"Minato-sensei!"
In an instant, with a flash of yellow light, Kakashi Hatake, Shisui Uchiha, Might Guy, and Rin Nohara reacted, witnessing a shocking scene that made them cry out in surprise.
At that moment of the yellow flash, Minato Namikaze appeared. Instinctively, the trident-shaped kunai in his hand thrust forward, stopping abruptly just before striking Shirou in the head.
Under the flicker of lightning, the Kusanagi sword was already pressed against Minato's chin from behind.
Had either of them failed to stop, the Kusanagi sword would have pierced Minato's head in an instant, while Minato's kunai would have...
"Minato, don't you know how dangerous it is to suddenly appear behind someone?"
Suddenly, Shirou's voice came from beside his ear. Minato's pupils contracted, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. When he looked down again, there was no sign of Shirou.
"This is genjutsu!"
As Minato's shocked eyes darted around, the sound of Shirou sheathing his sword came from the side, finally pulling everyone out of their astonishment and making them cry out again.
All of this had happened in a flash—a moment too fast! Even Kakashi, who had already become a jōnin, couldn't catch the slightest trace of movement, leaving him deeply shocked.
So this was the strength gap between a jōnin and a true powerhouse!
"Shirou-kun, you came!?"
Minato sighed in relief, glancing around before putting away his kunai with a bitter smile.
"I gave Kakashi a kunai earlier, intending to rush over immediately after completing my mission. But it seems you were more concerned about your disciple, Shirou-kun."
His bitter smile suggested to Shirou that, while Minato's Will of Fire might differ from his own, he wouldn't resort to underhanded tactics.
As the two put away their weapons, Minato's gaze shifted to his team members. When he saw that only Rin Nohara remained, a trace of sorrow appeared in his eyes.
"Rin, Obito...?"
Though he didn't want to face it, such was the life of a ninja.
Rin lowered her head and hoarsely said, "I'm sorry, Minato-sensei, Obito... sacrificed himself to save me..."
Minato let out a soft sigh. Despite his grief, he quickly buried his emotions in his heart and turned to look at Shirou.
Facing Minato, Shirou smiled and waved dismissively.
"That was just an instinctive reaction earlier. And I didn't come because I didn't trust you—I just happened to sense Kakashi and the others."
Sense?
At this moment, Minato's pupils contracted slightly, as if realizing something. When he saw the special kunai in Shisui Uchiha's hand, he couldn't help but exclaim:
"Could it be... on the battlefield?!"
Although he didn't say it outright, Minato seemed to have understood something. Shirou, on the other hand, gave a tired smile and said:
"We've already reclaimed the border and pushed the Iwa-nin back into the Land of Grass. We've also forced the Kumo-nin and Suna-nin to retreat to the border."
When Minato heard this news, he couldn't help but gasp in shock.
"To the border?!"
Seeing Minato's astonishment, Shirou chuckled and said, "It seems the secret mission you're conducting, Minato, has something to do with the Kannabi Bridge, doesn't it?"
In this area, the only crucial mission that could warrant Minato taking such risks was the Kannabi Bridge in the Land of Grass.
The Kannabi Bridge was a vital supply route for Iwa-nin in the Land of Grass.
"Yes. But if I had known in advance that you, Shirou-kun, could push the battle to the border, perhaps this mission wouldn't have been necessary, and Obito wouldn't have..."
Minato sighed wistfully, but Shirou waved his hand and said:
"No! If the Kannabi Bridge were to fall, coupled with our previous setbacks, it would deal a massive blow to Iwa-nin's morale."
Turning to Kakashi, Shirou issued an order:
"Kakashi, we're leaving this place now. Many Iwa-nin are retreating to defend their positions, so we must remain cautious..."
"Understood!"
The group quickly moved through the forest, encountering countless panicked Iwa-nin retreating and tightening their defenses along the way.
Before the Battle of Kikyo Pass, the Kannabi Bridge had been crucial to the overall conflict. But now that Konoha had pushed the battlefield from Kikyo Pass to the border, the importance of the Kannabi Bridge had diminished significantly. At most, it would disrupt the Iwa-nin's supply lines.
"Shirou-kun, being able to sense the Flying Thunder God technique from such a distance... it seems I still can't match you when it comes to space-time ninjutsu."
As the stars illuminated the night sky, the group moved through the dark forest. Minato couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
However, Shirou shook his head and replied, "You're being too modest, Minato. From the way you appeared earlier, your space-time ninjutsu isn't far behind."
