CHAPTER 170
Akimichi Torifu stepped forward, his sharp eyes sweeping across the peaceful atmosphere inside the camp before finally settling on Minato Namikaze.
"Minato, what's the situation here? What happened to Kumogakure's A B Combo?"
Minato still wore his gentle smile as he answered in his usual calm tone.
"Please don't worry, Torifu-sama. They've already withdrawn."
After a brief pause, he added with quiet confidence,
"They shouldn't be returning anytime soon."
Akimichi Torifu's heart skipped a beat.
Withdrawn?
He carefully examined Minato from head to toe, trying to find even the slightest trace of exhaustion or strain on the young Jonin's face.
There was none.
Minato's expression remained composed and unhurried, as though everything that had happened over the past few days had been perfectly ordinary.
Yet it was precisely that composure that shocked Torifu even more.
He understood better than most just how terrifying Kumogakure's A B Combo truly was.
For every generation of the Hidden Cloud Village, the A B Combo represented the village's strongest fighting partnership.
Especially this generation.
One was A, the son of the Third Raikage, whose mastery of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode already rivaled the strongest Shinobi of Kumogakure.
The other was Killer Bee, the perfect Jinchuriki of the Eight Tails, Gyūki.
Together, they were regarded as the strongest A B Combo Kumogakure had ever produced.
No matter how powerful Minato Namikaze was...
Driving those two into retreat could never have been as effortless as his words suggested.
However...
Everything before Torifu's eyes confirmed Minato's statement.
Several Shinobi chatted while eating together.
Some hummed cheerful tunes as they repaired fortifications.
The wounded were resting peacefully under the care of Medical Ninja.
The defensive works throughout the camp were orderly and complete.
There was no sign whatsoever of a camp that had barely survived a desperate battle.
Instead...
It looked like a camp that had secured an overwhelming victory.
Torifu slowly suppressed the waves of shock surging through his heart.
For the very first time...
He truly began reevaluating the young blond Shinobi standing before him.
"It seems..."
"The title of Yellow Flash is far more than just a rumor."
Minato simply smiled.
He didn't appear to notice Torifu's complicated thoughts.
Stepping slightly to one side, he politely cleared the path before speaking warmly.
"Torifu-sama, everyone, you've worked hard making the journey."
"Please enter the camp and rest first."
"We received word from Headquarters three days ago that your reinforcement force had departed."
"I honestly didn't expect you to arrive this quickly."
"You must have marched almost without stopping."
"The food has already been prepared."
"Please let everyone eat first and recover."
Torifu nodded.
The three hundred Shinobi behind him had indeed reached their physical limits.
After three days of nonstop forced marching, everyone was relying almost entirely on willpower.
"Then we'll accept your hospitality."
He asked no further questions.
Instead, he waved his hand toward the reinforcement force.
"Move into the camp."
The reinforcement force gradually entered the outpost.
Many Shinobi couldn't help observing their surroundings.
Although the camp wasn't particularly large, the total number of Konoha Shinobi stationed there appeared to be only around six or seven hundred.
To ordinary people, that number seemed rather small.
However...
Every veteran present understood exactly what that represented.
This had once been the defensive position personally commanded by Konoha's White Fang.
As one of the most important battlefields between Konoha and Kumogakure, its strategic significance spoke for itself.
The fact that only six or seven hundred elite Shinobi had managed to defend such a vital position demonstrated just how exceptional the quality of the forces stationed here truly was.
Guy, Ebisu, and Genma also curiously observed the camp while walking.
Not long after entering...
They spotted three familiar figures standing in an open training ground nearby.
"Guy!"
A loud and energetic voice echoed across the camp.
Without even looking...
Guy already knew who it was.
Only Uchiha Obito could shout with that much enthusiasm.
Standing beside Obito were Rin Nohara, wearing her usual gentle smile, and Kakashi Hatake, who simply gave Guy a slight nod.
Kakashi was smiling as well.
However...
Guy immediately noticed the trace of sadness hidden deep within his eyes.
He had probably already learned about Sakumo Hatake losing his left arm.
To be honest...
Guy himself had only recently discovered that White Fang had previously commanded the Land of Grass front.
During all of his earlier correspondence with Kakashi, the latter had never mentioned it.
Only after joining this reinforcement mission and overhearing conversations between Torifu and the other commanders had Guy learned the truth.
At the front of the formation, Torifu heard Obito's excited shout and looked toward Guy.
