"This time we'll split into two squads for the mission."
After sweeping his gaze over everyone, Namikaze Minato continued, slowly:
"Kakashi, Rin, and Obito will remain a team—you're in charge of blowing the bridge. Kiyohara, Genma, and Kurenai, you're the other team—your job is to harass the Iwagakure ninja and draw their attention."
"Blow a bridge—what bridge?" Obito asked, puzzled.
Geography wasn't his strong suit; he didn't even know where Kannabi Bridge was.
"The Lands of Grass and Fire share a border. The Land of Earth is currently invading Grass, and over a thousand ninja have massed on Grass's front line. If they break through, they can march straight into Fire," Kiyohara said.
In truth, the mission was simple: run a line around the back and gank the enemy's "crystal." Whether they lived through it—Konoha's top brass didn't particularly care. You had to buy your own named blade; if you died, you were just dead. Not everyone gets a miracle do-over.
"Do I have that right, Minato-sama?"
"Correct. Kiyohara's explanation is on point," Minato said with an approving look.
Kiyohara had chūnin-level acumen—it wasn't just brute force. The wartime standards were relaxed, but in peacetime, promotion to chūnin requires the ability to lead a "basic squad," not just individual fighting power. Chūnin also need to analyze battlefield situations. Those with great analysis but weaker combat often become Academy teachers or exam proctors.
"What's that got to do with our mission? Aren't we just blowing some bridge?" Obito scratched his head.
Could blowing one bridge really stop over a thousand ninja from pushing through? How wide was that bridge supposed to be?
"Think it through, Obito," Nohara Rin said, working off Minato and Kiyohara's points. "If they can advance like this, it means Iwa already has a tight grip on parts of the Grass territory and their logistics are flowing smoothly."
"So our mission is to strike the very front line, and the best way is to cut their logistics. Kannabi Bridge is the key node," Yūhi Kurenai added.
Shiranui Genma nodded silently. Kakashi just gave a speechless look.
Everyone got it—except Obito, who still seemed a bit lost.
Kiyohara shook his head. According to the official databook, Obito's Intelligence stat was only a 2. Even Rock Lee, Kiba, and Chōji were 4s—double Obito's. No wonder his theory was shaky. That part was innate.
"I see," Obito said when he noticed everyone else understood.
Minato went over the mission again just for him. This was critical—it could shape the entire Konoha–Iwa war—so it was highly classified. But with the great nations all fighting on multiple fronts, Konoha was short on ninja; that's why it fell to Kakashi's team.
Just as Minato was about to continue, he caught a subtle sound at the edge of hearing.
Enemies.
His first instinct was to whip out a kunai and kill the intruders. The next instant, he held himself back.
There was one thing he hadn't told Kiyohara, Kakashi, and the rest: he wouldn't be joining this operation—he'd be heading to reinforce the front instead. Now he wanted to see how they handled a live crisis.
So he pretended not to notice.
"Someone's here," Rogue Kiyohara said.
Years of chasing and being chased had honed his sense for hostile gazes.
"Enemies?" Kiyohara's face tightened, alert.
"Go be my eyes," he said to Rogue Kiyohara.
"You want me to float over and scout?" the rogue spirit blinked. This guy really was treating him like a tool.
"Please, future me!"
"Fine—but I don't know what my max range is," Rogue Kiyohara said, shaking his head.
His spirit drifted outward toward the enemy. Past three meters, he could feel himself dissipating faster.
"Looks like I can't get too far from you," he said, picking up speed as he floated along.
Soon he reached the enemy position: an Iwa four-man cell lying in wait. The leader was a weathered middle-aged ninja about his age; the other three looked younger.
"Four in total—one chūnin leading three genin. They've got fūma shuriken, three ninja blades…" Rogue Kiyohara began relaying positions and details.
"Good," Kiyohara nodded.
That was exactly one proper use for him. If he could leave Kiyohara's body, he had some independent mobility. Open the mind further and—passing by the Hokage's building—maybe Rogue Kiyohara could even drift in and peek at the Sealed Scroll. But he couldn't interact with the physical world unless he possessed Kiyohara. Or if the scroll was already open, he might "eavesdrop" on it.
"Hm?" Kakashi sensed it—something was off. Someone was watching.
"Noticed it, Kakashi?" Minato thought, nodding inwardly. As expected of the White Fang's son—pure genius. Back in the day, Hatake Sakumo's reputation outshone even the Sannin. Minato often wondered: if Sakumo had run for Hokage, would Minato have stood a chance? His own name was rising in this war, but compared to the older generation, he still lacked some depth.
Tragically, that question would never be answered. Sakumo had taken his own life at home—in the very village he loved—after countless escapes from death and countless enemies slain. Not the battlefield, not a mission—home.
"Ka—"
"Minato-sama, four enemies hiding to the south. Should be Iwa-nin," Kiyohara said, cutting off Minato's first syllable.
"You sensed all of them?" Minato looked over, surprised. Another ace? Not only had he detected the enemy, he knew the number.
"Enemies?" Obito yanked down his yellow goggles—he couldn't risk his precious eyes getting hurt.
"There are enemies here too?" Kurenai, beside Kiyohara, drew a kunai, wary eyes on the trees.
~~~
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