The frontline base was quieter than expected.
Tents were arranged in neat rows, and ninjas sat in small groups in the open areas chatting; so were even hanging laundry to dry.
Guy looked around, feeling a bit disappointed. "Why does this feel like the rear lines?"
"The main force of the Cloud Village is fighting Sunagakure. There isn't much activity on this side for now," Kitahara Kaede replied. He didn't linger, heading straight toward the east side. "Let's handle the hand-off first."
The hand-off point was a simple lean-to shelter. Behind a long table sat a clerical Chunin, head down, buried in paperwork.
Kitahara Kaede set down the supply crates and handed over the mission slip and the inventory list. Without looking up, the clerk signed them.
"We'll notify you once the count is finished. Go to Tent Three to collect your return supplies."
"There's also an attachnt," Kaede added. He pulled two folded sheets of paper from his ninja tool pouch and placed them on the table.
The clerical Chunin flipped them open casually. By the ti he reached the second page, his hand stopped. He looked up, giving Kitahara Kaede a fresh look.
"This is..."
"A report on the ambushes encountered along the way. Positions, numbers, equipnt, and tactical characteristics are all listed. Additionally, the terrain markings for the middle section of the canyon differed from the original maps, so I've corrected them."
The clerical Chunin read through the two pages from start to finish, then stood up. "Wait here." He grabbed the papers and walked briskly toward the command tent.
Guy leaned in. "When did you write that?"
"During the night watch."
"How long did it take?"
"Half an hour."
Guy pulled out a small notebook, hesitated for two seconds, and then stuffed it back in his pocket.
Kurenai Yuhi stood beside them in silence, her gaze following the clerk until he pulled back the curtain of the command tent.
They waited for about ten minutes.
When the curtain opened again, it wasn't the clerical Chunin who erged.
The first thing Kitahara Kaede saw was golden hair. Then, a pair of blue eyes beneath a forehead protector.
He froze for a mont.
Minato Namikaze.
Kaede hadn't expected him to be here. The Fourth Hokage of the original story, the inheritor of the Flying Thunder God Technique. Soon, the title "Yellow Flash" would spread across the entire shinobi world following his clashes with the Cloud Village.
Kitahara Kaede retracted his gaze, pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind.
Minato walked toward them, holding the two sheets of paper. "Which one of you is Kitahara Kaede?"
"I am."
Minato glanced at the Chunin vest on his chest and waved the papers. "You wrote this report?"
"Yes."
Minato scanned the pages again, his finger pointing to a marked location in the canyon. "Four people, Cloud Village headbands, ambushed on the cliff walls on both sides of the canyon. How did you discover them?"
"A bird's nest."
Minato's finger paused.
"There was a nest halfway up the cliff," Kaede explained. "The fledglings were calling, but the parent birds were gone. During the brooding period, parent birds won't leave the nest for long unless there's sothing nearby that scares them away."
Minato didn't interrupt, waiting for him to continue.
"Once I confird the position and number of enemies, I assigned roles and we struck."
"The report says all four were killed. Your squad consists of one Chunin and two Genin, correct?"
"Yes."
"Any injuries?"
"Kurenai Yuhi, who was covering the rear, suffered a graze on her right shoulder. The blade was poisoned, but we've perford preliminary treatnt."
Minato's gaze shifted past Kitahara Kaede to Kurenai. She gave a slight bow.
Minato nodded and returned his attention to Kaede. He folded the two papers and tucked them into his vest pocket.
"This report is clearer than those written by many Jonin. You've worked hard on the road." He patted Kitahara Kaede on the shoulder.
"Just doing my duty."
Minato turned to Guy. At so point, Guy had snapped into a rigid, upright posture, lips pursed, eyes shining with intensity.
"You've worked hard as well."
"IT WAS NO TROUBLE!!" Guy's voice nearly cracked; he barely managed to suppress the urge to snap into a formal salute.
Minato glanced once more at Kurenai's right shoulder. "Have the hospital check that shoulder wound once you're back in the village. Frontline conditions are limited; don't leave any hidden risks."
"Understood. Thank you."
Minato turned to walk back. "Take a different route on your way back."
Kitahara Kaede's footsteps paused. Minato looked back over his shoulder.
"You've already realized it yourself, haven't you?"
Before Kaede could answer, the curtain fell.
Kitahara Kaede stood still. Minato had seen through it from the report. Those four Cloud ninjas weren't a random encounter with a scouting party; they had taken positions and were waiting.
They knew the route.
The report hadn't ntioned this explicitly, but Minato had deduced it.
Guy held it in for about three seconds before slamming a fist into his palm. "That man... he's so strong!"
"How can you tell?"
"A feeling," Guy thought seriously. "A shinobi's intuition for the powerful."
Kitahara Kaede looked at him. 'His combat intuition is certainly more useful than his brain.'
Kurenai stepped forward. "Captain, who was that?"
"I don't know."
***
Inside the command tent.
Minato sat back down at the table and spread the two pages flat. He took a pen and wrote a note in the blank space of the combat summary.
*Escort team encountered a pre-set ambush in the canyon section. Lead Chunin Kitahara Kaede detected the threat early via environntal anomalies, allocated forces logically, and eliminated all four enemies with one minor injury to his team. This ninja possesses outstanding intelligence organization skills and calm, accurate battlefield judgnt. Recomnded for further observation.*
He signed his na, blew the ink dry, and slipped it into the folder destined for the Hidden Leaf.
He didn't close the folder imdiately. He read the report once more.
Four Cloud Village ninjas, pre-set positions, ambushed on the cliff walls.
Minato took the pen and added one more line to the remarks column.
*Note: Suggest verifying the leak in the information chain regarding this escort route.*
He closed the folder.
***
Tent Three.
After verifying the supply list, Kitahara Kaede packed Military Ration Pills and dical supplies for three people into his backpack. Guy was crouching nearby, organizing his tools.
"Kaede, that guy just now—"
"If you say 'so strong' one more ti, I'm cutting your sparring sessions for next week."
Guy shut up.
Kurenai walked over carrying a supply bag. "Captain, are we taking the original road back?"
"We're avoiding the canyon. We'll loop around the northern ridge. It adds half a day to the trip, but the visibility is open."
Kurenai nodded without objection. Guy stood up and clapped his hands. "When do we leave?"
"Rest for two hours, then we move this afternoon."
Guy's eyes lit up. "In two hours, I can fit in so extra—"
"You will rest and recover properly."
Guy shut up again.
Kitahara Kaede looked at Kurenai's right shoulder. The bandages had been changed, and the base's dical ninja had administered another dose of antitoxin. However, the dic had warned her that while the toxin was suppressed, it wasn't completely cleared; she would need a full cleansing at the hospital upon returning to the village.
"I'll take you to the hospital when we get back."
Kurenai was slightly taken aback. "There's no need to trouble the Captain, I can go by my—"
"You were injured. That's my responsibility."
Kurenai looked at him, pausing for a mont. "...Alright."
Beside them, Guy pulled out his small notebook and scribbled a line quickly. Kitahara Kaede didn't bother looking at what he wrote.
Two hours later, the three of them departed from the north side of the camp and began their journey ho.
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