Chapter 103

"Great! Minato, we're finally going to the front line!" Nawaki shouted, hugging Minato Namikaze as he jumped with excitement.

Kushina watched them with a hint of envy before turning to Tsunade, eyes wide with hope. "Sister Tsunade, what about me? I want to go too!"

"You can forget about it. You're staying here," Tsunade said, gently pushing Kushina's head aside.

If Kushina left the village now, the Third Hokage would undoubtedly be furious. Even Tsunade herself felt uneasy at the idea of Kushina going to the front lines. It was best for the girl to stay put and continue her training in the village.

"Why can't I go?" Kushina pouted.

"Stop pretending. Go change your clothes. I'll treat you all to barbecue later. Ugh, there goes my allowance…"

Tsunade winced at the thought of her nearly empty wallet. These kids were eating her into poverty. Kushina, Minato, and Nawaki were all growing fast and ate as if they had bottomless stomachs. Considering the cost of barbecue, Tsunade's wallet was practically screaming for mercy.

"Hehe!" Kushina giggled as she sipped her juice.

If Shizune were joining for barbecue, Kushina would jump to pay. But with Tsunade, it was better to keep her wallet a little empty—less money for the casino that way.

"Drink your juice," Tsunade muttered, tempted to lightly thump Kushina on the head. *You know I'm broke, and yet you order so much without offering to help pay.*

*When is the next payday?* she wondered, mentally tallying her finances. *Is there enough to visit the casino?* The answer was clear: *probably not.*

Kushina had no clue about Tsunade's financial woes, and Nawaki even less so, being the biggest eater of them all. Minato, meanwhile, felt a twinge of guilt as he had been eating on Tsunade's dime too.

The next morning, Nawaki sprinted to the village entrance, excited. He thought he was early, but Minato was already there, waiting patiently.

"Minato... How did you beat me here?" Nawaki asked, surprised.

Minato flashed a bright smile. "I was so excited I couldn't sleep, so I got up early to prepare. By the way, did you eat? I brought a bento."

The two boys sat down to share Minato's still-warm rice balls, Nawaki glancing around as he ate. "Do you think we'll be with the support troops heading to the Land of Rain?"

"I'm not sure," Minato said, looking around. There were no signs of other ninja, which seemed odd if they were joining a larger support force.

Unbeknownst to them, two ANBU squads emerged from the shadows.

"Nawaki? Namikaze Minato?"

The sudden voice startled them, and Nawaki dropped his rice ball. Minato, reacting quickly, reached for a kunai.

*What are these kids thinking?* one ANBU member wondered.

"Relax, it's just us," another ANBU ninja said, noticing their defensive stance. 

"Huh... You scared me. Did my sister send you?" Nawaki asked, letting out a breath. He was familiar with ANBU presence; they were often stationed around the Senju residence. Now that Tsunade was ANBU commander, their visits were more frequent, their sudden appearances unsettling.

"Enough chatter, brats. Follow me," the ANBU leader said curtly, waving them forward. He led them away from the main village entrance, through a concealed ANBU passage.

The journey was grueling. The ANBU team maintained a punishing pace, stopping only when absolutely necessary. Nawaki and Minato had no choice but to keep up, gritting their teeth through the exhaustion.

"Captain, is this really okay? They're just kids. They might not be able to handle this pace," one ANBU member whispered.

"If you have concerns, take it up with the commander. This is her order," the captain replied.

"..."

Tsunade's orders were clear, so they pressed on. She wanted Nawaki to understand the harsh reality of the journey, not just the battles. The young Senju needed to learn that the battlefield wasn't an adventure, but a grueling trial. She hoped he would arrive worn out, to the point that Shinki would set him straight.

She wanted Nawaki to gain valuable skills from Jiraiya, not mimic his reckless behavior.

By the time Nawaki and Minato reached the camp, they were drenched, exhausted, and shivering, looking like wilted plants. The excitement they had when leaving the village was long gone.

"Master Shinki, these are the ninja tools and supplies that Tsunade ordered us to deliver," an ANBU member reported, placing several scrolls on the table.

After confiscating the Sarutobi clan's supplies, Tsunade ensured that everything reached the front lines. She also sent the boys along for training.

*One Kushina is enough to handle. Better to send these two to Shinki and get them out of my hair,* she thought.

"Thank you for your hard work," Shinki said, securing the scrolls. "Please tell Tsunade that everything is under control here. I'll distribute these supplies as needed."

Tsunade's move to seize the Sarutobi supplies had been a bold slap to the Third Hokage's authority. However, the Third Hokage was strategic enough to use financial compensation for the Sarutobi, confident that Tsunade would not hoard the supplies.

*But what if I hold onto them a little longer?* Shinki mused. *You may control the village finances, but if I don't distribute these, you'll spend money without seeing any return. Let's see who blinks first.*

Tsunade handled what Shinki couldn't, and vice versa. They made an effective team.

"Understood," the ANBU leader nodded. Their mission completed, the squads took a brief rest before heading back.

Shinki turned to look at the two drenched, weary young shinobi. "Tsk, what a sight."

The boys' legs trembled, their exhaustion clear. The ANBU hadn't even provided rain gear, so they'd made the trek soaked to the bone.

"Shinki," Nawaki managed, a weak smile on his face.

"Teacher," Minato said, struggling to stand straight despite his shaking legs.

Shinki poured two glasses of water and placed them on the table, then sat back, observing the boys with a mix of amusement and sympathy.

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