[Hokage] Summer Festival

On the night of December 12st, when the night was dim, Ah Duan and I were sitting on the roof talking.The winter night is chilly, and the white air from the previous sentence has not yet dissipated, but the white air from the latter sentence is immediately rising.

"We two brothers and sisters haven't sat down and chatted like this for a long time."

When he said this, his eyes turned from the vast starry sky above his head to my face, and his smile was light and faint, but it looked extraordinarily warm in this cold night.

I don’t know how long it’s been since he and Xia Zi had a knee-to-neck conversation like this. It’s been about four months since I came into this world, whether it’s in the hospital or at home, even if he’s a very painful person. Xi is a good brother who takes good care of my sister, and has only fragmented time to stay with me.

There is a war outside, he is either going out to perform missions, or get together with his companions to discuss strategies.

If I hadn't been injured, as Natsuko, I should have lived a life as busy as her brother's.

I watched him twitch the corners of his mouth, then turned his head to look at the dark roofs in front of him, and rubbed his hands with the white air he exhaled to keep warm.

Stars twinkle and twinkle in the night sky, and even the Milky Way can be faintly seen across the sky from east to west.

It must be a sunny day tomorrow.

Ah Duan talked about many things one after another, his voice was as gentle as mountain spring water flowing along the bamboo stalks, not because he had something important to tell me, but to say what came to mind, just like everyone else The brothers and sisters secretly chatted about family and life.

He talked about some things about him and Xia Zi when they were young, about their parents, the trivial things in recent years, and the war that was raging outside the village.

The past, the present, and the expected future are all discussed.

"The more than two years in the Kingdom of the Wind, it was not easy."

He suddenly said such a sentence.The wind blows his hair across his shoulders, and although his eyebrows, which are very similar to Xia Zi's, are stretched, they also show concern.

This look reminds me of many years ago when I went to study in a foreign country alone, and when I returned home during the summer vacation, my parents often said "It's not easy to be alone in a foreign country" while eating, and kept adding food to me.

Probably the bonds between family members are always very similar, Ah Duan treats his younger sister just like my parents treat me.

Xia Zi was sent to the Land of Wind at the age of thirteen or fourteen. At that time, the war had not yet started, but Konoha and Sand Ninja Village had been fighting against each other, and there was never a shortage of spy ninjas who sneaked into each other's hinterland.

Even without the war that started at the beginning of the year, the two villages would not have lived in harmony.Konoha Village has been established for less than 30 years, and the not-so-thick history books have spent a lot of paper just to record the grudge with Sand Ninja Village.

The white air gathered in the palms of my clasped hands, and dissipated after a while.

I was thinking, if it was Xia Zi, how would I answer him.

"It's a task, isn't everyone the same?" I said.

A ninja who swears allegiance to the death, especially a ninja in the era of war, who is easy to live?

Those young children who were killed in battle when they first woke up, they didn't even have the right to live.How many people who survived by luck will experience or will soon experience the tragedy of family ruin in this war-torn world.

It's just trying my best to struggle hard.

"Yes."

A Duan sighed in response.

He, who has received strict and harsh ninja training since he was a child, and walked step by step from the killing, naturally understands the helplessness of the ninja world better than me.

However, his next sentence was beyond my expectation.

He smiled and said:

"Everyone is working hard to protect the village."

Calm with unshakable hope.

It seems that after the war, Konoha will have a very bright and beautiful future.

It seems that there must be light after darkness.

At that moment, his eyes were brighter than the stars in the sky.

"I want to protect everyone who is trying to protect the village."

"So, the ideal of becoming Hokage will definitely not give up."

"I believe in you."

I wasn't surprised when the words came out of my mouth.Perhaps this includes Xia Zi's trust and support for her brother, and I am also sincerely happy for him.

Having ideals is never a bad thing.

What's more, he has a heroic ideal.

He froze for a moment, then rolled his eyes and said:

"Thank you, Xia Zi."

