"Nawaki?" Aizen murmured, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face as he regarded the figure before him.
"Hey, it's Nawaki! What's wrong, does he look different after two years?" Minato inquired with a playful tone.
Aizen offered a hesitant nod. Senju Nawaki had indeed changed considerably, particularly his face. The transformation was so drastic that Aizen wasn't entirely convinced it was the same person.
"Hahaha! Aizen, what a surprise to see you again!" Nawaki boomed, launching himself at Aizen in a crushing hug. "Being stationed in the Land of Rain for so long, I've missed you all terribly."
Aizen's face darkened with annoyance, a silent frustration evident in the black lines marring his expression. However, maintaining his composed facade remained important. He could only endure the overly enthusiastic greeting until Nawaki released him on his own.
"Nawaki, come on," Kushina interjected, unable to contain her exasperation. "It's only been two years! And honestly, what kind of picture do you two paint clinging to each other like that?"
Kushina's voice drew Nawaki's attention, his gaze shifting towards her. His expression morphed into one of feigned sadness, complete with tears welling up in his eyes. "Oh, Kushina! It's you too! I've missed you as well!"
"Nawaki, that's enough," Minato interjected with a helpless chuckle, grabbing Nawaki and pulling him back. "Maybe give Aizen and Kushina a moment to catch their breath before you launch into a full reunion."
Both Aizen and Kushina released silent sighs of relief.
Nawaki's excitement was understandable. After two years away from Konoha, seeing familiar faces was bound to spark a surge of joy. Unlike Minato, Nawaki held a special status, representing the children of Konoha's elite on the battlefield. His performance boosted morale for his comrades.
"Nawaki, tell us about your experiences," Aizen prompted softly. A cunning villain like him wouldn't miss an opportunity to glean information, even feigning camaraderie.
"Ugh, don't remind me," Nawaki groaned. "Fighting and killing isn't exactly thrilling. I miss our days at the academy. As for adapting? Well, you adapt or you die on the battlefield. That's the harsh reality."
A somber silence descended upon the group. Even Minato remained quiet. Aizen, of course, kept his true feelings masked, a coldblooded villain through and through.
"Alright, enough of that gloom!" Nawaki declared, clapping his hands together with a forced laugh. "The war's almost over, and we'll be back in the village soon. No need to dwell on the negative side!"
"Alright, team," Jiraiya addressed them all. "Nawaki, Minato, help Aizen and Kushina set up their tents. Briefly familiarize them with battlefield basics. I'll head to HQ for a briefing – might be a while before you join the meeting. Dismissed!"
Nawaki and Minato readily agreed, while Jiraiya vanished in a poof of smoke.
"Kushina, let me take care of your tent," Minato offered with a smile, gesturing for Aizen to follow Nawaki. Kushina returned the smile, and Minato led her away, hand in hand.
A twitch played on Aizen's lips as Nawaki boisterously declared, "No problem!" With that, Minato and Kushina walked off, leaving Aizen and Nawaki alone. Nawaki then unfurled a prepped scroll, a puff of smoke revealing tent-building materials. Without a word, the ever-enthusiastic Nawaki launched into helping Aizen set up camp.
"The tide of the war has completely turned in our favor!" Nawaki beamed with pride as they worked on the tent. Contributing to the war effort clearly fueled his enthusiasm.
Aizen responded with a noncommittal grunt.
"It's true, Aizen! Since half a year ago, our Konoha forces have been on a two-pronged attack. After my sister and Sakumo-sama crushed Rain's main force, Jiraiya-sama and Mitarashi Zashi sama systematically dismantled Sand's defenses," Nawaki explained excitedly.
"Not only have they inflicted heavy losses on their elite forces, but they even managed to eliminate the One-Tailed Jinchuriki! Now, most of the Land of Rain is under our control. Victory is imminent!"
Perhaps sensing Aizen's skepticism, Nawaki rattled off specifics, painting a picture of Konoha's dominance. Aizen outwardly agreed with a sigh, masking his internal musings.
Before they knew it, the tent stood complete, yet Nawaki continued boasting about their battlefield triumphs. Jiraiya, who had reappeared unnoticed, interrupted with a playful chuckle.
"Alright boys, seems like the chat session is over for now. Mitarashi Zashi is calling a formal meeting. Let's go, shall we?"