The following day, as expected, Tsunade handed over supreme command of the front to the White Fang, dedicating every waking moment to synthesizing an antidote.
However, today brought a piece of good news: Nawaki had arrived.
This was Ren Kurogane's first time seeing Nawaki in the flesh—brown hair, and cheeks that still had a youthful, reddish tint to them.
Nawaki arrived with a spark of excitement. While stationed at the Land of Earth front, Orochimaru had refused to let him anywhere near the vanguard; the man wouldn't even let him assist in clearing the dead. His daily routine had consisted of following Orochimaru around, listening to high-level strategic briefings.
The problem was, Nawaki didn't understand a word of it! In his mind, a ninja's place was on the front lines, cutting down enemies. What was the point of nesting in the rear?
But as a shinobi, obedience was his absolute duty. Despite his reluctance, he followed every one of Orochimaru's orders to the letter.
Just as he thought his military career would be spent in a tent, he received an urgent summons from Tsunade, requesting his transfer to the Sand front. This sudden turn of events left Nawaki ecstatic! If Orochimaru wouldn't let him fight, surely his own sister would, right?
With that conviction, Nawaki didn't waste a single second. He packed his gear and sprinted toward Tsunade's camp. After two and a half days of hard travel, he arrived that morning.
"Oh, Minato and the others called for you. Go find them," Tsunade said, her voice stern and weary. "The camp is currently dangerous due to the poison. Don't come looking for me for the next few days."
"Minato?" Nawaki knew the name—he'd heard rumors about Minato and Kushina—but they had almost zero overlap. Why would Minato want him here?
Confused, Nawaki went to their tent, only to find it empty. Ren and the others were out training; it would be a miracle if anyone were home.
"A note?" Nawaki picked up a slip of paper from the table.
At the eastern river if needed.
Minato had left the note specifically in case of emergencies or visitors. Nawaki replaced the paper and bolted toward the east!
By the river, Ren was in a half-squat, hands clasped together, his face a mask of concentration.
"Ren's doing that weird training again," Choza noted, munching on a piece of grilled meat.
"It looks like a very sophisticated cultivation method!" Minato observed, trying to decipher the mechanics behind Ren's movements.
At that moment, a figure landed a short distance away. The newcomer scanned the group, his eyes lingering on Minato. "Blonde hair, handsome... yup, you must be Minato Namikaze!"
Sensing the arrival, Ren halted his training—tossing aside a leaf he had been using his chakra to carve into a tiny flower. He looked up to see a boy who bore a thirty percent resemblance to Minato.
So this is the 'no-whiskers' version of Naruto. I have to admit, the kid is sharp—third only to me and Minato! Ren mused. Outwardly, he acted puzzled. "You are... Nawaki?"
Nawaki nodded with a bright, open smile. "Hey! I'm Nawaki Senju! My sister said you guys were looking for me. I went to your tent, saw the note, and came straight here!"
"See! I told you leaving a note was a great decision!" Minato said, a triumphant grin on his face.
"The note was a good idea, but giving it a 'Strategic Deployment Name' was unnecessary," Ren teased Minato before stepping toward Nawaki. He clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Hey! I'm Ren Kurogane. I'm currently studying Sealing Jutsu under Lady Mito. I'm the one who called you over."
"You called me?" Nawaki was full of question marks. Compared to Minato, he didn't know Ren at all. He'd never even heard the name. Why would this stranger want him?
"That's right," Ren chuckled. "Lady Mito says you're perpetually unfocused, relying purely on impulsive energy. She's worried you'll get yourself killed on the battlefield. To keep her from worrying her head off, I decided to bring you here so I can personally teach you how to be strong!"
Nawaki's face grew darker by the second. His irritation was written plainly across his features.
He was Nawaki Senju! The grandson of the First Hokage! He had graduated and become a Chunin a year ago, having been personally tutored by both Jiraiya and Orochimaru! Now, he was being looked down upon by this kid?
Is it because I'm too humble? Does nobody know how capable I am?
Before Nawaki could snap, Ren continued as if he hadn't noticed the boy's darkening mood. "By the way, you're Lord Hashirama's grandson. Can you use Wood Style yet?"
"Of course not!" Nawaki roared. "That was Grandpa's unique Kekkei Genkai; it's not guaranteed to be inherited! Besides, if it were that easy, my dad would have awakened it first!"
"Oh... well, what about the Second Lord's Flying Raijin?"
Nawaki took a deep breath, suppressing his rage. He gave Ren a look of pure disdain. "The Flying Raijin is the most difficult jutsu in the shinobi world. Since my grand-uncle died, no one has been able to use it."
"Is that so?" Ren signaled to Minato behind him. Minato caught the hint instantly.
Zip!
A kunai whistled through the air. A split second later, Minato vanished and reappeared by the riverbank, holding the very kunai he had just thrown.
The scene left even Shibi and Choza speechless. Despite being on the same team, they had no idea Minato had been hiding such a trump card!
Nawaki was floored. He had tried to learn the Flying Raijin himself, only to fail miserably. He knew exactly what the technique looked like—instantaneous teleportation from one point to another. Minato had just executed it perfectly.
This boy, who was a year younger than him, had actually mastered the Flying Raijin!
Seeing the collective shock, Minato rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Actually, I only recently got the hang of it. It consumes a massive amount of chakra; right now, I can only really use it as an escape tool."
"But... but... but!" Nawaki stammered, his world-view tilting.
Ren spoke up, driving the point home. "So, you're telling me you came to the front lines as cannon fodder without a single signature move? No wonder Lady Mito is so worried about you!"
This wasn't just Ren talking trash. During his time studying with Mito, he had often heard her fretting over her grandchildren. She wasn't worried about Tsunade—Tsunade was a powerhouse who could stand on her own. But whenever Nawaki's name came up, her voice was full of maternal anxiety.
Mito had told Ren that Nawaki's personality was bright and exactly like Hashirama's, but he hated sitting down to study complex jutsu. He spent all day shouting about becoming Hokage without actually understanding what the title entailed. It was a massive headache for the old matriarch.
Hearing Ren's explanation, a look of realization crossed Minato's face. He finally understood why Ren had gone to the trouble of transferring Nawaki.
I see. Ren was worried that if Nawaki died in battle, Lady Mito would be heartbroken. With Ren's strength, protecting a Chunin on the battlefield is a walk in the park. Keeping Nawaki with us is definitely safer than leaving him anywhere else!
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