In just one short morning, the three of them collapsed at the entrance of the valley, utterly exhausted. The physical strain of the training had pushed their bodies to the absolute limit, leaving them gasping for air against the dusty earth.
At this level, I'm afraid you won't be able to make it onto the battlefield.
Minato stood before the three of them, his tone carrying a hint of teasing. While his expression remained warm and encouraging, his mind was already calculating their survival rates, which were currently lower than he preferred for his pawns.
The traps are way too dense!
Nawaki sat up, wiping sweat and grime from his forehead. In that short amount of time, he had been eliminated $18$ times; $16$ of those were solo kills by Exploding Tags. His frustration was evident as he looked back at the treacherous path they had just attempted to navigate.
How can there be so many traps on a real battlefield?
But a battlefield is never lacking in traps, especially in places you'd least expect, Minato emphasized.
The battlefield was no playground for the unprepared. The world was never short of clever people who specialized in lethal deception; even a genius like Kakashi had a brush with death the first time he went to the battlefield. Minato knew that talent meant nothing if one stepped on a simple wire.
With me around, you don't need to worry about threats from the enemy. But if you die to a trap, you might as well have died at the hands of an enemy. I'd rather you die heroically than die of stupidity.
That makes sense.
Mikoto gave a somewhat helpless smile as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. If news of that kind of death reached the clan, I don't even want to think about how much we'd be mocked.
She understood Minato's painstaking efforts to prepare them for the harsh reality of war. He didn't expect them to fight at all; as long as they could ensure they weren't taken out by hidden traps, he could bring them back safely using his superior speed.
This was absolute confidence in his own strength! He was practically spoon-feeding them success, clearing the way so they only had to follow in his shadow.
Aw man, and here I was thinking about taking down a few enemies myself.
Nawaki felt a bit dejected, looking down at his hands. He knew his small arms couldn't win against Minato's thick legs, and the gap in their current capabilities was a hard pill for the young Senju to swallow.
For your current level of strength, your primary task on the battlefield is to strive to stay alive.
Minato shook his head, his blue eyes reflecting a cold clarity hidden behind his smile. Ninjas are humans after all. If people are killed, they die. This is the same for anyone.
That's exactly right!
Whoosh—
Tsunade's figure suddenly appeared beside Minato, her movements a blur of high-level Shunshin. She habitually ruffled his yellow hair, her presence bringing a sudden shift in the atmosphere of the training ground.
Nawaki, don't think of the battlefield as something simple. It is a place where lives are snuffed out in an instant.
Older Sister, why are you here?
Nawaki was somewhat surprised by Tsunade's arrival. She was usually buried in hospital paperwork or meetings with the village leadership lately.
To deliver some things.
As Tsunade spoke, she took out two headbands from her ninja tool pouch, handing one to Minato and the other to Kushina. The polished metal plates caught the sunlight, a symbol of their transition from students to soldiers.
Your and Kushina's graduation applications have been approved, and Nawaki's team withdrawal has been processed. You are officially active duty shinobi now.
It was approved just like that? There's no need for an exam? Minato asked instinctively. He had expected at least a token display of skill to satisfy the council.
An exam? For you?
Tsunade found it a bit funny, looking at the boy who already possessed power far beyond most Chunin. The Old Man is very busy right now; he doesn't have time to waste on such things. You are all currently free agents and can form a team as you please.
Konoha's ninjas didn't necessarily have to be in a traditional four-man squad to carry out missions. Two or three people were fine, and solo missions weren't unheard of for high-level operatives. During busier times, it wasn't rare for several classes to act together to bolster numbers.
Then why not just form us into one team directly? Nawaki asked, confused by the lack of a formal structure.
Well... Kushina's status is special. She can't leave the village at will, so she can't be assigned to a team. This is a decision by the higher-ups.
Mentioning this, Tsunade also felt a bit helpless. She hated the political shackles placed on the girl. A squad's formation needs to meet the four-person requirement anyway, and given Minato's strength, forming a team freely allows him to better utilize his abilities.
Hearing this, Kushina pursed her lips and said nothing. She looked down at the headband in her hand, the weight of her destiny as a Jinchuriki pressing down on her.
