Not long after Minato Namikaze left, Kakashi received orders that all ninjas supporting from the Hot Water Country to the Grass Country must now assemble.
Kakashi led Obito, Rin Nohara, and Shindai to gather at the open area of the stationed camp.
Since Shindai had stayed in the Grass Country's base for quite a while, and after Tsunade beat up Jiraiya and Shindai, he became quite well-known. Many people recognized Shindai, who was closely associated with both Jiraiya and Minato.
Shindai felt uneasy under the stares of so many people and stood slightly closer behind Obito.
Feeling Shindai sticking close behind him, Obito became uncomfortable. "Hey, Shindai, don't stick so close to me! It's super hot today!"
Pouting his lips, Shindai replied, "I don't care. I just want to stick with you!"
Kakashi and Rin Nohara looked at the unusual Shindai with confusion, unsure of what was wrong with him this time.
Obito turned his head to look at Shindai and noticed he seemed very nervous, looking around restlessly with an awkward posture. Instantly, he understood why.
Obito exclaimed in surprise, "Are you nervous around crowds?"
Shindai stubbornly retorted, "Careful or I'll call you out for lying! I definitely don't have social anxiety. I'm just... not used to being in crowded places."
Sighing helplessly, Obito quipped, "Even after cremation, your mouth'd probably still be talking."
Although making this comment, Obito didn't say anything else and let Shindai keep sticking close.
Soon afterward, Nara Shikaku appeared at the front.
Nara Shikaku formally addressed them briefly, then roughly explained the current situation of Konoha ninjas in the Grass Country.
In summary: the situation was severe.
"Next, you will be scattered to various positions. I will now announce where each of you is assigned, and one hour later, you will immediately depart for your designated stations."
Nara Shikaku began announcing names from the list.
"...Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Shindai—you four are heading to the supply station in the northwest!"
Shindai hadn't expected Nara Shikaku to call his name. So according to this, he was officially considered a Konoha ninja now?
But earlier, Minato had clearly said before leaving that when he returned, he hoped Shindai would give him an answer.
Wasn't this acting first and asking questions later?
Softly whispering, Shindai asked, "What does 'supply station' mean exactly? Are we staying here doing supply work?"
Obito explained to Shindai, "Of course not. Otherwise they wouldn't have called our names. The supply station is located behind the front lines—it's where resources are stored before being sent forward."
After thinking about it, Shindai concluded that this was still better than directly fighting on the front line.
Nara Shikaku concluded the announcement by saying, "In one hour, everyone head to your assigned positions. Don't dawdle. Dismissed!"
Shindai and Kakashi returned to their tent with the others to pack up.
Looking at the bed in his tent, Shindai felt a bit regretful.
All that effort was wasted.
But thinking again, at least he had slept for one night—it wasn't completely wasted.
If he had gone through all that trouble and couldn't even sleep one night, then it would truly be a waste.
Shindai patted his bed: "Wait for me to come back before I lie on you again. Bye~"
After finishing packing, Shindai reunited with Kakashi and the others.
Now their leader was Kakashi. He asked, "Did everyone bring everything? Check once more—once we leave, there's no coming back."
Obito and Rin Nohara started checking their backpacks.
Shindai patted his own backpack confidently, "I'm totally good~"
Kakashi sighed in exasperation and said again, "Whether you're sure or not, check again!"
Muttering, Shindai opened his backpack and started checking item by item.
"There's no way I could have forgotten anything. Earlier I packed practically everything I could... Huh? Where's my Kannazuki scroll?"
"Oh right! It's next to my pillow!"
Kakashi finally gave him a dead-fish stare, watching helplessly as Shindai turned around and ran back to his tent.
Shindai successfully found the scroll under his pillow.
Last night, after slightly tinkering with the Kannazuki, he had sealed it into the scroll and casually stuffed it under his pillow.
He grabbed the scroll and came back, placing it carefully inside his bag. Again, he patted his backpack proudly: "Solid as ever~"
Kakashi rolled his eyes, ignoring Shindai, then turned to Obito and Rin Nohara: "How about you two? Got everything?"
Obito and Rin Nohara both nodded simultaneously, "Yes, we've got everything."
"Then let's move out!"
Following the map, Kakashi led Obito, Rin Nohara, and Shindai toward their assigned supply station.
Traveling late into the night, the four of them finally arrived at the supply station.
The supply station contained vital resources, so it couldn't be built openly above ground; otherwise, it would easily become an enemy target.
Without supplies, the front-line positions might completely collapse.
Battlefields shift rapidly; by the time reinforcements made their way from distant bases to the front lines, the battle might already be over.
Therefore, this supply station functioned like a transit point, ensuring immediate frontline support.
The base where Shindai and the others were stationed was located underground.
It was an underground facility dug out by Konoha ninjas using Earth Release techniques.
On the surface, a team of Konoha ninjas patrolled and guarded the surrounding area.
Kakashi led Shindai and the others to make contact with a patrolling ninja squad. After verifying their identities, a Konoha ninja escorted them into the underground base.
Once inside the base, what met their eyes was large wooden crates. These wooden boxes were filled with supplies—kunai, shuriken, explosive tags, and various medical items for emergency treatment.
The captain of this position was a Tokubetsu Jonin named Katsuhiko Takei.
Seeing Kakashi and his team of four, Takei's face lit up with joy. "Finally, some reinforcements have arrived. This is such great news."
Obito asked curiously, "Does that mean we're really short on manpower here?"
Takei nodded as he answered, "Of course we are—seriously understaffed. Since we're responsible for logistics, there aren't many ninjas here; only twenty in total. Sometimes the Sand and Rock ninjas send people to cut off our supply lines to the frontlines, so we could be attacked at any time.
"Just recently, one of our five-man teams transporting supplies was ambushed. None of them made it back. We've experienced several attacks before this one too, so out of the original twenty personnel, now there are only eleven of us left."
Shindai gaped in shock as he stared at Takei.
At first, he thought working at the supply station would be safer than being on the frontline, but now it seemed just as dangerous.
Kakashi said to Captain Takei, "We'll follow your orders from now on."
Takei responded solemnly, "Hmm, your arrival definitely reduces a lot of pressure for us. Otherwise, we might not even have anyone left to transport supplies. Right now, there's a batch of equipment supplies that needs to be transported to the frontline. Once you finish inventorying everything, you should set off immediately."
Shindai's face twisted unhappily. They had just arrived—weren't they even allowed a moment to rest?
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