[Naruto : Yellow Flash] Chapter 566 - 570

Chapter 566: Kirigakure Enters the Country

At the edge of the coastline, above the vast sea, numerous figures gradually became visible. They were the Hidden Mist ninja army.

Leading them was Terumi Ryuunosuke, whose eyes instinctively narrowed as she took in the devastated land before her. The ground was shattered, covered in thick smoke and dust. But the most striking feature was a massive gash in the earth, stretching hundreds of meters in both length and width.

Ryuunosuke’s breath hitched.

What kind of unimaginable power had been unleashed to cause such destruction?

What kind of fierce battle had taken place here?

Who were the combatants?

Her sharp gaze followed the trail of devastation, tracing it back to the direction of Konoha’s army camp.

Could it be...?

Earlier, their forces had silently eliminated Konoha’s Byakugan defense line led by the Hyūga clan. And now, another crushing blow had struck the Konoha army.

Was this all the work of the mysterious Third Mizukage?

Behind her, nearly two thousand Kirigakure ninjas observed the ruined battlefield in horror, their expressions filled with unease.

"Move out!"

Despite their shock, the Mist ninjas were trained to follow orders without hesitation. At Ryuunosuke’s command, the army resumed its march, stepping across the Land of Fire’s coastline and advancing deeper into enemy territory.

At the same time, Fugaku Uchiha, leading a dozen ninjas, emerged from the dense forest.

His heart pounded as he surveyed the area, scanning for the terrifying monster that had nearly wiped out the Konoha army.

But it was gone.

There was no sign of it.

“Father!!”

Behind Fugaku, Might Guy’s voice trembled with urgency, his eyes wide with disbelief.

They had all known that activating the Eighth Gate came at the cost of one’s life. Yet, despite that understanding, the sudden disappearance of both the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Might Guy left them shaken and full of questions.

“What is that?!”

Just then, a Hyūga ninja behind Fugaku furrowed his brows. His Byakugan flared to life, scanning the distance.

And in the next instant, his expression darkened.

“It’s the Kirigakure army!”

Everyone turned sharply toward the coastline. Though they were still kilometers away, the open terrain allowed them an unobstructed view.

“Why… are there more of them than before?”

Although Shisui Uchiha had only activated his Single-Tomoe Sharingan, his heightened perception far surpassed that of ordinary ninjas.

In his vision, the number of Kirigakure ninjas was significantly greater than before.

This isn’t right…

From their previous battles, they knew that Kirigakure’s forces had been dwindling. By now, their numbers should have dropped below 1,500 due to the ongoing clashes.

But now…

Judging from the figures advancing from the shoreline, their numbers had increased—they were at least two thousand strong!

Reinforcements.

Kirigakure had sent reinforcements to the frontlines!

Fugaku’s expression turned grim.

“Send a signal! Now!”

“Yes!”

A Konoha ninja, his face tense with urgency, swiftly pulled out a signal flare.

Boom!

A fiery streak shot into the darkening sky, exploding in a brilliant flash of light.

Konoha Camp – Border of the Land of Moon

Swish!

A Konoha ninja dashed into the command tent, where Minato Namikaze and the other leaders were gathered.

“Urgent report from the frontlines!”

“The new Fourth Raikage, A, has led the Kumogakure army into full retreat, heading toward the Land of Lightning!”

At these words, the gathered Konoha shinobi exchanged looks, their expressions shifting to relief.

The Cloud Ninja army had finally retreated.

It was expected—no matter how reckless the Fourth Raikage was, he couldn't ignore the bigger picture.

Now that the Third Raikage was dead, pushing forward would only cause greater losses for Kumogakure.

“Sakumo-senpai, I leave the remaining matters in your hands.”

Without further explanation, Minato turned toward Hatake Sakumo, speaking in a calm yet decisive tone.

And the next moment—

He vanished.

In the blink of an eye, Minato appeared several kilometers away.

This was the furthest distance he could travel without direct perception using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Now standing atop the tallest mountain in the Land of Moon, Minato looked down, the world beneath him blanketed in mist and clouds.

