A shinobi’s mission pay was only that much.
Without taking on some side work, how could he fatten his own wallet?
As for working a job, Kiyohara said working was out of the question—he would never work a job in this lifetime.
Some of the poorer shinobi would take on side gigs, doing the work of ordinary people.
But Kiyohara didn’t want to waste his time on those.
After the Third Shinobi World War ended, before long it would be the Nine-Tails’ attack.
Whether Obito turned dark or not, Kiyohara figured Madara Uchiha would put forward someone to carry out his plans.
Sooner or later, a crisis would come.
“Somewhat true.”
Genma Shiranui nodded.
Why hadn’t he noticed before that Kiyohara was so full of wisdom?
While Kurenai Yuhi and Genma Shiranui were still dazed, Kiyohara had already packed most of the loot into his sealing scroll.
“Some of these are still brand new.
Should fetch a good price.”
Kiyohara thought to himself.
“What should we do now?”
Genma Shiranui also picked two shuriken off the corpses and stowed them in his ninja pouch.
“Rest for a bit, then attack the next stronghold.”
Kiyohara said.
As long as they repeated this a few times, they were bound to attract an Iwagakure Jonin to come chase them down.
At that point, Kiyohara and his team could make their getaway.
A squad of one Genin and two Chunin being able to draw out a Jonin was already pulling their weight.
“A chance to rest is good too.”
Kurenai Yuhi nodded.
Afterwards, they scavenged some gear and left the stronghold.
Iwagakure shinobi might double back for a surprise attack, so there was no point staying in the Iwagakure base.
The group made their way through the vast bamboo forest, finding a fairly concealed spot to rest temporarily.
“I wonder how Kakashi and the others are doing.”
Kiyohara stroked his chin.
He felt that Madara Uchiha probably didn’t have just Obito as his only candidate.
After all, if that boulder had been off by just a little, it would have crushed Obito’s entire head.
With such high risk, Kiyohara didn’t think Madara would gamble.
At most, it was coincidence that Obito happened to survive, so Madara decided to choose him.
Right now, Madara Uchiha was probably monitoring and observing the battle situation here through White Zetsu.
“Remember, he and Obito will break out into a quarrel.”
Kiyohara stroked his chin.
Kakashi believed that as a shinobi, even if you had to sacrifice a comrade, you must complete the mission—that was the “rule.”
If the mission failed, the war would never end, and more sacrifices might appear.
But Obito didn’t care about any of that.
With his lovesick brain, his heart carried only Rin.
“Hopefully we can head back soon.”
Kiyohara thought to himself.
This mission was already more than halfway done.
All they needed was to blow up the bridge at the end, and the mission would be complete.
For the next day or two, Kiyohara led Kurenai Yuhi and Genma Shiranui in constant guerrilla warfare.
Enemy retreats, we advance.
Enemy advances, we retreat.
Enemy tires, we harass.
A silky smooth combo that left Iwagakure without any temper to speak of.
“Damn it, their squad definitely has an outstanding sensor ninja!”
Sumashi, an Iwagakure shinobi, was furious.
A Konoha shinobi squad appearing out of nowhere, practically looking down on them.
“But Captain, we don’t have enough men.”
Susirei spoke up.
If they had enough manpower, they would have already formed a shrinking encirclement around the Konoha shinobi squad long ago.
“The front lines are strained, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Sumashi frowned slightly.
“Regardless, make sure you strengthen the alertness.
I suspect they might just be bait.”
“Yes, Captain.”
His subordinate Susirei quickly withdrew.
…
Elsewhere.
Kakashi’s squad was facing off against Iwagakure shinobi.
“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!”
A massive fireball erupted from Obito’s mouth, surging forward with a searing wave of heat.
“Didn’t hit a thing.”
Obito’s expression turned ugly.
The enemy uses an invisibility ninjutsu!
Shink, shink, shink!
Shuriken came flying in from the air as a sneak attack.
Kakashi quickly raised his blade to parry, knocking all the shuriken away.
“This girl, we’ll be taking her with us.”
The invisible Sumashi knocked out Rin Nohara and prepared to take her away.
He exchanged a glance with the Iwagakure Jonin Kakkō, then vanished quickly into the bamboo grove.
“Damn it!”
Seeing Rin captured, Obito was frantic and wanted to charge forward.
“Wait, don’t chase after them, Obito!”
Kakashi hesitated for a moment, then called out to stop Obito.
“Kiyohara and the others should still be drawing their attention.
The two of us will continue the mission.”
“What about Rin then?”
Obito stared at Kakashi in shock, never expecting Kakashi to be so cold-hearted.
“The enemy wants information from us, so they won’t kill her right away.
And once the information leaks, they’ll reinforce the bridge’s security immediately.
We have to complete the mission before that happens.”
“Compared to the mission, saving Rin right now is what matters most!
What you call Rin being fine is nothing but wishful thinking.”
In that moment, conflict erupted between Kakashi and Obito.
“When you and I are hurt, Rin is the one who heals us.”
Obito tried to convince Kakashi.
“That’s just Rin’s mission too.”
Kakashi thought of his father’s tragedy.
His father, who had greater renown than the Sannin, and had even been expected to become the Fourth Hokage, had been driven to suicide by people’s words.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, never came out to silence those slanderous remarks.
That showed that Konoha’s leadership also believed Sakumo Hatake’s mission failure had cost the Land of Fire dearly.
“You really are detestable!”
At that moment, in Obito’s heart.
Kakashi was an even worse bastard than Kiyohara.
“Someone who doesn’t value his comrades is the scum of scum.”
Obito didn’t want to say anything more to Kakashi and immediately started running in the direction the Iwagakure shinobi had left.
Only Kakashi remained where he was, his face twisted in conflict.
…
Inside a dark underground cavern.
White Zetsu slowly emerged halfway from the wall.
“Madara-sama, the plan is already in motion.
Obito is about to reach the designated location.”
White Zetsu’s voice echoed through the underground cavern.
An old man, aged and with a face covered in wrinkles, slowly opened his eyes.
Unlike his appearance, those crimson eyes held not the slightest cloudiness—instead, they carried a piercing brilliance.
“Is that so.”
Madara Uchiha nodded.
“By the way, Madara-sama, should we devote more resources to this?”
White Zetsu brought the matter up.
“Send a little.
Not too much.”
Madara Uchiha said slowly.
For the sake of the plan, being cautious didn’t matter.
But as for the others, frankly, he didn’t think much of them.
Minato Namikaze was nothing more than a kid who was a bit fast.
Kakashi was just a brat who could use a sword.
Kiyohara was merely a civilian with somewhat decent sensory abilities.
As for the rest of them, they weren’t even worth mentioning.
If any of them were shinobi of the Uchiha clan, then perhaps he might consider them as candidates.
For now, he only needed to focus on Obito.
“Yes, Madara-sama.”
White Zetsu slowly slipped back into the wall.