Chapter 43 - The Eve of Battle
Inside Minato Namikaze's tent, a frantic voice broke the quiet.
"Sensei, Kazane said that Iwa-nin are all ten feet tall, ten feet wide at the waist, and that they're man-eating monsters. Is that true?"
Obito Uchiha had barged into the tent, his face pale, his voice laced with anxiety. He had sprinted here the moment his imagination had taken hold, unable to shake the horrifying images Kazane had planted in his mind.
Minato blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the absurdity of the question. But as he processed Obito's words, his expression shifted—his lips curved into a barely perceptible smile before he donned a serious demeanor.
"Kazane told you that?" Minato paused, then nodded with grave conviction. "That's right. He's telling the truth."
Obito stiffened. His wide-eyed gaze locked onto his teacher, his heart hammering against his ribs. He had expected Minato to laugh it off, to tell him Kazane was just messing with him. But instead, his normally kind and reliable sensei was confirming it without hesitation.
It was real.
"Obito," Minato continued, his tone carefully measured, "the Iwa-nin we face aren't just ordinary shinobi. They've been forged in the fires of battle. Each one is a veteran, stronger and more ruthless than anything you've encountered. If you underestimate them, you won't get a second chance."
Obito felt his stomach tighten.
He had thought Kazane was simply playing one of his usual mind games, trying to shake his confidence. But if even Minato was saying this…
His legs felt weak.
No way.
No way!
He had only just awakened his Sharingan—he hadn't even had a real battle yet! Was he really about to face monsters like that?!
Minato watched as the young Uchiha's face cycled through a range of emotions—shock, denial, terror—before finally settling on nervous resolve.
A good sign.
Minato had long been worried about Obito's reckless nature. Among his three students, Obito was the most impulsive, the most eager to prove himself. Minato had feared that the moment they stepped onto the battlefield, he would charge in blindly, thinking himself invincible. If that happened, he wouldn't last long.
But now…
Now, thanks to Kazane, that reckless fire had been tempered.
Obito swallowed hard, forcing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. "H-Haha—Sensei, I—I'm going to train now!"
Then, without waiting for a response, he bolted from the tent.
Minato let out a quiet sigh as he watched Obito disappear into the night.
"So simple-minded," he murmured to himself.
Some time later, another visitor entered the tent.
"Sensei. Please train me."
Minato looked up from his map, only to freeze at the sight before him. It took him a moment to recognize his student.
A battered, swollen Kakashi stood in front of him, his posture as rigid as ever despite the state he was in.
The boy's normally pristine mask was slightly askew, barely hiding the bruises that darkened his skin. His left eye was nearly swollen shut, and fresh welts marred his forehead. Several lumps had formed atop his head, standing out like battle scars.
"Kakashi… what happened to you?" Minato asked, his voice laced with concern.
"Sensei. Please train me," Kakashi repeated, his tone firm, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.
Minato's brow furrowed.
It wasn't just the physical injuries. There was something different about Kakashi's presence—an intensity that hadn't been there before.
It took only a moment for Minato to connect the dots.
Kazane.
It had to be.
Minato sighed, rubbing his temple. He hadn't expected their spar to be this… brutal.
Still, Kakashi wasn't the type to complain. If anything, this only meant one thing—he had lost. Badly.
Minato leaned back, studying his student carefully. "Fine. But we'll start tomorrow—it's too late tonight."
Kakashi remained silent for a moment, his jaw tightening as if about to argue. Then, finally, he gave a small nod.
Minato watched as he turned and left, shoulders squared despite his battered state.
The White Fang's sons…
Minato had always known Kakashi was a prodigy. His talent was undeniable, his skill already surpassing many older shinobi. And yet, Kazane had completely overwhelmed him.
That in itself was shocking.
Kazane.
The elder Hatake son.
Though Minato had always known him to be formidable, he had never witnessed the full extent of his abilities. If he was capable of completely outclassing Kakashi, then just how strong had he become?
A faint smile tugged at Minato's lips.
It seemed war was shaping more than just the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Kazane's thoughts.