But Minato only gave a bitter smile. He alone knew that his achievements in the Flying Thunder God technique had come from devoting all his energy to it over the years.
Shirou, on the other hand, excelled in Flying Thunder God, Mangekyō Sharingan, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu—a nearly all-encompassing skill set.
Minato firmly believed that if Shirou focused solely on space-time ninjutsu, he would have surpassed him long ago.
Shirou, however, knew his limitations. Over the years, he had focused on taijutsu and developing his Mangekyō Sharingan. As for space-time ninjutsu, he had only made rapid progress thanks to the scrolls left by the Second Hokage.
His recent advancements in space-time ninjutsu were largely due to absorbing the bloodline of the Queen of Rōran, which confirmed his hypothesis: the Dragon Vein's power was tied to space-time abilities. The Queen of Rōran, who controlled the Dragon Vein, must have possessed a bloodline linked to space-time powers.
Thus, his progress in the Flying Thunder God technique was largely thanks to his innate talent.
"The destruction of the Kannabi Bridge will undoubtedly cause turmoil among the Iwa-nin in the coming days. Even if they have other supply points in the Land of Grass, this blow to their morale is unavoidable."
As they chatted, the group spotted signs of Konoha ninja at the border of the Land of Grass in the distance.
...
Autumn, Year 49 of the Konoha Calendar
The five-year stalemate at Kikyo Pass ended when Konoha launched a sudden counteroffensive, crushing the allied forces of the ninja villages. The Kumo-nin, Suna-nin, and Iwa-nin were all driven beyond the borders.
Konoha reclaimed its long-lost borders, shaking the ninja world. No one had expected Konoha, after five years of bitter resistance against the allied forces of four major villages, to launch such a decisive counterattack.
...
Konoha.
"Hiruzen, urgent frontline report! Our forces have retaken the lost border defenses. Notably, we've pushed the Iwa-nin to the Land of Grass..."
"Urgent report, Hokage-sama! Frontline commander Lord Shirou is requesting reinforcements—he needs a large number of ninja to secure the border defenses..."
"Hokage-sama..."
That night, the Hokage's office was brightly lit. One by one, intelligence and ANBU operatives arrived to deliver reports from the frontlines.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, along with Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, were stunned by the news.
"Immediately order Sarutobi Saburo to lead reinforcements to the border of the Land of Rain... Nara clan... provide support...!"
As he read the reports, Hiruzen's face lit up with excitement. Staring at the map showing the reclaimed territories of the Land of Fire, he issued orders loudly and decisively.
"Hiruzen, this is incredible! The victory at Kikyo Pass isn't just about reclaiming the border—it's a huge morale boost for Konoha's ninja forces..."
Homura Mitokado spoke excitedly. The five-year-long war had not only drained resources and manpower but had also worn down the morale of Konoha's forces.
Kikyo Pass was like Konoha's front door, and the enemy had been pressing hard against it for years. This decisive victory had finally lifted the heavy gloom that had hung over Konoha.
This battle was enough to inspire and uplift morale, even igniting the fighting spirit of Konoha's shinobi.
After five grueling years of the Shinobi World War, Konoha's ninjas can finally see a glimmer of hope for victory!
"Victory at Kikyo Mountain! But it was Uchiha Shirou leading the charge in this operation..."
Koharu Utatane frowned as she reviewed the detailed report, her eyes betraying a hint of apprehension and fear.
"Hiruzen! The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki working in tandem with the Mangekyo... it reminds me of someone from the past!"
Uchiha Madara.
The Susanoo combined with the Nine-Tails! This kind of fighting technique had only been seen once in the past.
As the terrifying memories of Konoha's intelligence reports flooded their minds, the trio's faces darkened with unease.
"Furthermore, Minato has completed the Kanabi Bridge mission, cutting off the Iwa ninjas' logistics. Our forces in the Land of Grass have gained the upper hand."
Faced with Koharu's worry, Hiruzen Sarutobi furrowed his brows deeply and took a long drag from his pipe. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, he rasped, "This is wartime. Everything must be prioritized for the greater good. The situation is turning in our favor now. With Tsunade overseeing operations in the Land of Grass, she can support both the Kumogakure and Sunagakure battlefields as needed.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya are stationed at Kumogakure and Sunagakure respectively. The situation is highly advantageous now—let's focus on securing victory in this war!"
