[Hokage] Summer Festival

If what I knew before about how powerful Hatake Sakumo was was just hearsay, but now I only have one feeling after fighting against him—fortunately, he is not the enemy I have to face.

10 minutes.

It was only 10 minutes from when I said "yes" to when his knife was on my neck.

The sand and stones were still swirling and dancing in mid-air, and fell back to the ground like raindrops, splashing countless dust and dust, as if they had just experienced a ferocious sandstorm.

There are emerald green leaves under our feet, and only the bare branches of the ginkgo trees closest to us are left, pointing miserably at the sky.

Obviously the leaves are much lighter than the sand and stones, but the sand and stones are still spinning in mid-air when the leaves fall to the ground, which does not conform to the common sense of physics at all.Just like seeing him use this knife to cut through the waterfall that was rushing down, it was unbelievable and awe-inspiring.

I have to sigh again that Chakra is really a magical thing.

And Hatake Sakumo, who can use Chakra to this level, is really a terrible man from a certain point of view.

Fortunately, he is not the enemy I have to face.

With a light touch on his neck, he put away the knife, and the white luster drew a shallow arc in front of him. Only then did I realize that it was the back of the knife that was touching my neck just now.No wonder I'm still unscathed.

Although he didn't release the water, he was merciful.

And I did my best.The results of my practice over the past few days are so obvious that even I can feel it myself. Compared with the last time when I performed the mission completely relying on the instinct of this body, the ninjutsu I use now relies on my own will, and its power is stronger than before. The ninjutsu used is much stronger.

You can really feel the power in your hands.

This change is certainly not due to me or Xia Zi's natural endowment. After a short period of practice, I can improve so much. 90.00% of the credit should be attributed to the scroll I brought out from the basement.

I finally understand why so many people try to take shortcuts knowing that the danger is unpredictable.It takes less time than others to reap more results than others. Even if you are not careful, you will fall into the abyss, and there are always people who are willing to risk everything.

Now I have become one of the adventurers walking on the edge of the abyss.

However, his strength was still far from that of the man in front of him.

Probably seeing me staring at the back of his sword, Hatake Sakumo said with a smile:

"I will not point a knife at my companions."

At this time, he has restrained his aggressive and fierce aura, and he looks like a gentle, modest and good-natured young man. Even the knife in his hand seems to be just a harmless decorative prop.

How can a person have such completely different aura changes in an instant?It seems that after a lot of tempering, the instinct that has naturally precipitated and integrated with the bone marrow is terrifying, but he is actually only in his twenties.

Reminiscent of the Aduan Dashemaru and others around his age that I saw around me, I couldn't help but secretly wonder what kind of life the people in this village lived since they were young to grow up like this.

"How could Mr. Xiu suspect that you don't have the strength of Jonin?"

He said softly, with a look of doubt in his eyes.

I pursed my lips and was speechless for a while, seeing that he didn't seem to be talking casually, I opened my mouth and said:

"Is this euphemistic irony?"

In 10 minutes, he was able to put a knife on my neck with ease. I don't see any point in this so-called "Junin strength" that deserves his approval.

He was stunned for a moment, then he lowered his eyelids helplessly and smiled:

"of course not."

"Why would Xia Zi think so?"

Then he smiled seriously and said:

"Although the strength of the upper ninja is partial to the middle and lower, Xiujun's statement is biased."

"but……"

He blinked his eyes as if he was recalling something, and there was hesitation and uncertainty in his black eyes:

"I seem to have seen the technique you used mentioned in a scroll..."

"It's a new technique that I have practiced recently. You are not very proficient in using it."

My heart skipped a beat, my fingers curled up unconsciously, I tried my best to act as if nothing had happened, calmed down and said calmly:

"It's a family secret."

Hearing this, he really didn't ask any more questions, just nodded and told me the time and place of the meeting, and said he still had something to do before leaving.

I leaned against the tree trunk and raised my head to look at the clear and empty sky. It was cloudless, and not even the crows were seen.

It took a long time to let out a breath, and when I looked down, the wound on the palm of my hand was indeed oozing blood again, and my chest was very uncomfortable, as if someone was tightly grasping my heart.

It took a while for this uncomfortable feeling to subside, and I thought of the old ninjas who were regarded as negative teaching materials in the books. All of them did not end well.

Injure one thousand enemies, and self-inflict eight hundred.

Thinking about it, I couldn't help laughing at myself, isn't I walking down that dead end now?

But sometimes, some things know that they are not the right way, and they will close their eyes and go on.Even a small moth has the courage to jump into the fire in pursuit of a momentary light, let alone a human being with complicated thoughts.

It doesn't matter what you can't help yourself, it's enough to get what you want.

***

The main battlefield of Konoha and Sand Hidden Village is at the border between the Kingdom of the River and the Kingdom of the Wind, a barren mountain and forest almost the size of a town, uninhabited and unruled, and the highest mountain is the endless view of the Kingdom of the Wind desert.

The two villages faced each other based on a hilltop, and even during the brief truce period, one could feel an atmosphere of tension hanging over the entire camp.

It was almost dusk when we arrived, the clouds were like brocade, the sky was magnificent and picturesque, and the contrast with the pools of dark red blood on the ground was shocking.

A young ninja with black hair and black eyes greeted him, greeted Hatake Sakumo familiarly, and called "Natsuko" to me, then turned to Shinya and Haruna and said:

"I'm Makoto Uchiha of the Kaze Squad."

It seems that he knows Xia Zi.

