brightly: “Become a Hokage like the First—end this chaotic era, so future generations won’t have to go to war at our age!”

Guy froze, then his eyes blazed with passion: “Genma, I support Itachi!”

“From now on, let’s work together—don’t waste our youth!”

After his outburst, Guy suddenly asked: “But how do Itachi even become Hokage?”

Fujinaka Genma was speechless.

“First, Itachi need overwhelming strength!”

Murokami Yajū’s voice came from behind.

He and Ebisu stepped forward.

Murokami Yajū looked at Fujinaka Genma seriously: “If Itachi want to aim for Hokage, Itachi’ll have to work harder than Itachi do now.”

“Not just in training!”

Murokami Yajū knew Fujinaka Genma was intelligent and mature, so he spoke plainly: “To possess Hokage qualities, beyond strength, Itachi need the ability to earn people’s trust.”

“The ability to make the whole village recognize Itachi.”

Fujinaka Genma nodded.

He understood.

Beyond strength, Itachi need sufficient merit.

And leadership.

“Genma, I’ll support Itachi too!”

Ebisu adjusted his sunglasses, coolly stating.

Fujinaka Genma smiled and nodded.

Though it was just the affirmation of two minor companions, if even your own teammates didn’t believe Itachi had this potential, Itachi were truly weak.

“Alright, let’s move out!”

Murokami Yajū smiled.

He had high hopes for Fujinaka Genma and believed he had the potential to become Hokage.

Currently, the top candidates to succeed the Fourth Hokage were the Legendary Sannin.

After them, if Itachi looked closely, Minato stood out the most.

And Fujinaka Genma was Minato’s disciple.

In Konoha, the Hokage position had always been passed down from master to disciple.

…

Fujinaka Genma and his three companions quickly caught up with the main force and arrived at the rear of the front lines before nightfall.

They encountered no incidents along the way.

Night fell.

Fujinaka Genma and the other two stayed at the medical team’s camp, while Murokami Yajū went to the front lines to report to the front commander, Orochimaru.

Less than two hours later, Murokami Yajū returned.

Fujinaka Genma and the other two immediately rushed to meet him.

“Teacher Yajū, are we heading straight back to Konoha?”

Fujinaka Genma asked.

He was most concerned about the mission’s status.

He’d just earned 100 Mount & Blade points for completing the mission.

Normally, such a mission would yield only 10 points—now it was ten times more.

Wartime missions were worth it!

“No need to return to the village!”

Murokami Yajū wasted no time, unrolling a map and, under the dim light, traced a red line on it: “Our mission is here—patrol the fourth defensive line to prevent enemy infiltration and sabotage of supply lines.”