It was mid-May when Kanpū's group escorted Shirada Shinji to leave Konoha, and when they returned to Konoha from Venomous Insect Valley, it was almost mid-June.
Only one C-Rank Mission was completed in a full month, and there was still life-threatening danger in the middle. The key was that they weren't able to upgrade the mission's rank. So both Kanpū and Shisui felt that it was Shikuro's fault.
After handing in the mission and taking his share of the commission, Shikuro announced that they would have a two-days break and go to Hokage Rock to gather on the third day. He was going to guide the training of Kanpū's group of three.
After disbanding, Kanpū went straight home.
He doesn't know if it was an illusion, but along the way, Kanpū felt that the people around him all had the feeling of coming and going in a hurry.
'Did something happen in the village?'
Kanpū frowned and continued to move. When passing by a Ninja Tool shop, he paused, hesitated, turned and walked into the Ninja Tool shop.
"Shinobi-sama, do you want to buy Ninja Tools?" The Ninja Tool shop's owner greeted him immediately.
Kanpū casually pointed at a few kunai and shuriken and asked for the price.
The owner is very enthusiastic. He bluntly said that these Ninja Tools were made by the masters of the Craftsman Shinobi Village. He said that it is one of the best Ninja Tools in the world. He also praised Kanpū for his good vision and taste, and said that he has the material to become an amazing Jōnin.
Kanpū didn't interrupt his compliment, and just heard the owner praised him for five minutes with a calm face, and finally learned the price from the owner's mouth.
However, this price is 30% more expensive than when Kanpū left Konoha a month ago.
As the so-called Spring River Plumbing Duck Prophet, these Ninja Tool shops have their own sources of intelligence. Once the scale of the war expands or the situation becomes tense, the price of the Ninja Tool will rise accordingly.
Kanpū's mood became a little heavy, he nodded and then turned to leave: 'Heh, I was praised without paying anything, my business here is done!'
The owner of the Ninja Tool shop looked at Kanpū's back, his face twitched slightly, he felt that he was being tricked, but there is no evidence!
...
All the way home, Kanpū opens the door and went in. The living room is empty and there was no one in the backyard. It was obvious that neither Keiko nor Hayate had returned.
Kanpū went into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water, then sat on the sofa for a while, then turned his head to look around.
For some reason, he always felt something is strange, and there seemed to be a very depressing feeling in the room.
'Could it be that someone is watching this place secretly?'
Kanpū silently closed his eyes, formed hand seals to use Sensor Ninjutsu, and then slowly spreads his sense to the surrounding, but except for him, there was no one else in the house.
Kanpū didn't give up, and continued to expand his sense. When the sensing range spread to nearby neighbors, Kanpū only sensed two vague human-shaped lines.
And the location of these two people...
Kanpū opened his eyes suddenly: 'It's Hayate's house!'
'Could it be that Hayate's father, Seiseki is back?'
Kanpū got up and went to the corner of the backyard, then lightly jumped to Seiseki's house.
When he landed, the feeling of depression became even more serious!
Because the layout of Seiseki's house is similar to Kanpū's house, Kanpū entered the living room directly from the backyard, and then he saw the two old men, Inoue and Matsushita.
Just as Kanpū waved his hand to greet them, he saw a lot of black banners hung on the wall of the living room. He looked around, and finally set his eyes on the wall with a portrait of…?
"Kanpū, you are back."
When Inoue saw Kanpū, the corner of his mouth showed an arc that seemed to cry and laugh, and he called softly.
Kanpū looked over and found that Inoue has become more bald and older.
"Uncle Seiseki, he…"
Kanpū didn't know how to speak, and his eyes were a little unbelievable.
"He died on the battlefield."
Matsushita sighed helplessly and said, "There is nothing to be sad about. Everyone can die in a war."
Kanpū was depressed when he heard this.
It's a lie if he said that he is heartbroken. After all, Kanpū is an 'outsider', and the number of times that he has met Seiseki can be counted on one's fingers.
But if it is said that he doesn't feel sad, it's also impossible. After all, he is his uncle who is related by blood.
Especially, Seiseki is also the father of his little brother, Hayate.
In the past six months, Kanpū has eaten and lived with Hayate, and even slept on the same futon.
After that, Inoue told Seiseki led a team to attack Sunagakure's logistics supplies, but no one expected that the person in charge of escorting the logistics supplies turned out to be the so-called hero of Sunagakure who owns Scorch Release Kekkei Genkai, Pakura!
Seiseki and his companions couldn't escape, and they all died.
There is no heart-stirring story, no epic deeds, they died just like that.
The body was exchanged for the body of a Sunagakure's Shinobi. After it returned to Konoha, it was buried the next day.
And that was already five days ago.
"Hayate…is he okay?"
Kanpū is very worried about Hayate.
"He is still young, so he should forget about it soon." Inoue sighed.
Matsushita then said: "Kanpū, you need to spend more time with him these days."
"I understand."
Kanpū replied in a low voice.
After putting two sticks of incense in front of Seiseki's portrait, Kanpū jumped back to his backyard. When he entered the living room, Kanpū paused and turned towards the wooden stake in the backyard.
The last time Kanpū and Tabako fought here, this wooden stake was amputated by Tabako, leaving only more than one meter high.
Kanpū walked closer and found that the surface of the wooden pile was covered with messy and thick sword marks, which showed that it is cut out with a sword without a sharp edge. It was densely packed, piled on top of each other, and when Kanpū reached out and stroked it, he seems to be able to feel the pain in Hayate's heart.
After going back to the living room and sitting on the sofa, Kanpū sat there silently, thinking about how to cheer Hayate up when he came back, but he didn't know what to say after thinking about it.
'Chicken soup for the soul?'
'Stop joking around.'
'If someone close to me die, and others come and pour chicken soup for the soul to me, I would kill them!'
While thinking about it, he doesn't know how long time has passed, as suddenly, there was the sound of opening and closing the door and shoes changing from the entrance.
Kanpū knew it was Hayate, so he got up and walked over.
Hayate came in from the entrance with his head lowered, and there was an aura of loss all over his body.
"Hayate…"
Kanpū opened his mouth and didn't know what to say.
"Big brother, you are back from the mission."
Hayate raised his head, there were obvious bloodshot eyes in his eyes, and his expression is unspeakably decadent. After putting down his schoolbag, Hayate went straight to the backyard.
After a while, there was a sound of messy slashing.
When Kanpū walked to the backyard, he saw that Hayate used all his strength to slash out the small sword in his hand every time. After a while, Hayate's hand slowly overflowed with blood.
It was only then that Kanpū realized that Hayate's hands were wrapped in bandages, but at this time, the bandage had already turned red.
Kanpū couldn't stand it any longer, and went up to throw away the sword used by Hayate.
"Hayate, I know you are sad, but if you continued to train like this, Uncle Seiseki will not be happy when he sees it." Kanpū said softly.
Hayate looked down at the sword on the grass without crying, complaining, or talking.
This situation is the most troublesome.
Kanpū bit the bullet and tries to comfort him again, but there was no effect at all. Kanpū only felt that the surrounding air was about to solidify.
At this time, Kanpū really can't wait for the incarnation of the Green Beast of Prey, using the power of Youth and passion as the entry point to hug his little brother and cries together for a while.
'But, I really can't do it…'