A year went by and things were going pretty smoothly. Obito and I were still together, but we had a few fights here and there. 

Obito, Rin, and I were all promoted to chunin and Kakashi was a jounin now. 

I was up early and I was currently at the store getting Kakashi a gift for becoming a jounin. 

Naomi came running up to me, looking frantic. "Hana!"

"What?" I ask, starting to worry.

"You're supposed to leave with Minato-Sensei. It's urgent so go meet them at the Hokage's Tower," Naomi replied.

"Um, okay then," I said. "Do you know why?"

"You will know once Lord Hokage tells you," She said. "But before you go, please be careful okay?"

First of all, it was unlike Naomi to be this worried for me and second, what the hell is going on? 

"I will,"

I rushed over to the Hokage's Tower, wondering what could be going on. Why was Naomi so scared?

I walked inside the office and even Minato looked a little worried. "Good, now we're all here,"

I stood next to Obito and Lord Hokage started speaking.

"We're at war with the Hidden Stone Village," he started. "I need you guys to go to Kannabi Bridge so you can destroy it. That's where they get their supplies, so once you guys have destroyed it, that is when I want you to return,"

I widened my eyes hearing this. Since when were we at war with them?

"Lord Hokage?" I ask and he looked at me. "How long have we been at war with them?"

"The problem started last year, but they declared war just last week," He answered.

I guess I shouldn't be too worried since we're just destroying a bridge rather than going into the battlefield. 

"You guys are dismissed now."

We exited his office and started walking over to the gate. All of us were silent, worried about this mission. I was paranoid now because I didn't want to lose anyone I cared for.

"Before we go," Minato said. "I need you guys to be very careful and don't take this mission lightly. We could all die because an enemy could follow us. I don't want any of you to get hurt,"

His words just made me even more nervous. He was right. I could lose any of them and I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost Minato and Obito especially. I looked over at Obito and I could tell he was thinking the same thing I was. He just gave me a smile to reassure me.

Kushina caught up with us before we left and looked just as worried as we were.

She walked over to the gate with us and Obito reached down to my hand. I looked up at him.

"Obito, you better not die on me. You remember that promise, right?"

He gave me a small smile. "I made that promise to you before, remember? So just relax,"

"You better hold that promise," 

I was at least glad he remembered that moment though. 

Obito just squeezed my hand lightly. "You better promise me the same thing and when all of this is over, we will go get some Ichiraku,"

I gave him a small smile and now we were at the gate. Uneasiness ran through my body. 

"Are we ready?" Minato asked.

"Yes," The four of us answered.

"Well, I'll see you soon Kushina," Minato said to her.

"Alright," She nodded. "Be careful and do your best, you guys,"

We all nodded at her, except for Obito. He was staring off to the side stubbornly, which is how he normally acted around her. 

She noticed this. "And you Obito,"

"What?"

She bent over and got in his face. "You're clumsy and you're hasty, and you're a blundering fool too,"

I chuckled a little.

"And add' knucklehead' to the list. So be doubly-careful out there," She continued. "Because if you come back injured, you'll get more than my fist. Got that?"

He looked a little surprised at her words and gave her a cocky smirk. 

"Who do you think I am, anyway?" He started. "I'm gonna become Hokage, Obito Uchiha! Please, there's nothing to worry about I'll make the mission a success and then come back with everyone without a scratch. That's a promise!"

"Better be a promise," I muttered.

Kushina smirked at him. "You better keep that promise!"

They both laughed and Kushina walked over to me.

"Hana, you better not charge into fights, because just as I said to him, you will get more than my fist,"

I chuckled at her. "Can't promise that,"

She punched my head. "I mean it!"

I rubbed my head. "Okay, okay. I'll be warier,"

Kushina smiled. "Good."

She waved as we left, but I still couldn't ignore that twisting feeling I was getting in my chest. I hated wars because I hated how much pain they caused and I had a feeling this war wasn't going to be any different. 

Obito and Kakashi started to bicker on the way, but it was mainly Obito who was shouting after Rin and I had given him our gifts for being promoted to jounin. 

As we headed over to Kannabi Bridge, I was mentally planning out attacks I would use in case we would have to engage in combat. I've improved a lot at my rasengan, so I was definitely going to use it if I had to. I

After a while, Kakashi was leading our team since Minato was going to work alone later.

Rin had to break up another argument between Obito and Kakashi again.

Minato sighed at them. "Can I explain the mission now? We're getting close to the border,"

He lied a map out on a flat rock and we all looked.

He explained where the Land of Earth was around the border and this mission was starting to sound even more dangerous than I thought. It didn't seem like it was just destroying a bridge anymore.

"The bridge..." Kakashi pointed out. "So this mission is about infiltration,"

"Your mission is to sneak behind the enemy and reach that bridge," Minato explained. "Once the four of you are there, you will destroy that bridge in order to disrupt their supplies and after that, you will promptly withdraw,"

"Understood," The four of us said.

