Chapter 16 – Marching to War: The Genin Supply Unit
As the Hidden Sand Village turned its spear toward Konoha and the Land of Fire, news of the invasion quickly reached the ears of the remaining Three Legendary Sannin who were still operating in the Land of Rain.
For reasons unknown, only Tsunade and Orochimaru led the remaining Konoha forces back toward the Land of Fire in response. Jiraiya, however… had seemingly vanished within the rain-soaked lands of Amegakure.
— — —
Konoha – Hokage Tower, Briefing Hall.
All available Jōnin still under the command of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had gathered in silence.
Standing at the center podium, Hiruzen's expression was grim. The atmosphere in the room was heavy, and the weight in his heart was even heavier.
Truth be told, he blamed himself entirely for how the war had turned out so far.
He had underestimated Amegakure. Worse—he had misjudged the power of Hanzo the Salamander.
What they were dealing with now was a direct result of a flawed strategy.
He had known of Hanzo's skill with poison and the terrifying lethality of his salamander's venom, especially against large armies. Yet instead of adjusting the strategy like Sunagakure—deploying small, elite strike teams for guerilla-style attacks—he had arrogantly pulled most of Konoha's main force into one massive front.
It wasn't just a tactical mistake. It was a failure born of personal ambition.
He had wanted to give his three disciples a shot at glory on the battlefield. And so, more than half of Konoha's forces had been deployed—and now, many were lost due to Hanzo's ambush.
Now, all that remained under his command were the Anbu, the thirty-some Jōnin standing here today… and nearly four hundred Genin from the last two years of Ninja Academy graduates.
With Sunagakure's sudden advance into the Land of Fire, Konoha was left exposed.
Hiruzen clenched his pipe tightly.
Would he, the Hokage himself, be forced to take the field?
Realistically… they stood no chance of repelling the Sand's full might with what little power remained. His only hope was that Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru would return soon with reinforcements from the Land of Rain.
If not—and if the enemy made it all the way into the Land of Fire's heartlands—then his reputation as the Third Hokage would be completely destroyed.
Yes, Konoha was the strongest hidden village in the ninja world. But the cards in his hand were nearly all played.
Unless… he turned to the two great clans for help.
But that came with its own risks.
Both the Uchiha and Hyuga clans had their eyes on the seat of Hokage—especially the Uchiha, who had long felt slighted. Not once in Konoha's history had an Uchiha ever been chosen as Hokage, despite being one of the most powerful clans.
It had made sense for Hashirama and Tobirama, but even now—under Hiruzen? The Uchiha saw that as a continued insult.
They had once pinned their hopes on Uchiha Kagami, who had been a serious contender for the title. But Tobirama had passed it to Hiruzen instead… and not long after, Kagami died under suspicious circumstances during a mission.
Whispers within the Uchiha claimed it had been an inside job—Hiruzen's political maneuvering.
As for the Hyuga, they didn't hunger for the title quite so openly… but they did envy the Uchiha's privilege in commanding Konoha's Police Force.
If Hiruzen asked either clan for help now, it would mean giving up something precious in return.
After weighing his options, the Third Hokage made his choice.
They would defend the Land of Fire with what forces they had left—and pray the Sannin returned in time. If they failed… and the Sand marched to Konoha's gates… so be it.
Hiruzen believed: no one would sit idle once the war reached their very doorstep.
— — —
Later that evening, after the emergency meeting, two members of the Hatake family received their deployment orders at the same time.
The older brother, Hatake Sakumo, was officially appointed by the Third Hokage as the supreme commander of the counteroffensive.
His objective: Hold the line against Sunagakure at all costs, until reinforcements arrived from the Land of Rain.
Under his command were just 600 shinobi.
Of those, 406 were Genin—most of them fresh graduates from the Academy within the past year or two.
Then came 146 Chūnin. And finally, a mere 57 veteran Jōnin to form the backbone of the force.
With these numbers, Sakumo would face an invading Sand force over 2,000 strong.
He had to hold out for at least one month.
Meanwhile, his younger brother—Hatake Kyūjō, who had only just become a Genin—was also summoned. He had been placed on a front-line supply unit alongside Namikaze Minato, forming a provisional three-man cell headed to the battlefield.
