Mending The Past To A Better Future

Chp.9 Cold Nights and Warm Days {Part-1}

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Obito was almost done healing, and he was set to be released soon much to the team’s relief. They had spent countless hours training and sparring, and Kakashi and Naruto had even begun working on the lightning compatible seal.

A few weeks after Naruto had skin-sealed Kakashi saw Team Minato on a mission to Yukigakure, where the weather was drastically comparable to that of the Hidden Leaf. Where Konoha was almost always warm with the exception of the rainfall that sometimes accompanied the humid weather and the occasional snowfall in the winter, the Hidden Snow was well, snowy. Snow capped mountains glittered dangerously under the white, cold, sun, and the trees were barren. Free of life, free of growth. No animals were to be found, and nighttime easily brought the coldest temperatures of the day.

The Team had set up camp just outside of the small and humble village. The fire burned brightly, but other than reconvening for brief team meetings, they mostly stayed in their tents for warmth. Naruto and Rin had their own tent, where they had pushed their sleeping bags together to form a bigger bed for two of them to share body heat and space. Naruto was naturally warm from the Kyuubi, and it was something Rin seem to appreciate as she latched onto Naruto's arm without a single ounce of shame.

Naru's teeth chattered at a ridiculous rate - any faster and they might just fall off. Rin was faring no better, her body constantly shivering in order to warm her up which didn't seem to be working. Kakashi and Minato were probably having as much problems as they were.

"R-Rin-chan," Naru said, her jaw clenching from the chatter. "Wh-when we get b-b-back to Konoha, I-I'm never taking a-another mission in th-the Hidden Snow a-again. You'll have t-t-to kill me fir-first." She stuttered over her words.

Rin let out a broken chuckle and burrowed closer into Naruto's side. They were both bundled up in fur coats and Shinobi pants and thick socks, but nothing seemed to be keeping the cold out. An oil lamp lit the corner of the tent. "Minato-sensei w-wants us to be ready t-to leave at 8."

"I kn-know!" Naruto groaned, banding her arm over Rin's waist to tuck the older girl closer to her side. "He ha-hates us!"

Outside the tent, the wind roared wildly, blocking out all the other surrounding sounds. Rin chuckled and Naruto wanted to scowl when she saw the girl's breath in the air. Fucking ridiculous. Any missions that were set in temperatures under freezing should be S-rank and S-rank alone. "Obito is s-so lucky!' She couldn't stop herself from complaining. 'Bet he's just m-mock-mocking us from the wa-warmth of Konoha.'

The tent's structure rattled as another powerful wind struck. The coldness seemed to invade through all the crooks and crannies of the tent, and when the flickering that Naru could vaguely see from her position in the tent disappeared. she knew the fire had been outed.

The night passed noisily and Naru could barely get any sleep. Rin had dozed off after some time, her body finally warming up. And while Naru was warm, the wind made her unsettled. It was strange to think considering it was her own affinity but the way it howled could not help but remind her of the roars of the battlefield. All she could see in her mind's forefront were friends and loved ones falling at Madara's hand.

When morning came, Rin and Naruto dressed quickly, both grumbling about leaving the better conditions of the tent for the brutal chill in the air. The sky was stark and white and without sun. Minato's golden head of hair had been covered by a hat, and Kakashi was bundled up past his chin. They ate a quick breakfast before they were trekking up past the pass of the mountain side where thin ice and snow was layered over every surface. It was especially slippery, and Naruto made sure to channel chakra into her feet so she didn't lose her balance.