Naruto: We Agreed on a Simulation, But They Actually Came to Life?

Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Leaving the Village

When the afternoon light fell into the apartment, Kitahara Kaede was asleep.

After returning from Katō Dan’s house, he had thought everything through.

So when he lay down on the bed to rest, he unknowingly fell asleep.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock sounded at the door.

Kitahara Kaede opened his eyes.

Who would come looking for him at a time like this?

He did not think too much about it. After getting out of bed, he walked toward the door.

After opening it, he saw Namikaze Minato standing outside.

He was dressed for a mission, his forehead protector properly worn, and his ninja tool pouch was also on him.

Kitahara Kaede glanced at him.

"Lord Minato?"

Minato smiled.

"Good afternoon, Kaede."

Kitahara Kaede stepped aside.

"Please come in."

Minato entered and sat down in the living room.

Kitahara Kaede went to pour a glass of water and placed it in front of him.

"Lord Minato came personally. Is something the matter?"

Minato took the cup, but did not drink from it. He placed it on the table.

"Last night, you mentioned Sunagakure’s abnormal behavior. This morning, when you saw me go to the Hokage Tower, it was also because of that matter."

Kitahara Kaede sat down across from him.

"I see. Is there a result?"

"There is."

Minato placed a rolled map on the table and tapped one spot with his fingertip.

"Mount Kikyo."

Kitahara Kaede looked at the map, paused for a moment, then said, "Reconnaissance?"

Minato nodded.

"Lord Hokage has already agreed."

"He wants me to set out now."

At this point, he looked at Kitahara Kaede.

"You were the first one to notice this matter, so I want to take you with me."

After hearing that, Kitahara Kaede nodded and stood up.

"Then I’ll change clothes."

Minato nodded.

"All right."

Kitahara Kaede entered the bedroom. Very soon, he changed into his mission clothes, brought his equipment, and came back out.

"I’m ready to go."

Minato stood up.

"This mission is mainly reconnaissance."

"If we discover Sunagakure’s movements, we immediately withdraw and return to the village to report. There’s no need to get entangled with the enemy."

Kitahara Kaede nodded.

"Understood."

The two left the apartment and walked onto the street.

There were not many pedestrians on the road.

During wartime, the village was always quieter than usual.

Minato walked beside him and casually asked, "Did you meet Senior Dan this morning?"

Kitahara Kaede nodded.

"I did."

"I formally thanked him."

Minato smiled.

"That’s good."

After saying that, he glanced at Kitahara Kaede again.

"After meeting him, your complexion also looks much better than it did this morning."

"Is it that obvious?"

"I’m joking. But if your condition feels off during the mission, tell me directly."

Minato’s tone was very calm.

"On a reconnaissance mission, our judgment cannot go wrong."

Kitahara Kaede answered.

"Yes."

When they reached the area near the mission office, a familiar voice came from the side.

"Kaede?"

Kitahara Kaede turned to look.

Yūhi Kurenai was standing by the street, a ninja tool pouch also fastened at her waist.

She first saw Kitahara Kaede, then her gaze fell on Minato.

Kurenai froze slightly.

She remembered this person.

The last time they escorted supplies to the frontline outpost, it had been this blond Jōnin who took Kitahara Kaede’s report.

But she had never formally spoken to him.

After Yūhi Kurenai approached, she stood a little straighter.

"Senior."

Minato nodded gently.

"Hello."

Kitahara Kaede looked at Kurenai.

"You’re leaving the village too?"

"Yes."

Yūhi Kurenai looked at him, then at Minato.

"I was originally planning to take a patrol mission."

She paused for a moment and asked, "Is this a sudden mission?"

Kitahara Kaede did not answer directly. Instead, he looked at Minato.

Minato could tell that the two knew each other, so he said, "We happen to be short one team member."

Yūhi Kurenai immediately looked at him.

"I can do it."

She spoke very quickly.

After saying it, she realized that she had been a little too eager, so she added, "If the mission allows it."

"Then come with us."

Yūhi Kurenai’s expression turned serious.

"Yes."

Minato added, "Listen to orders on the road. Report any discoveries first. Don’t act alone."

"Understood."

The three soon arrived at the village gate.

After the gatekeeping ninja checked their written order, they let them pass.

When they stepped through Konoha’s main gate, Kitahara Kaede’s peripheral vision swept over a certain eave behind them.

In the shadows, a black figure paused for a moment.

The other party did not follow.

After they left the village, that figure turned and disappeared behind the eaves.

Kitahara Kaede’s gaze cooled slightly.

Danzo really refused to give up.

Minato walked forward a few steps, then suddenly tilted his head and glanced at Kitahara Kaede.

"At the gate just now, someone was watching you the whole time."

Kitahara Kaede’s tone was calm.

"Probably a coincidence."

Minato did not continue asking.

He only said, "All right. Let’s complete the mission first."

"Mm."

Kitahara Kaede answered.

Yūhi Kurenai heard those two sentences. Her gaze lingered on the two of them for a moment, but she did not interrupt.

She did not know what had happened.

But she could feel that this matter had something to do with Kaede.

After the three entered the forest path, their speed increased.

Minato took the center.

Kitahara Kaede was at the left front, responsible for judging the route and traces.

Yūhi Kurenai fell back on the right rear, keeping watch over the movements behind them.

At first, Kurenai was still a little unused to it.

She had originally thought Minato would personally lead the way.

But along the way, Minato only stopped at key forks in the road. Most of the time, he let Kitahara Kaede look first.

Kaede did not stand on ceremony either.

Yūhi Kurenai followed behind, her mood somewhat complicated.

After the ambush in the gorge last time, she already knew Kitahara Kaede was very strong.

But now, it seemed that Minato valued him even more highly than she had imagined.

The light and shadows between the trees kept retreating.

...

Near the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.

The wind swept past, carrying the smell of sand and earth.

Three Sunagakure squads coming from the direction of the Land of Wind crossed the border and quickly entered the dense forest.

At the front of the group was Pakura.

Her long hair was tied up, and her attire was also extremely practical.

She did not say much. She only raised her hand and made two gestures.

The two squads behind her immediately spread out, lowered their footsteps, and advanced toward the forest lines on both sides.

Pakura stopped on a hillside and lowered her head to look at the forest below.

Farther east from here was the deeper territory of the Land of Fire.

If Sunagakure’s main army wanted to advance in secret, this route had to be cleared in advance.

A Sunagakure ninja behind her asked in a low voice, "Lord Pakura, should we continue scouting ahead?"

Pakura looked at the treetops swaying in the wind.

"Continue."

Pakura raised her hand.

"If you discover any Konoha reconnaissance ninja, don’t let them escape."