"Hmm, this is so boring."
Ren sat on a high platform, looking at the busy crowd scurrying back and forth below, feeling a wave of boredom.
Although the Border Line had been captured, there were still many things to deal with. For instance, relocating the Konoha Camp, repairing new defensive fortifications, and a series of other troublesome and disheartening tasks.
Minato and Fugaku had left to handle their own matters, leaving Ren here. He was free to either help clean up the battlefield with the others or stand guard; as long as he didn't forget to show up in the evening, it was fine.
After glancing around for a moment, Ren decisively chose the easier task of standing guard. With his sensory abilities, he could use this opportunity to rest for a while.
"Ren, what are you doing here?"
"Hmm?"
A deep voice came from beside him. Ren subconsciously turned his head and saw Akimichi Dōton standing before him, holding a long staff and looking at him with a puzzled expression.
"Oh, Uncle Dōton. Big Brother Minato told me I could act freely, so I came here to stand guard."
Ren quickly stood up and smiled at him.
This person's strength was not to be underestimated; he was one of the few high-level combatants of the Akimichi Clan, with power comparable to that of Akimichi Choza, the clan head.
"I see."
Akimichi Dōton nodded, then sat down cross-legged and chuckled softly.
"Sit down. The view here is very open; it's indeed a good place for keeping watch."
"Right?"
Ren grinned. After sitting down again, he asked curiously,
"Uncle Dōton, don't you have a mission?"
Akimichi Dōton yawned, rubbing his eyes as he spoke.
"Not today. I led the patrol last night. I was supposed to stay at the Konoha Camp and rest today, but I was worried about this side, so I came along with you all."
"Oh, is that so? I… "
"Grrr!"
A look of understanding appeared on Ren's face. Just as he was about to say something, a sudden rumbling sound came from his stomach, startling both of them.
"My apologies, Uncle Dōton. I haven't eaten since this morning."
Ren instinctively covered his stomach, speaking with some embarrassment.
He had woken up early and had not eaten anything before the long-distance rush to this place and the battle with the Aybi brothers. After returning, he had been sitting here for half an hour, and it was almost noon. His stomach was still empty.
"Wait a moment."
Ren reached into his ninja pouch and fumbled around for a bit before pulling out four or five Soldier Ration Pills. He tossed one into his mouth, then offered the rest to Akimichi Dōton, who was beside him, asking,
"Uncle Dōton, would you like a couple?"
Although the taste was not great, the Soldier Ration Pill was indeed a very important strategic material. Besides supplementing essential vitamins, it could also instantly enhance and restore Chakra during battle. While eating too many could lead to indigestion, this was nothing compared to its effects.
"I am a bit hungry."
Akimichi Dōton rubbed his stomach, then pulled out four or five Soldier Ration Pills from the ninja pouch on his waist, offering them to Ren with a light chuckle.
"Try this, Ren."
"Hmm?"
Though a bit puzzled, Ren put his own Soldier Ration Pills away and took one from Akimichi Dōton's palm, examining it.
It looked just like his own Soldier Ration Pills—dark and resembling a mud ball. If there was any difference, it was that Akimichi Dōton's Soldier Ration Pills appeared rounder on the surface.
"Try it."
Akimichi Dōton took one and popped it into his mouth, then turned to look at Ren, chuckling softly.
"Alright!"
Ren observed it for a long time, seeing nothing unusual, so he directly threw it into his mouth and began to chew. As he chewed, he immediately noticed a difference.
"Hmm?"
Ren's face showed surprise. After chewing a few times, he turned to look at Akimichi Dōton.
"How is it? Does it taste good?"
Akimichi Dōton narrowed his eyes and asked with a smile.
"More than good, it's delicious!"
Ren quickly responded while chewing, a look of satisfaction on his face.
Compared to the bland, even slightly bitter, ordinary Soldier Ration Pills, the Soldier Ration Pill Akimichi Dōton gave him was like a candy bean. With one bite, sweetness instantly filled his mouth.
As a semi-sweet tooth, Ren's favorability towards this type of Soldier Ration Pill immediately shot up.
"This is a new Soldier Ration Pill secretly developed by our Akimichi Clan. While improving the taste, it also accelerates Chakra recovery speed."
As Akimichi Dōton spoke, he pulled out a small box from his ninja pouch. The box was full of Soldier Ration Pills, approximately several dozen of them.
"The Village hasn't started mass production yet. Take these with you for now. Come find me for more when you run out."
"Hehehe, thank you, Uncle Dōton!"
Ren didn't refuse. He took the small box and put it into his ninja pouch, not forgetting to thank Akimichi Dōton.
"Hahaha, you're welcome."
Akimichi Dōton stood up, picked up the long staff beside him, and chuckled softly.
"I'll go back and rest now, Ren. There's still a mission tonight."
"Alright, take care, Uncle Dōton!"
After watching him leave, Ren sat back down, chewing on a Soldier Ration Pill, boredly watching the busy crowds coming and going in the Konoha Camp below.
There was still an hour until the shift change, so Ren could only sit there and wait, perhaps enjoying the scenery.
"Hmm? Is that… "
Suddenly, Ren's gaze sharpened. He looked up for a moment, then fixed his eyes on a bird that flew up from inside the Konoha Camp and soared outwards.
In the blink of an eye, the bird came closer, and Ren saw its full form clearly.
A small eagle, only a few dozen centimeters tall and wide, flapped its wings, a small scroll tied to its leg, as it flew past Ren.
"A messenger eagle?"
Ren murmured softly, as the eagle flew into the distance, becoming a dark blur that gradually disappeared from sight.
It seemed to be reporting the battle situation to the Village, he thought. He wondered if the old man would approve this time.
Ren propped his chin, thinking idly.
His performance today should have been decent, right? Uncle Fugaku and Big Brother Minato would definitely have no problems. It just depended on what the Hokage decided.
"Jonin, please approve it quickly."
Special Jonin, it always sounded a bit awkward. It was time to drop those two words in front.
Time passed as Ren's mind wandered, until someone tapped him on the shoulder, bringing him back to reality.
"Hello, it's time for the shift change."
The Chunin looked at the somewhat distracted Ren and called out softly. The latter, realizing what was happening, immediately stood up and smiled.
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you. See you later!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ren disappeared from the high platform, leaving the somewhat bewildered Chunin standing there, taking Ren's place to continue standing guard.
For Ren, who was naturally active, staying in one place was simply torture.
If the Chunin had arrived any later, Ren would have almost fallen asleep.