I never saw him when I was in the village.

Many ninjas were resting in the tent in front of them, holding their weapons tightly in their hands even when they closed their eyes and fell asleep.

Bandages and medicines were placed in the most conspicuous places, and several injured ninjas were cleaning and bandaging their wounds.There are no doctors on the battlefield, and there are only a few medical ninjas, and there are too many wounded to take care of them all.

Hatake Sakumo asked about the current battle situation. It has been nearly a year since the war began, and the two sides have been fighting on and off, and they have been at a stalemate.Although Konoha's strength and financial resources are superior to Sand Hidden Village, Konoha has many more enemies.

"Since Sand Ninja's puppet master returned to the battlefield, the number of our casualties has risen sharply in the past half month. Mr. Tokaze is discussing countermeasures with everyone."

Uchiha Shin pointed to a tent not far away and said.

A young man just came out from there, glanced here a few times, and then ran over.When I got closer, I realized that he also has black hair and black eyes, and his face is really similar to Uchiha.

"Brother Ah Zhen."

Standing beside Uchiha Makoto, he bowed slightly to us, his eyes rested on Hatake Sakumo, and said:

"Master Qufeng said, if Senior Shuo Mao comes, please go to him immediately."

Hatake Sakumo nodded, and said to Haruna Shinya and me, "You three go get familiar with the environment here first", then turned and walked towards the tent.

The afterglow of the setting sun jumped from the branches and leaves to the knife behind him, coating the handle with an orange edge.The strangely shaped silver hair was also dyed a light orange. For some reason, I suddenly remembered the silver fox dog I had raised before.

"Let Fu Yue take you around, it will not be more than fifteen hours before the next battle."

Shin Uchiha put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said to us.

Suddenly smiled again, and pushed the boy forward:

"Forgot to introduce, this is my cousin Uchiha Fugaku."

Uchiha Miki, Uchiha Mikoto, Uchiha Makoto, Uchiha Fugaku.

I really have to say that the Uchiha family has a large number of talents, no wonder it is called the No. [-] family in Konoha.

***

At night, the ninjas on duty were patrolling nearby with flashlights, and there were many ninjas hiding in the big trees everywhere, probably observing the movement in the distance.Although it is morally necessary to declare war on the opponent before going to war, since the beginning of war, the strategy that has been regarded as the winning strategy by military strategists is to sneak attack on the enemy when he is not prepared.

There were no candles in the tent, so we could only distinguish things by the clear light of the moonlight. After our eyes got used to the darkness, we didn't find it difficult.The eyesight of ninjas is generally better than that of ordinary people. Using Natsuko's eyes to see the scenery under the night is indeed clearer than me before.

There are fireflies in the grass that flicker on and off, and they come out to move around on the first day of June. This kind of insect can't stand loneliness.

Hatake Sakumo was called away by the wind and has not returned yet. Shinya and Haruna leaned against the tent to rest with their eyes closed, wondering if they fell asleep.

I didn't feel sleepy at all, I just opened my eyes and looked around aimlessly.The surroundings were so quiet that only the chirping of frogs and various bugs that could not sleep like me could be heard, one after another and the breeze blowing in from under the rolled-up curtain, refreshing the heart and lungs.

I glanced at Haruna and Shinya beside me who hadn't even changed their posture, got up and walked out of the tent.

The sky outside turned out to be full of stars, like broken diamonds falling on the black curtain, even the moon was outshone.

It must be fine weather tomorrow.

I just don't know how many people will die in the upcoming war.

As the saying goes, after a person dies, he will turn into a star and ascend to the sky. No wonder the closer to the battlefield, the brighter the stars.

"Have you seen what the astrology indicates?"

A voice suddenly sounded from the side asking.I turned my head and saw Sakumo Hatake coming from nowhere.He also looked up at the sky full of stars just like I did just now.

"What does senior Shuo Mao think this astrology signifies?" I asked back.

He didn't speak aloud for a long while, as if he was really observing the astrology carefully.

"Konoha will win."

he said, adding with a smile:

"I've always thought so."

I looked at him for a while, and smiled with the corners of my mouth:

"Then I believe you."

I am willing to believe unconditionally any words that say that the war will end soon and Xiazi's village will win.

I should say, I was praying for that.

"Xia Zi."

"Don't be nervous."

This is the sentence again.

I still glanced at him and said:

"I'm not nervous."

This time, he stretched out his hand directly and forcibly pulled away my right hand that was clenched tightly on my left wrist.His fingers are slender and strong, and the temperature is slightly lower than mine. Although there are thin calluses on the fingertips, it does not make people feel rough.

"If you break your wrist, you won't be able to make a seal," he said.

As I said that, I let go of my hand, and my hand naturally fell back to my side.

In the distance, an unknown bird uttered a shrill cry, piercing the sky like a sharp dagger.

A ninja jumped from the woods and said immediately after landing:

"Sand Ninja has taken action."

After speaking, he disappeared instantly.

"Then let's go too." Hatake Sakumo said.

When I turned my head, I found that Shinya and Haruna were standing beside me at some point, their eyes sober as if they had never fallen asleep.

The crowing of the birds was more mournful than before, and the night was dim under the starlight in the distance.

I couldn't help but want to hold the wrist of my left hand with my right hand again, and I just moved, but I tried my best to restrain myself, curled up my fingers and placed them obediently by my side.

If you break your wrist, you won't be able to form a seal.

I don't want to be a star in the sky on the battlefield.