Before departure, Sakumo took a brief moment to speak with Kyūjō back home.
"Kyūjō… If possible, I want you to protect your teammates out there.
But if it comes down to it, put your survival first.
Let your big brother shoulder the fate of the Hatake Clan."
Kyūjō smiled softly and nodded. "Got it, brother."
With a firm pat on his shoulder, Sakumo turned away, strapped the legendary White Fang blade to his back, and walked off into the night without another word.
— — —
Kyūjō and Minato weren't the only ones deployed.
Several of their Academy peers were summoned as well—Aburame Shibi, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Chōza, and Nara Shikaku. Familiar faces now reunited under the shadow of war.
But what about their original teammate, Uzumaki Kushina?
Naturally, as the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails, she wouldn't be sent to the front lines so easily.
In this world, Jinchūriki were treated like each village's equivalent of a nuclear deterrent.
Even with their inherent risks, just a single Tailed Beast Bomb from the Nine-Tails could obliterate a battlefield—or a village.
— — —
Perhaps due to Sakumo's influence, Kyūjō and Minato's squad received a new addition just before deployment.
Their temporary three-man team was completed with Senju Nawaki, a Senior Genin two years older than them—and a direct student of Orochimaru.
— — —
A few dozen kilometers outside Konoha, on a narrow mountain trail, the new team advanced in a triangle formation.
Minato took point, his sharp reflexes and movement speed making him the natural vanguard.
Kyūjō, sword hanging at his hip, stayed to the rear-right. With his part-time sensor capabilities, he preferred the middle row—far enough from sudden ambushes, yet close enough to react.
Nawaki, hauling a scroll of supplies, held the rear-left position. Honestly… it was the only spot left open.
They moved near the front of the larger marching force. As they followed the chūnin squad leader up the path, they began exchanging introductions.
"Yo! I'm Senju Nawaki. I'm good with Taijutsu and Fire Release.
If things go south, I'll take the lead."
"Nice to meet you, Nawaki-kun! I'm Namikaze Minato.
I know a little of everything… though I wouldn't say I'm good at any of it."
Kyūjō, walking just behind, rolled his eyes internally.
Right. You've got chakra reserves like a Chūnin, insane battle instincts, and you're ridiculously fast. You could probably wipe out most Chūnin using just basic Academy jutsu.
And who taught you all those C-Rank and D-Rank techniques for free again? Oh right—me.
Kyūjō shook his head and didn't bother correcting him. Instead, he turned to Nawaki with a polite smile.
"I'm Hatake Kyūjō. Nice to meet you, Nawaki-kun.
Minato and I have been in the same team for a while now.
As he knows, I'm decent with sensory jutsu and genjutsu,
plus a bit of Lightning Release and Taijutsu.
But in a real fight… I probably won't be of much help."
Minato: "…"
Nawaki blinked in surprise. This guy's a Genin…? How the heck does he know all that already?
But instead of being jealous, he beamed and thumped his chest with pride.
"Don't worry, Kyūjō! You're my comrade now!
Even if I have to risk my life—I'll protect you!"
Kyūjō: "…"
Minato: "…"
Seeing Minato's subtle side glance, Kyūjō instantly got the message. That look practically screamed:
"Did you seriously just trick an innocent kid?"
To which Kyūjō shot back with his own unspoken glare:
"You're one to talk! Who conned him first?"
Their silent exchange was so intense, you could almost see the sparks flying. Nawaki, completely clueless, watched the two of them go back and forth in confusion.
Why did he feel like he was the youngest one in the team?
Why did it seem like these two didn't want to include him in their little game?
— — —
Walk. Rest. Eat. March. Rest again.
After three straight days of rapid movement, roughly ten Genin squads finally arrived at a designated rest point, under the command of a single Jōnin: Hirata Eiichirō.
According to the map, only two more checkpoints remained before they reached the front lines.
But the closer they got, the more uneasy Hirata felt.
This unit's mission wasn't to fight—it was to transport supplies: explosive tags, kunai, shuriken, soldier pills, and essential equipment sealed inside scrolls.
Their objectives weren't defined by time or distance—it was all dependent on the needs of the main force. Their job was simple: keep the front lines supplied.
