"Kakashi!"
Might Gai kept knocking on Kakashi's front door. After half a minute, no one answered.
"Kakashi! Which battlefield have you been assigned to!"
Still no reply.
Might Gai's eyes were anxious, not because he feared the war, but because he didn't know where his friend was going.
What he didn't know was that Kakashi had followed his teacher, Namikaze Minato, to the Land of Wind several days ago.
After walking two blocks, he ran into Sarutobi Asuma.
"Asuma, which battlefield are you headed to?"
Asuma said, "I'm following my teacher, Orochimaru, to the Land of Grass battlefield. And you?"
Usually, Asuma found Might Gai noisy, but facing the unprecedented intensity of the Great Shinobi War, he felt like talking with Might Gai a bit more.
Might Gai said, "Myself, Ebisu, and Shiranui Genma, our squad is going to the Land of Whirlpools."
Asuma had a special status and knew many high-level secrets. He said,
"
The Land of Whirlpools, huh. Lord Nara Rokaku is the Commander-in-Chief, and Clan Head Uzumaki Yuka is Deputy Commander.
When you get there, be careful of the Hiding in Mist Technique. Don't just charge into the thick fog where you can't see anything."
"Thanks, Asuma. You be careful too."
"Careful?" Sarutobi Asuma's eyes darkened. "My older brother and sister-in-law died in a joint ambush by Iwa-nin and Kumo-nin. It's a shame we can only deal with the Iwa-nin this time. We'll find an opportunity for the Kumo-nin later."
Might Gai thought to himself, You want to fight two ninja villages at once? Even the Hokage's son can't be that arrogant.
The two parted ways, each going to find their own teammates.
Might Gai hurriedly found Ebisu and Shiranui Genma.
"Gai, you're almost late."
"Sorry, Captain Genma."
Shiranui Genma had a steel senbon in his mouth, which bobbed up and down smugly as he said,
"Can't be helped, I was the first to get promoted to Chūnin, so I became squad leader.
Can't compare to an elite Jōnin like Kakashi, but I'm right behind Asuma and Anko."
Might Gai didn't continue the topic. He was feeling bad about not seeing Kakashi.
Suddenly, Ebisu nudged Gai's shoulder. "Gai! Look, isn't that your father?!"
Might Gai froze, then quickly turned his head.
His father, Might Dai, was following behind a ninja, walking towards the main gate of Konoha.
The ninja in front of his father had red hair—a Jōnin from the Uzumaki clan.
The Uzumaki clan had joined Konoha only in recent years, and Might Gai hadn't had much interaction with them.
Shiranui Genma's tone was puzzled. "The troops assembling at Konoha's main gate today are for the Land of Whirlpools battlefield.
Gai, I don't mean anything by it, but why is Uncle Dai here? He hasn't left Konoha in over twenty years, has he?"
Might Dai was a minor celebrity in Konoha, though of the infamous kind.
He always messed up missions, only knew Taijutsu, couldn't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, so no squad leader wanted to team up with him.
Having been a Genin for over twenty years, he'd earned the nickname 'Eternal Genin'.
Might Gai said, confused, "This morning, Father said he hadn't been conscripted. He said he'd cheer me on. Him?"
The area around Konoha's main gate was crowded with assembling squads. Might Gai tried to go forward but was blocked by other squads.
A sea of people, with around two thousand Konoha ninja crowded around. Might Gai couldn't push through.
Nara Shikaku appeared behind Shiranui Genma's squad. He stared at Might Gai for a few seconds, wondering what secret the Might father and son held.
"Don't worry, Might Gai." Nara Shikaku said:
"Conscripting Might Dai, placing him in Princess Kushina's guard squad, is the will of the higher-ups.
The higher-ups believe Might Dai possesses a certain quality, making him an important component of Princess Kushina's guard squad."
Might Gai quickly turned and saw the young clan head of the Nara clan, Nara Shikaku.
"Jōnin Shikaku! Hello!" Might Gai quickly asked, "May I ask which high-ranking official ordered my father's subscription? My father has hardly ever left Konoha. I'm very worried about him."
Nara Shikaku said, "No harm in telling you. The person who made the decision to conscript your father is the Anbu Minister, Lord Fox."
After explaining and reassuring, Nara Shikaku headed towards the village main gate.
Due to his sensitivity to intelligence, Nara Shikaku always felt Minister Fox's conscription of Might Dai held some deeper meaning, but he had too little information to see the whole picture.
Even after deliberately making contact with Might Gai, he hadn't gained any useful information.
Arriving at the village gate, Nara Shikaku saw the high-ranking officials for the Land of Whirlpools war.
Commander-in-Chief Nara Rokaku, and Deputy Commander Uzumaki Yuka.
His father was Commander-in-Chief, leading 2,000 ninja to block the Kiri-nin forces.
Uzumaki Yuka was the head of the Uzumaki clan, familiar with the Land of Whirlpools.
He'd heard this individual mastered the Uzumaki clan's summoning beast legacy and possessed many powerful summons.
As for Princess Kushina, her identity was now public: she was Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Previously, the Nine-Tails' seal was personally overseen by Minister Fox.
For this war, Minister Fox had more important tasks, so the Nine-Tails' seal would be handled by the Uzumaki clan.
Behind Princess Kushina, Nara Shikaku saw Might Dai, his face full of nervous anticipation, his thick black eyebrows twitching constantly.
So curious. I wonder what secret Might Dai holds.
The Ino–Shika–Chō Trio Clans, the Uzumaki clan, and a large number of civilian ninja formed the main force for the Land of Whirlpools battlefield.
After the 35 Battalion Commanders organized their respective troops, they gathered near Nara Rokaku.
"Lord Rokaku, the troops are assembled. We can depart."
"Good. Move out, to the Land of Whirlpools front lines!"
The massive force of 2,000 ninja left through Konoha's main gate.
The area around the gate suddenly felt empty.
Not just the gate area; the entire Konoha village felt much emptier.
Tomorrow, when the 5,000 ninja bound for the Land of Grass left, and the day after when the 3,000 ninja bound for the Land of Hot Water left, Konoha would become even more deserted.
With all frontline ninja gone, Konoha village would be left with just over 2,000 ninja.
Nara Rokaku thought to himself, with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki sent by the village, he was confident that his battlefield would be the first to achieve victory.
He looked in the direction of the Land of Rivers, wondering if the village's arrangements there would succeed.
Although Sunagakure was weak, not even preparing troops was a bit risky.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Wind's capital, the Daimyō met with the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.
Over thirty people walked towards the noble's mansion.
"Kazekage, recently there's been a roving force in the Land of Wind. This force assassinates nobles in different towns. The investigation task I previously assigned to Sunagakure, why is there still no result?
The Great Shinobi War is important, of course, but with Land of Wind nobles being slaughtered continuously, this matter must also be investigated."
Rasa quickly said, "Daimyō-sama, Sunagakure has been busy preparing for war recently, but we haven't neglected missions within the Land of Wind.
I dispatched three Jōnin, but they were all killed by that mysterious organization.
Please rest assured, Daimyō-sama. Before the Great Shinobi War begins, I will definitely resolve the trouble plaguing the Land of Wind's nobles."
The Daimyō nodded and said, "As long as you eliminate the culprit who keeps hunting nobles, I will add an extra 5% to Sunagakure's war funding."
After leaving Tenshu Castle, Rasa immediately summoned intelligence ninja.
"Tori Castle? The target was last seen at Tori Castle? Tori Castle isn't far from the Land of Rivers border. For the Daimyō's funding, I will personally carry out this pursuit mission."
(End of Chapter)