Inside the tent, silence reigned.
Everyone else was already asleep. Only Uchiha Kai lay awake, staring blankly at the night sky through the small window.
His face carried a heavy sigh.
So this is what it means to be cannon fodder—no rights, no dignity.
He thought of Konoha's elite Team A: guided by a proper Jounin, tested with the bell-snatching exercise, then sent on simple D-rank missions within the village. Only after bonds and teamwork were firmly forged would they be entrusted with a C-rank mission.
And then, there was their Team B.
Nothing.
A second-rate Chuunin as a so-called "instructor." Forget the bell test—no one would even think of giving them that.
Fail to grab the bells? Then what—go back to the academy to study more books? What nonsense.
Teams like his were never meant to grow. They were meant to die.
No bonds, no trust—only suspicion, backstabbing, and betrayal.
Since leaving the village, Kai had seen enough of this. Every day was filled with these ugly little tricks. The thought made him shake his head, heart weary.
What a headache…
In a squad like this, even surviving until the war's end was already an impossible task.
And now, as if things weren't bad enough, they even had Ishikawa Itsuki back with them. Just thinking of that fool made Kai's temples throb.
The next morning, after a quick breakfast, Kudo Shin gave the briefing.
"Our mission this time is to head to Watchpoint No. 27, on the western side of Uzushiogakure.
We're to keep strict surveillance over the sea. The moment we spot Hidden Mist forces, we fire a signal flare.
Then we delay the enemy as much as possible, to buy time for the main camp.
Move out."
With just that, he took the lead toward the forest beyond the front camp.
Kai and Nara Kazama exchanged a glance, then followed without a word.
Only Ishikawa Itsuki lagged behind.
Of course he could sense he didn't belong in this squad. But instead of reflecting on himself, his pride twisted it into resentment.
It's these guys holding me back.
If not for them, I'd have scored plenty of achievements during that Mist ambush. By now I might've even exchanged for new jutsu back at camp.
Instead—he got nothing. Worse, he'd even been investigated by ANBU.
And for that, he blamed them.
His eyes flashed with venom as he glared at his teammates, then snorted coldly before following.
The four moved quickly. Being shinobi, they didn't waste time walking—they leapt through the trees, flying across the forest.
By midday, they reached their assigned location: a simple wooden hut perched on the thick branches of a massive tree.
From inside, they could observe the sea through the leaves, while their position remained concealed.
"Alright, set up a watch."
"We'll split into day and night shifts. I'll pair Uchiha Kai, Nara Kazama with Ishikawa Itsuki.
For now, Kai and I will rest. You two keep watch. We'll switch come nightfall."
No one objected.
Even Ishikawa only gave a curt nod. After all, he'd already suffered once—he wouldn't openly defy orders again.
Kai said nothing, only gave Kazama a look. When Kazama nodded in return, Kai allowed himself to relax and went inside to rest.
Yes.
He didn't trust Ishikawa for a second.
That venomous glare from last night was still burned into his mind. Best to stay wary.
And Kazama wasn't stupid. Even without Kai's warning, he'd already picked up on everything.
Days passed. Six in total.
And nothing.
Not a single sign of Mist shinobi.
It was enough to make them doubt. Had they not already faced Mist ambushes, they might have assumed the intel from the village was wrong.
Is the Mist even coming?
Kai in particular felt uneasy.
Unlike the others, he knew the truth.
Shisui had told him clearly—Mist had already declared war.
And his memories of his past life confirmed it: the Mist had joined the Third Shinobi War. This was when Might Duy's Eight Gates made their name.
So the quieter it was, the more anxious Kai grew.
During a shift change, he pulled Kazama aside.
"Be careful. Something's wrong. A real fight is coming. Don't get yourself killed."
Kazama froze for a moment, then nodded firmly.
He wasn't dumb.
If Kai said something was off, then something was off.
They'd fought together long enough. He trusted Kai's instincts.
That night.
Deep in the dark hours, Kai was shaken awake by Kazama.
"There's something. Fog has risen through the forest. I suspect it's Mist technique."
Kai and Kudo Shin shot to their feet, rushing outside.
Sure enough—the forest was blanketed in a thick white fog.
Kai frowned deeply.
The sea was calm, no ships in sight. By logic, Mist shinobi shouldn't be able to cross. Yet this fog couldn't be natural—not in this season.
"Could just be coincidence," Kudo Shin muttered. "We've had eyes on the sea the whole time. How could Mist slip under our noses?"
Ishikawa sneered, shoulders shrugging, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Heh. Overreacting, aren't we?
I told Nara already—it's just fog, nothing more. But he wouldn't listen. What can I do?"
Kazama's face remained unreadable.
Their doubts and scorn didn't bother him. What mattered was only Kai.
Yes.
Talk of bonds was meaningless in this throwaway squad.
But after all they'd been through, they'd built a certain trust. More than that—they each knew the other's secrets. That alone made them allies of convenience.
Between the four of them, only he and Kai could truly rely on each other.
"I'll scout it out," Kazama said. "Kai, will you come?"
He ignored Ishikawa's barbs entirely, turning his eyes straight to Kai.
Kai frowned in thought, then nodded.
"Alright. Let's check it out. Otherwise, we won't sleep easy tonight."
Both of them looked at Kudo Shin.
He was captain. They needed his approval.
Kudo Shin's eyes narrowed. After a moment, he nodded.
"Fine. I agree. Something feels wrong—I'll join the scouting as well.
Ishikawa, are you coming?"
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