Chapter Seven (Patreon)

Jing had never been to war before. She had vague recollections of skirmishes and duels, but nothing like the current situation. Ninjas were deployed in armies, hundreds or thousands crowded into encampments half the necessary size.

From what she knew, war required a few things. Morale, leadership, strategy—but most importantly, it demanded supplies. Above all else a war needed food. Even ninjas could not fight well when starving.

Fortunately, food was one of the few issues Jing could solve. The team was due to depart on Saturday, and would reach the front lines in Grass by next Tuesday.

On the first Monday Jing made storage scrolls. They were not the perfect seals one could buy from Uzushiokagure, capable of sealing a hundred tons and picking a needle from a haystack. Jing could store a maximum of two tons per scroll in twenty slots, one slot being pulled out in full at a time.

On the first Tuesday Jing started building. With Hatake-sensei’s permission she dug out a huge section of his lawn, replacing grass and dirt with stone fire pits.

On Wednesday Jing bought her supplies. Wood, charcoal, woks, and sealed barrels of meat, grains, and vegetables.

On Thursday she began to cook. There were ten fires, each of them bearing a giant pot of water and rice. The rice was fresh, fluffy, and immediately sealed away.

On Friday she cooked again. The pots were replaced with woks. Meat, vegetables, and sauces were mixed over a high heat until cooked through. Then, still warm, they were boxed up and sealed away.

On Saturday Jing joined her team at Konoha’s western gate, a satchel of storage scrolls joining her usual gear.

“Ready?” Hatake-sensei asked. The morning was a cold one, winter not yet fading as the new year began. Jing had been told that in times of peace the new year would have been celebrated with festivals, mochi, and ringing bells. She had yet to see it. The only ringing bells Konoha currently had were for warning of enemy shinobi.

“Hai Sensei,” the three of them said. Jing took a moment to look over her teammates. Fugaku was nervous, hiding it behind an air of dispassionate analysis. His usual jacket had been replaced by armor, metal plates guarding his arms and shoulders, a breastplate upon his chest. The armor was not flashy. It did not gleam, nor did it possess bold symbols and decoration. It simply was, and Jing trusted it all the more.

Haruko was wearing armor as well. Rings of steel around her knuckles, plates of armor on her shins and forearms. It was lighter than what Fugaku wore, more care spent on mobility than protection. The sole exception was the helmet Haruko carried, which possessed no eye slits, only room to breathe. With the Byakugan, that was all she needed.

Hatake-sensei also wore armor. His was the most complete by far, from shin guards to a gorget. A sword hung by his side, the famed chakra blade of the Hatake Clan. His armor bore symbols, fuinjutsu for protection and speed.

Compared to her companions, Jing felt under armored. Her only protection was a Genin flak jacket, provided by Konoha as emergency war equipment. It was far inferior to her teammate’s protection, and as soon as the war ended Jing would be expected to return it. I wonder if the Cranes have blacksmiths, Jing thought. No doubt it would take a great deal of trust and power to convince them (if it was even possible) but Jing refused to be the sole unarmored teammate for long. She would not drag down her comrades. She would not be the weak link.

“Let’s go,” Hatake-sensei said, and blurred into motion. Without even a moment’s hesitation the three Genin followed.

*

The camp was not easy to spot. Unlike the war camps of her past world, the Konoha camp blended into the Land of Grass. There were no wooden palisades, no torchlit sentries or billowing clouds of smoke that emerged from rows of tents. The camp was instead built as a small hill. Grass-covered earth rose from the ground, holes carved out for observation and attack. Within were hundreds of Konohagakure ninjas and nearly as many support staff. The holes and tails of heat and smoke were hidden by genjutsu, one the three Genin only managed to dispel with Hatake-sensei’s guidance.

“The weather is friendly,” a voice called out from behind the hill.

“Hokage’s feathered hat,” Hatake-sensei replied.

“Name and purpose?”

“Hatake Sakumo with his Genin squad to meet and confer with Shimura Danzo.”

The hill opened. One moment there was a grassy slope, the next a cavern. Three Chunin stood guard nearby, watching as Team Hatake made their way into the hillside base.

The base’s inside was nothing like its exterior. It was drab and dreary. The roads, the walls, the floors, even the tables—all of it was made of the same brown compacted earth. Save for the observation holes and ventilation system, there was no sunlight. Illumination happened by way of torches, forges, and sensory-enhancing ninjutsu. It was efficient. It was also depressing.

Hatake-sensei led them at a brisk walk. They passed through checkpoints, around cafeterias and warehouses, past forges and workshops. At last they found the headquarters. It was a wide, squat building in the camp’s center, the walls and roof made from the same compacted earth as everything else. A pair of Jonin stood guard outside.

“Hatake Sakumo,” one of the Jonin remarked. “Ninja ID 0034889, birthday 16/4/26.”

“Hatake Sakumo. Ninja ID 0036288, birthday 16/4/29,” Hatake-sensei replied.

The Jonin smiled. “Glad to have the White Fang with us. Shimura-sama is expecting you, but your Genin will need to wait outside.”

