"That is quite a fancy way of doing things. I remember you mentioning before that the formula for your Flying Thunder God Technique doesn't strictly need to be placed on a kunai or a physical weapon, right?"
Nawaki watched Minato's methodical movements and let out a small whistle of genuine surprise.
"It is mostly a safety measure to ensure the marks are not easily destroyed, and it makes it much simpler for me to go back and recover my equipment later on," Minato explained with his usual calm demeanor.
In the world of shinobi, every ninja is taught the fundamentals of tracking and is naturally wary of any unusual markings in the wild. Whether a seal is placed on a sturdy tree trunk or a random stone, there is always a high probability of it being spotted, moved, or even used as bait for a lethal ambush.
While the current military power of the Land of Rain was not yet formidable enough to launch a full-scale invasion into the heart of the Land of Fire, Minato remained vigilant against the threat of the White Zetsu.
His ability to use the Wood Release was no longer a well-kept secret within the village. Given that the White Zetsu possessed an intelligence-gathering network that stretched across every corner of the Ninja World, it was almost certain that Uchiha Madara had already been informed of his existence.
Minato did not know if the legendary figure would take direct action against him just yet; he was simply being pragmatic and taking every possible precaution to ensure their safety.
For the remainder of their trek toward the border, Minato made sure to stop and establish a hidden Base Station every thirty minutes.
His tactical methods were not solely reliant on his Wood Release, however. On several occasions, he utilized Earth Release to hollow out secure spaces deep beneath the soil or inside thick rock faces, creating hidden wooden chambers with small vents to allow for proper airflow.
Gurgle... Suddenly, right in the middle of their steady march, Nawaki's stomach let out a loud and unmistakable growl.
Minato and Mikoto both slowed their pace and turned their heads to look back at him. Nawaki rubbed his belly with a hand and offered them a sheepish, embarrassed grin.
"Hahaha, sorry guys. I guess I am just hungry."
"In that case, let us take a short break here and get something to eat."
Minato gave a small nod and came to a full stop. He looked at his two teammates and asked politely, "Is there anything in particular that you both would like to have for dinner?"
"Wait... we actually get to choose what we eat?"
Mikoto stared at Minato with a look of pure confusion and disbelief. "Aren't we currently in the middle of an active mission?"
"Being on a mission is no reason to neglect our basic needs, although we should probably keep it relatively simple since we are on the clock."
Minato offered her a gentle smile. He was currently in the middle of a significant growth spurt and had absolutely no intention of making his personal life uncomfortable if he could avoid it.
With a single, firm clap of his hands, various types of fresh vegetables and ripe fruits began to sprout rapidly from the forest floor.
As Mikoto watched the display with wide, astonished eyes, Minato began to prepare the fresh ingredients with the speed and skill of a professional chef.
He then performed a hand seal to create a Wood Clone to act as a lookout while his main body vanished in a golden flash of light.
A few moments later, he reappeared carrying a large wild bull over his shoulder. He then unrolled a storage scroll to summon a massive black cooking pot and an assortment of high-quality seasonings.
Nawaki: "..."
Mikoto: "..."
As the sun began to set and the sky turned a deep shade of purple, thin curls of gray smoke began to drift through the thick canopy of the forest.
The three of them sat together, enjoying the taste of perfectly roasted beef and sipping on bowls of steaming hot soup, feeling incredibly satisfied with the meal.
"I honestly had no idea that your cooking skills were this impressive, Minato-kun."
Mikoto couldn't help but voice her admiration. "Going on a mission with you honestly feels more like we are out on a relaxing picnic than a dangerous assignment."
Burp~ "Careful there, are you starting to fall in love with him already?"
Nawaki let out a loud, satisfied burp and leaned his back against a nearby tree. His voice was thick with a playful, teasing tone.
"Eh? What would make you say something like that so suddenly?"
At the mention of love, Mikoto felt a warm flush of embarrassment creep into her cheeks.
It was true that Minato was an incredibly gifted and outstanding individual, but she genuinely had not considered him in a romantic light before this moment.
For one, there was a noticeable age gap between them, as he was four years younger than her. Additionally, everyone knew about the close childhood bond between Minato and Kushina.
However, if she were being honest with herself, Minato was exactly her type of person.
He was handsome, composed, and reliable. He possessed a personality that was gentle yet firm, and the fact that he could cook so well was a definite bonus.
But most importantly, he possessed an overwhelming amount of raw combat power.
There is nothing that captures the heart of a member of the Uchiha clan quite like a display of absolute strength.
In the harsh reality of the Ninja World, having immense power is synonymous with providing a sense of security. For a girl with a more traditional outlook like Mikoto, that security was a vital quality in a potential partner.
