After bidding farewell to Tianyuan and the others, Shinku Yuhi immediately went to find his daughter.
Shinku had been worried sick about Kurenai Yuhi. Seeing her unharmed now, he finally breathed a long sigh of relief. On a battlefield like this, he had been constantly on edge not for his own sake, but because Kurenai was stationed on a different front. If he were to receive news of her death, the blow would be more than he could bear.
But in an era of war, a ninja's duty was to fight.
This conflict could already be called the Third Shinobi World War. At least three ninja villages had entered a state of open hostility, and they were three of the Five Great Nations. It was a war that encompassed half the forces of the ninja continent.
Back before the establishment of nations and ninja villages, combat usually occurred between family units on a much smaller scale. Now, however, it was a confrontation between the full might of several major nations. It was a time to pit ninja against ninja, strength against strength. The victor would seize the resources of the defeated country.
The Land of Fire was the prize most coveted by the other four ninja villages.
Shinku soon found his daughter.
"Kurenai, come with me. Let's have a chat," Shinku said as he approached.
"Okay, Father." Kurenai nodded obediently and followed him into a nearby tent.
"Here, have some water." Shinku pulled out a cup and poured some from a kettle.
"Thank you, Father," Kurenai replied.
"So, tell me, how have you been lately? Have you run into any danger?" Shinku sat down as well, looking at his daughter with a warm, happy smile. Protecting Konoha for the sake of one's family... it was a good feeling.
"I've been doing well. After arriving at Kikyo Pass, I was assigned to Tianyuan's squad. Tianyuan is amazing—he was easily the most outstanding among all the Jonin there." Kurenai beamed with a bright smile, looking as proud as if she were the one who had accomplished everything.
"Oh? Tianyuan is that capable?" Shinku asked, surprised.
"Of course! Our team has the lowest casualty rate, but the highest number of kills. We were known as the elite squad of that battlefield."
"I see. I didn't realize he was so strong." Shinku was truly taken aback.
"He is," Kurenai said proudly. "And there's even more!"
Shinku's eyes lit up. Perhaps now he would understand why Tianyuan's squad respected him so deeply. "Well then, I definitely want to hear about this kid's glorious deeds," Shinku chuckled.
"Alright, Father, listen to this!" Kurenai said excitedly. "That day, Tianyuan broke into the Sand Ninja base all by himself. Hundreds of them were there, along with the Kazekage and even the One-Tail Shukaku..."
Kurenai recounted the events of that day, her face flush with excitement as if she were reliving it. The more Shinku listened, the more shocked he became. His mouth hung open, unable to close; Tianyuan's exploits had truly terrified him.
The Mangekyo Sharingan, the Susanoo... slaughtering hundreds of Sand Ninja single-handedly, defeating the Kazekage, and then forcibly suppressing and sealing Shukaku. Every detail made Shinku feel like he was listening to a legend.
He kept reminding himself of Tianyuan's age: nine years old. Well, he was almost ten now. But whether nine or ten, it was a staggering age. The Uchiha Clan's Mangekyo, which hadn't appeared in so long, had manifested in a mere child. It completely shattered his sense of reality.
"And that's how it happened. Konoha won a massive victory," Kurenai said happily.
"No wonder... no wonder Lord Hokage arranged things this way," Shinku murmured. He felt he finally understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's arrangement. In truth, Shinku was overthinking it; the Third Hokage hadn't known any of this at the time.
"What is it, Father?" Kurenai looked at him curiously.
"Nothing, it's nothing." Shinku shook his head.
Outside, the hundred or so Konoha ninja Tianyuan had brought with him were led by others to designated resting areas. On the way, some ninjas asked their companions about Tianyuan, having noticed his unusual presence. Among these ninjas were friends who knew each other, and since the news wasn't being kept a secret by the village, word spread quickly.
They spoke of Tianyuan's record at Kikyo Pass, the power of the Mangekyo, and the terrifying battlefield conditions caused by the Susanoo. Those who heard the news were just as shocked as Shinku had been.
Is that really a nine-year-old child?
He sounds even more terrifying than Madara Uchiha!
At that moment, the Konoha ninja were speechless. According to what their comrades said, Tianyuan undoubtedly possessed Kage-level strength. Such power would surely be a massive asset on this battlefield. The ninja of Konoha here began to look forward to it, hoping Tianyuan could bring them victory and hope.
While Konoha marveled at Tianyuan's feats, far away at the Iwagakure site...
"Lord Kitsuchi, we have scouted a Konoha squad of dozens of men. They conduct reconnaissance daily and are continuing to do so," a Stone Ninja reported to a stout man.
This stout man was Kitsuchi, the son of the Third Tsuchikage Onoki. Now in his twenties, he already possessed the strength of a Jonin.
"Konoha hasn't noticed you?" Kitsuchi asked in a low voice.
"They haven't," the Stone Ninja shook his head.
"Good. Tomorrow, have the Jonin Roshi lead a force of Stone Ninja to wipe out that Konoha squad." Kitsuchi made the decision.
"Yes, Lord Kitsuchi," the ninja nodded.
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