"This time, we'll be splitting into two teams to carry out the mission."
Minato swept his gaze across the group before continuing in a calm, deliberate tone:
"Kakashi, Rin, and Obito will remain together as one team. Your task is to destroy the bridge. Kiyohara, Genma, and Kurenai, you will form the second team. Your role is to distract the Iwa-nin and draw their attention away."
Minato's words were clear.
"Blow up the bridge? What bridge are we blowing up?"
Obito asked, scratching his head in confusion.
Geography was never his strong suit. He didn't even know where Kannabi Bridge was located.
"The Land of Grass borders the Land of Fire. Right now, the Land of Earth is invading the Grass Country. Over a thousand shinobi have already gathered at Grass Country's frontline. If they break through, they can march straight into the Land of Fire through the Land of Grass."
Kiyohara explained.
In truth, the mission was simple: cut the supply line, strike from behind, and sabotage the enemy's logistics.
Whether they survived or not was of little concern to Konoha's higher-ups.
They had to buy their own quality blades—otherwise, if they died, then they really died.
Not everyone was some protagonist blessed with outrageous plot armor.
"Did I explain that correctly, Lord Minato?"
"Yes, Kiyohara explained it very well."
Minato replied, giving him a look of approval.
Kiyohara possessed the qualities of a chūnin—not just raw strength, but analytical ability.
During wartime, the requirements had been loosened.
But in peacetime, to be promoted to chunin, one had to possess the leadership ability to command a basic squad—personal combat strength alone wasn't enough.
Additionally, a chunin had to be able to read and analyze battlefield situations.
Those who excelled at this but lacked combat prowess often became teachers or exam proctors at the Shinobi Academy.
"Then… what does this have to do with our mission? Aren't we supposed to blow up some bridge?"
Obito asked again, scratching his head.
Would blowing up a single bridge really stop over a thousand shinobi from charging through?
How big was this bridge supposed to be?
"Obito, think carefully. The fact that they can advance like this means Iwa-nin have already gained firm control over parts of territory of the Land of Grass. Their supply routes are running smoothly."
Nohara Rin analyzed the situation from Minato and Kiyohara's conversation.
"So, the mission is to strike the enemy at the frontline. The best method is to cut off their supply line. Kanabi Bridge is one of the most important nodes."
Kurenai added.
Genma silently nodded in agreement.
Kakashi even showed a speechless expression.
Everyone understood.
Except Obito, who still looked lost.
Kiyohara could only shake his head. After all, according to the "official stats," Obito's "Wisdom" value was only 2—and Wisdom represented a shinobi's knowledge and IQ.
Even Rock Lee, Kiba, and Choji had a Wisdom value of 4—double Obito's.
So Obito being bad at theoretical knowledge wasn't without reason.
He was simply born like this.
"Ohh, so that's how it is."
Seeing everyone's expressions of understanding, Obito quickly tried to catch up.
Minato, seeing this, once again began explaining the mission carefully to Obito.
This operation was critical—it could shift the entire balance of the war between Konoha and Iwagakure. That was why it was so confidential.
But with the major villages all fighting each other, Konoha had to divide its forces. They no longer had enough shinobi to spare.
That was why even kids like Kakashi's team were being sent.
Just as Minato was about to continue, he suddenly sensed some disturbance nearby.
Enemies!
Minato instinctively wanted to draw a kunai and eliminate them immediately.
But he suppressed the impulse.
There was one more thing he hadn't told Kiyohara, Kakashi, or the others—he would not be joining them for this mission. His priority was rushing to reinforce the frontline.
Now, he wanted to see how the younger shinobi handled a crisis.
Thus, he pretended not to know.
"Someone's coming."
Missing-nin Kiyohara warned.
He had spent years across the shinobi world hunting and being hunted—his sensitivity to hostile gazes was extremely sharp.
"Enemies?"
Kiyohara's expression immediately grew alert.
"Can you go scout the area for me?"
Kiyohara said to the missing-nin Kiyohara.
"You mean… float over there and spy for you?"
Missing-nin Kiyohara was stunned.
This guy really was treating him like a tool.
"Please, future me!"
Kiyohara said pleadingly.
"…Fine. But I have no idea what my maximum range is."
Missing-nin Kiyohara shook his head.
His spirit body began to float forward, drifting toward the enemy.
When he moved past three meters, he clearly felt his form weakening faster.
"Seems I can't stray too far from you,"
He said, speeding up his movement.
Soon, he reached the enemy's position.
There, hidden among the terrain, was a four-man squad of Iwagakure shinobi.
Their leader was a middle-aged shinobi roughly as weathered and rugged as missing-nin Kiyohara, with three younger comrades at his side.
"Four enemies. One chūnin leading three genin. They're equipped with a Fūma shuriken and three ninja blades…"
Missing-nin Kiyohara began reporting positions and details.
"Good."
Kiyohara nodded.
This was the proper use of his future self.
Since the spirit could leave his body, it obviously had scouting potential.
If he pushed the idea further, perhaps he could even send the missing-nin drifting into the Hokage's office to peek at the Scroll of Seals. But without physical interaction, the spirit couldn't touch reality—unless it possessed Kiyohara. And even then, the scroll would have to be open for him to learn from it.
"Hmm?"
Kakashi sensed something wrong.
He felt a gaze observing them.
There were enemies nearby.
'You noticed as well, Kakashi?'
Minato thought to himself, nodding inwardly.
As expected of the son of the White Fang. A true genius.
Back then, Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, had a reputation greater than even the Sannin.
Minato often wondered… if Sakumo had run for Hokage, would Minato have stood a chance?
Though Minato's fame had grown during this war, he still lacked the depth and legacy of the older generation. Sadly, that question would never be answered. Sakumo had chosen suicide in his own home, in the very village he loved most.
What a tragedy—after surviving countless deadly battles and killing innumerable enemies, he did not die on the battlefield or during a mission… but at home, in the village he loved most.
"Ka—"
"Lord Minato, there are four enemies hiding to the south. They should be Iwa-nin."
Kiyohara cut him off before he could finish the first syllable.
"You detected all of them?" Minato's eyes widened in surprise.
Another talent? Not only had Kiyohara sensed their presence, he knew their exact number.
"Enemies?"
Obito exclaimed, hastily pulling down his yellow goggles—wouldn't want anything flying into his eyes.
"There are enemies here too?"
Next to Kiyohara, Kurenai drew a kunai, her young face tense with caution.
(End of Chapter)