nyslfriends Chapter 179 Able to lay down the knife, yet able to pick it up again.
Chapter 179 Able to lay down the knife, yet able to pick it up again.
dusk.
A ray of golden-red light struggled to sink behind the outline of the Hokage Rock, casting a long and distant shadow over the entire Hidden Leaf Village.
The autumn wind swept up a few withered yellow leaves, which swirled in the air and silently landed on the ground in front of the village gate.
The air was filled with a chilling atmosphere, completely different from what it had been half an hour earlier.
If we say that the Western Eyes led by Hatake Sakumo are like a sharp blade slowly drawn from its sheath, gleaming with a cold, icy light, their aura sharp and direct.
The troops gathered here at this moment are more like a deep, tranquil lake.
On the surface, it appears calm and undisturbed, but beneath lies a turbulent undercurrent, harboring a strange power capable of completely devouring one's mind and spirit.
The Yuki clan.
The Saddle Horse Clan.
The most elite members of the two ancient clans in Konoha Village are standing here quietly at this moment.
They lacked the fervent fighting spirit of the Inuzuka clan, and the eerie presence of the Aburame clan surrounded by swarms of insects.
They simply stood there quietly, the countless ninjas seemingly blending into the surrounding scenery, their breathing almost inaudible, their presence suppressed to the minimum.
Discipline is engraved in the spirit, subtle yet powerful.
At the very front of the group stood three figures.
Leading the group was none other than the advisor elder, Mitomon Homura.
He removed his advisor's robe, a symbol of power, and put on a dark, tight-fitting combat suit. It was a rather old-fashioned outfit, but it was extremely well-maintained, with each armor plate polished to a gleaming shine.
His posture remained as upright as a pine tree, and the wrinkles etched on his face by years of handling complicated official duties, under the setting sun, did not show his age but instead revealed a texture as hard as rock.
Mitomon Enoki is no longer the politician who haggles over every little detail in the meeting room, but a warrior who has shed his disguise and revealed his true colors once again.
Behind him stood two men with completely different demeanors.
The man had a handsome face and a refined demeanor. His short black hair was meticulously styled. He was none other than the patriarch of the Yuhi clan, Yuhi Shinku.
The other person had a cold and aloof demeanor, with a sculpted face and sharp, angular features. His eyes were hidden in the shadows of his bangs, making them difficult to see clearly.
He was Kurama Unkai, the patriarch of the Kurama clan, another ancient illusion family in Konoha.
They will be Mitokado Haru's most reliable right-hand men on this trip.
"Um...."
Mitomon Homura's sharp gaze calmly fixed on the northwest sky, as if he had pierced through layers of mountains and seen the land covered by rocks.
Those eyes, which were always habitually half-closed as they scrutinized various documents and budgets, were now fully open.
"Sakumo and the others have already set off?"
He didn't turn around; his calm voice broke the silence of the place.
Standing to her side and behind, Kurenai Yuhi nodded.
The young patriarch of the illusion family wore his usual gentle and composed expression, his short black hair fluttering gently in the evening breeze.
"Yes, it's a bit earlier than expected."
There was a hint of amusement in Yuhi Makoto's voice.
"That guy Inuzuka Tsubasa has been yelling about setting off for ages, hahaha."
"Sakumo is getting impatient. Oh right... their trip to the Land of Wind is to investigate new breeding species for the farm. It's said to be an S-rank agricultural research mission specially approved by the Hokage."
These slightly teasing words caused a slight twitch to appear at the corner of the mouth of Kurama Unkai, the patriarch of the Kurama clan, who stood on the other side with an aura as icy as a ten-thousand-year-old iceberg, hidden beneath his high-necked trench coat.
Upon hearing this, a hint of helplessness appeared on Mitokado Homura's usually serious face.
He could imagine how Inuzuka Tsubasa, that rough-around-the-edges guy, would yell at Sakumo after they arrived at the border.
"Well, it's alright, the three units will depart in batches anyway."
Just then, a steady sound of footsteps came from behind.
