The whole of Konoha was shrouded in a heavy atmosphere. The news of the outbreak of the Second Ninja War had spread throughout Konoha at dawn. In the village, different numbers of ninjas rushed to the battlefield from time to time.
Outside the ninja school, the originally leisurely holiday was forced to stop due to the war, and hundreds of students of different grades were gathered here. A Konoha ninja wearing a combat uniform looked solemnly at the childish children in front of him and said in a deep voice, "From now on, you all become real ninjas and will be dispatched at any time to participate in the Second Ninja War!"
He didn't say too much, just waved his hand, and the staff beside him walked into the team and handed the Konoha forehead protectors representing the identity of ninjas to everyone. Most of these children had resistance in their expressions. In the past, many of them wanted to become a ninja. However, the sudden war, although it fulfilled their wishes in advance, also gave everyone a great panic.
Although ninjas are born to fight, the enemies they have to face this time are not ordinary bandits but the existence of major ninja villages. The freshmen of this class have been enrolled for less than ten months, but even so, they have to take on the responsibility of war. This is a war. Whether it is a well-trained ninja or a young ninja school freshman, they must bear their own responsibilities. Although the difficulty and risk of the tasks that the latter need to undertake are much lower than the former, they basically will not approach the battlefield. However, the situation of the war changes rapidly. If a war fails and the village is short of manpower, it is not impossible for them to be sent to the battlefield. Even if they know that they are going to die, there is still value in delaying time. They are cannon fodder in the war.
Konoha's forehead protector seems to have a heavy weight in everyone's hands at this time. The atmosphere is depressing, and the air seems to be solidified. In this situation where everyone's heavy breathing could be clearly heard, a yellow-haired boy who had just received the forehead protector from a Chunin actually smiled and said, "Thank you!"
The boy's indifference also surprised the Chunin who gave him the forehead protector. He looked at Minato in front of him with a slightly stunned expression. Since hearing the news of the Second Shinobi War, no one around him has ever laughed. Is this boy in front of him really ignorant of the world?
Minato's actions also attracted the attention of many students around him, including his classmates Takenouchi Rin and Akasaka Yu. Although they knew that Minato was much stronger than them, at this time, he was able to maintain his past composure. Is Minato, who seems to be of the same age as them, really just a child?
Feeling the many gazes cast from the surroundings, Minato did not feel embarrassed, but instead gave everyone a gentle smile again. This made them all a little stunned, and at the same time, they were thinking in their hearts. Why can he still laugh?
"Humph."
Among them was Uchiha Yoruki. Even he had a fear of war in his heart. Although he tried his best not to show it, for a child under ten years old, he still couldn't laugh like Minato at this moment.
"Continue to distribute forehead protectors." The jonin in charge of the graduation ceremony of the ninja school raised his eyebrows, looked at Minato twice more, and then said. Then, several chunins continued to distribute forehead protectors and finally distributed them to each ninja.
"Put on your forehead protectors, and now I will assign tasks to you." The jonin glanced at everyone.
"Wait."
Just as everyone was preparing to wear Konoha's forehead protectors with different emotions and expressions, a hurried voice broke the atmosphere again. Minato was startled, then turned around suddenly. He saw Kushina quickly rushing over, then came to the front of the Konoha Jonin, spread out her palm, and said: "Give me my forehead protector."
This sudden scene stunned everyone, even Minato was a little surprised. After all, when the Ninja War broke out, the Jinchūriki of each country would be strictly protected, and they had extraordinary strategic significance. So he was not surprised at all that Kushina did not come to the graduation ceremony today. But she came suddenly, and around her, the dozens of Anbu still followed. This also shows that this was the decision made by Sandaime.
"All the forehead protectors have been distributed, and there is no share for you." The Jonin said, he was just here to carry out the task issued by the Hokage, and of course he didn't know Kushina.
Kushina looked indignant, and then pointed at the short students in the front row and said, "Why can freshmen graduate but I can't? My classmates are standing there." Even if she didn't look, she could still keenly capture the chakra of Minato and others, and pointed to the direction where everyone was standing.
"But the forehead protector is already..." The jonin was also a little helpless. At this time, Minato rushed out of the crowd and handed the Konoha forehead protector that had just been distributed to him to Kushina's hand.
"Happy graduation." Minato smiled.
"Well, thank you." Kushina nodded slightly, but she raised her eyes to look at Minato and asked, "What are you going to do?"
"Kid, do you think forehead protectors can be given to anyone casually?" The jonin shouted at the side.
"That's not the case, I already have one." Minato smiled, and then took out a Konoha forehead protector from his pocket. This was naturally the one that Sandaime gave him more than half a year ago.
"This..." The jonin was stunned, and then a figure with a short sword on his back flashed out beside the three people. It was Sakumo. He pulled the jonin away and whispered something in his ear.
"You two, go back to the team."
Then the jonin said, Kushina and Minato nodded, and then went back in. Then he looked at everyone, his eyes sank, and said in a serious voice: "This is your graduation ceremony. There is no assessment, no flowers or encouragement, because what you are going to face next is the war of the entire ninja world!"
Hundreds of students swallowed subconsciously, and even Kushina couldn't help but frown. But at this time, Minato beside her reached out and grabbed her palm, and said with a sidelong glance: "Don't worry, we will definitely win this war, and we will all survive!"
Kushina looked at Minato's eyes, and there was an extremely reassuring emotion spreading in her chest, soothing all her uneasiness.
"Absolutely!" Kushina's eyes were rippling, and she said firmly.
=========================
[Read up to 135+ chapter ahead and more Weakly Chapter Update at p@treon.com/goldengaruda]
=========================