Exactly!
They were all drawn in by the spatial power and the SSS-rank mission on the scroll!
But they had forgotten a very simple question!
To put it plainly: how much are we getting paid for this mission?
In ninja villages, missions are accepted and assigned by the Hokage. While ninjas cannot refuse a mission once it has been accepted, the Hokage does have the authority to reject a mission if the information provided by the client is inconsistent with reality, if the mission fee is far below the standard rate, or if the risk is so high that no ninja can guarantee its completion.
Additionally, for highly sensitive and significant missions, clients usually demand exorbitant fees along with a penalty clause.
Yet these two SSS-rank mission scrolls were shockingly vague—neither the mission fee nor the penalty clause were clearly stated. The client's location was also left blank.
Tsk...
"Dwelling on this won't help. We'll just have to take it step by step."
Minato Namikaze rolled up both scrolls again, handing Naruto his copy back. "Besides, I'm curious why one scroll ended up in Obito's ninja pouch and the other in Naruto's."
Naruto: "Maybe it's because both Obito and I have dreams of becoming Hokage?"
Sakura immediately shot back, "Like that's possible, you idiot!"
"Anyway, that's enough for today." He ruffled Naruto's hair again. "Good kids need to get ready for bed." As their sensei, he also needed to go comfort Obito and the others.
Naruto nodded obediently, heading off to prepare for a bit more training before showering and going to bed.
Not just Sasuke and Sakura, but even he was surprised by how obedient he was being.
Maybe it was because the other person was the Fourth Hokage?
...
"Tobi-chan, feeling down~?"
A voice, almost human, emerged as a head poked out of the soil, followed by a bizarre, white-mud-like humanoid form.
A voice, almost human, emerged as a head poked out of the soil, followed by a bizarre, white-mud-like humanoid form.
"I told you, call me 'Madara' or 'Tobi'! One more mistake and I'll cut you down! White Zetsu!"
The man wearing an orange mask sat in the darkness, preparing to meet with Pain and Konan shortly.
Though he didn't need to attend Akatsuki's full meeting, to control Pain—or rather, that kid Nagato's actions—he needed to hold a smaller meeting with Pain and Konan before Pain addressed the entire group.
"Yes Madara-sama" White Zetsu twisted its form, fully emerging from the ground. "You seem in a foul mood. Might I tell you a few jokes to lighten your spirits?~"
"Not necessary! Every joke you tell is dead cold." The masked man replied. "You're right, I am in a foul mood. Stay away from me."
"Madara"'s voice was chilling.
White Zetsu didn't want to make things worse, so he gave a nod and prepared to retreat back into the ground.
"Wait."
"Any further orders, Madara-sama~?"
"Tell Pain and Konan that I'm tied up with something. Let them proceed with the meeting without me this time."
"Understood~~" White Zetsu obediently retreated back into the ground to carry out Madara's command.
The masked man remained seated. Through the single eye-hole in his mask, his foul mood was unmistakable.
The crimson glow of his Mangekyō Sharingan was unsettling in the darkness.
'Why... did I have such a strange dream?'
'Is it because I've waited so many years that I'm starting to grow impatient?'
Obito questioned himself mentally. He had intended to rest briefly before the meeting, as he planned to meet Itachi afterward. That boy was cunning; without utmost vigilance, he'd easily detect any slip.
But during those ten minutes of shallow sleep, he had experienced an utterly absurd dream...
In the dream, he hadn't 'died' at the Kannabi Bridge. Rin had always stayed by his and Kakashi's side.
Later, Kakashi joined ANBU. Rin became a doctor at Konoha Hospital. He himself became the teacher of Minato-sensei and Fugaku's child.
'Just wait a little longer…'
'Once the Infinite Tsukuyomi is completed, all the beautiful dreams will come true.'
'Rin, Minato-sensei, Kushina-san, and the Uchiha clan—they'll all live in that world of happiness. The hero won't have regrets, won't have to stand alone before the Memorial Stone in repentance anymore.'
'Wait for it, Kakashi.'
'This time, I'll accomplish what even you couldn't do!'
He stood up.
White Zetsu, who had relayed the message to Nagato and Konan, returned to his side.
"Where are you going?"
"Kirigakure."
"Oh It's about time to give Yagura Karatachi a new hint Tobi really dislikes the ninjas of Kirigakure~ Because they—"
"Do your job!! White Zetsu!"
Obito cut White Zetsu off, vanishing into the vortex in his right eye.