"My name is Shirakumo Fūta, and I'm in charge of this outpost."
Shirakumo Fūta eyed Minato and his team with curiosity. In his opinion, the probability of the Third Hokage having gone mad was far greater than Minato being this strong. However, the document's security features checked out, so he had to follow protocol.
"Come inside. I'll brief you on the outpost's operations."
Following Shirakumo Fūta into the outpost, they found it was a wooden tower. The lower levels served as living quarters, where he assigned rooms to Minato's team. Then, he led them to the top floor.
The circular room at the top housed over a dozen falcons in their cages. A round table surrounded the space, covered with paper and writing tools.
"Listen carefully. The outpost's daily work may seem light, but it's all crucial," Shirakumo Fūta cautioned. "First, there are border patrols twice a day, morning and evening. Even though you'll only be handling intelligence transmission, you need to understand the procedures. I'll take you on a patrol tomorrow morning."
"Next is the feeding and intelligence relay work of the Ninja Hawks. Those from the front lines first arrive at our outpost, and we then transmit the messages to the village."
"If that's the case, why not send them directly from the front lines to the village?" Nawaki asked, puzzled.
"Considering the speed of intelligence transmission, our outpost primarily uses falcons. While large Ninja Hawks have greater endurance, they are slower."
Shirakumo Fūta shook his head and explained, "Moreover, large Ninja Hawks are expensive to raise and unsuitable for an outpost. We can't guarantee a sufficient food supply, and these little guys eat better than we do."
"I see. Humans are inferior to hawks, huh?" Nawaki nodded in understanding.
"Haha, you could say that."
Shirakumo Fūta introduced the hawks one by one: "This row connects to front-line strongholds, this row connects to the village, and the remaining row connects to the western and northern outposts."
"After delivering their messages, Ninja Hawks stay for a day to rest before departing."
"Actually, it's not that much work. For a three-person team like yours, one person can handle the Ninja Hawks, one can relay information, and one can stand guard. You'll be able to manage it easily. I'll teach you the specific procedures and tasks tomorrow."
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior," Minato said, nodding politely.
Nawaki sighed heavily. "What a pain. We came all this way just to raise birds—"
Shirakumo Fūta shook his head. "No, I'm just explaining the workflow based on your team's size to help you get familiar with the outpost's procedures. Your actual duties aren't this."
Nawaki pointed at the birdcage beside him, puzzled. "But isn't this it?"
"No, the information here is only for relaying enemy movements—low-level, non-classified data."
Shirakumo Fūta explained, "Your team is responsible for transmitting classified information, urgent support requests, and confidential documents like Hokage directives. You'll need to shuttle back and forth between the battlefield and the village."
"That's why I find it hard to believe. These kinds of missions usually require a Jonin team leader and at least three Chūnin."
"It has to do with the Ninjutsu I've cultivated. My mobility is exceptional."
Minato offered a simple explanation. Being young, he saw no need to put on a show of being a "pig eating a tiger" by stubbornly resisting the questioning. A single sentence would save a lot of trouble.
"I see. No wonder Lord Hokage sent you here," Shirakumo Fūta said, suddenly understanding. He didn't press further, knowing that Ninjutsu was a highly personal matter.
"You've been traveling all day. Rest here tonight."
"Is there a night watch?" Minato asked.
Shirakumo Fūta chuckled. "Of course. This is a border outpost, after all."
Minato nodded, and the three returned to their room.
The room wasn't large, but it was adequately furnished.
"By the way, will Mikoto-nee be sharing this room with us?" Nawaki asked.
"We're on a mission. We should be grateful to have beds at all, let alone separate ones."
Mikoto didn't seem to mind. As a Chūnin, she was no stranger to missions.
She'd experienced missions where they went days without bathing, covered in grime and stench. Sharing a room was nothing compared to that.
Exhausted from the day's journey, Nawaki fell asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
Feeling slightly weary herself, Mikoto noticed Minato leaning against the window, showing no signs of sleep. "Minato-kun, aren't you going to sleep?" she asked.
"This is my first time leaving the village, and I'm a little restless. You go ahead and sleep. After all, we're at the border, and I'll keep watch tonight."
Minato shook his head. His energy was boundless; he could stay awake for three to five days without any ill effects. Besides, after a long day of traveling, the absence of the fatigue that usually accumulated from his clones left him feeling unaccustomed to the situation.