“Genin Hua Jing has business with the quartermaster.”

“I have twenty thousand meals in storage scrolls,” Jing elaborated. “Rice and stir-fry vegetables with sauce and chicken or pork.”

The Jonin stared at her. They looked to each other.

“She can enter.”

There was nothing special about the headquarters, nor the room in which the leaders gathered. Maps lay on tables of compressed dirt, people choosing to stand rather than sit in the chairs made of the same material. The walls were bare and dull. The only thing that marked this room as different was the presence of the people inside.

“Onoki has been spotted along the northern front,” a woman reported, her voice dull and emotionless.

“That explains the losses,” said the man at the table's head. He was short, squat, and carried himself with unparalleled lethality. Even his eyes seemed more like blades, each gaze looking for the next place to cut. “We will need—Hatake-San.”

“Shimura-sama,” Hatake-sensei bowed. Jing quickly followed suit. “I have arrived with my Genin team.”

“So I see,” Shimura-sama said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Jing. Jing managed to not gulp, but it was a fierce battle. “I was not aware Genin were allowed entrance to our consultations.”

“She has a gift for the quartermaster.”

“A gift?” a woman asked. She stepped forward slightly, eyes narrowing. Taller than Shimura-sama, her nostrils flared as she scented the air.

“Twenty thousand meals, Quartermaster-sama,” Jing said, her voice small. “Just rice, stir-fry, and sauce. I made them before we left Konoha. They are in storage seals, still warm.”

“The storage seals must have cost a fortune,” someone remarked.

“I made them myself,” Jing corrected.

Immediately Shimura-sama’s eyes were on her. “You can make storage seals,” he said.

“Yes, Shimura-sama. And explosive tags. I’m learning barriers right now but I’m not very good at them.”

“Who is your teacher?” Shimura-sama demanded.

“Jade Plum. She is a summon of mine, and has also taught me basic first aid.” Jing’s medical skills were well beyond that, but Hatake-sensei had told her to keep them hidden, lest she be requisitioned into a med-unit.

“An interesting summon,” Shimura-sama said. His eyes remained narrowed and focused. “Inuzuka-san will handle the meals. We will use them as a reward for exceeding quotas and successful missions.”

“Hai, Shimura-sama,” the Quartermaster agreed. Jing nodded, and handed over the storage scrolls.

“You can leave,” Hatake-sensei said, and Jing nearly sighed in relief. With only a bow, she hurried outside, where Haruko and Fugaku were waiting.

“How did it go?” Haruko asked.

“Shimura-sama is scary,” Jing answered, drawing a snort from the two Jonin guards. Fugaku rolled his eyes, but Jing felt it was more at her wording than her message. Anyone sane would find Shimura-sama scary.

Finally away from the tense building, Jing opened her notifications. She’d gotten two during the meeting, but had long since learned it was best to wait to look them over, lest she be distracted.

Hidden Quest Completed: Major Wartime Morale Contribution

Reward: 1x Major Companion Blessing

Hidden Quest Completed: Significant Wartime Logistics Contribution

Reward: 1x Medium Skill Blessing

Major Companion Blessing

Expert Leadership

You are an expert leader, on par with famous leaders throughout history like Iskandar or King Arthur. You know how to motivate, lead and manage the people you are responsible for with finesse and efficiency. You could probably run your own country if you put in some elbow grease

Golden Boy

Everyone wants you on their side and they will dote on you to make sure you don't defect from their side, if you are in an organization your higher-ups like you way easier and they will try to accommodate you. If the king or queen meets you they will probably also take a liking to you

Medium Skill Blessing

Sun Breathing

Sun Breathing is a specialized swordsmanship style and breathing technique created by the legendary swordsman Yoriichi Tsugikuni that mimics the sun and replicates it with the user's movements, techniques, and abilities. All techniques and forms are extremely varied and have no set pattern, making them the most versatile and effective against enemies. With magical power, solar flames that are effective against unholy can be manifested.

Note: Adjustments have been made to fit in with this world

Expert Chemistry

You are an expert in the field of Chemistry, the study of matter. You are intimately familiar with how most chemical compounds and materials are formed as well as how they react to each other and stimuli. If you were to be given magic, you could probably become an alchemist rather quickly

Jing couldn’t help the small grin that formed on her face. Truly, these were good rolls. Just as good, Jing knew what she wanted. Leadership may be more powerful, but it was not as useful for her. Favor was important to surviving a war. Favor meant your rations were the last to be cut, your equipment was the first to be fixed, and your missions were the best available. Golden Boy would ensure Jing never ran out of favor, unless she did something truly stupid.

As for the second blessing, Jing picked Sun Breathing. A powerful style of swordsmanship, one that incorporated magical prowess and holy flames.

Having made her pick, Jing immediately understood. Sun Breathing was not just a style of kenjutsu. It was a holistic approach, a mentality as much as a reconfiguration of the body. A special method of breathing that mixed Lightning, Fire, and Yang chakra into something that bordered on the divine. It would take practice to incorporate into her style. It would take years to master. But once she did . . . Jing could not help but smile.