"Tsunade sent me a message. She said you two were eager to go to the battlefield, is that right?" Shinki said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"No, definitely not!" Minato Namikaze shook his head vigorously, feeling a chill run down his spine at the sight of Shinki's smile. He pointed discreetly at Nawaki, silently blaming him for the whole idea.
*What happened to our agreement to stick together?* Nawaki's eyes widened in disbelief. How could Minato, with his earnest expression and trustworthy demeanor, betray him so easily?
Jingyi chuckled, amused by the interaction between the two boys. "Alright, stop glaring at each other. You two aren't fooling anyone. Now, drink your hot water and go to the next room to rest. I'll give you some tasks tomorrow, and if you manage them well, I'll consider letting you onto the battlefield."
"Really?" Nawaki's eyes lit up, forgetting his irritation with Minato.
Minato, still cautious, lowered his gaze. He had a feeling these tasks wouldn't be as simple as they sounded.
"Really," Shinki confirmed, flashing a smile that revealed his white teeth. "More real than pearls."
Nawaki, brimming with excitement, grabbed his blanket and finished the hot water before rushing off to the next room. Minato drank his water, bowed respectfully to Shinki, and followed, his exhaustion finally catching up to him.
As the boys settled in, Jiraiya appeared at the doorway, dripping rainwater everywhere.
"Shoes," Shinki said, pointing at the floor without looking up.
Jiraiya paused, giving a sheepish grin before stepping back outside. He never learned to carry an umbrella or wear a raincoat, so he often made a mess wherever he went. Shinki's rule was clear: no entry without dry shoes and clothes.
"I heard Nawaki and Minato made it here. They're resting in the next room, right?" Jiraiya asked, peering in with anticipation.
"Yes, but they're exhausted. The ANBU made sure of that. Let them rest. You shouldn't disturb them," Shinki said, turning a page in his book.
"Did you get your new mission?" Shinki asked, shifting the conversation.
"Yes, I'm being sent out soon," Jiraiya said, his voice serious. The last mission had been disastrous; their elite troops were decimated in an ambush by the Rain Village. Now, the commanders avoided grouping high-profile teams together, splitting up even Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Hatake Sakumo.
"I wanted to see Nawaki before I leave. I hope he stays in the camp and doesn't follow me to the battlefield," Jiraiya admitted. The front line was no place for Nawaki, not when Jiraiya himself often faced mortal danger.
Tsunade had entrusted him with teaching Nawaki to make him stronger, not to risk his life recklessly.
Jiraiya, unlike Orochimaru, valued safety above results when it came to Nawaki. He wouldn't let the young Senju step into battle until he was sure he could defend himself.
Shinki put down his book and walked to the window, looking out at the stormy sky. "You're more considerate than people give you credit for. That's why Tsunade finally agreed to let you mentor Nawaki."
"Ha, well, this just proves I'm more suited for it than that stuck-up Orochimaru," Jiraiya said with a grin, proud of having gained Tsunade's trust, even if it was partly due to Shinki's support.
"Go do your mission. I'll keep an eye on Nawaki here. I'll give him tasks that will test him, and if he meets my expectations, I might allow him on the battlefield," Shinki said confidently.
"Are you sure?" Jiraiya's eyebrows rose. "What if it gets dangerous?"
"I'll lead the team myself," Shinki said, tapping his chest. "You have my word."
"Alright, you're the boss. I hope Nawaki passes your tests and joins the fight properly," Jiraiya said, leaning on the doorframe with a nod of approval. He left soon after, needing to prepare for his own deployment.
The next day, Nawaki and Minato were up early, legs still trembling but eager to prove themselves. They stood at the entrance to Shinki's quarters like sentinels, determined to show their resolve.
Shinki stepped out, taking in their anxious faces with a raised brow. "You two are keen, aren't you? Alright then."
He called over one of his assistants. "Shiro, take these two to the storage room. They're to help move items."
"The storage room?" Shiro asked, confused. One of these boys was Tsunade's brother, and the other was Shinki's student. Was it right to send them to do manual labor?
"Yes, the storage room," Shinki said firmly. "They need to understand the reality of war."
The so-called storage room was actually the morgue, a grim place where the bodies of fallen shinobi were kept. Helping to "move items" meant handling corpses—an experience that would confront them with the brutal truth of the battlefield.
"Understood." Shiro glanced at the two boys, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. "Alright, you two, follow me."
Nawaki and Minato, unaware of what awaited them, followed eagerly, despite their shaky legs.
The morgue was only a short walk from the medical area. When they arrived, Shiro announced, "Old Ghost, I brought some help for you."
The head of the morgue, known as Old Ghost due to his grim work and sullen demeanor, turned to see the two young boys. His eyes narrowed behind his mask. *Children? In here?*
"What is this, Shiro?"
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 230 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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