In the Pure Land…
Tobirama Senju stared at the chat window with an unusually grim expression.
“How did Hiruzen end up like this…?”
Hashirama, standing beside him, looked equally troubled.
“Brother, calm down for now.
Let’s keep watching.”
Tobirama patted Hashirama on the shoulder, forcing himself to remain composed.
As someone who had once stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world, he understood that now wasn’t the time to lose his temper.
The only thing left was to see how Hiruzen would deal with Konoha’s affairs.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: “Everyone, let’s continue watching the video first…”]
The video continued.
“Rin, take him and get out of here!”
Drawing the short sword from his back, Kakashi shouted anxiously.
By now, enemy shinobi had completely surrounded them.
“Alright!
We’re retreating!”
Rin supported the wounded shinobi.
“W-Wait…
the scroll…”
The injured shinobi looked around before spotting the scroll floating downstream in the river.
The current was swift, carrying it away in moments.
Just then—
A shinobi leaped down from the cliff, caught the scroll, and shouted,
“Retreat!”
The enemy shinobi immediately widened the distance between themselves and Team Minato.
“Obito!
Rin!
Protect him!”
Kakashi watched the retreating enemies and gave a cold snort before urging his teammates.
“Kakashi, what about you?”
Obito asked anxiously.
“I’m getting the scroll back.”
Kakashi answered without hesitation.
“Don’t do it!
There are too many of them!”
Obito warned.
“I’ll prove it through my actions.”
“You save people.”
“I’ll complete the mission.”
Kakashi glanced at Obito before disappearing in a blur.
“Kakashi!”
Obito stared after him, wanting to say something but unable to find the words.
“Obito!
Contact Sensei Minato!”
Rin shouted while supporting the wounded shinobi.
“Right!”
Obito threw a kunai with an explosive tag attached.
It detonated high above the forest with a deafening boom.
Seeing the signal, sweat beaded on Minato’s forehead.
“Obito…”
Meanwhile—
The enemy shinobi continued leaping through the trees before abruptly coming to a halt.
Someone was standing in their path.
Kakashi.
Alone atop a tree branch, short sword in hand.
“So, kid…”
“You think you can take all of us on by yourself?”
The enemy landed on the ground, looking at Kakashi mockingly.
“The mission must be completed.”
Kakashi slowly drew his blade.
“Attack!”
At the command, the entire group rushed him.
The scene changed.
“Obito, have you found Kakashi?”
Minato landed beside him and immediately asked.
“Kakashi charged into the enemy formation to recover the scroll!”
Obito replied anxiously.
“Kakashi…”
Minato’s expression tightened as he rushed off without another word.
The scene shifted once more.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The sounds of clashing steel echoed nonstop.
Holding his short sword, Kakashi defeated one enemy shinobi after another.
But the enemy had adopted a battle of attrition.
They gave him no chance to catch his breath.
“Take this!”
One enemy quickly formed hand seals to perform a jutsu.
Kakashi didn’t give him the opportunity.
His blade pierced straight through the man’s chest.
“Don’t let him escape…”
Before losing consciousness, the dying shinobi pointed toward Kakashi in the distance.
[Tobirama Senju: “This kid Kakashi is impressive.
At only twelve years old, he’s already capable of tying down so many enemy shinobi.”]
[Kurotsuchi: “Twelve years old and already this strong…”]
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): “So this is what they call a genius.”]
[Might Guy: “As expected of my lifelong rival!
Kakashi, prepare yourself!!”]
[Kakashi Hatake: “I’m not in the mood to fight today, idiot…”]
[Kirigakure Chūnin: “Am I the only one who thinks that guy named Might Guy is kind of an idiot…?”]
[Kirigakure Jōnin: “Don’t say that.
He’s still a Jōnin, after all.”]
[Sunagakure Chūnin: “You’re joking, right?
Someone who only uses taijutsu became a Jōnin?”]
[Might Guy: “Why can’t someone who specializes in taijutsu become a Jōnin?”]
[Might Duy: “Guy, don’t pay attention to people who don’t understand!
