Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya's actions had seriously disrupted the Rock ninja's activities in Grass Country.
Since the war with Konoha began, the Rock ninja had been locked in intense battles against Konoha ninja, leaving them no capacity to deal with Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya.
Even if they did have capacity, they wouldn't really have any solutions—after all, Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique was just too overwhelming.
It was one thing that Minato himself could move at incredible speed—but he could also carry others while doing so.
Now that both Iwagakure and Konoha were being attacked by Kumogakure and Kiri at the same time, the battles in Grass Country were not as fierce as before.
Originally, the Rock ninja had thought since their fights with Konoha ninja were no longer so fierce, and with Kiri attacking from behind, perhaps Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya would also withdraw?
Hah! Not a chance!
Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya continued actively operating behind enemy lines, launching surprise attacks everywhere.
What's worse, two days ago, Minato and Jiraiya secretly infiltrated a Rock ninja encampment.
Jiraiya summoned frogs from Mount Myoboku and used [Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet], setting fire to a supply storage area within the Rock ninja's encampment.
That location held a large stockpile of the Rock ninja's military supplies. Losing them all to flames nearly drove them mad.
When they tried to pursue, Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya simply brushed it off and escaped using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The Rock forces in Grass Country could no longer tolerate this humiliation, yet lacked any means to deal with the threat posed by Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya. They therefore reported this matter to Onoki, hoping he could send powerful ninja capable of dealing with them.
After receiving this news, Onoki believed it was time to resolve the situation involving Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya.
If these two were allowed to continue harassing unchecked, the morale of Rock ninja in Grass Country would plummet drastically.
Currently, ninja from Kumogakure were routinely sneaking into the Land of Earth to attack Rock forces—it had become normal.
In Onoki's opinion, the main focus of Iwagakure's war efforts should now shift from Konoha to Kumogakure.
Therefore, it was essential to stabilize the situation with the Konoha ninja in Grass Country before properly confronting Kumogakure.
After pondering for a moment, Onoki summoned two individuals.
One was a man wearing purple clothing and chest armor, sporting a thick beard.
The other wore a straw hat and heavy armor.
Both were Jinchuriki of Iwagakure—the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki Roshi and the Five-Tails' Jinchuriki Han.
Onoki believed sending regular ninja would be useless—only Jinchuriki possessed the power necessary to counter Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya while also deterring the Konoha ninja in Grass Country.
Onoki said solemnly, "Roshi, Han, you two take a few shinobi and go to Grass Country. Eliminate the Konoha ninja Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya who've been constantly harassing our Iwa ninja positions!"
Roshi and Han accepted the mission, casually bringing along three shinobi just for show, before setting off toward Grass Country.
...
"Ugh, when will this endless life ever end~"
Shindai felt like he'd become an emotionless delivery machine after nearly half a year of constant deliveries.
Over these past few months, their supply station originally had 11 people, but three had been killed in action, leaving only eight remaining. Due to manpower shortages, deliveries became even more frequent—Their team leader Katsuhiko Takei even started delivering supplies personally.
More than once after returning from deliveries to camp, they didn't even get time to rest before needing to head out immediately for the next round.
Right now, it had been ages since Shindai last did something he actually wanted to do.
Obito, lying beside Shindai, looked at the sky and sighed, "This is war. There's nothing we can do about it."
Sitting next to Obito and Shindai, Rin Nohara lowered her head thoughtfully, staring at a small flower on the ground as she spoke, "We're already very lucky—we're only transporting supplies, not directly participating in frontline combat. That place really is extremely brutal."
Shindai pouted slightly, complaining with a hint of grievance, "I want a vacation! I'm exhausted! Kakashi, why don't you talk to Captain Takei? You guys keep working—I'm taking a break first."
Obito sat straight up immediately, rejecting the idea outright, "No way! We're a team. How could you, Shindai, take a break alone?"
Shindai rolled his eyes sarcastically, "Right now, I'm not even officially a Konoha ninja. Why am I working so hard for you all? I'm basically working for free! And yet I've still been considerate enough to stick around and work with you guys for months without getting paid. Don't you dare try to guilt-trip me anymore!"
Obito countered, "What guilt trip? You are a Konoha ninja now! And you're our comrade!"
Shindai replied mockingly in a strange tone, "Oh? A Konoha ninja? Then where's my forehead protector? Where's my salary? I have absolutely nothing! What exactly am I striving so hard for? For your sake because you're an idiot? Or because Kakashi's some repressed pretty boy? Or maybe because Rin's so pretty?"
Both Kakashi's and Obito's temples throbbed visibly.
Even after being together for such a long time, Shindai still always knew how to get under their skin.
But Rin didn't find Shindai annoying—in fact, he did say she was pretty.
Moreover, since Shindai became part of their team, the overall atmosphere had improved greatly. Originally, Obito and Kakashi were always arguing. Although they still bickered occasionally even now, the frequency had significantly decreased.
And Kakashi used to be cold, rational, sarcastic, and never smiled—he kept his emotions locked away.
But ever since Shindai arrived, Rin could clearly sense that Kakashi's previously sealed heart had gradually begun opening up.
Obito angrily took off his Forehead Protector and shoved it into Shindai's hands. He then reached into his pocket, pulled out his small wallet, and pressed that into Shindai's hands as well.
Shindai looked down at the Forehead Protector and wallet in his hands, puzzled as he stared at Obito. "What are you doing?"
Without responding to Shindai, Obito turned his gaze toward Kakashi and Rin Nohara. "Kakashi, Rin, hand over your money too."
Kakashi and Rin Nohara had already figured out what Obito meant. They took out their wallets and handed them over to Obito.
After receiving the wallets from Kakashi and Rin, Obito passed them all to Shindai. "Now you've got a Forehead Protector and some cash. Isn't that enough?"
Shindai looked at Obito in disbelief. "Not... seriously? Are you out of your mind?"
Shindai stuffed the three wallets into his own pocket and returned the Forehead Protector to Obito with a firm expression. "I just feel like the mission intensity has been too high lately, and I'm both physically and mentally exhausted. I only wanted to take a few days off, not quit the team entirely. Once I've had enough rest, I'll come back. And what exactly do you think I am—?! Do you really believe money can buy me off? You're underestimating me — a lot!"
Obito, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara stared at Shindai's bulging pants pockets with dead-fish stares. Then why did he stuff all those wallets into his own pocket?
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