"I felt the same way when I first left the village," Mikoto said with a smile. "It was exciting, but also a little unsettling and overwhelming."
"If you're on watch, remember to wake me before you sleep," she added.
Minato shook his head again. "No need. Wood Clones don't automatically recall unless I dismiss them, and they don't share memories or fatigue. I'll have a Wood Clone keep watch from now on."
"I see—" Mikoto paused, then smiled brightly. "Having a teammate like you, Minato-kun, makes me feel so secure. I don't have to worry about preparing food or staying up to keep watch."
"I never expected to be so versatile," Minato quipped. "Originally, I planned to go on this mission alone, but the Third Hokage didn't approve."
"I think the Third Hokage is right," Mikoto said, her expression serious after a moment's thought. "At least, I want to be a companion Minato-kun can trust, not just someone who holds him back. Nawaki probably feels the same way."
"Even if it means being used as a shield at a critical moment, it's better than doing nothing at all."
"Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?" Minato couldn't help but chuckle. "I just want to protect the people I care about. You might call it the arrogance of a genius, but think what you will. I won't change my mind unless you can reach Teacher Tsunade's level of strength."
"—So Senior Tsunade is also under your protection? That's indeed quite arrogant." Mikoto smiled helplessly. "But I don't think you need to care for us in such a... comprehensive way, Minato-kun."
"No," Minato shook his head. "It's better to nip threats in the bud than regret it later. But I won't interfere with your growth. As long as you don't accidentally step on a trap or leave the team without permission, I'll be there to cover for you."
"I see—"
Mikoto smiled gently. She didn't dislike Minato's attitude. This kind of protective care, which was thorough yet didn't interfere with personal freedom, made her feel very secure.
"I get the feeling Minato-kun is the type to blame himself if a companion gets hurt."
"Not at all. As long as they're not dead, it's fine."
Minato paused to think before slowly adding, "Even if they're on their last breath, I can save them. But if they're dead—"
"No one can do anything about that, can they?"
"Then a price must be paid."
"?"
Mikoto froze for two seconds, her eyelids twitching wildly.
Wait, you can actually save the dead?!
Has Konoha's medical level really advanced this far?!
Despite her shock, she didn't doubt Minato's words. Through their time together, she had come to see him as steady and reliable, not the type to boast idly.
She didn't press for details. Such an outrageous ability had to be a forbidden technique, and she knew it would come at a steep cost.
"Don't worry. I'll keep you all safe."
Seeing Mikoto's stunned expression, Minato chuckled softly.
The moonlight outside the window seemed to drape Minato's silhouette in a silver glow, lending him an almost sacred aura that made Mikoto's heart flutter and her vision swim.
"You're... really reliable."
She suddenly recalled their conversation during dinner and blurted out, "Minato-kun, do you only like Kushina?"
Minato was momentarily speechless, caught off guard by the sudden question.
Just as he was searching for an answer, Mikoto smiled. "I'm sorry, that was presumptuous of me."
With that, she turned and pulled the covers up, signaling the end of the conversation.
Minato's reaction had already answered her question.
With her back to him, Mikoto's cheeks flushed and her heart raced.
Who else would Minato like besides Kushina?
A strange flicker of hope rose in her heart, but she quickly dismissed it. After all, they hadn't known each other long.
The most likely scenario, as Nawaki had mentioned, was that mutual friend of Minato and Kushina—what was her name again? Nonou?
Liking two people at once... what a player!
She silently grumbled to herself, but couldn't help but feel curious.
How would Minato ever choose between the two girls he liked?
And with his immense strength, would he really be willing to settle for just one?
Lost in these swirling thoughts, Mikoto drifted into sleep without realizing it.
In her dream, Minato had grown into a handsome, powerful seventeen or eighteen-year-old, and her heart fluttered with secret affection.
The scene shifted abruptly to see him with Kushina's left arm around his waist and his right arm encircling the waist of another girl whose face remained indistinct, basking in the bliss of having both women in his embrace.
Mikoto felt a pang of loss and embarrassment. Instinctively, she wanted to flee, murmuring apologetically, "I'm sorry, I came at the wrong time."
Yet in the dream, Minato's voice was gentle as he replied, "No, you came at the perfect time!"
In the next instant, the scene transformed. They were suddenly in a hot spring.
"Mikoto-nee, we've been waiting for you!" Kushina exclaimed, pulling Mikoto and pushing her into Minato's arms. "Tonight is our family's hot spring night! You love this, right?"
