The next morning, the hazy mist was pierced by warm sunlight.
Haruki stood by the riverbank, stretching his body.
Not far away, Minato Namikaze was still training, but since he hadn't slept all night, he seemed a bit weary.
Haruki knew that Minato blamed himself for Kushina Uzumaki's injury and thus wanted to quickly improve his strength.
It must be said, Minato Namikaze now could already be called a Jounin.
And unlike the Jounin rapidly promoted during wartime, he genuinely possessed the strength of a Jounin.
Haruki glanced at him but didn't stop him.
He fetched a bucket of clean river water and started cooking.
"Teacher?"
Kushina Uzumaki had woken up at some point. As she left the tent, she saw Haruki.
Confirming it was him, she ran over and hugged him.
"Good morning."
Seeing the tears she tried to hold back in her eyes, Haruki couldn't help but pat her red hair.
"Good morning... teacher."
After a moment, realizing she was being inappropriate, Kushina stepped back, not daring to look up, and fiddled with the hem of her clothes.
"Go call Mikoto for breakfast."
Haruki helped ease her embarrassment at the right moment.
"Okay!"
Kushina immediately turned around, wiped the corner of her eyes after running a short distance, and then walked into Mikoto Uchiha's tent.
---
Following Haruki's suggestion, Sakumo Hatake split their forces.
They moved in small teams of three or four, lurking near the Sand Ninja's camp.
The riverbank tent was a temporary rest spot set up by Minato and his team.
During the march, there naturally wasn't much good food.
Haruki had anticipated this and brought out a table and dining set from a storage scroll.
Four bowls of lean meat porridge were set out, with a faint aroma wafting through the air.
Kushina Uzumaki's eyes lit up.
The food they'd had over the past few days had been too simple, making her miss Haruki's cooking very much.
"Let's eat!"
Unable to wait, Kushina grabbed a spoon.
"Yum!"
The shredded lean meat, mixed with the fresh scent of vegetables and catalyzed by the rice, sent a sweet, refreshing taste straight to her taste buds. Swallowing it brought a warmth that seemed to surround her entire body like sunlight.
It was so delicious, she almost cried.
Kushina couldn't help but think.
She glanced up involuntarily, but met Haruki's gaze, making her blush. She quickly focused back on the porridge to divert her attention.
Haruki rubbed his chin.
It wasn't just Kushina; the other two were also reacting very excitedly.
He wondered if they'd burst out of their clothes next.
It seemed these three kids had had a tough time with their food lately.
Given the battle, they were probably eating ration pills.
He remembered his first time eating ration pills and almost passing out.
The ration pills he gave them for training were improved and tasted okay.
But Sakumo Hatake's... well, just thinking about it seemed terrible.
Going from heaven to hell wasn't an exaggeration.
"Teacher, can I have another bowl?"
Kushina Uzumaki, a bit shy, held out her bowl with her pretty black eyes blinking.
"Minato."
Haruki signaled with his eyes.
"I'll get it."
Minato Namikaze quickly took the bowl.
Haruki raised an eyebrow, noticing that Kushina didn't dislike Minato as much anymore.
Normally, she'd say something like "I asked the teacher," but now she wasn't that concerned and thanked Minato instead.
Adversity truly reveals one's true feelings.
The more life-and-death experiences, the deeper the bonds formed.
Haruki smiled contentedly.
It felt like his garden's vegetables were finally maturing.
They finished breakfast in a harmonious atmosphere.
After cleaning the dishes, Sakumo Hatake finally arrived.
"We encountered a few Sand Ninjas, which delayed us."
"Jounin, if they delayed you?"
"Yes."
Sakumo Hatake waved at Minato and his team as a greeting and continued, "Your suggestion has worked well these past two days, but the Sand Ninjas have adapted. They're now gathering at the Shimeigawa River beach, building sand walls with jutsu. They've also organized Jounin teams, posing a significant threat to us."
"Smart countermeasure."
Haruki nodded but asked, "If they concentrate their forces, doesn't that mean giving up on quickly eliminating us?"
"Yes. The situation is now a stalemate. With fewer numbers, the Sand Ninjas can't easily send reinforcements. Also, I heard from ANBU that the Sand Village might want to negotiate a ceasefire."
"Not surprising. If they can't gain an advantage, it's only natural they'd want to stop."
Haruki wasn't surprised.
The Second Ninja War was nearing its end, about time for a few years of peace.
After the Third Kazekage's disappearance, the war would reignite.
"Another piece of news: the current Sand Ninja commander is Arimura Rei. His son is one of the missing ninjas."
Haruki squinted his eyes.
So he had a third of the credit?
"Where are those two Cloud Ninjas now?"
"They're like the Sand Jounin teams, hunting us down everywhere."
Sakumo Hatake was a bit frustrated. "After you left, I fought them again. Their goal seems to be honing their jutsu."
Haruki thought of the A-Bee Combo's technique, Double Lariat.
That might indeed be their goal.
If Cloud Village wanted to start a war, they'd send more than two people.
Haruki took out a map, noting that the Sand Ninja's camp was close to the Shimeigawa River.
He had an idea.
"They built sand walls, right? Can we dig tunnels to get in?"
"Tunnels?"
Sakumo Hatake was surprised by the idea. "Wouldn't their sensory ninjas detect that?"
"Sensors have a range. They probably won't expect this. Besides, we won't send ninjas in but rather river water."
Haruki circled the Sand Ninja camp.
"They're using the terrain to their advantage, but the low river beach can be flooded."
Sakumo Hatake understood but quickly questioned.
"Ordinary river water won't affect ninjas much, and we don't have many water-style users."
"You're right."
Haruki agreed but then said, "Water users will initiate the first attack."
"And the second?"
"Lightning. Lightning is stronger with water. If a powerful lightning ninja attacks, the effect will be devastating."
"But where will we find a lightning ninja?" Sakumo Hatake couldn't help asking.
Konoha had lightning ninjas, but no real experts.
The only one would be Hiruzen Sarutobi, who rarely fought.
Otherwise, his son Kakashi in the future, but he was only two years old now.
"A and Bee."
Haruki mentioned the unexpected names.