Hiruzen spoke calmly, his gaze clouded by the smoke curling around him, but his tone revealed a deep wariness. No one feared the Mangekyo more than he did.
"And Minato?"
Koharu hesitated before speaking. However, Hiruzen replied indifferently, "The victory at Kikyo Mountain is indeed significant, but Minato's execution of the Kanabi Bridge mission is no less important..."
Before Hiruzen could finish, an Anbu suddenly appeared in the Hokage's office.
"Lord Third, news of the victory at Kikyo Mountain has already spread throughout Konoha. The entire village is celebrating and cheering. According to investigations, the information originated from the taverns, medical division, police force, and intelligence department..."
As the Anbu's voice echoed through the office, the faces of the three present grew increasingly grim. Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand silently, signaling for the Anbu to leave.
"This is outrageous!"
Once the Anbu had left, Koharu couldn't hold back any longer. She slammed the table in anger, her face full of disbelief and fury.
"Hiruzen! You're the Hokage! What's going on with the police force and intelligence department? Do they even respect the Hokage anymore?"
Even Homura Mitokado's face darkened as he said sternly, "Hiruzen, the Uchiha Mangekyo is already a significant threat. What kind of behavior is this? What is he afraid of? This is a show of distrust towards us!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his expressionless face toward the window. Through it, he could see the village, which had been under immense strain for so long, now brightly lit and alive with the sound of joyous cheers. His face turned even grimmer.
"Send word to Danzo. Have Root secretly monitor Uchiha Shirou!"
This command from Hiruzen immediately made Koharu and Homura breathe a sigh of relief.
The Konoha Elders were quick to take precautions against their people whenever the situation improved, ensuring they were prepared for any internal threats.
"The Kanabi Bridge is destroyed, and the Iwa ninjas are on their last legs. Unless Onoki is truly willing to gamble everything, they won't recover. As for Kumogakure, the internal conflicts over the past few years have caused them the greatest losses. Only the Sunagakure remains, but they're not a threat."
Seeing the favorable situation, Hiruzen radiated a commanding aura befitting a veteran shinobi leader.
"When the three great ninja villages were united, we had reason to be cautious. But now that the balance has been broken, everyone fears suffering the greatest losses themselves. They'll focus on their interests. What we need to do now is to decisively defeat one of the villages!"
Breaking the alliance among the four great ninja villages required first defeating one opponent decisively—they would then crumble one by one.
"Hiruzen, are you suggesting we strike first?"
Koharu and Homura's expressions turned serious as they pointed to the map, directing their attention toward Kumogakure.
However, Hiruzen shook his head and rejected the idea.
"Kumogakure has suffered significant losses, but their internal balance is intact. They're already harboring anger. If we target them now, the Third Raikage might retaliate fiercely. My suggestion is Kirigakure."
Hiruzen's finger slid decisively down the map, pressing heavily on the battlefield near the ruins of Uzushiogakure.
"Kirigakure!?"
Koharu and Homura exclaimed in surprise, but Hiruzen solemnly nodded.
"That's right. Compared to the other villages, Kirigakure has the lowest number of shinobi, significant internal divisions, and—most importantly—no one would expect us to send Uchiha Shirou, the Nine-Tails, and Minato's elite forces there!"
As Hiruzen spoke, his finger tapped the map firmly, and his face took on a look of resolve. The war had to end. Konoha had already expended too much over the years.
"I agree!"
Homura was the first to voice his support, nodding gravely.
"Hiruzen is right. No one would expect us to concentrate our forces against Kirigakure suddenly. On the other hand, on the main battlefield, Iwa, Suna, and Kumo are too close geographically. If we target one of them, the other two will react quickly. No one wants to see one of their allies eliminated."
Koharu's expression also softened as she seemed to understand.
"Hiruzen's plan is thorough. Iwa, Suna, and Kumo are closely linked, while Kirigakure remains isolated due to its closed-border policies and poor relations with the other villages. Moreover, it's geographically distant.
If we concentrate our elites, what could Kirigakure possibly do to resist?"
Among the five great shinobi villages, Kirigakure had the most internal strife. While Kumogakure had suffered from the internal conflicts during the war, they had ultimately resolved their internal struggles, leaving Kirigakure as the village with the most severe internal issues.
"Send Sarutobi Shinnosuke as well. With three elite units and the Konoha shinobi already stationed on the frontlines, we'll push Kirigakure back in one decisive strike!"
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado solemnly finalized the next major strategic move for Konoha.