Uchiha Tatsumi and Nawaki(Rope tree) stood at the entrance of their tent, gazing at the distant camp wall.
The wall was scarred with marks from past battles, later patched with fresh earth-style techniques. The result was a mixture of weathered and new layers—both a memory of the past and a symbol of rebuilding.
For Konoha's shinobi, even this crude barrier gave a sense of security.
After all, humans are social creatures, and even shinobi are no exception. Being surrounded by comrades, no matter how few, brings comfort.
To them, Konoha was inside the wall—the outside world, the battlefield.
As the soft rain continued to fall, Uchiha Tatsumi and Rope Tree casually removed their pants and began splashing in puddles like children. It was a rare moment of levity in the war-torn Land of Rain.
Two water-style jutsu shot into the air as if in competition.
The playful contest somehow embodied a spirit of pushing limits—faster, higher, farther. Tatsumi couldn't help but wonder if some ancient form of athletics had been born this way.