Chapter 99: Return to Konoha
After Minato Namikaze escorted Kamishiro and the other three to deliver the supplies to the designated front camp, he took them back to the camp where they stayed before.
After Kamishiro returned to the camp, he finally lay on the bed he made again.
Except for meals, Kamishiro hardly moved a muscle.
After three days like this, Minato Namikaze gathered Kamishiro, Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.
Minato Namikaze said to the four of them, "The investigation is done. The jinchuriki of Iwagakure have left the Country of Grass and gone back to the Land of Earth. It seems that Iwagakure doesn't intend to let the jinchuriki participate in the war. It should be just that Teacher Jiraiya and I caused them some trouble by harassing them from the rear, so they sent the jinchuriki to deal with us."
Obito Uchiha pursed his lips. "Just some trouble? Just some trouble made Iwagakure send two jinchuriki to deal with Teacher Minato and Lord Jiraiya?"
Kamishiro wasn't interested in these things. Now Kamishiro was extremely excited and asked eagerly, "Since Iwagakure doesn't intend to let the jinchuriki participate, does that mean... we can go to Konoha?"
Minato Namikaze smiled faintly. "Yes, that's right. Now the situation in the Country of Grass has become stable, so I can take you back to Konoha. And Teacher Jiraiya will go back with us too. Pack up and let's set off right away!"
"Yeah!"
Kamishiro jumped up happily!
Kamishiro ran directly into his tent. In a hurry, he stuffed all his things into his bag at once and then came back to Minato Namikaze's side again.
After a while, Kakashi and the other two also packed up their things and joined Minato Namikaze and Kamishiro.
Kamishiro said actively, "Lord Minato! Let's set off!"
"Then let's go!"
Minato Namikaze took Kamishiro and the other three to find Jiraiya who was already ready, and then they set off on the journey back to Konoha.
...
On the way, Kamishiro noticed that Minato Namikaze always stared blankly at his right palm.
Kamishiro asked curiously, "Lord Minato, why do you always look at your hand?"
Minato Namikaze replied, "I have an idea for a new jutsu in my mind. I'm thinking about how to develop this new jutsu."
Jiraiya exclaimed in shock, "Oh? You want to create a new jutsu, Minato? What kind of jutsu is it? Maybe I can give you some advice."
Minato Namikaze stroked his chin and pondered, "It's a jutsu similar to the Tailed Beast Ball."
Jiraiya stared at Minato Namikaze with his mouth wide open.
Create a jutsu similar to the Tailed Beast Ball? You've got to be kidding me!
"...I really can't give you any advice on this. You just go for it."
Jiraiya didn't want to dampen Minato Namikaze's enthusiasm, so he just gave him some words of encouragement.
And Kamishiro's eyes lit up. It seemed that Minato Namikaze was starting to create the Rasengan.
Now Minato Namikaze is creating the Rasengan. Does that mean he can learn it later and casually create a Rasengan during a fight?
This Rasengan is a great thing. You can add anything to it.
In the future, Minato Namikaze's son, Naruto Uzumaki, will use the Rasengan to make his mark in the ninja world.
One Rasengan isn't enough? Then make another Rasengan. Still not enough? Keep making more Rasengan. Anyway, he has a lot of shadow clones, so he can create as many Rasengan as he wants.
A few days later.
Seeing the gates of Konoha finally appear in his sight again, Kamishiro felt a complex mix of emotions due to the Impermanence of Worldly Things.
Back then, he came to Konoha as an undercover agent and did everything he could to join it.
Now that he could finally join Konoha, he was no longer an undercover agent.
Truly, the Impermanence of Worldly Things! It's like life's full of unexpected twists and turns!
After entering Konoha, Kamishiro's eyes sparkled as he said to Lord Minato, "Lord Minato, treat me to a meal! I want to eat barbecue."
Lord Minato shuddered. He remembered the day he treated Kamishiro to a meal and almost emptied his wallet.
Now, besides Kamishiro, there were also Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.
Obito, like Kamishiro, was also a big eater.
However, Obito's appetite wasn't as big as Kamishiro's.
But with the four of them together, Lord Minato really didn't think his wallet could handle it.
"Let's go to the Hokage Building first to see the Third Hokage. Then let Teacher Jiraiya treat you."
Lord Minato promptly passed the responsibility of treating to Jiraiya. Anyway, Jiraiya had ryo.
Jiraiya, who hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation, slapped his chest boldly and said, "Sure, I'll treat. It's to celebrate you joining Konoha, Kamishiro. Eat as much as you want. Don't be polite!"
Lord Minato turned his head away guiltily, hoping Jiraiya had brought enough ryo.
Jiraiya and Lord Minato led the four - Kakashi and the others - into the Hokage Building and met Hiruzen Sarutobi in his office.
Seeing his disciple Jiraiya and his grand - disciple Lord Minato, Hiruzen Sarutobi was very happy.
The three of them didn't avoid discussing Konoha's current situation in front of Kamishiro.
Konoha's current situation was still quite good.
As the Cloud Hidden Village became more and more active, Iwagakure had to focus its main efforts on the Cloud Hidden Village. So, the ninjas from Konoha in the Country of Grass didn't have to be so on edge.
What Kamishiro didn't expect was that Sunagakure and Kirigakure had started fighting.
And the reason was Orochimaru's doing.
The Kirigakure ninjas originally entered the Land of Fire via its coastline, intending to launch a Sneak Attack on Konoha, but were stopped by Orochimaru.
Orochimaru set up a bait to lure the Kirigakure ninjas and the Sunagakure ninjas to meet in the Country of Tea. They fought each other and ended up with a grudge. Now, both the Kirigakure and Sunagakure had sent their ninja forces into the Country of Tea, and they were fighting with the Country of Tea as the battlefield.
Now, Kamishiro finally understood why Yugura would later be used as a bargaining chip for reconciliation with Kirigakure, betrayed by Sunagakure, and eventually assassinated as a sacrifice.
Previously, Kamishiro couldn't make sense of it. Clearly, the Land of Wind and the Land of Water were so far apart. One was a country full of deserts, and the other was surrounded by the sea. They were completely unconnected. What kind of feud could they have that would require Yugura, a hero of Sunagakure, to be sacrificed for reconciliation?
Iwagakure was going to fight with Cloud Hidden Village, and Sunagakure was also going to fight with Kirigakure.
Originally, Konoha, which was in the most difficult situation, now had the best situation instead.
After finishing the formal discussion, Minato Namikaze began to praise the performances of Kamishiro, Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe and gave a kind smile, "Katsuhiko has also told me about your performances. You've done very well. So, Obito and Rin, I hereby decide that you will be promoted to Chunin. And for Kakashi, you'll be promoted to special elite ninja."
Obito was happy at first, but as soon as he heard that Kakashi was promoted to special elite ninja, he got unhappy again. He was still one step below Kakashi!
Jiraiya said with a grin, "Oh, an 11 - year - old special elite ninja. You're the first one, Kakashi."
Under Kamishiro's expectant gaze, Minato Namikaze said seriously,
"Third Hokage, I vouch for Kamishiro in my own name. I request that the Third Hokage approve Kamishiro to join Konoha!"