"Hmm? You're going to the Iwa Ninja Battlefield?"
Inside the tent, Shinnosuke looked at Ren in surprise, and even the other people in the tent focused their gazes on Ren.
"Yes, this battlefield isn't very friendly to me as a Water Release Ninja. I want to go to the Iwagakure side and see. Anyway, the Village has sent another batch of reinforcements, so my presence or absence won't make too much of a difference."
"Ah, Ren, you're going to the Iwa Ninja Battlefield..."
Anko sat on the edge of the bed, swinging her legs, her cheeks puffed out, staring at Ren with a resentful expression.
She was different from Ren. She didn't have many acquaintances here, and even her two teammates and the Captain had only just formed a team not long ago. On this Sand Ninja battlefield, Ren was her only acquaintance. Now that even this acquaintance was leaving, she suddenly felt very lonely again.
"Sigh, I'm mainly worried about Kurenai going there. Maybe I'll be transferred back after a while, so don't be so pessimistic."
Ren patted Anko's shoulder. As soon as he finished speaking, Hayama, who was beside him, quietly said,
"When you go there, be careful."
"Okay, thank you, Hayama Big Brother."
Ren said with a smile. Although Hayama hadn't been with this team for a particularly long time, he got along exceptionally well with everyone.
In Ren's opinion, Hayama was someone he could entrust his back to, just like Shinnosuke and Ryufeng.
"Hmm."
Hayama nodded to Ren, then stopped speaking and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes to rest.
"Since you've decided, I won't try to persuade you. Remember to tell Lady Tsunade when you leave."
"Don't worry, Captain, I've already told Tsunade-sensei. I'll be departing with the escort team in a moment. You all be careful here too."
After giving his instructions, Ren leaned over to Ryufeng, putting an arm around his shoulder, and said with a laugh,
"Hey, Ryufeng, aren't you going to give your brother a hug?"
"Hmph."
Ryufeng snorted, raised his hand and punched Ren's chest twice, then turned and walked towards his bed, leaving a few words in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Don't die."
Ren's eyes flickered. He smiled and waved goodbye to the others in the tent, then turned and walked out of the tent, heading towards the Konoha Camp entrance to gather.
Inside the tent, several gazes silently watched Ren's receding, remaining silent for a long time...
Upon arriving, Ren saw the transport team preparing medical supplies that were lacking on the Iwagakure battlefield, loading them onto carriages one by one.
Because the Sand Ninja battlefield was not far from the Iwa Ninja Battlefield, several hundred Ninja were arranged to escort them along the way, and Jiraiya's side also sent a welcoming party. If they left at five o'clock, they would likely meet up with the welcoming party around dawn.
At the front of the convoy, Ren saw Tsunade talking to a man wearing a Konoha Jonin uniform. As he got closer, Ren also clearly saw the latter's appearance.
He was a head taller than the current Ren, with a straight posture and long black hair tied back. A Konoha forehead protector was tied on his forehead. His features were proper, but the most unique thing was his eyes; from the whites to the pupils, they were pure white. This subtly added a few points of dignity to him.
"Tsunade-sensei, I'm here."
Noticing Ren, the two stopped talking. Tsunade pulled Ren closer and said with a smile,
"You brat, this is Hyuga Hizashi, the head of the Hyuga Clan's branch family, and also the leader of this escort unit. You'll be under his command from now on."
"You must be Ren, right? I'm Hyuga Hizashi. You can just call me Captain."
Before Ren could react, Hyuga Hizashi spoke first, a slight smile appearing on his serious face.
"Hello, Captain Hizashi, I am Hoshimi Ren. I'll be troubling you from now on. Please guide me."
As Ren responded, a realisation dawned on him.
Good heavens, no wonder he looked so familiar. So this was Hyuga Hizashi, the father of Hyuga Neji, one of the future Konoha Twelve Ninja, the man who sacrificed his life for his elder brother.
Ren's peripheral vision noticed Hyuga Hizashi's forehead protector. If he wasn't mistaken, there should be the Caged Bird cursed seal there.
A stubborn main family, a tragic branch family.
"It's almost time. We should go, Lady Tsunade. Let's go, Ren."
Hyuga Hizashi's voice pulled Ren back to reality. When Ren looked up, he saw Hyuga Hizashi standing on the already prepared convoy, waving to him.
"Teacher, goodbye! Please take care of yourself here."
Ren turned and waved to Tsunade, then prepared to get into the carriage and set off.
"Wait."
Just then, Tsunade's voice came from behind him.
"Hmm?"
Ren turned back in confusion. As soon as he turned his head, he felt a cold sensation on his forehead. Realising what it was, Ren instantly froze. Hyuga Hizashi, who had been watching, twitched his mouth twice, opening it as if to say something but ultimately remaining silent, only turning his head to look away.
A moment later, the cold sensation disappeared, and Ren slowly regained a bit of his composure. Looking at the smiling Tsunade in front of him, Ren was about to speak when Tsunade interrupted him.
"Be careful, okay? The man who will become Hokage in the future."
After saying that, Tsunade raised her hand and ruffled Ren's hair a few times before turning and walking into the Konoha Camp without stopping.
"Teacher..."
Ren came back to his senses, looking at Tsunade's back as she walked into the Konoha Camp. After a moment's pause, he turned and walked towards the convoy.
"Depart!"
Seeing Ren return, Hyuga Hizashi gave the order. The team of several hundred people began to move forward.
At the entrance of the Konoha Camp, Tsunade, who had just left and returned, was back again, her eyes filled with unconcealed worry as she watched the departing convoy.
"What? Still worried about Ren?"
Hearing the voice from behind her, Tsunade turned while adjusting her emotions, nodding to the newcomer.
"Sakumo Senior."
The person who arrived was Sakumo Hatake.
"I understand your feelings, but if he wants to grow, he can't always live under the shadow of us elders. He also needs to experience some setbacks, such as physical injury, the gazes of others, and the death of his comrades."
"But he shouldn't have to bear these things at his age."
Tsunade clenched her fists after hearing these words, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke.
"He has no choice, and neither do we. Hatred and self-interest have led to these endless wars. We have all experienced these things. If he wants to become Hokage, these are things he must experience."
After speaking, Sakumo Hatake turned and walked into the Konoha Camp.
"Believe in him. In this child, I see the shadow of a Hokage. Perhaps in time, your disciple truly will become Hokage..."
Sakumo Hatake's figure disappeared into the depths of the Konoha Camp, leaving only Tsunade standing alone at the entrance in silence.
After a long while, she finally turned and left.
Night fell, and the distant convoy began its journey to the next battlefield...