"?! What?!"
Mikoto panicked at Kushina's actions. "No—this is wrong! I—"
In her panic, she abruptly opened her eyes. Sunlight streamed through the window, and the sky was bright and clear.
Ah, it was just a dream...
Mikoto sat up dazedly, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. She wasn't sure whether she felt relieved or disappointed.
A gentle voice suddenly reached her ears.
"You're awake?"
"Ah!"
Mikoto startled and instantly teleported to a corner of the room, like a startled cat, nervously eyeing the direction of the voice.
Minato leaned against the headboard, a scroll in his hands, looking puzzled.
"Are you alright?"
"Uh—sorry, I had a nightmare."
Mikoto looked embarrassed and glanced at Nawaki, who was still fast asleep beside her. "What time is it?"
"Five o'clock."
Minato put away the scroll. "It's still early. Want to sleep a bit longer?"
"No, no—"
Remembering the dream, Mikoto shook her head quickly, afraid of continuing it if she closed her eyes again.
Minato found this strange but didn't press for an explanation. Who could ever understand a girl's thoughts?
After breakfast, the group followed Shirakumo Fūta's team on a patrol along the border.
After confirming the trap mechanisms were in order, they returned to the outpost.
On the way back, Nawaki looked disappointed.
The young ninja still yearned to earn merit on this new day.
But the situation in the Land of Rain was tense. Hanzō might have the audacity to confront both Konoha and Sunagakure simultaneously, but he wasn't crazy enough to send troops deep into enemy territory before war had even begun—let alone launch a frontal invasion.
The Land of Rain was a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. Sunagakure, however, had a more favorable invasion route through the River Country and would unlikely choose this path.
Returning to the outpost, they learned how to feed the Ninja Hawks after a brief training session before heading back to their room.
Nawaki grew restless. "The Third Hokage sent us here without any specific mission. Surely he didn't just want us to sit around and wait, right?"
"Border patrols are like this," Minato replied. Suddenly, he looked up at the window. A Ninja Hawk was soaring toward the outpost at breakneck speed.
"But I don't think you'll be waiting much longer."
"Emergency report!"
A flurry of footsteps sounded from upstairs as a patrolling ninja called out urgently.
"Sunagakure has ignored Hanzō's warning and launched a massive assault from the Land of Rain. Frontline positions are requesting immediate reinforcements!"
"Minato!!"
Nawaki roared, leaping out of bed with a sudden, explosive movement, his entire body practically radiating fury.
"Prepare for departure."
Without a word, Minato rose and left the room.
Slacking off is fine, but not openly.
The Third Hokage clearly intended to use his speed to gain an intelligence advantage.
In the face of sudden battlefield changes like this, timely reporting was crucial.
Otherwise, if the front lines were breached, they'd be the ones to suffer.
"Minato-kun."
Shirakumo Fūta's expression turned solemn as he saw Minato and the others arrive.
"We need to send the intelligence back immediately," Minato said gravely.
"I've already dispatched a Ninja Hawk from the outpost—the fastest one."
"Ninja Hawks are too slow." Minato shook his head. "Wait for me two minutes."
As he spoke, his figure vanished instantly. In just two breaths, he reappeared in the village.
He rushed to the Hokage Building. The Anbu guards on duty, seemingly having received prior orders, didn't hinder him, allowing him to burst into the Hokage's Office unimpeded.
"Third Hokage, urgent front-line intelligence! Sunagakure has ignored Hanzō's warning and launched a massive assault from the Land of Rain. Front-line outposts are urgently requesting reinforcements."
Minato spoke rapidly, and the Third Hokage reacted swiftly.
"I understand. Minato, immediately lead your team to support the front lines, coordinating with Shirakumo Fūta's squad. Also, inform Hatake Sakumo that reinforcements are on their way! They must hold the line at all costs—we can't let the front lines be pushed into the Land of Fire!"
No sooner had Minato finished speaking than Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled out a scroll and swiftly wrote two documents. He sealed them with his authentication mark in one fluid motion and handed them to Minato.
Minato took the documents, and in an instant, his figure appeared beside Nawaki at the outpost.
Shirakumo Fūta stared in bewilderment. "What... what is going on?"
"Space-Time Ninjutsu."
Minato handed him a scroll. "The Third Hokage's orders. Our two teams are to immediately proceed to the front lines for support. This is our directive."
Shirakumo Fūta: "————"
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