Kawakaze and Sakumo entered the Land of Rain cautiously, their expressions tense. The moment they arrived at the hidden camp, they were intercepted by ninjas wearing Konoha forehead protectors, each holding kunai at the ready.
The guards were well within Kawakaze's sensory range.
"Who goes there?" one demanded.
The two were Konoha ninjas, clad in the green vests that signified Chūnin rank.
"I am Kawakaze Hatake of the Hatake Clan, a Jōnin," Kawakaze said, producing his identification.
"This is my elder brother, Sakumo Hatake."
One of the ninjas took the identification cautiously, neither lowering his weapon until confirming its authenticity. After several checks, they finally eased their stances.
"Chūnin Ryo Asakawa, I present my respects to Lord Kawakaze."
"Chūnin Kira, I present my respects to Lord Kawakaze," they said formally.
Kawakaze retrieved his identification, though he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about the camp.
"Did something happen here?" he asked.
Sakumo, equally on edge, scanned the area. The camp exuded a sense of unease, its tension palpable.
"Lord Kawakaze, we've been awaiting reinforcements," Asakawa began. "But we've been suffering frequent assassinations and sneak attacks by Amegakure ninjas. As an advance negotiation unit, our combat strength is limited, and the casualties have been severe."
Asakawa's explanation was calm, but the weight of their situation was evident.
"Who is leading your team?" Kawakaze asked, hoping to consult with the commander.
"Lord Fumishi Aburame has fallen," Asakawa replied, his voice heavy with grief.
Sakumo gestured toward the camp. "Let's go take a look."
Kawakaze nodded and followed.
Inside, the camp was in complete disarray. Tents were torn and barely provided shelter from the relentless wind and rain. Cries of the wounded echoed from within, while some ninjas with intact tents gathered around, their relief evident at the arrival of reinforcements.
For the younger ninjas, Nawaki and Minato, this was their first encounter with the grim aftermath of war. Their pale faces betrayed their shock.
"This is Jōnin Kawakaze Hatake and Sakumo Hatake," Asakawa introduced them to the group.
"I've heard of Lord Kawakaze, the genius Jōnin of the Hatake Clan," one ninja said.
"And Lord Sakumo, the Clan's Head," another added.
...
Many of the ninja present had heard of the two brothers, which made it easier for them to follow orders.
"Alright, quiet."
Kawakaze cut through the chatter with a commanding voice. It wasn't time for idle talk.
"The main force is still en route and will likely arrive in about a week."
"From now on, follow my commands. Understood?"
He fixed his burning gaze on the middle- and lower-ranking ninja. No one dared meet his eyes.
"No objections."
"Good. Now, do any of you specialize in Earth Release?"
...
Kawakaze first assigned the Earth Release ninja to construct a mud hut for the wounded, providing them with a proper place to recover. He then organized the replacement of the camp's worn-out tents and delegated tasks according to each ninja's expertise. The guard posts were repositioned strategically, leveraging his sharp eyesight, which had significantly improved.
After these adjustments, the camp finally began to show signs of vitality. Meals were prepared, and the previously grim atmosphere—dominated by fear and low morale due to the Amegakure Ninja's assassinations and sneak attacks—started to lift. The earlier fear was understandable; even a seasoned Jōnin from the Aburame clan had fallen, leaving the others feeling powerless.
Kawakaze himself received special treatment, with the Earth Release ninja preparing a modest room for him. While simple, it was far more comfortable than a tent.
Inside the room, Kawakaze and four others shared a meal. The pot was filled with pasta, a decent meal given the circumstances. Each person ate happily from small bowls.
"What's the plan now?" Sakumo asked his brother between bites.
"Are we just going to keep waiting?"
"Waiting isn't my style," Kawakaze replied. "If the Amegakure Ninja dare to come, they should be ready to die. This is likely a smokescreen by Hanzō of the Salamander. With the war stretched across three fronts, he doesn't have the capacity to resist everywhere at once. He's using assassinations to delay us, buying time to defeat each front individually. That's his real strategy."
Sakumo frowned, mulling over Kawakaze's explanation. It seemed plausible, though strategy wasn't his strong suit. Assassination was his expertise, but when it came to broader planning, he wasn't particularly skilled.
Meanwhile, Duy paid no attention to the conversation, fully focused on eating and consuming far more than his share. Kawakaze understood that Taijutsu training required immense energy, but Duy was taking food from the younger ones.
Nawaki and Minato looked helpless, their small bowls nearly empty as they glanced at Kawakaze with pitiful eyes. Reluctantly, Kawakaze intervened, lowering Duy's portion slightly to ensure the kids had enough to eat. Duy, however, was overjoyed even with less food.
To sidestep the awkward situation, Kawakaze resumed discussing strategy with his brother.
"Right now, it's Amegakure causing trouble, which means Hanzō's main target isn't us in Konoha," Kawakaze explained. "I plan to take the initiative—or at least make Amegakure think twice before coming back, especially before the main force arrives."
Sakumo immediately volunteered. "Leave it to me. I'll handle these pesky rats."
"Big Brother, you and Duy stay behind to guard the camp," Kawakaze replied. "I'll take Minato and Nawaki with me. They need a real fight to gain experience."
Kawakaze was candid about his reasoning: a small, elite unit was ideal for the growth of the two young ninja. Massive battles wouldn't help much; even a Genin could kill a Jōnin with enough luck.
"Isn't that a bit risky?" Sakumo questioned, concerned about the safety of the two rookies.
"Don't worry," Kawakaze reassured him. "I've marked them with my Flying Thunder God Technique. If anything happens, I'll be there to save them."
Hearing this, Sakumo relented. "Alright, then Duy and I will stay." He placed a hand on Duy's shoulder, and Duy nodded.
"Don't worry, Kawakaze. The camp is safe with us," Duy declared confidently, though the noodles still dangling from his lips somewhat undermined his serious tone. Kawakaze, recalling the original work and how fierce Duy could be in battle—let alone his even fiercer son—couldn't help but find it ironic.
Turning to Minato and Nawaki, Kawakaze asked, "Do you have any questions?"
"We're ready," the two young ninja responded respectfully, setting their bowls down despite still eating.
"Good. Finish your meal, then follow me," Kawakaze ordered before rising and leaving the room.
He had another task to attend to and soon found Ryo Asakawa resting in a tent.
"Lord Kawakaze," Ryo greeted, sitting up.
"Relax," Kawakaze said with a gentle smile, gesturing for him to sit back down. "I need to ask you something."
Ryo nodded, listening intently.
"Which direction do the Amegakure Ninjas usually approach from? Do they have any specific abilities I should be aware of?" Kawakaze asked, feigning casual curiosity as he lacked direct knowledge of Amegakure's tactics.
"They always come from the north of the camp," Ryo replied. "I haven't noticed anything special, but they're skilled at hiding their aura. Most use Water Release and work well with their water clones, which makes them harder to detect—especially on rainy days."
For a Chūnin, Ryo had done well to provide concise and useful information. Kawakaze thanked him with a pat on the shoulder. While this was more for show—mainly to avoid looking ignorant in front of Minato and Nawaki—it was still valuable insight.
"Thank you, Ryo," Kawakaze said before leaving the tent to prepare for the next step of his plan.