Chapter 53

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Chapter 53: Rookies on the Field

As soon as Kakashi finished speaking, both Koshino and Guy froze for a moment, simultaneously drawing in a sharp breath.

During the past month's training, an ominous feeling had constantly loomed over Koshino, making him aware that the clouds of war were likely about to descend.

However, even though Koshino thought he was prepared, hearing the confirmation of war from Kakashi's mouth still made him feel a bit nervous.

Pre-battle jitters!

As a battlefield rookie, Koshino's nervousness was understandable. In contrast, Guy's anxiety stemmed from his concern for the state of Konoha Village.

Unlike Koshino, who was essentially an "outsider" and didn't care much about Konoha's situation, Guy, being a "native," regarded Konoha's honor as equivalent to his own life. 

So when Kakashi mentioned that the war was about to begin, Guy clenched his fists tightly and asked with a grave expression, 

"Kakashi, is it that the Iwagakure still refuses to give up? Damn it, they were supposed to sign a peace agreement, and now those scoundrels from Iwagakure want to back out?"

"Iwagakure?"

Hearing Guy's words, Koshino slowly came back to his senses and furrowed his brows.

Based on the original storyline of the Third Great Ninja War, after the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, the conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure should have ended. 

It was unlikely, as Guy suggested, that Iwagakure was preparing to wage war against Konoha again, leading to the current situation.

When Guy mentioned Iwagakure, Kakashi's eyes indeed showed a hint of sorrow, as if mourning the "fallen" Obito Uchiha.

Without responding to Koshino or Guy, Kakashi, immersed in his own grief, let out a deep sigh and said, 

"Koshino, Guy, war is not something we small fry can control, so just follow me to the assembly point."

"The advance team led by the Fourth Hokage is ready to set out."

"Guy, as a member of the Fourth Hokage's guard, you must quickly go and join the Fourth Hokage."

"As for Koshino..."

Kakashi looked at Koshino apologetically and continued, "Koshino, I have an important mission to carry out before the battle. 

Since you don't have the ability to lead a team on your own, the Fourth Hokage has temporarily assigned you to the guard team. Hurry and join Guy for the assembly!"

"Koshino, remember, on the battlefield, you must be clear about your role."

"The battlefield... is not child's play; it's a place where people really die!"

"Understood!"

Although he didn't know what secret mission Kakashi had to execute, Kakashi's words to Koshino made him feel a bit more favorable towards him.

Indeed.

From the moment he met Kakashi, Koshino hadn't had a good impression of him.

Selfish, arrogant, petty.

Every trait Kakashi displayed wasn't the kind that made him easy to approach, and given the differences from the original storyline, Koshino couldn't help but have some mixed feelings.

However, Kakashi's indifferent yet earnest advice to Koshino at this moment finally allowed Koshino to understand that Kakashi wasn't as unapproachable as he seemed. 

It was just that, at this stage, Kakashi was still using coldness to mask his inner self, using an exclusionary attitude to hide his inner pain.

Then, following Kakashi's instructions, he headed to a secret gathering spot.

At that gathering place, Koshino, wearing an Anbu mask, was undoubtedly the most eye-catching figure.

Because there, aside from the relatively young ninjas like Guy, and others such as Lighningden, Tatami, and Genma Shiranui, the rest of the ninjas were at least in their twenties, indicating their extensive battlefield experience. 

As a ninja even younger than Guy and the others, Koshino naturally drew everyone's attention.

However, even with the mask on, Koshino, despite his young age, held the status of an Anbu member. 

Those seasoned ninjas certainly couldn't just approach Koshino for a chat. 

As Koshino was about to step onto the battlefield, under the curious gazes of the crowd, he silently sensed the distribution of strength among those around him.

But who could have imagined that before Koshino had time to familiarize himself with his companions, a familiar voice echoed from the front of the group.

That familiar voice was none other than Koshino's uncle!

Nara Shikaku!

"So Uncle Shikaku is our commander!"

"Seems like I'll have some perks once I enter the battlefield!"

Silently grateful to be entering the battlefield under the command of someone familiar, unfortunately, Koshino's smile quickly faded.

And the reason? It's simple, because Nara Shikaku was Koshino's commander!

With a protective mindset, Shikaku would rather die himself than let Koshino personally step onto the battlefield.

Even though Shikaku also knew that entering the battlefield could potentially help Koshino grow faster, as Kakashi said, the battlefield is not a place for children to play; it's a place where people could truly die. 

So, even to avoid a one in a thousand chance, Shikaku would rather have Koshino remain hidden among the majority.

Thus, for the next few days, Koshino spent his time in boredom.

Being a member of the Fourth Hokage's guard team and holding an Anbu identity, at the very least, he should be observing the battle from a command position, feeling the atmosphere of the battlefield, right?

But under Shikaku's arrangement, Koshino ended up as a logistics personnel!

Apart from escorting supplies with Tatami daily, Koshino spent most of his time mingling with medical ninjas, ostensibly to protect the medical ninjas and the safety of the injured from Konoha.

In reality, even those medical ninjas knew that Koshino was simply there to "take refuge," leading to Koshino quickly becoming a part of the medical unit.

"Shadow, deliver this medicine to Medical Camp No. 3!"

"Shadow, hurry up and help me carry the wounded inside!"

"Shadow, stop daydreaming and help me mix the medicine!"

Every day in the medical unit, Koshino, as an Anbu member, perfectly embodied the role of a "temporary worker," even in the medical unit, he was a jack-of-all-trades.

Whenever someone had trouble, the first person they thought of was the young yet reliable Koshino.

Over time, Koshino thrived in the medical unit, becoming an indispensable presence. 

If Koshino wasn't around for a day, even the medical ninjas felt something was off, and the injured from Konoha lost a target for their banter. In short, their joy was built on Koshino's presence.

As for Koshino's life in the medical unit, simply put, it was a mix of training and odd jobs.

In terms of training, needless to say, using the Shadow Clone training method, Koshino became even more proficient in mastering the Fourth Hokage's secret techniques. 

In fact, while "doing odd jobs" in the medical unit, Koshino, who only knew a bit about pharmacology, became half a medical ninja, capable of providing emergency treatment to some injured soldiers.

But just as Koshino was following the medical unit, having been on the field for about ten days as a rookie, an unexpected incident occurred!

And it was precisely because of that incident that Shikaku's plan completely fell apart, causing Koshino, who was advancing with the medical unit, to be caught in a life-and-death predicament!

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