Uchiha Obito's death did not halt the progress of the mission. The village's objective remained unchanged—this mission was of utmost importance.
In fact, its success could determine whether the Third Shinobi World War ended early or continued indefinitely.
Uchiha Kai had long prepared himself mentally for such situations. More importantly, he was not just an indirect participant but also the designated substitute for this mission.
When the original team suffered casualties, the Third Hokage entrusted Namikaze Minato with the authority to find replacements and ensure the mission's completion. This demonstrated Konoha's high-level commitment to the operation—Kai had no illusions about backing out.
After a night of rest, Kai Uchiha regrouped his team and prepared for departure.
This time, however, he felt more confident than ever. Now armed with the deadly advantage of the Mangekyō Sharingan, he no longer needed to hide his abilities.
With his Sharingan openly displayed, he wouldn't have to struggle as he had before.
Still, caution remained essential. He was far from mastering his Mangekyō. Unlike Uchiha Itachi, he couldn't afford reckless use, nor was he like Sasuke, who had the luxury of awakening eternal power by transplanting his brother's eyes.
For now, he needed to study his newfound abilities carefully. He lacked techniques like Susanoo, which provided both offense and defense, and his understanding of his ocular powers was rudimentary at best.
Despite this, he wasn't discouraged. He had already taken the most challenging step. With time and growth, he could strengthen his foundation and secure his future.
After making the necessary preparations, Kai gathered his team—Aya Hyuga and Kenta Imai—and headed to Namikaze Minato.
By now, Minato had assumed command of the operation, an arrangement even Masato Yamanaka had no objections to.
Minato wasted no time. "Here's the situation: We've intercepted a significant number of Iwa shinobi, which will undoubtedly draw their attention. We need to act fast."
Turning to Masato Yamanaka, he continued, "Your task is to create distractions and lure the enemy away, buying us an opening. Can I count on you?"
Masato nodded. "No problem, Minato-senpai."
As Kai Uchiha was about to depart alongside Yamanaka, Minato stopped him.
"Ki-kun, wait. I have a new mission for you."
Kai blinked in surprise, while Aya and Kenta exchanged uneasy glances.
Being singled out meant one thing—this was going to be difficult.
Their minds raced, analyzing the situation. Minato's squad was down a member, but due to his ability to use the Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato himself could freely traverse the battlefield, maintaining an illusion of his presence on the front lines while secretly operating elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the decoy squad, initially meant to divert the enemy's attention, had been reinforced thanks to Kai's intervention. That meant Kakashi and Rin's mission would proceed with adequate manpower.
From a strategic standpoint, selecting Kai's team made sense. They had two powerful dōjutsu users—Uchiha and Hyūga—and ample combat experience. Additionally, their age and familiarity with Kakashi's group ensured smoother coordination.
As they pieced this together, their initial apprehension gave way to cautious optimism.
Unlike the diversion squad, which faced extreme danger without backup, their new assignment, despite its risks, offered better survival odds. With Minato's ability to intervene at any moment, their mission seemed far more manageable.
Aya and Kenta glanced at Kai, silently acknowledging that his Mangekyō had played a crucial role in their selection. If he hadn't awakened it, another team might have been chosen—or worse, their squad could have been split up, which was never ideal in unknown territory.
Minato finally spoke, his tone grave.
"I have a top-secret mission for you. Its success could determine the outcome of this war. I need your team to carry it out. Do you have any objections?"
Kai, Aya, and Kenta responded in unison: "No."
Minato nodded, satisfied. Then his expression turned serious.
"This mission is dangerous. Ki-kun, since your team is intact, I'm appointing you as its captain. Listen carefully to the details."
Kai hesitated for a moment but then nodded.
"Understood. Please explain."