"And you?" Obito asked Minato.

"I'll confront the enemy directly on the battlefield," He answered. "That will create a diversion so you can do your job. Now, remember, Kakashi is your captain for this mission. All five of us will travel to the border together, but once we get there, we'll split up for our mission,"

We walked closer to the border and Kakashi stopped to look around. I was confused since I hadn't detected anything yet.

Minato whispered quietly for us to crouch down. "There's twenty of them, but I believe they're shadow clones,"

"I agree Sensei, I'll take care of them. Please back me up," Kakashi asked.

What? That's just crazy! Kakashi can't take out twenty people.

"Wait, don't be hasty. I'll go and you can cover me Kakashi," Minato advised.

Kakashi weaved signs for his new jutsu that sounded like a thousand birds chirping at once.

"Sensei, I'm captain, right? I wanted to try out a new jutsu I've been working on," Kakashi said.

Minato put out a hand to stop him, but Kakashi was trying to argue against him. He was acting like he wanted to do this all by himself. Minato didn't reply to him put his hands down.

Kakashi ran off with his lightning blade, using a frontal attack and Minato threw one of his kunais towards the enemy to help Kakashi in taking them all out. They ended up just attacking a shadow clone though.

The three of us moved to locate the other shadow clones and I saw that Obito was about to be attacked by one. I was about to go rush to help him, but Rin stopped me.

"Hana, look out!"

I moved and I saw a flash of silver. I realized that one of the guy's shadow clones tried to attack me, so I weaved a sign.

"Water style, water fang bullet!"

My water spikes went around a shadow clone and crushed it, making it poof away. 

I saw another shadow clone and opened the palm of my hand, letting chakra rotate in it. 

"Rasengan!"

I hit the shadow clone with my rasengan and Minato quickly appeared with Kakashi, who had a large gash on his shoulder.

"Kakashi!" Rin exclaimed.

Minato was gone in a flash again to attack the enemy who attempted to hurt us again. His speed never ceases to amaze me.

"Kakashi's wounds are serious," Minato remarked. "We'll have to retreat for now,"

"I'm fine," Kakashi retorted with a strained voice.

"No you're not," Obito retorted. "It's all because you've ignored Sensei's orders, you fool,"

"I don't want to hear that from you," Kakashi glared. "You. The Uchiha Elite, who was just cowering and crying,"

"I just got some dust in my eyes and started tearing up. That's all!" Obito defended.

"I suppose you're not familiar with the twenty-fifth rule of Shinobi Conduct," Kakashi lectured. "The rule says that a ninja shouldn't show tears,"

"Guys, this isn't the time," I cut in.

"Yeah, stop it already," Rin added.

"That's quite enough," Minato cut in. "Both of you. Kakashi, rules and regulations are indeed important, but it doesn't mean they're all that matters. I told you at times you must adapt and take steps appropriate to the situation at hand,"

Kakashi looked down without a word.

Obito snickered and pointed. "See-?"

"You're not blameless either Obito," Minato cut him off. "There is no way you can get dust in your eyes when you're not wearing goggles. It's fine to seek self-control, but you must be strong in your heart. Not just in your words."

Obito went silent.

Minato looked over at Kakashi. "Let me just say one more thing, Kakashi. In my opinion, you shouldn't use that jutsu of yours again. From what I saw, it's a strike with a single focus and it certainly has speed and destructive powers, but it makes you move too fast to notice an opponent's counter-attack. It's still an imperfect jutsu,"

I hoped that they both would just listen to Minato instead of arguing.

"Now," Minato finished. "Before we part, let me just say this one more time. For shinobi, all-important above else is teamwork,"

Later that night, we found a safe place to rest and Minato sat down on a rock. I joined him because I couldn't sleep. 

"You should be resting," Minato said as I took a seat next to him.

"I know," I replied. "But I can't sleep because I'm too worried,"

"Worried about what?"

"Just the war in general," I answer. "I don't want to lose anyone I care about and that includes you..."

"It's easier said than done, but you can't let those feelings get in the way. You need to keep your focus on the task at hand so we can make a mission a success. If all you do is worry, you will hold back and that will make the mission fail," Minato answered.

"But what if I lose someone?"

"You have to trust that the person can fend for themselves," he said. "I noticed that today you got distracted for Obito's wellbeing and you almost got harmed by that shadow clone until Rin warned you,"

"So, I have to trust that everyone can fend for themselves?"

"Yes. Not only that, you have to make sure you guys use teamwork so nothing happens to any of you."

I nodded. He was right, but how can I stop worrying? No one in a war just goes unharmed.

"Goodnight Uncle." 

I stood up from the rock to go sleep and Obito walked past me to speak to Minato.