Chapter 21: Emergency

The night was dark and the wind was high, behind the cover of a secluded tent.

“Do we really have to do this…”

“Can't you ask for something else…”

“I’ll agree to anything you want…”

“But this… this is impossible…”

Moonlight Gale kept retreating, his voice trembling.

Shiraki advanced step by step, a sickly blush on his pale face, silver laughter curling on his lips. In his hand, he held a freshly laundered woman's kimono.

“Don’t worry… there isn’t a soul here, no one will see us…” Shiraki licked his lips.

“Well… alright. Just for one minute,” Moonlight Gale gritted his teeth and finally yielded, unable to refuse the man who had saved his sister.

“What are they doing?” Obito whispered to Kakashi.

“Why are you following me? Quiet!” Kakashi had orders from Minato Namikaze himself: he must keep Shiraki within sight at all times, even if Shiraki claimed he was only stepping out for the toilet.

Having seen Kakashi sneak out, Obito followed. Seeing both teammates leave, Rin followed suit. Guy, mistaking Kakashi’s stealth for secret training, eagerly joined, intent on accepting the challenge.

As Guy tailed them, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu also slipped out after.

Moonlight Gale had been called out by Shiraki, but Yūgao Uzuki, always wary of Shiraki, was determined to ensure her teammate’s safety and followed as well.

Yes, indeed, there wasn’t a single person around—there was a whole crowd.

They each crouched behind the tent, watching the two in front with growing suspicion.

Slowly, and most reluctantly, Moonlight Gale began to remove his clothes.

A collective gasp could have drunk the northwest wind dry.

He slipped into the women’s attire.

A collective exhale could have melted the Arctic.

“Moonlight Gale completed the cross-dressing task, earning 100 coins.”

“All right… you can take it off n—” Shiraki’s words were cut short.

“What are you doing?!”

A suspiciously large group lurking together was immediately spotted by the patrolling ninja squad. The shout drew the searchlights from atop the stockade, illuminating Moonlight Gale in all his mortified glory.

He didn’t even have time to activate his Vanishing Jutsu—he suffered instant social death.

“This… isn’t exactly what I intended, but don’t worry… none of them will get away,” Shiraki consoled him.

…

Back in the Kakashi squad’s tent for the night, the group—being still only half-grown children—hadn’t divided beds. Fortunately, the camp was semi-permanent, and the tent was big enough for the four of them.

Kakashi sat on his bedding, watching Shiraki’s every move. When Shiraki finally fell asleep, snuggled by the cat Afei, Kakashi pulled out the copy of “Paradise of Intimacy” he’d just acquired, intending to glance through it. If nothing happened later in the night, he’d let Pakkun the ninja dog stand guard, since there might be missions tomorrow.

But that casual glance stretched until dawn.

Sunlight streamed through the tent’s windows. Kakashi, sporting two heavy black circles beneath his eyes, looked up in shock. Had he fallen into a time genjutsu? He’d only meant to read for a moment, but somehow it was morning.

No… it was just that the book was so engrossing, he’d been utterly absorbed and lost track of time.

Shiraki? Where was Shiraki?

Whew… still there, sleeping nearby.

Obito’s futon looked odd…

Kakashi lifted the covers and found Obito, also with dark circles under his eyes, furtively reading “Paradise of Intimacy” under his blanket.

“Kakashi! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” Obito cried, scarlet-faced.

“No way… Rin?” Kakashi quickly looked to Rin’s side.

Luckily, she was asleep… though she, too, clutched the orange-covered novel, having drifted off mid-read.

Awakened by Obito’s shout, Shiraki stretched and squinted into the sun-drenched morning. “Mmm… Spring has come, when all things revive. It’s the season of animal courtship again!”

“Let’s check the harvest…”

Shiraki opened his system panel to collect his coins.

“Kakashi Hatake has become addicted to ‘Paradise of Intimacy,’ earning 100 coins.”

“Obito Uchiha has become addicted to ‘Paradise of Intimacy,’ earning 100 coins.”

“Rin Nohara…”

“Genma Shiranui…”

“Minato Namikaze…”

“Moonlight Gale…”

“Yūgao Uzuki…”

“Even Minato Namikaze got addicted? I thought someone of his caliber would have stronger self-control.”

“And Yūgao Uzuki… So she couldn’t resist after all, even when I told her not to look.”

“So only Might Guy didn’t get hooked? Truly, self-discipline is terrifying in a man.” Shiraki admired him. Still, seven hundred coins was a satisfying haul, nearly enough for his first big purchase.

“Oooh… oooh… oooh…”

A bugle rang three times throughout the camp—an urgent summons!

“Hurry! Emergency, assemble!” Kakashi snatched up his White Fang short blade.

Obito and Rin leapt up, Shiraki following closely behind.

In front of the command tent, more than a hundred ninja already stood in precise formation. Shikaku Nara, stern-faced, was distributing missions to each squad.

From the chatter among the ninja, Shiraki learned the reason for the emergency: Iwagakure had launched another night raid. This time, instead of attacking the front lines, the Iwa-nin targeted outposts within the Land of Fire, civilian villages, and supply routes. Their aim was to wear down Minato Namikaze, forcing him to race from crisis to crisis. Whenever he arrived, the Iwa-nin would retreat underground, avoiding direct confrontation.

Yesterday, Moonlight Gale’s patrol sector had been the breakthrough point. Konoha hadn’t had time to patch the gap before Iwa’s main force poured in.

All along the Land of Fire’s border, chaos erupted—Konoha ninja scattered, outposts attacked, and pleas for help flooded in throughout the night. Shikaku, wary of midnight ambushes, waited until dawn to organize rescue squads, tasked with saving civilians and reuniting scattered ninja.

Kakashi’s Chunin squad, Guy’s team, and Moonlight Gale’s team were toward the end of the list. Shiraki noted the ranks of bleary-eyed comrades—particularly Moonlight Gale, who wished he could bury his head in the ground—which brought a secret smile to his lips.

Only Might Guy, still energetic, waited for his assignment while doing handstands. The allure of “Paradise of Intimacy” paled before the challenge of a backflipping sow.

Truly, the future King of Guy—so disciplined it was frightening.

Soon, it was Kakashi’s squad’s turn. Shikaku frowned at Kakashi and Obito’s black circles, but still handed them their mission scroll: they were to support a key logistics town, just the three of them, as Minato had more critical duties.

He didn’t forget to give Shiraki his silver notes, apologizing, “I’m sorry, things have become complicated here. There may be danger. No one can protect you now.”

Shiraki heard the dismissal and cursed inwardly, though his face remained obedient. “Of course. I won’t trouble you further. I’ll leave on my own.”

“Hmph. You ignore me today, but tomorrow you’ll find I’m out of your reach!”