Dawn bled into the sky.
By Konoha's gate a crowd of shinobi had already gathered. Most faces shone with yearning, clearly fresh graduates bound for the front. Only those who had seen battle or came from clans carried tight, wary expressions.
Time trickled.
Kudo Shin led Uchiha Jin and the other two to the lead jonin, Miyamoto Yukie.
"Lady Miyamoto, Class B Squad Seven reporting."
"Mm. Fall back and wait."
She nodded, then waved them off.
Once they reached a quiet corner, Kudo's voice turned firm.
"A quick brief."
"Kirigakure has not formally declared war on us."
"The other fronts cannot spare men, so we will hold the line at the ruins of Uzushiogakure for now."
"Lady Miyamoto commands this column."
"You do not need the rest. Remember one thing on the field. Orders from above must be carried out, no matter what."
"Now we wait."
"When the column is formed and the supply escorts arrive, we move."
Nara Kazama and Jin both nodded, faces set.
Discipline decided life and death.
Shinobi were weapons.
Ishikawa Itsuki did not see it that way.
"Everyone, relax."
"With me, top three in class, I will protect you."
"Just trust me."
Jin and Kazama's mouths twitched.
Their squad leader was right there, and this guy was already angling for the throne.
They had looked down on him before. Now they were speechless.
Fools like this died fastest.
They quietly resolved to keep their distance.
Kudo's look grew complicated, then cooled. He did not bother to argue. The war had taught him what happened to arrogant civilians.
A shimmer bent the air.
When everyone blinked, a man with a tachi at his hip and the Uchiha fan on his vest stood before them.
Uchiha Shisui.
"Lord Shisui."
"Greetings, Lord Shisui."
Bows rippled through the crowd.
Though his title of Body Flicker Shisui had yet to spread, Shisui's battlefield record had earned him a name in Konoha. He was a true Uchiha talent, not a waste or a nobody.
Shisui smiled. "I am here for Jin."
"Leader, I will step away a moment," Jin said, frowning slightly to Kudo.
Kudo nodded at once.
Jin and Shisui walked off a short way. Kudo and Kazama watched their backs with new eyes.
Jin's ties ran deeper than they had guessed.
Away from the crowd, Shisui handed Jin a mesh underlayer.
"I forgot yesterday. Take it now."
"The field is vicious, and this is your first campaign. As your elder brother I have to patch the gaps."
"It is a chain mail inner shirt, mixed with a little star iron and refined steel."
"Put it on. Let me see the fit."
"…"
Jin eyed the webbed shirt and frowned.
He had no interest in wearing it, and he believed no one would touch him anyway.
He could not refuse Shisui's worried face.
Of all the years since he crossed over, he had not expected to feel this kind of care again. Shisui was too good to him, and that only tightened the knot in his chest. The clan's mess was beyond ugly.
He drew a breath and pulled the shirt on.
"Good. That eases me a little. One more thing."
"ANBU just reported it. Kirigakure declared war yesterday. Your column was not told."
"Your true mission is to buy time for Konoha."
"The Hokage has ordered our clan to muster elites. Lord Fugaku will take command of the Mist front."
"So hold out."
"If you last half a month, I will find a way to transfer you to my squad."
Jin's face changed.
Even knowing they were cannon fodder, hearing the details chilled him.
Real cannon fodder.
Their survival rate would be tiny.
Still, gratitude welled up. This was classified, and Shisui had risked much to tell him. It was proof of trust.
He nodded, then decided to return a little.
Just enough to spare Shisui needless worry.
He lowered his voice.
"Do not worry, Shisui."
"I will tell you a secret. Tell no one. Not the Hokage, not the clan head."
"I am not that useless."
"Those three, including Yoshio, I killed them."