Just as Jiraiya had predicted, the mission scroll reached Hayashi and Sakumo a few days later. The sealed document confirmed that they would soon be leaving this section of the battlefield.
Transfers like this were not unusual during wartime. Shinobi who excelled in one environment could perform very differently in another.
A shinobi skilled in Water Release, for example, would fight under completely different conditions in the dry, sandy terrain of the Land of Wind compared to the water-rich landscape of the Land of Water. Terrain, climate, and available resources could drastically affect the outcome of a battle.
For Hayashi and Sakumo, however, the change likely would not make much difference. Their combat abilities were versatile enough to adapt almost anywhere. From the results of the recent engagements, it seemed that Konoha simply did not have anyone better suited for the new assignment.
Along with the reassignment came additional instructions from Orochimaru.
They were to retrieve the bodies of fallen Konoha shinobi and escort the prisoners Konoha had captured back to the village.
Standing inside the command tent, Hayashi scanned the casualty list that had been handed to him. His eyes slowed as he recognized several familiar names.
After a quiet moment, he folded the paper.
"I'll go inventory the bodies and cross check the names."
"Mm." Orochimaru nodded slowly before speaking in his hoarse voice. "Take Minato with you. Jiraiya mentioned yesterday that he wants Minato to accompany you."
"Minato?"
Hayashi murmured the name softly, immediately understanding Jiraiya's intention.
"Got it. We'll head out now."
He gave a respectful nod to his mentor before leaving the tent with Mikoto.
"Mikoto, pack our equipment. We leave for Konoha tomorrow," he said calmly to the girl who had remained at his side.
"Mm." she replied quietly.
They separated soon afterward. The storage area for fallen shinobi was located in the northwest corner of the camp.
Contrary to what one might expect, the place was not particularly gloomy. In fact, it was surprisingly busy.
The reason was simple. The storage area sat right next to Konoha's field hospital.
The location made the process efficient. Whenever a shinobi was declared dead, medical staff could immediately move the body next door, record their identity, and seal the remains.
Konoha's sealing techniques had developed to a remarkable level. Specialized storage scrolls allowed shinobi to carry almost anything with them. Ordinary travel supplies, ninja tools, and even chakra could be sealed inside advanced scrolls for later use.
Hayashi privately referred to the chakra storage scrolls as "chakra bottles."
Naturally, bodies could also be sealed.
To prevent decay during transportation, the fallen were placed into sealing scrolls almost immediately after death. Later, they would be carried back to Konoha for burial near the Memorial Stone.
Sometimes Hayashi wondered if things might be simpler if the shinobi world practiced cremation instead. It would certainly reduce many complications.
By the time Hayashi arrived at the storage area, Minato was already there.
Wearing a white coat, the blond shinobi crouched in the corner while carefully examining a Flying Thunder God scroll. His focused expression made him look strangely innocent.
"Minato, what's with that outfit?" Hayashi laughed. "Did you switch careers and become a Medical Ninja?"
Minato looked up. His handsome face broke into a warm, slightly embarrassed smile.
"Not exactly. Kana is overwhelmed with patients, so I'm helping move stretchers and assist where I can."
"That's quite a lot of effort for someone who claims to be just a friend."
Minato waved his hand quickly. "Stop saying things like that. We're only friends."
"Sure," Hayashi replied with a shrug. "Friends with a very questionable level of dedication."
Minato shook his head helplessly.
"Let's go inside."
"Right."
The lighthearted expression faded from Minato's face as he stood up.
The shinobi responsible for managing the body sealing scrolls was an elderly Konoha jonin.
Because of his age, he was no longer suited for intense frontline combat. Orochimaru had therefore assigned him to remain behind and oversee the cataloging and protection of the fallen.
"You must be Jonin Uchiha Hayashi and Namikaze Minato. Lord Orochimaru informed me that you would be coming."
The older shinobi greeted them kindly and lifted the flap of a white tent.
He smiled and gestured for them to enter.
"Here is the official list of the deceased. Compare it with the one you brought. If anything is unclear, feel free to ask."
"Understood."
Hayashi split the list in half and handed part of it to Minato. That was the entire reason he had brought Minato along in the first place.
The list was long.
Jonin were relatively few among the casualties. The majority of the names belonged to Genin and Chunin.
It was not surprising.
Without the experience and survival instincts of elite shinobi, Genin and Chunin often suffered the highest losses, especially on secondary battlefields like this one.
As Hayashi and Minato carefully checked each name, the elderly jonin continued talking beside them.
Because few people ever visited the storage area, the old man rarely had anyone to speak with. Now that he had an audience, he eagerly began recounting the stories of the fallen.
"This one died during the early days of the conflict," the jonin said, pointing at a name. "Sunagakure attempted to sever our supply lines. He led two squads to intercept them. Unfortunately, they walked straight into an ambush."
The jonin sighed.
"He was severely wounded but still protected his subordinates until the very end. The Sand shinobi captured him and tortured him to death. They rely heavily on poison. If Lady Tsunade had been here..."
He shook his head before moving on.
"And this one..."
Even without reading the scroll, the jonin recalled each story clearly.
He did not remember them only from written reports. The memories had been engraved deeply in his heart.
The old man continued speaking until the sun slowly sank below the horizon, yet he still had not finished recounting the lives represented by the scrolls.
One day, those stories would disappear.
All that would remain would be silent names carved into the Memorial Stone.
"If only Lord Orochimaru would send me back to the front lines..."
As Hayashi and Minato stepped out of the tent, the old jonin's wistful words drifted after them.
Night had fallen across the camp, and the surrounding tents glowed under rows of lanterns.
"Let's get something to eat," Minato suggested. "You could call it a farewell dinner."
"Sounds good."
Hayashi formed a quick hand sign and summoned a small snake. The creature slithered away with a message telling Mikoto not to wait for him at dinner.
The camp eatery was lively despite the war.
"Welcome, Lord Hayashi, Lord Minato!"
The owner greeted them enthusiastically. He clearly had the instinct to recognize promising young shinobi.
"Would you like some drinks?"
For Minato, who was known for his discipline, the question itself was surprising.
In all the years Hayashi had known him, Minato had only drunk alcohol once.
That had been the night Hayashi left Konoha to serve as one of the Guardian Shinobi.
Minato hesitated briefly before giving a small nod.
"Just a little."
The two of them took seats at a quiet table in the corner.
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