CHAPTER 150
Inside the mess hall, the atmosphere was lively and noisy. Everywhere, Shinobi were discussing the events that had unfolded the previous night.
"Did you hear? At Outpost No. 8, Captain Uchiha Feiquan led his unit and actually killed Iwagakure's Four-Tails Jinchuriki!"
"Of course I heard! That Four-Tails Chakra phantom appeared in the sky. Who could have missed it? The Uchiha really made a name for themselves this time!"
"Iwagakure is definitely going to retaliate, right? Their Jinchuriki is dead..."
"Retaliate? Let them come! Since when has Konoha ever feared Iwagakure?"
"The Uchiha already killed one. If another enemy comes, they'll kill that one too!"
Amidst the constant discussions, the atmosphere around one table beside the wall was somewhat subtle.
Might Guy, Ebisu, and Genma sat on one side.
Opposite them sat Kurenai Yuhi, Shikuro Nara, and Asuma Sarutobi.
Kurenai sat at the far left, resting her chin lightly on one hand while her beautiful crimson eyes remained fixed on Might Guy. Watching him eat with his usual hearty appetite, the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upward. She barely touched her own food, instead quietly moving untouched dango and roasted meat from her bowl onto Guy's plate whenever no one seemed to be paying attention.
Shikuro Nara, seated beside her, was no less generous.
Without saying a word, he calmly and efficiently kept placing newly served food into the bowls of Guy, Ebisu, and Genma. Although his expression beneath his sunglasses was difficult to read, his intention of making sure everyone ate their fill couldn't have been more obvious.
Meanwhile, Asuma Sarutobi, seated at the far right, wore a rather gloomy expression.
There was certainly plenty of food.
The problem was...
He was paying for all of it.
Still, he had a perfectly reasonable excuse.
This meal was repayment for Might Guy saving his life during the ambush several days earlier.
Faced with such a generous benefactor who had willingly opened his wallet, Ebisu and Genma naturally showed no restraint whatsoever.
For some reason, today's mess hall had also prepared a far more luxurious meal than usual.
Several ingredients normally reserved for special occasions had all been brought out.
Naturally...
The price was much higher.
Asuma's wallet...
Much like his current mood...
Was silently shedding tears.
Watching Kurenai's gaze remain almost completely fixed on Guy...
Watching her repeatedly place food onto Guy's plate...
Asuma could only sigh silently in his heart again and again.
What could possibly feel worse than treating your romantic rival to a meal...
Watching the girl you liked exchange silent glances with him...
While you were the one paying the bill?
If he had been old enough, Asuma genuinely felt that now would have been the perfect time to light a cigarette.
Perhaps the drifting smoke could hide the complicated emotions filling his heart.
Even so...
He paid for this meal willingly.
After all, the debt of saving his life was real.
That favor had to be repaid.
Besides, buying a meal...
And feeling depressed...
Were two completely separate matters.
They couldn't be mixed together.
Asuma silently comforted himself.
Yet despite his efforts, his peripheral vision still drifted toward Kurenai.
At that moment, Kurenai casually tilted her head and gently brushed several loose strands of hair behind her ear.
The seemingly natural movement exposed more of her slender, fair neck.
Around it rested a delicate necklace made from several smooth crimson coral beads.
Under the light, it emitted a warm and gentle luster.
Its color perfectly matched her beautiful wine-red eyes.
It suited her flawlessly.
Every time Kurenai made that little gesture...
Might Guy's movements while eating paused ever so slightly.
Then he would look up toward her.
A broad smile immediately spread across his face as he chuckled happily.
He naturally understood.
Kurenai was deliberately showing it to him.
That crimson coral necklace...
Was the gift he had given her.
Before leaving the Land of Waves, he had borrowed three Military Merits from Genma and exchanged them at Konoha's Merit Exchange Office for that necklace.
Although it wasn't particularly valuable...
On a battlefield where survival itself was uncertain, the effort Guy had put into finding an accessory with exactly the right color that suited Kurenai so well...
