Late at night, in the assembly hall of Konoha's camp, the atmosphere was heavy. The meeting had ended, but only a few people remained in the dimly lit room.
Tsunade sat silently, her brows furrowed in deep thought. Meetings had been relentless for some time, yet no solutions to break the stalemate had emerged. Every clan had suffered heavy losses, and the discussions had been far from harmonious. If not for the presence of a few strong leaders maintaining order, arguments would have erupted long ago.
Sakumo paced back and forth across the hall, visibly agitated.
"Big Brother, please stop walking," Kawakaze said, his voice tinged with frustration. His train of thought had been derailed by Sakumo's incessant movement.
"I'm anxious," Sakumo admitted, halting his pacing. He sat down next to Duy, exhaling heavily before continuing. "The elite teams from each clan are undeniably strong, but the casualties are mounting. We can't keep this up for much longer."
This was the central issue of the recent meetings—the disparity in numbers and the unsustainable rate of losses.
"I think the surprise attack plan is worth a try," Sakumo suggested. "The situation can't get any worse. As long as we're still here, neither village will dare launch a large-scale attack."
Tsunade, listening intently, finally broke her silence. "It's possible," she said, referring to a proposal from the earlier meeting. "But who are you planning to send?"
Kawakaze had been mulling over the feasibility of the plan himself, though his earlier thoughts had been interrupted by Sakumo's restless pacing. Before he could respond, the doors swung open, and Minato and Nawaki strode in purposefully.
"Sensei, we are willing to go," Nawaki declared, his voice firm.
The two had been eavesdropping outside and decided to enter when they overheard mention of a surprise attack plan. Their confident demeanor caught everyone's attention.
"Oh? Do you know what you're volunteering for?" Kawakaze asked, his gaze fixed on the young duo.
"Of course we do," Minato replied with a calm smile, motioning for Nawaki to explain further.
Nawaki stepped forward with determination, moving toward the map laid out on the table. "Minato and I have already worked out the details. We'll infiltrate the Land of Earth through the Land of Grass."
He pointed to the map, tracing a discreet path. "From there, we'll locate and destroy the Iwa Ninjas' supply routes. Without their supplies, they won't be able to sustain their forces."
The path Nawaki outlined cleverly avoided the main roads, opting for a longer but much safer route through the Land of Grass.
"How long have you been preparing?" Kawakaze asked, his gaze sharp. It was clear to him that this plan wasn't something the two of them had come up with on a whim. The boys had not only grown stronger but also developed their own strategic thinking.
"Hehe, it's been a while since we got back from the last mission," Nawaki replied, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"This was Nawaki's idea; I just helped refine it," Minato admitted honestly. The plan had been Nawaki's brainchild, but the two of them had worked together to perfect it.
For this, they had even consulted Hayato Yamanaka, whose expertise helped them create a detailed plan outlining the terrain and routes through the Land of Grass.
"Not bad," Sakumo remarked, studying the map. "I think it's feasible." His professional assessment found no flaws in the route they had chosen. What remained was the critical question of strength—the ultimate test of whether they could pull it off.
"Are you two really ready for this?" Tsunade asked, her voice betraying a hint of doubt. To her, her younger brother was still a child, and Minato was even younger. The two had led a mission only once before, and this one—deep behind enemy lines—was far more dangerous.
"Sister, why are you belittling us?" Nawaki protested, slightly annoyed. He had grown stronger, mastering techniques that now allowed him to manipulate living beings with the Light-Weight Rock Technique. Flying was almost within his grasp.
"I'm not underestimating you," Tsunade replied, her tone softening. "I'm just worried about you."
"Sensei, my Ninjutsu is almost complete," Minato interjected, a confident grin spreading across his face. "I'll show you sometime."
The new technique suited him perfectly, almost as if it had been designed just for him. That's why he had been tasked with developing it himself—or so he believed. Minato briefly entertained the thought that perhaps Sensei couldn't complete it, but he dismissed the idea immediately. Instead, he concluded that his teacher wanted him to master it thoroughly so he could fully harness its potential.
Self-satisfied, Minato effortlessly filled in the gaps left by Kawakaze's lazy thinking. He became the first person in the Naruto history to successfully manipulate himself into self-deception.
Kawakaze noticed the determination in Minato's expression and couldn't help but encourage him. "Oh, then you must work hard. There's still room to develop this technique further," he said, his eyes gleaming with the realization that Minato might be onto something valuable.
Minato nodded with renewed conviction. "Yes, Sensei," he replied, his voice full of devotion.
Tsunade sighed, finally making up her mind. "Just go if you're set on it," she said, her voice tinged with reluctant acceptance. "But be careful."
She knew she couldn't keep Nawaki under her wing forever.
"Thank you, sister."
Nawaki was overjoyed by Tsunade's consent and ran over to plant a kiss on her cheek.
"How old are you, and you're still acting like that?" Tsunade smiled as she pushed him away, though she still found her brother's clinginess a bit irritating.
Kawakaze watched the interaction without a hint of jealousy. After all, they were siblings.
"My youthful passion is already boiling. I wish you all the best in advance," Duy finally spoke, his voice full of enthusiasm. Matters like strategy weren't his strength—just point him toward a fight, and he'd be ready.
"Then it's settled. I'll arrange for your departure tomorrow," Kawakaze declared decisively, with no outsiders present to weigh in.
"Can the Hyūga Clan be given two spots?" Minato added without hesitation. He had seen how invaluable Kanami's skills were during their last mission and wanted her on this one.
"Don't worry, I'll arrange the best personnel for you," Tsunade assured them, smiling as she looked at the two young shinobi. The new generation of Konoha was beginning to leave its mark.
In the eyes of the older generation though, even Tsunade herself was still considered part of the younger generation.
"Let's go. Let's get something to eat," Kawakaze said, standing up and heading out of the meeting hall now that the plan was confirmed. The tension in the room had eased noticeably.
"I'll go get Uncle Shinku," Minato said, darting off toward the warehouse manager.
"Wait for me!" Nawaki called, hurrying after him.
"These two kids," Sakumo muttered with a shake of his head, a smile tugging at his lips. Watching them reminded him of his own youth with Kawakaze. It had often been Kawakaze waiting on him, and the thought brought a small laugh.
"Sakumo, why do you look so weird?" Duy had always been a bit dense, and he approached Sakumo to bring up a topic that was better left unspoken.
Sakumo glared at him. "None of your business." He turned and left quickly, leaving Duy standing there, confused.
"Did I say the wrong thing again?" Duy wondered aloud.
Before long, the group gathered at Sakumo's house, where Shinku Yūhi had brought an assortment of fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables. On the front lines, such a feast was a rare luxury. Even the clan leaders relied on Shinku's mood for treats like these.
After the recent difficulties, it had been a long time since they'd shared a meal together. The moon hung high in the night sky as laughter and joy filled the house.
When everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they finally dispersed for the night.