Suddenly there was a bell ringing in the distance, which was a little abrupt in the silent night.

I stood up and looked in the direction where the bell was ringing. Under the vast night, I saw a faint yellow and blurred light from the side street lamps in the distance.

Ah Duan beside me also stood up, looked in the same direction as me, and said with a smile:

"It's New Year's Eve."

I only belatedly remembered that it was already the last day of the year.

When the bell struck 107 times, I couldn't help but hold my breath, and I couldn't even blink the stars in the sky.

At the end of the 108th bell, Ah Duan said "Happy New Year".

Do as Romans do, according to the calendar here, it is——

Konoha 30.

In the first New Year in this still unfamiliar world, there is no fiery trees and silver flowers, no gluttonous feasts, and compared with the previous life, it lacks too much bustle and bustle.

However, he is not alone.

***

The ninja school is in the north of the village, and there is a long distance from Natsuko's home in the south of the village.I ran here in the morning and almost ran through most of Muye Village.

The habit of running in the morning was developed after coming to this world.Firstly, this body needs exercise, and secondly, there is nothing faster than running around the village to familiarize yourself with the surrounding environment.

At least for a few months, I will not get lost when I walk on the street.

In late January, the branches of the roadside trees were as bare as some middle-aged men's heads.The fallen leaves on the ground were blown and fluttered by the cold wind, and it was still a month before the new leaves came out.

The small forest on the mountain behind the Ninja School is not too depressed, the leaves are dark green with a little yellow, but they are still hanging firmly on the branches.When the wind blows, only sand and dust are rolled up.

Three people appeared out of thin air outside the grove, two men and one woman, wearing ninja forehead protectors from other villages on their foreheads.

It's the instant body technique, I remember it was recorded on the scroll.

They took out a folded piece of paper, unfolded it, wrote and drew on it, and discussed in low voices.

I couldn't hear their voices from where I was, and I couldn't make out what was said by lip movements alone.The only thing that is certain is that sneaking into other people's villages like this, other than spying on information, is definitely not for sightseeing.

All in all, in the current war, the comers are not good.

A few steps ahead of me, there was a little boy hiding behind a tree trunk, peeking out at the three intruders outside the woods.

The female ninja among the three pointed in one direction, I looked over and thought about it, and at the end of that direction was Hokage Tower.

The little boy finally lost his composure, and was about to rush out as soon as he moved.

I moved behind him before he left the tree trunk and put a hand on his shoulder.

He froze for a moment, turned his head and looked up at me, probably because he was stopped suddenly, his eyes gradually changed from surprise to displeasure.

It is the thousand-armed rope tree who has the same ideal as Ah Duan.

"What are you doing?!"

He lowered his voice angrily.

I looked at the three other village ninjas outside who were still pointing and drawing on the paper, looked down at him, and said:

"Don't be impulsive."

How does he, a kid who doesn't look ten years old, fight against three adults?Besides, the opponent is a ninja.

"Those three are enemies, how can we let them move forward!"

He frowned and said, his eyes were wide open, and there was an angry light in them.

"I will definitely not let them have an opportunity in the village!"

I didn't mean to pour cold water on him, but seeing that he wasn't wearing a forehead protector, I said:

"Have you graduated yet?"

If you are not even a ninja, rushing in front of the enemy so rashly, what else can you do but die.This world does not seem to treat captives with humanitarian preference.

He seemed to be choked, his eyes flickered, he didn't know if he was guilty, but he still said stubbornly:

"I'm graduating next month!"

That means you haven't graduated.

Even though I'm wearing Natsuko's ninja forehead protector, I'm not strictly a ninja, and it's still unknown how effective my practice has been in the past few months.

The wind rustled the leaves in my ears, I pursed my lips and hesitated, and felt in a dilemma for a while.

Should he go out and block them, or turn around and go back to tell Xiaochun and Hokage?