Yet as Hirata gazed across the group of over fifty young shinobi—most not even fifteen—he couldn't help but sigh.
This… was a children's army.
Did Commander Sakumo really entrust these kids to him?
The weight on his shoulders felt suffocating.
After all, Hirata Eiichirō wasn't some elite Jōnin. He wasn't part of the Anbu, nor did he hail from any noble clan. He was just a regular ninja.
Sending him to the front lines made sense. But placing him in charge of a Genin-heavy supply convoy?
What if they were ambushed?
Would these kids—barely past graduation—be able to survive?
Eiichirō wasn't sure. All he could do was pray the Sand Village hadn't caught wind of their route.
To avoid enemy detection, he'd intentionally chosen remote, rugged terrain. But even after two days without encountering a single enemy, the young Genin were clearly reaching their limit—physically and mentally.
Half an hour later, seeing the worn-out, sweat-drenched kids dragging their feet in tattered gear, Hirata sighed again and called for another break.
"We're only half a day away from the front. We shouldn't run into enemy scouts… hopefully."
That "hopefully" wasn't very reassuring.
— — —
Of course, not all Genin were on the verge of collapse.
One squad in particular stood out—Team Hatake Kyūjō.
To Hirata's surprise, these three looked more composed and resilient than even the six Chūnin accompanying the convoy.
Even after two days of intense travel, they showed no visible signs of exhaustion.
Their posture was upright, their eyes calm, their breathing steady.
It wasn't absolute proof that they were stronger than the Chūnin, but it certainly said a lot about their physical endurance and taijutsu fundamentals.
And Hirata wasn't the only one noticing.
Even Senju Nawaki was stunned.
As a direct descendant of the First Hokage, Nawaki had always been proud of his Senju physique—the so-called "strongest vitality" in the ninja world.
Who could possibly outmatch that?
Yet these two teammates, both younger than him by two years, looked fresher than he did.
It stung.
In response, Hirata decided to adjust the formation.
He reassigned Team Kyūjō to the rear guard, replacing two tired Chūnin.
Don't get the wrong idea—the rear wasn't the safest position. On the contrary, it was one of the most vulnerable.
That's why Hirata placed them there.
He trusted them more than anyone else.
Kyūjō didn't complain. Once at the back, he casually waved to a few familiar faces nearby.
"Yo! Inoichi, Chōza, Shikaku! What's with those dead faces? C'mon, cheer up a little!"
Nara Shikaku, hair tied up in his usual spiky bun, groaned and rolled his eyes.
"Kyūjō, Minato… you seriously expect everyone to be monsters like you two?"
"Well… at least now that you're covering the rear, I can finally sleep in peace. I've been napping with one eye open for two days straight. I'll leave the rest to you, Kyūjō, Minato…"
His voice trailed off as he leaned back against a tree trunk, ready to doze off.
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza just nodded silently, equally exhausted.
Minato offered a warm smile. "Go ahead and rest. I'll wake you when we move out again."
Within moments, the trio was fast asleep.
— — —
Nawaki stared at the sleeping teammates, then glanced sideways at Minato and Kyūjō.
There was something… calming about them.
Their presence alone made him feel safe.
Compared to them, he was starting to feel like the inexperienced rookie.
But just as he was about to gather his thoughts, Minato leaned toward him.
"You should get some rest too, Nawaki."
The words were simple—gentle, even.
But to Nawaki, they hit like a slap to the face.
Is this kid… pitying me?
Was he being looked down on?
He stared blankly, mouth agape, while Minato scratched his head, wondering what he'd said wrong.
Meanwhile, Kyūjō smirked.
"Yep. Total tsundere."
But peace never lasts long.
Just five minutes later, Kyūjō's sensory field lit up like a battlefield radar.
Within a radius of several dozen kilometers, a group of Sunagakure ninja entered his range.
And they were headed straight toward them.
What alarmed him wasn't just the number—it was the composition.
Three Jōnin. Twenty-four Chūnin. Not a single Genin.
It was a surgical strike force.
And their movements? Swift. Direct. No hesitation.
As if they already knew where the supply team would be.
There was no way this was a coincidence.
There's a mole, Kyūjō thought.
And he didn't need to guess long.
All fingers pointed to the usual suspect: Shimura Danzō.
