Chapter 33: The Outpost Camp

Jiraiya led the three up the mountain. 

The winter season had stripped the trees bare, making the mountain appear bleak, and the entire landscape was clearly visible from a distance.

There were no signs of human activity, let alone the usual signs of life.

The three following behind Jiraiya remained silent. The words spoken earlier by Uchiha Jin had left Kushina and Minato Namikaze deep in thought.

As they reached the halfway point up the mountain, Jin felt a sudden shift. The scenery around him seemed to change, and in front of him appeared numerous tents, with Konoha shinobi in green flak jackets moving back and forth.

He realized what was happening.

"An illusion barrier," he muttered.

It was a combination of sealing jutsu and genjutsu, capable of distorting everyone's perception and causing them to overlook the camp, making it effectively hidden.

This type of barrier wasn't something that could be maintained by a single person.

It required multiple jonin to set up.

A massive undertaking.

As they approached the outpost, a shinobi spotted Jiraiya and immediately let out a sharp whistle.

"Tweet!!"

The sound, akin to a bird call, spread out slowly through the air.

Everyone in the outpost heard it.

In an instant.

All the shinobi in sight stopped what they were doing and rushed toward Jiraiya.

In quick succession, plumes of smoke appeared as more and more shinobi materialized.

In the next moment.

Every shinobi present knelt on one knee before Jiraiya, showing deep respect.

"Welcome, Lord Jiraiya!" their voices echoed together like a wave crashing onto the shore, creating an overwhelming impact.

"Thank you for your hard work," Jiraiya responded, his brows furrowed tightly. He waved them off, signaling for everyone to resume their tasks. Many shinobi used the Body Flicker Technique to leave immediately.

Jiraiya had now assumed command of the outpost.

Jin hadn't expected this. He was surprised to see Jiraiya command such authority.

This type of scene wasn't something you'd ever see back in the village.

In fact, this atmosphere felt more fitting for an elite jonin, a disciple of the Third Hokage.

Seeing that the three young shinobi were visibly shaken, Jiraiya explained:

"I'm the commanding officer here. The chain of command must be strictly followed."

The primary purpose of this outpost was to monitor the movements of enemy shinobi entering the area. In critical moments, it also served as the first line of defense in battles against enemy villages.

There could be no room for mistakes, as even a single misstep could lead to catastrophic consequences. This naturally created a strict and highly disciplined atmosphere.

Seeing that the three genin seemed to understand, Jiraiya continued:

"From now on, I won't be able to stay by your side. The tasks I assign to you will require you to operate independently."

He had to oversee the entire operation. While the outpost generally ran autonomously, when an elite jonin was present, it signaled that serious conflict was imminent.

What came next wouldn't be simple.

"Jin, Minato, you two can leave for now. Kushina, stay here."

The two nodded and responded, "Understood."

With a swift motion, they both vanished using the Body Flicker technique.

"Kushina, come with me," Jiraiya said, noticing her still serious expression. It was clear she hadn't fully come to terms with her thoughts yet.

He led Kushina into the main tent.

If Jiraiya had to evaluate Uchiha Jin's words earlier, he would say they weren't wrong, but he didn't fully agree either.

If Orochimaru were here, he would likely have wholeheartedly agreed with Jin's view.

But Jiraiya believed that this mindset wasn't the right one to become Hokage.

Not that he personally wanted the role of Hokage himself.

Unlike the current Team 7, among Jiraiya's old teammates, it was the quiet, genius Orochimaru who had most desired to become Hokage.

While shinobi lived in the shadows, a Hokage had to be a light that everyone could follow.

He didn't believe someone like Orochimaru or Jin could ever become Hokage.

Still, it wasn't something he could openly criticize them for.

"As long as you stay true to yourself, you'll grow strong, no matter who you are," he encouraged.

"Jiraiya-sensei," Kushina looked up at him as they entered the tent. The typically stern Jiraiya now wore a gentle smile.

Just like Minato.

A smile broke out on Kushina's face as well.

"I won't let a few words from that annoying Uchiha knock me down! I'm going to be the woman who becomes Hokage!"

"I believe in you," Jiraiya reassured her.

Each of the three had their unique strengths—Kushina's fiery determination, Minato's kindness, and…

Uchiha Jin's darkness.

Jiraiya had sensed it long ago—Jin harbored something within him, a shadow he couldn't fully understand.

Was he the so-called "Child of Darkness"?

Jiraiya wasn't sure, nor did he know what to do about it.

After all, the Child of Darkness didn't necessarily bring destruction. The vision seen by the Great Toad Sage foretold an endless cycle of conflict, but with shinobi like gods.

Even Jiraiya's heart couldn't help but waver at that thought.

He truly didn't know what to do.

Shaking off his thoughts, Jiraiya's expression turned serious again. This time, it was about official business.

"Kushina, as a genin, from now on, you are forbidden from using the Nine-Tails' power without my direct command, unless your life is in immediate danger."