Koharu's figure appeared in everyone's sight.
She wasn't wearing combat gear, just a smart dark casual outfit, and walked over step by step.
His gaze swept past everyone else and landed directly on Mitokado Homura's back.
That look in his eyes was very complicated.
There was concern as a companion, worry for an old friend going to the front lines, and above all, a bond that needed no words, forged through countless trials and tribulations together.
"inflammation."
When Xiaochun from the dormitory spoke, her voice was as sharp as ever, but it was a little softer than when she was in the conference room.
Mitokado Yan slowly turned around.
"Xiaochun, you didn't need to come all this way to deliver it."
"Well, I'm here to check...whether your old bones will fall apart if you put this outfit on again."
Koharu's words were still sharp, but anyone could hear the concern in them.
Mitokado Homura looked at his old friend with whom he had worked for half his life and suddenly smiled.
That smile smoothed out the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, making her look twenty years younger.
He gently moved his shoulders, and his joints made a soft but clear cracking sound, a sound that belonged to a soldier, a long-lost revival.
"Don't worry, Xiaochun."
Mitomon Homura raised his hand and looked at his hands, which had been holding pens for years and dealing with countless complicated documents.
The palms still retain the thick calluses that have been worn down from years of training.
"I'm leaving the rear to you."
Mitokado Homura's gaze passed over Utatane Koharu, looked at the village where the lights were gradually coming on, and then landed on the rock carving.
"It's time to let them see..."
His voice, at this moment, became low, yet full of power.
"A disciple of the Second Hokage, an elder of Konoha, who can lay down his sword, can also pick it up again."
These words startled both Yuhi Shinku and Kurama Unkai.
They looked at this advisor elder who always emphasized rules and prudence, like a ballast stone for the village.
The last trace of worry in my heart slowly dissipated.
With a commander possessing such a strong will, we can rest assured about this operation.
Koharu opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she just nodded vigorously.
"I see."
Be careful.
"Um."
Mitokado Yan took one last look at her, then resolutely turned away.
He patted Xiaochun, who was turning over in the dormitory, on the shoulder. The pat was heavy, full of entrustment and trust.
He then straightened his clothes and faced the ninjas in front of him, whose spirit and will were united as one.
His voice was no longer calm, but carried a sharp edge that belonged to the battlefield.
"Set off!"
No unnecessary words.
A simple word, yet it's like an instruction to turn on a switch.
The moment the words fell.
Mitokado Yan, who was standing at the very front, was the first to become blurry.
He used a clever technique that employed light and shadow and visual illusions to make himself appear as if he were swallowed up by the shadows of the trees.
Immediately afterwards, Yuhi Shinku and Kurama Unkai, along with the countless ninjas they led, also began to "disappear" in the same bizarre way.
Their figures slowly faded away, leaving only a distorted shadow, like ink melting in water.
As the evening breeze blew, only a few swirling fallen leaves remained on the spot.
That force, exuding an elegant yet mysterious aura, silently plunged into the forest in front of Konoha Village, speeding northwest towards the rugged mountains.
At the deserted village entrance, only Tsukushi Koharu remained, standing quietly.
She gazed at the forest, which had returned to peace, and remained motionless for a long time.
how many years?
Since their teacher's sacrifice and Hiruzen's succession as Hokage, the two of them have both retired to the sidelines.
They tempered their sharp edges, one becoming a demanding advisor, the other a rigid iron lady, each using their own methods to protect the village that Hiruzen had fought so hard to safeguard.
Over time, they themselves, and even the entire village, almost forgot about it.
They were once elite ninjas who struck fear into the hearts of many on the battlefield.
They were once the sharpest blades following behind the fastest ninja in the world, tearing apart enemy formations.
Only when the last wisp of wind had dissipated did Koharu slowly withdraw her gaze.
She straightened her back and turned to walk towards the village.
His steps were steady and firm.
The front lines have been handed over to them.
Therefore, protecting this home became her, Nara Kazumi's, and all the remaining staff's battlefield.