If only Minato were just a few years older, perhaps I really would... As she followed that train of thought, Mikoto's blush deepened slightly.
Nawaki waved a hand in the air with a lazy expression that suggested he had seen this all before. "I say that because the look on your face just now was identical to all those girls back at the Academy who spend their days chasing after him!"
"It is only natural for people to be drawn toward excellence, and Minato-kun is certainly the most impressive person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting."
Mikoto spoke with total honesty before turning the question back on him. "Does Nawaki-kun not have someone that he is interested in?"
"Not at all. I am a man who has dedicated his entire life to the goal of becoming the Hokage!"
Nawaki let out a proud snort. "Whether we are talking about natural talent or raw power, I am still far behind Minato. If I start wasting my precious time on things like romance, I won't stand a single chance of competing with him."
"But the biggest reason is that ever since I met this guy, it feels like every single girl I know only has eyes for him!"
"I used to have someone I liked quite a bit, but after seeing how those girls act like complete fools whenever he is around, my illusions were totally shattered. It is a terrible feeling when a girl you want to pursue is busy pursuing your best friend instead..."
As Nawaki spoke, he gestured toward Minato with a clear sense of defeat and helplessness in his voice.
Minato had just finished cutting off a large piece of meat from the beef leg. He gave a small, sheepish grin upon hearing Nawaki's rant.
He had not expected that his very presence would have such a maturing effect on Nawaki's personal views regarding love and relationships.
"And what about you, Minato-kun?"
Mikoto looked over at him with a curious glint in her eyes. "Is there someone that you have a crush on?"
Minato gave a frank and immediate nod. "Yes, there is."
"Wait, really? Who is it? Would you be willing to tell us who she is?"
Mikoto asked the question tentatively. She knew that, unlike the previous conversation, this was a much more private and personal matter.
Minato simply shook his head and offered her a mysterious smile without saying another word.
At least for the time being, his secret ambition to one day become Nawaki's brother-in-law had to remain hidden. If he weren't careful, his reputation as a pervert would spread across the world long before Tsunade ever earned her title as one of the Sannin.
"Who else could it possibly be? He is obviously talking about Kushina. He's just acting all mysterious for no reason."
Seeing Minato's quiet reaction, Nawaki spoke up with a casual shrug. "Either her or maybe Nonou. It is definitely one of those two, no doubt about it."
"I do care for Kushina very much," Minato said, nodding in agreement as he decided to end the discussion. "But we have eaten our fill now. It is time for us to get back on the move."
"Right!"
Nawaki stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes.
Mikoto stole one last thoughtful glance at Minato. She had a lingering feeling that there was a deeper meaning behind his words that he wasn't sharing.
However, she knew that everyone had their own secrets, and it wasn't her place to keep prying into his private life.
Once they had finished packing their gear, the group resumed their journey toward the border.
Because the power gap between the Hidden Rain and the Hidden Leaf was so vast, the Rain ninja did not have the guts to push deep into Fire Country territory. Consequently, the trio encountered no trouble and arrived at the border Outpost under the light of the stars.
"Halt right there!"
The Outpost was currently being guarded by two full squads of shinobi, making a total of eight men.
When the guards saw Minato and his team approach, their faces were filled with looks of pure shock.
The Jonin leading the guard unit scanned the faces of Minato and Nawaki. His voice was filled with hesitation as he spoke: "Are you three... Genin?"
The war had not reached its peak yet, and the Hidden Leaf still had plenty of military strength. Even if Genin were being deployed to the front lines, they shouldn't be children as young as Minato and Nawaki, who looked like they had only just graduated.
"We are here by the direct order of the Hokage to assist in guarding this Outpost."
Minato did not waste any time. He stepped forward and handed the man an official mission scroll, getting straight to the point. "From this moment on, all intelligence transmissions for this location will be managed by my team."
"Wait a second, you have to be joking, right?"
The man unrolled the scroll and inspected it thoroughly for several minutes, looking for any signs that it might be a fake.
Suddenly, his eyes locked onto one of the names written on the paper. He looked up at Minato with a sense of total uncertainty. "You are Minato Namikaze? Are you truly that legendary Genius everyone is talking about?"
When Minato gave a simple nod of confirmation, the man's skepticism began to fade, though his surprise remained.
The name Minato Namikaze was already becoming a legend within the village, mostly centered around the two topics of his genius intellect and his rare Wood Release.
For a talent of his caliber to be sent to a frontline Outpost, there were only two logical explanations:
Either he truly possessed the strength required to survive!
Or the Third Hokage had finally lost his mind!
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