Kazane exhaled slowly, his arms crossed as he leaned against a tree, lost in contemplation.
Kakashi was growing too fast.
Just a while ago, he had been able to completely suppress him without much effort. But now… things were different.
At this rate, if I want to keep beating him without using my sword, Haki, the Eight Gates, or the Lightning Release Chakra Mode… it's going to be a lot harder.
A second sigh escaped him.
He hadn't expected Kakashi to push himself this hard. Each time they fought, he came back stronger—faster, sharper, more resilient. The bruises and welts on his face might have made him look pitiful, but beneath them was something more dangerous.
The will to surpass him.
Kazane smirked slightly, shaking his head.
"Growing too fast, huh?" he muttered to himself.
Konoha Border – Orochimaru's Command Post
The first light of dawn had barely broken across the sky when urgent reports arrived.
Inside a dimly lit command tent, Orochimaru sat at the head of a table surrounded by Konoha's leading Jonin. The air was thick with tension as Moonlight, the intelligence officer, relayed the latest updates.
"The scouts report that Iwa's main force has arrived at Kitsuchi's encampment," Moonlight began. "The ones leading them are Tō Dōnin and Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki. They've brought an estimated three thousand shinobi, though there may be additional hidden forces."
A hush fell over the room.
Iwa had finally made its move.
"Three top-tier combatants, huh?" Uchiha Keizan murmured, his fingers tapping against the table in thought. "The Uchiha clan can handle the elite Jonin and their squads, but as for their top-tier forces… that's something we'll need Lord Orochimaru to deal with."
The war wasn't about numbers alone.
Shinobi battles weren't fought like traditional wars—victory rarely hinged on sheer manpower. It was the strength of the top fighters that determined the true outcome.
Konoha was outnumbered. Their mid- and lower-tier forces barely made up a third of Iwa's numbers. Yet, when it came to elite combat power, they held an advantage—thanks to the Uchiha.
However, there was still a glaring issue.
On the surface, Konoha's strongest asset was Orochimaru himself. Meanwhile, Iwa had Kitsuchi, Tō Dōnin, and Han—three formidable warriors at the highest level.
If it came to a direct clash, that difference could cost them the battle.
Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence.
"I'll take care of Tō Dōnin," Minato said, his tone calm yet firm. "I've heard his name before. I've always been curious to see who's faster—him or me."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Tō Dōnin was no ordinary opponent. His speed-based assassination techniques had earned him a fearsome reputation. There was even a tale of him instantly slaughtering five Mist Jonin in the blink of an eye.
To most, facing him in battle would be a death sentence.
But Minato wasn't most people.
"Then I'll handle Kitsuchi," Kazane declared without hesitation.
Minato had already chosen his opponent. There was no need to deliberate further.
Kazane's gaze hardened as he recalled their last battle.
His attacks had failed to breach Kitsuchi's defenses.
That alone was unacceptable.
In his mind, nothing should be beyond his blade's ability to cut. If his previous techniques had been insufficient, then this battle would be the key to surpassing those limits.
The true mastery of Tōryū—Three-Sword Style—Slashing Iron Technique was within reach.
All he needed was the right opponent to push him beyond his current self.
Orochimaru, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.
"Then I'll take care of Han, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki. It's settled."
Preparations for Battle
A Jonin seated near the edge of the table hesitated before speaking up.
"Orochimaru-sama, last time, Kitsuchi suffered a major setback. Now that he has reinforcements, he'll likely launch an attack soon. Should we prepare the battlefield in advance?"
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes gleamed with amusement.
"A good idea," he mused. "You'll be in charge of it. Ensure the battlefield is set near the border of the Land of Earth—far away from the Land of Fire."
The Jonin nodded, immediately setting off to relay orders.
Setting up the battlefield was crucial.
Traps, explosive tags, and constant surveillance would ensure they had the upper hand. The moment the enemy moved, their position would be exposed. Even a force of thousands couldn't advance unnoticed with such preparations in place.
But the key was positioning.
If they miscalculated, all the traps would be wasted.
Kazane's fingers brushed against the hilts of his swords.
The stage was set.
And soon, the battle would begin.