Chapter 52: Team Kakashi About to Depart
"Transport supplies?"
"Correct. You need to deliver this batch of medicine, ninja tools, and provisions to Mount Kinko. Although this wave of Mist attacks was repelled, no one knows when the next attack will come. So the necessary preparations can't be neglected—we must complete supply resupply to all defensive positions as quickly as possible."
Deputy Commander Aburame Torune sat in his chair, nodding toward Kakashi standing before the desk.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes slightly, a map of the eastern coastal region of the Land of Fire surfacing in his mind. Mount Kinko was northeast of the forward camp—one of the largest defensive positions in the long line established against the Mist. Over two hundred Konoha shinobi were stationed there.
At the same time, Mount Kinko also bore the responsibility of serving as a secondary command center. Nearly ten smaller defensive positions further north were too far from the forward camp. To respond more flexibly to sudden situations, Mount Kinko assumed management and command duties for them.
In other words, the supplies being sent to Mount Kinko weren't solely for that position's use—they also included provisions for nearly ten defensive positions further north. It could be said this was a very important mission. The forward camp's task rating classified it as S-rank.
"Just our squad?"
Kakashi frowned slightly.
"Indeed, by the rules, for such an important mission, dispatching multiple squads in joint operation would be more secure. But the current situation is that manpower is scarce. Though we blocked the Mist's assault during the previous period, we also sacrificed many comrades in doing so. To make matters worse, the Cloud shinobi in the northeast are stirring restlessly. Even your teacher had to rush over there to deter them."
Aburame Torune's expression was calm, showing not the slightest ripple—as if he wore a mask named "Composure." "Kakashi jonin, we don't have any spare personnel to assign you. We can't even provide you with a squad of chunin or genin. I can only ask you to be extra careful."
Hearing this, Kakashi fell into silence.
"Of course, considering the importance of these supplies you're transporting, we'll naturally provide you support as much as possible. The Hyuga clan head, Hyuga Ritsu, is currently at Mount Kinko. I'll order him to depart from Mount Kinko to meet you. If all goes smoothly, you can rendezvous midway."
Seeing Kakashi remain silent, Aburame Torune spoke again to inform him of this good news.
Hearing this, Kakashi's eyelids twitched. After over ten more seconds, he finally asked, "When do we depart?"
There was no helping it.
This mission had fallen on his head with no way to refuse. Using silence to express dissatisfaction was his limit. Aburame Torune could have completely avoided speaking with him like this—directly issuing a written order would have been perfectly acceptable.
That he received this treatment was undoubtedly due to Minato-sensei's influence.
So he should quit while he was ahead.
Having White Yaksha meet them midway was already quite good.
Seeing this, Aburame Torune immediately answered, "If there are no accidents, you can depart in one hour. Logistics is currently counting and inspecting all the supplies that need to be transported to Mount Kinko. They'll prepare everything. In a moment, just take your order authorization to the logistics department to collect the supplies."
Kakashi walked out in poor spirits.
If it were just himself, whether climbing mountains of blades or descending into seas of fire, he wouldn't fear—at worst, he'd die. But leading a squad required careful consideration. He'd promised Obito he'd definitely protect Rin.
It was just that ultimately, he was only a jonin. Even with the reputation of a genius, he still only had the role of being ordered about to risk life and limb.
At this moment, it was midday. The sunlight blazed fiercely, the air was scorching hot—even the wind had disappeared without a trace. Under a large tree not far away, three teammates hid in the shade, avoiding the still somewhat vicious sunlight.
"We're almost in September already!"
Kakashi raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring, burning light, muttering under his breath.
The teammates waiting under the tree shade also saw Kakashi approaching and immediately perked up.
Nohara Rin bounded forward cheerfully like a young deer, meeting Kakashi and asking, "Kakashi, how did it go? What's the new mission?"
"Are we launching a counteroffensive against the Mist?"
Hyuga Akiba asked excitedly, rubbing her fists together eagerly as if she couldn't wait to properly teach the Mist a lesson.
Uchiha Aika said nothing, arms crossed over her chest, waiting for Kakashi to speak.
"It's a supply transport mission."
Kakashi answered.
"What? It's not a counteroffensive?"
Hyuga Akiba was greatly disappointed, dropping her head and sighing heavily.
"Transport supplies? Which defensive position?"
Uchiha Aika spoke up to inquire.
"Mount Kinko."
Kakashi didn't conceal it.
Barring any surprises, they'd be departing in an hour. He needed to seize this time to inform his teammates of the mission details so they could prepare as thoroughly as possible.
"Mount Kinko?"
Uchiha Aika's slender, elegant eyebrows immediately furrowed slightly. "Mount Kinko bears the responsibility of a secondary command center. The supplies being transported there aren't just for their own use—they definitely also include provisions for those eight smaller defensive positions to the north... Kakashi-taicho, how many squads total are executing this mission?"
Kakashi's face was concealed by his mask, but from the small movements of his shifting body, his discomfort was evident. He said quietly, "Just our squad."
"Eh?"
Hearing this, Nohara Rin immediately widened her round eyes, instinctively blurting out, "Kakashi, just our squad? This is too..."
She swallowed the second half of her sentence in time.
She didn't want to make Kakashi uncomfortable.
But Uchiha Aika didn't care about such things. She said bluntly, "Kakashi-taicho, didn't you complain to Deputy Commander Aburame Torune? Having just our squad bear such a heavy mission is too excessive! If word leaks out, what awaits us will definitely be pursuit by large Mist forces! To be blunt, this is practically sending us to our deaths!"
"I know. I did raise objections. But Deputy Commander Aburame Torune's response was that manpower is currently scarce and they really can't deploy more personnel. He just told us to do our best to overcome difficulties. The only help he can provide is that he'll contact the Hyuga clan head, who's currently at Mount Kinko, to meet us en route."
"Eh? Ritsu-nii is coming to meet us?"
Excitement lit up Hyuga Akiba's pure white eyes. She counted on her fingers and said, "If Ritsu-nii is meeting us midway, we just need to find a way to endure the first half of the journey. Once we rendezvous with Ritsu-nii, we'll be safe."
Her words were filled with complete trust in Hyuga Ritsu.
"The Hyuga clan head... That White Yaksha?"
Uchiha Aika raised an eyebrow. If that was the case, it was barely acceptable. She'd also been hearing White Yaksha's name constantly recently.
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