If word got out that the Nine-Tails was here, Iwagakure wouldn't hesitate to attack.

"Understood!" Kushina knelt on one knee, accepting the order.

She was well aware of the gravity of the situation.

---

Meanwhile, Jin and Minato made their way to the outpost, where a young boy with blank, white eyes greeted them.

He appeared to be a few years older than Jin.

A member of the Hyuga clan.

The boy looked at both of them, but his gaze lingered on Uchiha Jin a bit longer, without any attempt to conceal it.

"Did I offend you?" Jin asked bluntly. Guessing games were too much of a hassle. If there was going to be trouble, he might as well see how tough the guy was.

The Hyuga boy stared at Jin like a predator eyeing its prey.

Just as Jin was about to lose patience and lash out, the boy finally spoke.

"My name is Hyuga Hizashi."

That name.

Jin took a moment to size up the boy. Wasn't this the future father of Neji, the one who would be sacrificed by both the village and his own clan?

He hadn't expected to meet him here.

Jin's intense gaze made Hizashi uncomfortable, as if he were looking at a dead man, and this stirred a sense of irritation in him.

"I'm also known as a genius of the Hyuga clan. We should spar sometime," Hizashi said, his fighting spirit ignited as he stared at Jin.

In recent months, the name "Uchiha Jin" had been ringing in his ears non-stop.

Now that the man himself was standing before him, it was only natural that Hizashi wanted to challenge him.

After all, the Uchiha and Hyuga clans had long been vying for the title of Konoha's greatest.

Jin finally understood.

The rivalry between Uchiha and Hyuga ran deep.

Back when he was still seen as a failure in the academy, the Hyuga clan had no interest in him. His fame only came after becoming a ninja.

Especially after he publicly insulted his clan's elders.

Since then, the Uchiha clan members had avoided him.

As for the duel…

"Some other time."

Right now, Jin didn't fully understand the situation here and had no interest in sparring with anyone.

Hizashi didn't push the issue, merely nodding before explaining the outpost's functions.

"You're both new arrivals. Since you're Lord Jiraiya's students, you'll be given a day of rest. Tomorrow, you'll receive reconnaissance assignments."

"Completing missions earns you battle merits. These merits can be exchanged in the central tent for ninja tools and herbs, or you can trade them with Lord Jiraiya for new jutsu."

After Hizashi finished explaining, Jin couldn't help but ask a question.

"Why are we using tents instead of building structures?"

"The outpost relocates every so often. Tents are easier to move," Hizashi explained.

"I see."

Hizashi wasn't one for small talk. After showing the two to their tents, he left.

When Kushina arrived, the three of them each went to rest in their own tents.

After days of travel, their bodies were exhausted.

Finally, they could rest.

---

A faint hum, like the buzzing of mosquitoes, filled the air as the outpost buzzed with activity. Though quiet, the sound was constant and a little irritating.

Jin put on his gear and stepped out of his tent.

The morning sun shone down from the sky, casting a bright light over everything, and Jin found it a bit blinding.

Shinobi came and went constantly at the outpost. No team ever stayed longer than a day.

Meeting up with Kushina and Minato, Jin noticed that their spirits had improved significantly from the day before.

However, when Kushina saw Jin, she huffed and turned her head away.

Minato smiled awkwardly.

Jin shrugged indifferently.

There was a growing tension between the three.

It wasn't enough to drive them apart, but it was clear that their differing philosophies were creating friction.

In the world of shinobi, this kind of clash wasn't unusual. Just like how Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura disagreed on many things, yet still worked together to undermine the Uchiha.

The three made their way to the mission point, where a tent housed several mission dispatchers.

These individuals weren't shinobi. They were civilians, responsible for recording and assigning tasks.

Though they weren't ninjas, no shinobi dared underestimate them.

Many of them had mastered taijutsu, even if they couldn't extract chakra.

Most were from prominent ninja clans.

"Team Seven?" A man in a white outfit and glasses, who looked somewhat wealthy, glanced at the trio.

Being disciples of Jiraiya naturally drew attention.

The man's face beamed with a smile so broad that his cheeks jiggled.

"Your mission is to investigate a nearby village. It was reported that some wandering ninjas had been spotted there, but previous reconnaissance teams didn't find anything unusual."

Since they were Jiraiya's students, he assigned them a relatively easy task.

He placed a map and mission scroll on the table.

This was considered an extremely safe mission. The outpost had already conducted several investigations there.

The village was located in a crucial area where the outpost might move, so no mistakes could be made.

That's why it had been scouted multiple times.

Minato accepted the map and scroll. With Jiraiya absent, Minato served as the team leader.

Leadership wasn't determined by strength alone but by overall qualities and the ability to manage a team effectively.

Neither Jin nor Kushina would fully trust each other to carry out orders if either of them were in charge.

"Your mission has been registered. I'll leave it to you," the man said.