Kyūjō frowned.
Strategically, this entire war wouldn't weaken Konoha's core forces. Even if Sakumo's unit fell, Sunagakure lacked the strength to take the village itself.
But if they did fall—who would the public blame?
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And when that happened? Danzō would seize his chance to take the title.
Kyūjō clicked his tongue in disgust.
Danzō hated the major clans—especially the Uchiha and Hyuga. Yet without them, Konoha wouldn't be half the power it claimed to be.
A Hokage wasn't meant to suppress strong clans. A true Hokage balanced them.
Without that balance, could Konoha still call itself the strongest village in the ninja world?
And if Danzō became Hokage… the Shimura clan would rise overnight as Konoha's new elite.
Kyūjō let out a quiet sigh.
If I had power like Hashirama… I wouldn't need politics. I'd just beat them all into submission.
But there was no time to waste on daydreams.
They had ten minutes before the enemy arrived.
Kyūjō immediately began forming a plan.
Once the strategy was clear in his head, he turned to Minato and gave a small signal.
Minato quickly approached. "Enemy contact?"
Kyūjō nodded.
Nawaki overheard the word "enemy" and started to speak, but Kyūjō moved like lightning—circling behind him and covering his mouth.
"Don't speak. Just listen," Kyūjō whispered.
Nawaki froze.
That speed—that pressure—
If Kyūjō had wanted to kill him… he wouldn't have survived.
But Nawaki wasn't weak. He pulled himself together.
When Kyūjō released his hand, Nawaki just stared in awe.
This guy's really a Genin? Even most Chūnin can't move like that…
What stunned him even more was Minato—calm and composed, as if this was all normal.
Minato caught his look and held back a chuckle.
Finally… someone else who gets how crazy Kyūjō is.
In truth, even Minato couldn't gauge Kyūjō's true strength.
But one thing was clear:
Kyūjō was unnaturally calm.
No panic. No tension. Just quiet confidence.
Even the Third Hokage didn't carry himself like that.
Minato prided himself on being as skilled as a Chūnin Elite. But Kyūjō? His speed and strength were easily Jōnin level.
Add his ridiculous sensory range…
And who knew what other techniques he was hiding?
Not to mention—he carried a sword.
The Hatake clan's blade style was legendary, passed down from Sakumo "White Fang" Hatake himself.
Minato stole a glance at the katana strapped to Kyūjō's waist.
He'd never seen it drawn. But the aura it gave off…
What would that sword look like when unsheathed?
A ten-year-old with Jōnin-level power… or higher?
The thought reminded Minato of the two Jōnin from Kumogakure who'd died during Kushina's kidnapping.
To this day, no one knew who killed them.
— — —
Kyūjō finally broke the silence.
"Minato, Nawaki. A squad of Sunagakure ninja is approaching. They'll be here in ten minutes."
Nawaki's eyes widened. "That fast?!"
Minato grabbed his sleeve, signaling him to keep quiet.
Kyūjō knelt down and drew a quick map on the dirt, pointing to two locations.
"I need you both to hide here. When my trap activates, cause a distraction—make some noise. Draw part of the enemy away, then escape."
"Wait, that's it?" Nawaki blinked.
Minato nodded immediately. "Understood."
Nawaki, however, looked flustered. "Aren't you going to tell the Jōnin? And how many enemies are there?"
Kyūjō replied calmly, "Three Jōnin. Twenty-four Chūnin."
His tone made it sound like they were just some petty thieves.
Nawaki panicked. "You say that like it's no big deal!"
Honestly, Kyūjō was tempted to knock him out just to keep him quiet.
Thankfully, Minato stepped in.
"Nawaki-kun… I trust Kyūjō's judgment. We're a team.
None of us would gamble with our own lives for no reason."
"And besides, Kyūjō's the one in the most danger—not us."
Leave it to the future Hokage and his infamous Talk no Jutsu.
Even Kyūjō blinked. Wait… when did this become a suicide mission?!
He glanced at Minato like: "Bro, are you trying to give me a death flag?!"
As Nawaki stared at the ground, fists clenched and eyes watery, Kyūjō sighed deeply.
"Well, whatever. If they misunderstand, let them."
At least… they'd survive.
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