Chapter 22: The War Begins, Are You Here for a Summer Retreat?

Early morning dreams always make people reluctant to wake up.

Opening his eyes, Hanako looked helpless.

"Hey, wake up! We need to take on a mission."

Obito shook Hanako vigorously, almost pushing him off the bed.

Kakashi stood by the bed, waiting as well.

And Rin seemed to be holding a lunchbox?

Forced to wake up, Hanako didn't even have time to wash his face before Team 9 dragged him to accept a mission.

"You guys are too enthusiastic, aren't you?"

On the way, Hanako expressed his dissatisfaction.

"Obito, didn't you say my brain was infected by mung beans yesterday?"

"I misspoke. It's my brain that got infected, no, it fell into mung bean soup." Obito deeply reflected.

"Kakashi, didn't you say there was no need to do this kind of mission?"

"If you take on the mission, I can still do it." Kakashi said seriously.

"And Rin, always stay on the side of justice."

"Huh? I always think you're right." Rin smiled brightly and handed the lunchbox to Hanako.

This time, Hanako took on a mission to "clean the bathhouse."

Originally, Team 9 was eager to try, but when they saw the contents of the mission, unsurprisingly, Obito exploded.

Because the bathhouse they were supposed to clean was the Happy Bathhouse.

"Hanako, you're going too far. You're obviously making us do your work!" Obito complained.

"That's really excessive."

Obito and Kakashi felt like they had been tricked.

This wasn't a D-rank mission; it was clearly a way to use the mission system to make Team 9 help with Hanako's private work.

"You guys are saying that as if it's wrong. The mission was assigned by Senpai Kushina and has nothing to do with Hanako." Rin voiced a different opinion.

"Rin, that bathhouse belongs to Hanako, and Senpai Kushina is just helping him out." Obito saw through Hanako's scheme with one glance.

Hanako knew that once they accepted this mission, Team 9 would definitely make a fuss again.

He was urged to accept the mission, and now they were dissatisfied with it.

Being a captain is really difficult.

Dangling at the end of the team, he checked the attribute panel.

Name: Hanako Age: 12 Strength: 114 (112+2) [Kage level] Physical Constitution: 144 (72*2) [Kage level] Agility: 92 (90+2) [Jonin level] Spirit: 80 [Intermediate immunity] Chakra Capacity: 430 Skills: None Ninjutsu: None Overall Strength Evaluation: Trainee Chunin

"Today, the physical constitution doubled."

Closing the panel, Hanako was in a great mood.

The physical constitution attribute had the highest cost-effectiveness among the four attributes. When this attribute doubled, the other attributes would also increase accordingly.

Happy Bathhouse.

Upon arriving at the entrance, Team 9 received a warm reception.

Of course, they were received by Kushina, who led them to the dusty bathhouse to clean it.

Leaving behind Obito's jealous gaze, Hanako followed Kushina and left, leaving the three of them staring at each other.

At the reception desk.

Hanako picked at his lunchbox while listening to Senior Kushina's introduction.

"I plan to hire a few people because this bathhouse is too big for one person to handle."

"Senior, do as you please!"

"Alright, I'll invite my best friend as well."

Kushina decided to bring along Mikoto.

Whoosh!

Just then, Hatake Kakashi appeared using the Body Flicker Technique.

Rarely, his expression was serious.

"Something has happened!"

"Huh?"

Seeing their teacher's expression, Hanako's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that war is about to break out?

"Just now, the village received news that the Suna Border Patrol attacked the Land of Rivers!"

"What?" Kushina exclaimed.

"The Land of Rivers?" Hanako silently repeated the name.

The Land of Rivers was located between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. If the Suna ninja wanted to attack Konoha, they would first need to advance through the Land of Rivers. Likewise, if Konoha wanted to attack Suna, they would also need to advance through the Land of Rivers.

This was a signal. If the Land of Rivers was attacked, it meant that war was coming.

"Why can't this war wait for another month? Does it have to happen now?" Hanako panicked.

Once war broke out, the village would activate wartime rules.

At that time, all ninja teams would be directly deployed by the Hokage.

"I am the pillar of the village in the future. If I get into trouble on the battlefield now, the village will suffer the greatest loss."

Hanako, thinking from the village's perspective, felt that he should stay stable.

After all, if he died in battle, it would be a small matter. The village losing a powerhouse would be the biggest loss.

"Hanako, Kushina, and I are going to the Hokage Tower. You need to be ready to go to the battlefield at any time!"

Hatake Kakashi reminded him and hastily left with Kushina.

"Alright, sensei!" Hanako agreed.

Once the two of them disappeared from view, Hanako quickly ran back home.

Go to the battlefield? Are you kidding!

The back mountain.

With a shovel in hand and a backpack on his back, Hanako stopped in a shady spot.

"The forest is dense, and there's even a stream nearby. It's truly an excellent refuge..."

Very satisfied with this location, Hanako decided to dig a cave here.

"I've left a letter at home, saying that I've gone to the Land of Baths. This excuse should barely work, right?"

It was just an excuse. Whether the teacher believed it or not, whether Team 9 believed it or not, was none of his concern.

As long as he hid here for a few months, when he emerged, he would be as strong as One Punch Man.

Just as Hanako was preparing to dig the cave, a figure stood behind him.

"What are you doing here?"

Danzo furrowed his brow, his tone somewhat heavy.

He recognized this young boy.

Thanks to yesterday's explosive tag crisis, Danzo immediately recognized Hanako.

"Uh?"

Startled by the sudden call, Hanako quickly turned around.

I haven't even started digging the cave, and I'm already discovered?

This is the dense forest of the back mountain!

But when he saw that it was Danzo, a thought crossed Hanako's mind.

"Could it be that even Danzo wants to find a refuge cave in the back mountain?"

Of course, this was just his inner thoughts and he didn't say it out loud.

After a moment of thought, Hanako put on a brave face and came up with an excuse.

"Danzo-sama! The weather has been a bit hot lately, so I wanted to come to the back mountain for a summer retreat."

After saying that, he added one more sentence.

"Are you here for a summer retreat too?"