She had known for a long time that she was sent to Konoha to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Fortunately, Minato had always been by her side. Thus, the moment any buds of unease appeared, they were snuffed out by Minato's presence. The lonely mindset from the original story didn't exist at all; every day was incredibly fulfilling because of him.
It can't be helped, I suppose.
After a brief moment of silence, Kushina gave a helpless smile, accepting the reality of her confinement within the village walls.
Minato had long guessed that the higher-ups would make such a decision, and it suited his purposes perfectly. Taking care of an extra person meant extra risk and more eyes on his true abilities; he was very cautious in this regard and preferred the flexibility of a smaller, more manageable group.
Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to the Hokage Building to register your information. After that, you can pick up missions at any time.
Seeing that Kushina's reaction was relatively calm, Tsunade felt a bit more at ease. Also, in half a month at most, missions will likely be assigned that will take you far from these training grounds.
What happened? Minato asked, his voice steady. He could feel the tension in the air, the subtle shift in the village's chakra.
The Jonin Class just had a meeting. Hanzou issued a notice ordering foreign ninjas to immediately withdraw from the territory of the Land of Rain and sent his ninjas to forcibly intervene in the war between Konoha and Sunagakure.
Tsunade emphasized the word 'war'. Clearly, in her view, the conflict between Konoha and Sunagakure could already be considered a full-scale war rather than a mere border dispute.
The village has now entered a state of combat readiness. Large numbers of ninjas are being deployed to the borders. Additionally, news has come back from Iwagakure that they seem to intend to use this opportunity to expand their territory while we are distracted.
Once the conflict in the Land of Rain escalates, Iwagakure is likely to be the first to launch an invasion against the Land of Grass. To prevent this, we need to dispatch personnel to support Kusagakure.
Nawaki was puzzled, scratching his head in confusion. What does Kusagakure have to do with us? They aren't even a major power.
Of course it's related, you idiot! I told you to read more books!
Tsunade gave Nawaki a flick on the forehead, her tone helpless. Kusagakure is an ally of our Konoha and also serves as a vital buffer between Konoha and Iwagakure. If they fall, the frontline moves to our front door.
Once the Land of Grass is breached, Konoha will have to face the pressure from Iwagakure directly. We would lose the strategic depth we currently enjoy.
Hearing this, Nawaki didn't panic at all. He crossed his arms and gave a proud smile, his youthful arrogance shining through. In other words, Iwagakure will also have to face the pressure of our Konoha?
The problem is, to them, that doesn't count as much pressure.
Minato explained, his mind visualizing the map of the continent. Although the Land of Fire possesses the best resources and environment in the Ninja World, it is located in the very center, surrounded by the other four Great Ninja Villages.
Konoha certainly isn't afraid of Iwagakure alone, but once the other Ninja Villages are given an opportunity, Konoha might very well face a one-against-four situation. Our prosperity makes us the ultimate target.
Compared to the Land of Fire, although the other countries have poorer geographical environments, it also provides them with protection in a roundabout way. For example, in the Land of Earth, it rains stones from the sky. Would you want to invade a hellhole like that?
Ah—?
Nawaki's eyes widened as he realized the tactical disadvantage of being the richest target on the map. So you're saying we're the ones at a disadvantage no matter what?
Yes.
Minato nodded, his expression grave. Once war breaks out, Konoha not only has to deal with the front lines but also must leave enough combat power to guard the borders. We are stretched thin by our own borders.
The higher-ups letting you form teams freely is also based on this consideration. They need mobile units that can fill the gaps.
Tsunade looked at Minato, her eyes filled with concern and a deep, unspoken pride. Minato, your mobility and power can provide the greatest value in local conflicts and small-scale encounters, even turning the tide of a battle. This is more useful than fixing you into a standard squad.
However, this also means you are likely to be sent to the most tense and dangerous areas where the fighting is thickest.
I understand, Teacher. Don't worry.
Minato said gently, his sunny smile carrying a reassuring power that seemed to brighten the dimming valley. He looked every bit the hero she expected him to be.
Their eyes met, and both could see the care in each other's gaze. For Minato, it was another layer of his mask; for Tsunade, it was a genuine bond she had come to treasure.
Nawaki looked at Tsunade, then at Minato, a flash of doubt crossing his eyes as he watched the silent exchange.
For some reason, he felt that the atmosphere between Minato and his older sister was a bit strange, lingering just a moment too long to be ordinary.
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