Early the next morning, the hazy mist was pierced by the warm sunlight.
Haruki stood on the riverbank, stretching his body.
Not far away, Minato Namikaze was still training, but due to staying up all night, he looked a bit listless.
Haruki knew that Minato blamed himself for Kushina Uzumaki's injury, so he wanted to improve his strength as soon as possible.
To be honest, Minato Namikaze at this time was fully qualified to be called a Jonin.
Moreover, unlike the Jonin who were hastily promoted during the war, he truly had the combat power of a Jonin.
Haruki glanced at him but didn't stop him.
He fetched a bucket of clean river water and started cooking.
"Teacher?"
Kushina Uzumaki didn't know when she woke up. As soon as she left the tent, she saw Haruki.
After confirming it was him, she ran all the way and hugged him.
"Morning!"
Seeing the tears Kushina was holding back in her eyes, Haruki couldn't help but stroke her red long hair.
"Morning... morning, Teacher."
After a moment, Kushina realized it was a bit embarrassing. She took two steps back and didn't dare to raise her head. Her little hands unconsciously clutched the corner of her clothes.
"Go and call Mikoto over for breakfast."
Haruki timely relieved her embarrassment.
"Okay!"
Kushina immediately turned around. After running for a short distance, she wiped the corner of her eye before entering Mikoto Uchiha's tent.
After Sakumo Hatake took Haruki's advice, he broke the whole into parts.
He formed squads of three or four people, wandering around the Sand Ninja's camp.
This tent by the riverbank was a temporary resting place built by Minato Namikaze and the other two.
During the march, there was naturally nothing delicious.
Haruki had anticipated this long ago.
He took out tables, chairs, and a set of tableware from the Storage Scroll.
Four bowls of lean meat porridge were placed on the table, and a faint aroma filled the air.
Kushina's eyes lit up.
The food she had eaten in the past few days was so simple that she missed Haruki's cooking skills very much.
"Let's dig in!"
Kushina couldn't wait to pick up the white rice spoon.
"Um!"
The minced lean meat, mixed with the fragrance of lettuce and catalyzed by the rice, brought a refreshing and sweet taste that rushed straight to the taste buds. After swallowing, a warm feeling emerged, as if the whole body was surrounded by sunlight.
It was so delicious that she couldn't help but want to cry.
Kushina couldn't help thinking.
She subconsciously looked up, but met Haruki's eyes. She couldn't help blushing and quickly started eating the lean meat porridge to divert her attention.
Haruki stroked his chin.
Not only Kushina, but the other two also had very excited reactions.
It made him wonder if they were about to burst out of their clothes the next moment.
It seemed that these three little guys had a hard time with their meals in the past few days.
Now that it was a battle period, they were most likely eating Military Rations Pill.
He remembered that the first time he ate Military Rations Pill, he almost fainted.
The Military Rations Pill that Haruki provided for their ninjutsu training were improved versions, and the taste was just okay.
But with Sakumo Hatake, well, just thinking about it made him feel sorry for them.
It was no exaggeration to describe it as going from heaven to hell.
"Teacher, one more bowl."
Kushina blinked her beautiful black eyes and shyly handed over her bowl.
"Minato."
Haruki winked at him.
"I'll do it.
Minato Namikaze immediately took the bowl.
Haruki raised an eyebrow. He suddenly noticed that Kushina Uzumaki wasn't as annoyed with Minato as before.
Based on past experience, she might have said something like "I was the one who called the teacher" or something similar.
But now she didn't seem to care as much and just said thank you to Minato.
Sure enough, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
The more they went through life - and - death situations, the deeper the bond they formed.
Haruki smiled contentedly.
It felt like the young cabbages in his own garden had finally grown up, a sense of achievement similar to seeing one's own kids become mature.
They finished breakfast in a pleasant and harmonious atmosphere.
After Haruki washed the dishes, Sakumo Hatake finally arrived.
"I ran into some Sand Ninjas and got delayed."
"So, they were strong enough to delay you. Does that mean they were Jonin?"
"Yep."
Sakumo waved at Minato and the other two as a greeting.
He continued, "The method you suggested worked well in the past two days. But after taking heavy losses, Sunagakure countered quickly. They've gathered at the Nobu River beach, a place full of sand and stones. They used Ninjutsu to build sand walls. Also, they've formed Jonin squads, which are a real threat to us."
"That's a smart move."
Haruki nodded but then asked, "By concentrating their forces in one place, aren't they giving up the chance to quickly defeat us?"
"Right. The situation has become more of a stalemate. Sunagakure already has fewer people than us, and it's even harder for them to send reinforcements. Also, I heard from the Anbu that the people in Sunagakure seem to want a truce."
"It's understandable that they'd have this thought since they aren't getting any benefits."
Haruki wasn't surprised.
The Second Great Ninja War was nearing its end, and it was high time for a few years of rest and recovery.
After the disappearance of The Third Kazekage later, the war would start again.
"There's another piece of news. The current commander of the Sand Ninjas is Tsubo Arimura, a high - ranking official in Sunagakure. His son was one of the missing Ninjas before."
Haruki squinted his eyes.
So, did that mean he had one - third of the credit?
"Where are those two guys from Cloud Hidden Village now?"
"Like the Sunagakure Jonin squads, they're using their speed to hunt us down everywhere."
Sakumo was a bit annoyed. "After you left, I fought them again. It's very likely that their purpose is to train their Ninjutsu."
Haruki immediately remembered the combined Ninjutsu of A and Bee, Lightning Release: Double Lariat, a powerful move they used.
Maybe that was really their goal.
If Cloud Hidden Village wanted to start a war, they wouldn't just send two people.
Haruki took out a map. The current camp of the Sand Ninjas was very close to Nobu River.
He suddenly had an idea.
"You said they built sand walls. Can we dig a tunnel to get in?"
"A tunnel?"
Sakumo was slightly startled by this novel idea. "Won't their Sensor Ninjas detect it?"
"Detection has a range, and they probably won't expect a Ninja to use such a method. Besides, I'm not suggesting our Ninjas go in, but the river water."
Haruki drew a circle around the Sand Ninja camp on the map.
They originally planned to take advantage of the terrain. However, the riverbank is low. If we use the river water, we can completely submerge them.
Sakumo Hatake probably understood what he meant, but soon raised an objection.
"Ordinary river water is useless to ninjas, and we don't have many ninjas who can use Water Release."
"You're right."
Haruki nodded in agreement, but then changed the subject and said, "Ninjas who can use Water Release to control the flood are just the first wave of attack."
"What about the second wave?"
"Lightning Release. Lightning combined with water will have greater power. And now it's all water here. If there are powerful ninjas who can use Lightning Release to attack, the effect will surely be earth-shattering."
"But where can we find ninjas who can use Lightning Release?" Sakumo Hatake couldn't help asking.
Although there are ninjas who can use Lightning Release in Konoha Village, there are basically no powerful ones.
To be exact, Hiruzen Sarutobi can be counted.
However, he basically won't go to the battlefield.
Besides, his son Kakashi will also be able to use it in the future.
But now he's only two years old and hasn't graduated yet.
"A and Bee."
Haruki named two unexpected people.
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