Chapter 64

Finally calming down, Saya stepped back, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief—there was only half an hour left until the deadline for the group of shinobi heading to the front, and I really didn't want to be late.

"Besides, I can always send you a clone with a letter so you won't get bored," I tried to cheer her up.

"Alright then, go and come back alive."

Giving one last glance at Saya and casually noting her dreadful 'cuteness' in such a tearful state with swollen lips, I smiled and headed towards the door. But as I was putting on my boots, I couldn't resist hugging her once more—who knows when we'll see each other next.

"By the way, since I promised, you promise too that you won't get into anything dangerous as usual, or else..." Stepping back, I paused significantly and continued in a serious tone, "when I return, someone's rear end will be in serious trouble, and I'm not joking!"

Without waiting for a response to my ultimatum, I dashed out of the house.

"Ryo!!! Get back here, and I'll show whose rear end will be suffering now!" The shout that followed me only lifted my spirits.

Bounding across rooftops, I couldn't suppress the grin creeping onto my face—after such a farewell, Mom would hardly torment herself with silly fears. Of course, I would feel more at ease personally keeping an eye on her, but there was nothing I could do about it now. The past month had flown by too quickly. But I managed to bid farewell to everyone at least once...

Involuntarily recalling parting with Mito-chan and Linli, I barely held back a sudden rush of blood to my head. And not just for her. I wonder if they'll greet me the same way? If so, I'm ready to leave for war and return every month! The main thing is not both at once—I'd collapse under the strain.

It's a pity that during the climax at the Uzumaki house, Kushina caught us, successfully breaking through the barrier to the bedroom. The only comfort is that the innocent child's mind couldn't handle the influx of images and shut down, and Mito later convinced her it was all a dream. Otherwise, I don't know how I would have had to explain and justify what happened. I'm not ready for THAT conversation.

It's also disappointing that I'll miss Kushina's graduation. Shame. The only one I couldn't bid farewell to among the few close friends and family is Keiko—there's been no sign of her for about a year. Just over a year ago, she headed to the front and hasn't returned to the village since. But judging by the fact that the rented room is still listed under her name—she's still alive.

And you can't even send a letter—we agreed not to communicate in such a way, considering it too simple a method for breaking years of encryption. Before, I had to hide because of age differences, and now because of clan complications revolving around me—Keiko surely didn't need that kind of attention.

***

Arriving on time at the gathering place by the gates, I was struck by the number of shinobi and kunoichi assembled—on a rough estimate, there were over five hundred people. And even though the overwhelming majority wore Chunin jackets, the gathered strength was impressive. I had thought we were just joining the regular reinforcements for the front, usually around a hundred people. But here, there were already seasoned individuals gathered; judging by some of their scars—recently healed wounds are easy for a professional to distinguish—unlike me, regular Iryo-nins in the field patch up efficiently and crudely, without worrying about hiding traces on the skin.

Hence, after the war, shinobi like Ibiki appear, frightening ordinary residents of Konoha to nervous fits and wet pants. The character of scars on some clearly indicates where they fought—Sunagakure. Wind techniques leave such marks, if the fortunate ones managed to stay alive and not turn into a heap of chopped meat. It's strange that the Hokage decided on such an act—there's no desperate situation with Iwa on the front to immediately throw resting troops into a new meat grinder. Although...

Linli said about two thousand went on leave and the same remained in place after Sunagakure's defeat, so here's about a quarter. Moreover, those bearing clan insignias aren't three times more than regular fighters.

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