One year passed in a hurry.
At this time on the training ground of the Ninja School, a group of people were eagerly watching Uncle Nishimura's dark face.
Uncle Nishimura was relieved, and then he handed Mikoto a forehead protector that symbolized Konoha Ninja.
Mikoto put it on and walked down.
"Next, Uchiha Tatsumi."
Uchiha Tatsumi immediately put on a confident smile and walked up, but the smile quickly disappeared from Uncle Nishimura's face.
He randomly threw a forehead protector at Uchiha Tatsumi. This differential treatment made Uchiha Tatsumi angry.
Fortunately, when it was Rope Tree's turn, Uncle Nishimura also didn't show him a warm face. However, no one dared to speak up about it. After all, it was only a week ago that Uncle Nishimura's sixth blind date had been interrupted by them.
Therefore, Uncle Nishimura restrained himself and didn't do anything further.
Rope Tree, who had just become a Genin, was very excited. After all, starting today, he was only two steps away from the Hokage's position.
However, Rope Tree, who was still acting boastful, suddenly started crying at the school entrance. Kneeling there, he swore: "I volunteer to join Konoha's Ninja forces, support Konoha's ideals, and fulfill my duties as a ninja. I pledge to uphold the Hokage's decisions, strictly follow the ninja code, remain loyal to the Hokage, live for the Will of Fire, and be ready to sacrifice everything for the village and its people."
Of course, had Uchiha Tatsumi not seen the Third Hokage standing at the door, he might have believed Rope Tree's exaggerated act.
After becoming Genin, it wasn't that they had nothing to do. It was during the Second Shinobi World War, and they were soon sent to the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
According to Rope Tree, who was still acting in front of the school entrance, the Land of Rain, which once aspired to become the sixth largest ninja nation, had been utterly destroyed by the flames of war.
First, the Fire Country fought with the Land of Rain, and then the Wind Country, which had long been stationed along the border, joined the battlefield.
In the end, the "old fox," the Third Tsuchikage, sensing the opportunity, also found an excuse to join the battle in the Land of Rain.
At that point, three of the Five Great Shinobi Nations were wreaking havoc on the Land of Rain. The Land of Thunder and the Land of Water stood by, preparing to join in.
The three major countries tacitly agreed to place the battlefield in the Land of Rain.
In truth, a small country's tragedy like this was common. These smaller nations are usually left alone as the larger powers fight among themselves. The Five Great Shinobi Nations didn't consider such nations a threat.
As the war raged on, the Fire, Wind, and Earth countries that had previously ravaged the Land of Rain began clashing among themselves.
By now, the entire Land of Rain had become a chaotic mess.
For a village, ninjas were never enough. Therefore, freshly graduated Genin like Uchiha Tatsumi were quickly sent to the battlefield.
Fortunately, they had seen bloodshed and weren't lost in the chaos.
One week later, a group of ninjas from the Battle of the Rain Country would be withdrawn. Leading the team were Orochimaru and Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake.
Uchiha Tatsumi was quite familiar with the name Sakumo Hatake.
After all, the infamous bad technician who once copied thousands of massage techniques had to be his son.
Although Sakumo Hatake was famous, this was the first time Uchiha Tatsumi had seen him in person.
Looking at Sakumo's appearance, one could already imagine what a handsome face Kakashi would have under that black mask.
The iconic white hair of the Hatake clan was tied in a sleek ponytail. He wore a green ninja vest and carried the famous White Fang short sword on his back.
It was this very short sword that had killed countless enemies, yet it was eventually broken by Kakashi. Such a waste.
Upon returning, they first buried the dead from the battlefield, in line with the custom. When Uchiha Tatsumi and the others were still students, they weren't allowed to participate in the mourning. But now, as a Genin, Uchiha Tatsumi stood with his teacher Orochimaru at the memorial for the fallen.
Meeting Orochimaru again, Uchiha Tatsumi could feel that his mentor's demeanor had become even more sinister than before.
Standing silently in front of the memorial, Orochimaru didn't speak. Perhaps there were old comrades-in-arms, Shinobi who had been brought to the battlefield by him, now buried here.
After mourning the dead, replenishing supplies, and completing the ritual, they would take the newly arrived soldiers to the battlefield. This was the fulfilling routine for Orochimaru and his team during their brief stay in Konoha.
Three days later, early in the morning, Uchiha Tatsumi, Mikoto, and Rope Tree met at the designated spot. When Uchiha Tatsumi arrived, he found Mizumon already waiting under a large tree.
"Morning, Tatsumi, Rope Tree, and Mikoto," Mizumon greeted with a smile.
"Why are you alone? Where's your teammate, Mizumon?" Uchiha Tatsumi asked curiously.
"Uh, he should be here soon," Mizumon scratched his head.
"Does your team get along well?"
Unlike Uchiha Tatsumi's group, Mizumon's teammates were unfamiliar to him. Although he had worked with Mizumon a year ago, it hadn't been for long.
"Fortunately, they're all honest kids," Mizumon said. "But after spending so many years with Rope Tree, even I've picked up a few things. At least they're not bad influences, though I wouldn't let them get too far off track."
"I went to the ramen shop yesterday, but they paid for it. They told me to take care of them," Mizumon continued.
"Uh, isn't that just paying a protection fee? Boss Mizumon, you can cut whoever you want! That's what I think," Uchiha Tatsumi joked.
"..."
Soon, the gathering began. The ninjas were finally assembled.
As for Kushina, she wasn't going to the battlefield. In any village, if it wasn't an urgent mission, her movements were heavily restricted, and at least she had to stay within the village.
But at least this ensured her safety.
"Alright, everyone, prepare your teams!" Sakumo Hatake called out, and all the chatter stopped instantly. Hundreds of ninjas immediately lined up.
After a quick cough, the Third Hokage appeared on the Hokage Building, looking down at the assembled ninjas.
"I don't have much to say, but I want to tell you all that I'm waiting for each of you to defeat the enemy ninjas and return in triumph!" The Third Hokage bowed to the group.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" the ninjas responded in unison, their voices unified and full of determination, echoing throughout Konoha.
Then, without hesitation, Orochimaru and Sakumo Hatake turned around.
"Let's go. Our goal is the Land of Rain!"
And so, the army of ninjas surged forward, heading straight for the Land of Rain like a rolling wave of crimson.
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