"You've found your friends?"
Guy, Ebisu, and Genma nodded together.
A knowing smile appeared on Torifu's face.
"Then go spend some time with them."
He then raised his voice toward everyone else.
"The rest of you are free to move around the camp as well."
"But don't forget you're still soldiers."
"Maintain camp discipline."
"Yes!"
Everyone responded together before gradually dispersing throughout the camp.
Meanwhile, Torifu lightly patted Minato's shoulder, signaling for him to accompany him.
There were still countless details regarding the recent battle that needed clarification.
On the other side...
Obito had already rushed over before giving Guy a heavy slap on the shoulder.
"You idiot!"
"You haven't grown much these past two years!"
"I thought you'd be taller than one point eight metres by now!"
"Hahaha!"
Guy blinked before laughing helplessly.
When he graduated from the Academy, his height had already exceeded one point seven metres.
For an eight year old child...
That was unbelievably conspicuous.
In fact, both Iwami Jūzō and Terumi Mei had once mistaken him for an older teenager because of his extraordinary physique.
That rapid growth had been caused by the initial effects of cultivating the Muscle Tendon Change Classic.
During the following two years, however, his body had gradually adapted to the technique.
Although his strength had continued increasing dramatically...
His height hadn't changed very much.
Now...
He stood at roughly one point seven five metres.
Even so...
He remained a full head taller than both Kakashi and Obito.
Of course...
That had already been the case two years ago.
Grinning mischievously, Guy raised one hand horizontally beside his chin, deliberately emphasizing the difference in their heights.
The moment Obito understood...
His face darkened.
"You bastard!"
Most of the joy of their reunion immediately disappeared.
"Hahaha!"
Ebisu and Genma immediately burst into laughter.
Obito glared fiercely at both of them.
"What are you laughing at?!"
Hearing that, the two of them instantly straightened their backs.
Although they were still noticeably shorter than Guy...
They had already grown several centimetres taller than Obito.
Obito stared blankly.
"What have you two been eating?!"
"How did you grow so much?!"
He clearly remembered that Ebisu and Genma used to be about the same height as him.
Sometimes they had even been shorter.
Now...
Both of them had overtaken him.
Obito's face immediately filled with unwillingness.
At just the right moment, Rin stepped forward with a helpless smile.
"Alright, Obito."
"It's been such a long time since everyone met again."
"Let's talk about happier things."
Kakashi also walked over before quietly looking Guy up and down.
"You've become much sturdier."
"And..."
"A lot stronger."
Guy smiled.
"So have you."
After hesitating briefly, he quietly asked,
"About White Fang-sama..."
Kakashi nodded calmly.
"I've already heard."
"My father fought the Third Tsuchikage..."
"And still managed to severely wound him."
His voice paused briefly.
A trace of complicated emotion flashed through his eyes before gradually transforming into unmistakable pride.
"...I'm proud of him."
Hearing those words...
Guy quietly relaxed.
It was obvious that Kakashi hadn't been crushed by his father's injuries.
Instead...
He had become even more determined.
The group continued chatting happily for a while.
Suddenly...
Ebisu exchanged a glance with Genma.
Adjusting his sunglasses, Ebisu casually nudged Obito with his elbow.
"Obito..."
"It's been two years."
"Shouldn't you show a little appreciation for seeing your old friends again?"
Genma calmly removed the senbon from the corner of his mouth.
"A meal would be a good start."
Obito immediately puffed out his chest.
"If it's just treating everyone to food..."
"Then let's go!"
"Who's afraid of spending a little money?!"
With that, he immediately reached out, intending to drag the three of them toward the camp cafeteria.
Guy suddenly coughed lightly.
"Tomorrow."
He smiled before continuing,
"Captain Minato already prepared dinner for everyone today."
"We shouldn't waste his kindness."
As he spoke...
He quietly winked at Ebisu and Genma.
The two instantly understood.
Their eyes lit up simultaneously.
A free meal...
Was still a free meal.
Since the reinforcement force would likely remain at the outpost for several days awaiting new orders...
There was absolutely no need to rush.
Today...
They would enjoy Captain Minato's hospitality.
Tomorrow...
They would enjoy Obito's.
Just imagining it made both of them secretly delighted.
Obito looked suspiciously at the perfectly synchronized reactions of the three.
For some reason...
He suddenly felt as though something wasn't quite right.
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