OBS Chapter 553 Will I bite you?
Chapter 553 Will I bite you?
"Bite you? To collect blood?" Minato asked in confusion. "What's going on?" He really couldn't understand why Zhang Hai would make such a strange request.
Zhang Hai: "..." He knew Kushina would definitely tell on him. He sighed helplessly, knowing that explaining now would only make things worse.
Minato looked at Kushina's puffed-up face, then at Zhang Hai's innocent "whatever" expression, and finally shook his head helplessly, not pressing the matter further. He was exhausted, his chakra almost depleted, and even speaking a few words felt strenuous.
"I...I'm so tired..." Minato felt a wave of dizziness and his body swayed as if he were about to collapse. After all, he had been fighting on the battlefield for a day and a night. Although he had the advantage of the Flying Thunder God Technique, the long hours of intense fighting and the mental pressure had taken their toll.
Upon seeing this, Kushina immediately stopped complaining, her face full of heartache. Looking at Minato's pale face and swaying body, she didn't think twice and took a step forward, stretching out her arms to gently embrace Minato's tall body.
"Minato!" Kushina's voice was full of worry and tenderness. She rested Minato's head on her shoulder and patted his back gently like she was comforting a child. "You've worked hard, Minato. Get some rest."
Minato leaned against Kushina's soft shoulder, feeling her familiar scent, and his nerves, which had been tense all day, finally relaxed. He let out a satisfied sigh, then completely lost consciousness and fell into a deep sleep. Kushina gently adjusted her position to make Minato more comfortable, then looked up and glanced around with concern.
Not far away, White Fang walked slowly over. He looked at Minato sleeping soundly in Kushina's arms, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. This kind of emotion was precisely the driving force that enabled the Konoha ninjas to persevere.
"Kushina, you did a great job," White Fang said gently. "Minato needs to rest. Leave the rest to us."
Kushina nodded gently, hugging Minato, standing there like a guardian.
White Fang turned his head to look at Zhang Hai and the surviving Konoha ninjas around him. His voice, though weary, was still full of strength.
"Alright, everyone," White Fang said in a deep voice, "Iwagakure has completely retreated, and our mission can be considered a great success. Now, everyone prepare to return to the village."
He paused, his tone becoming more serious: "Although Iwagakure has withdrawn, they will not give up easily. We have established temporary outposts behind the border for surveillance and defense. But even so, we must not let our guard down. Iwagakure's reconnaissance squads and harassment units could appear at any time, and we must be on high alert."
White Fang's gaze swept over the surrounding Konoha ninjas, and he said in a deep voice, "The main force of the Hyuga clan will arrive here soon to meet us. They will be responsible for the subsequent defense work. After they arrive, we will set off back to the village."
Upon hearing the news that he could return to the village, Zhang Hai breathed a sigh of relief. He had been working at high speed, both in combat and intelligence gathering, which had taken a huge toll on his energy. All he wanted now was to go back to the village, take a nice bath, and then get a good night's sleep.
"Finally, I can go back to the village to rest..." Zhang Hai thought to himself, and even began to plan his "leisure time" after returning to the village.
However, what Bai Ya said next shattered Zhang Hai's illusions.
"Zhang Hai." Bai Ya turned to him, her voice carrying a meaningful smile, "After you return to the village, you can rest for a day."
"One day?" Zhang Hai was delighted; one day was enough. He was about to thank him when Bai Ya continued.
"...Then, I will assign you a new mission." White Fang's tone became serious. "This mission will be your first official mission after being promoted to Chunin, and it is also a very important mission."
Zhang Hai's heart skipped a beat. He thought he could finally relax for a few days, but Bai Ya had assigned him a new task so quickly. And judging from Bai Ya's tone, this task didn't seem simple.
"Please give your instructions, senior." Zhang Hai suppressed his inner complaints and said respectfully.
White Fang nodded, his expression turning serious. "Although we repelled Iwagakure, this conflict will inevitably trigger a chain reaction throughout the entire ninja world. The relationship between Iwagakure and Kumogakure has completely deteriorated, and a large-scale war is very likely to break out. Other ninja villages will also be eager to take advantage of this situation."
He walked up to Zhang Hai, staring intently at him, his voice low and powerful: "I need you, as a Chunin, to infiltrate the Five Great Nations and the other smaller ninja villages. Gather their latest intelligence, including their military deployments, economic situation, recent movements, and their attitude towards the current ninja world situation, especially their attitude towards Konoha."
Zhang Hai frowned slightly. This was an intelligence gathering mission, and one spanning the entire ninja world. The difficulty and danger of this mission were no less than previous combat missions. In some aspects, it would even be more challenging. He had to remain vigilant at all times, conceal his identity, and avoid being discovered by any party.
"This is a comprehensive test of your abilities after your promotion to Chunin, and also a recognition of your intelligence gathering talent." White Fang patted Zhang Hai on the shoulder, his tone encouraging. "I know you have this talent, and your infiltration skills are top-notch. This mission is perfect for you."
Zhang Hai took a deep breath; he knew he couldn't refuse. This was not only Bai Ya's trust in him, but also a test. Besides, intelligence gathering was his specialty, and a crucial part of his future control over the ninja world.
“I understand, Senior Hatake,” Zhang Hai replied firmly. “I will definitely complete the mission.”
White Fang smiled with satisfaction. "Very good. I will give you the detailed intelligence gathering objectives and route planning, as well as the relevant contact methods, after we return to the village. You have one day to prepare. I hope you won't let me down."
The last rays of sunset disappeared below the horizon, and night fell completely. The Hyuga clan ninjas finally arrived and took over the defenses of the remaining Konoha forces. After properly handling the wounded and the remains of their fallen comrades, White Fang, along with Zhang Hai, Minato, Kushina, and the others, embarked on their journey back to Konoha. Along the way, Minato remained asleep in Kushina's arms, while Zhang Hai carefully considered the new mission assigned by White Fang.