I don't have the confidence to be able to fight three against one in the former, not to mention that there is a kid who is not a ninja by my side.Although the latter is safer for me, but who knows where they will be hiding in the village in the blink of an eye, leaving such a hidden danger, will Xiaochun and Hokage suspect that I have intentions to predict.

In fact, the best way is for me to go out and delay them, and let Shengshu go back to rescue the soldiers.

But what if I can't last until the rescuer arrives?

Someone poked my arm, I lowered my head, Naoki looked at me seriously and said:

"I'm going to stop them."

As soon as the words fell, a ball of fire rushed straight from the front and landed on the spot where I and Shengshu were located.

At the critical moment, I pulled him and jumped to the side, narrowly avoiding the sudden attack, my palms were sweating.

It's really impossible to be less vigilant, and he was spotted after a little hesitation, and even the initial advantage of the enemy's openness and darkness disappeared.

You can't just hide and wait for death like this.

I stared at the three people approaching the woods, pushed the rope tree back, and said:

"I'll drag them first, you go and inform the other ninjas."

If I hesitate any longer, I might not even have time to move rescuers. As Kato Natsuko, if I run away at this time, it will be difficult for me to gain a foothold in Konoha in the future, but I really don't want to be found somewhere as a corpse.

I hope that running is not the weak point of rope tree.

Who would have thought that little ghost had a reluctance on his face, clenched his fists and said:

"I will not abandon my companions and go away by myself!"

"I absolutely want to fight side by side with my companions to the end!"

There was another fireball flying in the woods, whistling past along with the wind. I pulled him to jump between the treetops to avoid it, and kept urging myself to take countermeasures.

...so it's really a headache for small children.

They are simple, stubborn, newborn calves are not afraid of tigers.But it cannot be ignored.

As it is now, if I let him stay, there is a high possibility that the life and death of both of us will be in doubt.Only when he finds the ninja who came to support him can he truly turn the crisis into safety.

But there is no time to explain to him in detail.

Seeing that those three people were about to come to me, I let go of him and formed a mudra.

Yin-si-yin-si-yin-si

The art of water escape and water array wall.

A wall of water blocked the front, temporarily forcing them to stop.

Fortunately I remembered that a river passed by near the woods.

I was worrying about how to explain the current pros and cons to Shengshu in a few words, when suddenly a figure appeared beside me, and I heard the little ghost shout in surprise:

"Suo Maosang!"

I was startled, and turned my head, only to see the man's slender and straight back, holding a short knife with white chakra on the blade.

There is a practice field with unique terrain near the back mountain of the ninja school. Shinichi once said that it is one of the places where the ninjas in the village often go to practice.

Fortunately, I met Sakumo Hatake practicing there today.

The three intruders had already crossed the water wall. He looked back at Shengshu and me, and said calmly:

"You guys go first, just leave it to me."

I thought about it and nodded.

This time Shengshu did not stubbornly yell that he would advance and retreat with his companions. His eyes were full of admiration, and he obediently followed me out of the woods.

Sure enough, people with status speak differently.

***

I didn't specifically inquire about the follow-up of the matter. I vaguely knew that the last three ninjas from other villages were all captured alive, and it seemed that a lot of information was leaked from their mouths.

At the end of January, Hokage held a Jonin rally.

Standing among the many Junin, I listened to Hokage giving a speech about the war outside with a serious expression.The general content is: the situation that was originally favorable to Konoha was broken, and several ninja villages formed an alliance to fight against Konoha.

The outcome of this war began to become confusing.

Konoha has taken emergency measures in response to the current battle situation. A group of jounin has formed several teams, and they will receive tasks from now on and go to the battlefield.

Next to Hokage, Men Yan read out the list of personnel of each team.

I listened carefully, Liang and Kei were assigned to a team, and I heard the names of Miki and Hatake Sakumo one after another.

"Squad No. 11, Orochimaru, Osamu Hinata, and Natsuko Kato."

"Captain, Orochimaru."