Stay true to your youthful path!!”]
[Might Guy: “I understand, Father!
Let the flames of youth burn brightly!!!”]
[Rock Lee: “As expected of Guy-sensei!!!”]
[Tenten: “Could you two please be serious for once?
You’re making me embarrassed…!!”]
[Neji Hyūga: “You’ll get used to it…”]
The video continued.
At that moment—
Dozens of enemy shinobi leaped onto the cliffs above and unleashed a volley of kunai.
The weapons shot toward Kakashi from every direction.
His pupils contracted.
At the very brink of death—
“Flying Raijin: Guiding Thunder!”
Minato Namikaze appeared in an instant.
He threw several Flying Raijin kunai in rapid succession, striking enemy shinobi one after another and scattering the assault.
“Sensei Minato…”
Kakashi looked at the familiar figure before him, momentarily stunned.
Minato shook his head as he picked up the fallen scroll.
“Did you really stay true to the path you chose?”
Kakashi froze.
Then he silently lowered his gaze, unable to meet Minato’s eyes.
The scene changed once again.
Under the blazing sun stretching across the wilderness—
“The mission is finally complete.”
Minato handed the scroll over to another shinobi.
“Thank you for saving me.”
The shinobi bowed gratefully.
“As expected of Konoha’s Yellow Flash.”
“Until we meet again.”
“Goodbye.”
Minato smiled gently at his students.
“Let’s head back.”
The scene shifted.
Team Minato traveled through the forest, leaping from treetop to treetop.
“Sensei…”
“So real missions are this difficult…”
Rin looked at Minato worriedly.
“Of course.”
“They’re never easy.”
Minato gazed toward the horizon.
“But at least the confidential scroll reached its destination…”
“Yeah.”
Minato nodded.
“The mission’s over!”
Obito cheered.
“Maybe.”
Kakashi replied indifferently.
“Maybe?
What do you mean?”
Obito looked at him in confusion.
“He said…”
Kakashi interrupted him, recalling the earlier scene.
‘Thank you for saving me.’
The grateful shinobi’s words echoed in his mind.
“If the mission had truly been completed…”
“…he would’ve thanked us for delivering the intelligence, not for saving his life.”
Kakashi said calmly.
“What do you mean?”
Obito became even more confused.
“The scroll in his possession was blank as well.”
“We were merely the decoy.”
“The real intelligence was delivered by another team.”
“That’s the real reason Sensei Minato was assigned a C-rank Mission.”
Kakashi explained.
“With someone like Sensei Minato escorting us…”
“…our mission looked convincing enough to fool the enemy.”
Disappointment flashed across Kakashi’s face.
“When did you figure that out?”
Obito’s eyes widened.
“The moment I discovered the first fake scroll…”
“…I had a feeling.”
“Then why risk your life for a scroll that might’ve been fake?”
“Because it was the mission.”
“That’s my principle.”
Kakashi cut him off coldly.
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): “What a letdown.
I thought Danzō was behind all this.”]
[Mei Terumī: “Same here.
I was convinced it was Danzō.
I’m honestly a little disappointed.”]
[Ōnoki: “Likewise.
I celebrated too early.”]
[Danzō Shimura: “Seriously?!
Stop blaming every single thing on me!
Are you people insane?!”]
[Uchiha Tekka: “Danzō, you’ve still got the nerve to talk?!
You’re a—!!!”]
[Uchiha Inabi: “Danzō, you piece of !”]
[Uchiha Kagami: “Everyone, please calm down…”]
[Asuma Sarutobi: “No comment…”]
[Mū (Second Tsuchikage): “I can’t stop laughing.
The moment Danzō appears, everyone immediately starts roasting him.”]
[Yahiko: “Danzō’s nothing but a damn monster.
I won’t accept any argument otherwise!”]
[Nagato Uzumaki: “That bastard Danzō…”]
[Deidara: “Hm!
Since everyone’s cursing Danzō, I’ll join in too—Danzō, !!!”]
[Danzō Shimura: ]