Was already enough to show how much thought he had invested in it.
These subtle exchanges between the two...
Naturally didn't escape Asuma, who sat right beside them.
He silently lowered his head and shoveled two large mouthfuls of rice into his mouth.
Yet somehow...
Everything tasted completely bland.
After everyone had nearly finished eating, Ebisu finally put down his chopsticks, adjusted his sunglasses, and lowered his voice with a curious expression.
"By the way, Asuma, Shikuro..."
"You two serve directly under Captain Inoichi, so you should know more than we do, right?"
"What exactly happened last night?"
"What kind of intelligence did Captain Inoichi obtain from Roshi's corpse?"
"When Commander Torifu returned, his expression looked terrible."
The question immediately attracted Guy's and Genma's attention as well.
Everyone turned toward Asuma and Shikuro.
Asuma slowly shook his head.
His expression also became noticeably more serious.
"I don't know the details."
"Captain Inoichi hasn't revealed a single word."
He hesitated briefly before lowering his voice even further.
"I only know Commander Torifu personally issued a gag order."
"No one is allowed to investigate or discuss that intelligence."
"However..."
He glanced around the bustling mess hall before continuing.
"This morning Commander Torifu also ordered every unit to raise its alert level."
"All patrols have been reinforced."
"Every team has been ordered to minimize unnecessary movement."
"All non-essential missions have been suspended."
"He personally said..."
"'During this period, everyone must remain vigilant.'"
"'Iwagakure could attack at any moment.'"
Hearing that, Guy and the others weren't particularly surprised.
After all...
Their Jinchuriki had been killed.
If Iwagakure didn't retaliate, that would have been the truly strange outcome.
"I just wonder who they'll send this time."
Ebisu muttered quietly.
"No matter who it is..."
"It definitely won't be someone easy to deal with."
Asuma replied before looking seriously at the three of them.
"If..."
"If fighting really breaks out..."
"Stay close to us."
"Captain Inoichi's unit..."
"...has sufficient protection."
His words were brief.
Yet everyone immediately understood what he meant.
With multiple Jonin guarding Inoichi's Intelligence Division, remaining close to them would naturally be safer if the battlefield descended into chaos.
Ebisu grinned broadly before slapping Asuma on the shoulder.
"That's awfully generous of you, Asuma!"
Guy also nodded sincerely.
"Thank you, Asuma."
He accepted the goodwill without hesitation.
Not merely because of safety.
Ever since seeing Commander Torifu's grave expression that night...
Watching Inoichi exhaust himself transmitting intelligence back to Konoha...
And observing today's seemingly cheerful yet subtly tense atmosphere throughout the camp...
Guy had developed an increasingly strong feeling.
The true situation...
Might be far more serious than anyone imagined.
The unrevealed intelligence weighed heavily on his mind like a stone.
Still...
Regardless of the circumstances...
Since Konoha already possessed advance warning...
They would undoubtedly make corresponding preparations.
Likewise, Iwagakure must also be frantically adjusting their own plans.
Although he couldn't predict exactly what would happen next...
He only needed to stay prepared.
And wait.
After finishing their meal, everyone exchanged simple farewells before returning to their respective camps.
All that remained now...
Was to await further orders.
However...
What Might Guy hadn't expected...
Was just how quickly Iwagakure would move.
On the morning of the third day after that gathering, just as dawn began breaking across the horizon and most Shinobi were either still asleep or engaged in their morning training...
"Whoooosh!!!"
A shrill, piercing alarm whistle suddenly exploded throughout the center of Konoha's entire main encampment without any warning.
Almost immediately afterward...
A second whistle sounded.
Then a third.
"Whoooosh! Whoooosh! Whoooosh!!!"
Three long blasts.
One short blast.
Repeated again.
And again.
Every veteran who had experienced war recognized that signal immediately.
It meant only one thing.
A large-scale enemy assault.
Emergency mobilization.
In an instant...
The entire Konoha headquarters on the Land of Rice Fields front...
Was jolted awake by the piercing alarm.