He formed a hand seal, and his powerful sensory abilities expanded, reaching out toward the southeastern coastline of the Land of Fire.

He was searching for his Flying Thunder God marks.

But something was wrong.

Minato’s expression darkened.

“What…?”

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t sense them.

His heart pounded.

The Flying Thunder God Mark never disappeared on its own.

Unless—

Unless someone or something had interfered with it.

A chilling premonition settled in his chest.

Without wasting another second, Minato altered his focus, expanding his search even further.

Several years ago, during his covert mission in Kirigakure, he had placed marks on several key reefs near the Mist Village.

Yet—

Even those were gone.

His sky-blue eyes widened in shock.

What was happening?

Without hesitation, Minato vanished once more.

Konoha – Minato’s Home

Minato reappeared in front of his house.

He glanced around. Kushina wasn’t home.

Swish!

Without a moment's delay, he pushed his speed to its absolute limit and raced toward the Land of Fire’s coastline.

As he sped through the dense forest, his mind remained focused—constantly reaching out with his senses, still unable to locate his Flying Thunder God marks.

Then—

Something caught his attention.

A thin wisp of unnatural smoke drifted between the trees.

Minato’s keen instincts kicked in.

He extended his chakra perception slightly.

“A ninja?”

At first, he assumed it was just bandits taking advantage of the chaos of war.

But no—

There were chakra signatures in the nearby village.

And not just one or two.

A group of ninjas.

None were exceptionally strong, but they clearly had the level of at least Chūnin or higher.

This wasn’t normal.

Minato immediately shifted direction, heading straight toward the source.

Moments later, he arrived outside a village engulfed in flames.

His sky-blue eyes locked onto the figures standing at the village entrance—eight or nine ninjas preparing to leave.

Then, his expression hardened.

Because the forehead protectors they wore...

They belonged to Kirigakure.

Chapter 567: The Bonds That Cross Battlefields

At this moment, one of the Mist Ninjas stationed at the entrance of the village suddenly tensed up, his sharp gaze locking onto Minato.

"A sensory-type ninja?"

Minato's expression darkened as he whispered to himself, his heart sinking.

Why were ninjas from Kirigakure appearing this deep within the borders of the Land of Fire?

The last major battle on the coastline had tilted in Konoha’s favor after Uchiha Yoruki awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, dealing a devastating blow to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. However, what Minato was witnessing now told him that the tide of war had shifted once again.

"There are Konoha ninjas here!"

The sensory ninja from Kirigakure immediately alerted his companions.

The Mist Ninjas all turned toward Minato in unison, their postures shifting into combat stances, muscles tense and ready for battle.

"Where did he go?"

However, as they scanned the area, they saw nothing.

The Kirigakure ninja who had first detected Minato was just as bewildered. A moment ago, the figure of the enemy had been right before his eyes. Yet now, he had vanished without a trace.

But Minato had not disappeared.

His sheer speed was simply beyond what their eyes could perceive.

In the next instant—

"Agh—!"

One of the Mist Ninjas’ eyes widened in shock, his body stiffening as a cold shiver ran through him. His voice trembled, and his pupils lost focus.

Before the others could react, a second Kirigakure ninja also froze in place, unable to comprehend what was happening to him.

Minato’s expression was grim as he moved through them like a ghost, his strikes precise and lethal. He showed no mercy, for in his piercing blue eyes, he could see the flames consuming the village behind him.

He could sense it—there was no trace of life left in that village.

The people who had lived there had been wiped out.

The ones responsible were the enemy ninjas standing before him.

Minato’s hands had been stained with blood before. This was war. To protect his country and his village, he had been forced to eliminate many foes.

But this—

This was different.

These Kirigakure shinobi had not fought enemy soldiers. They had slaughtered innocent civilians—helpless men, women, and children who had no means to defend themselves.

That was something he could not forgive.

The Mist Ninja beside the fallen ones felt his heart pound as his comrades collapsed one after another, yet he still could not find a trace of their attacker.

Fear crept into the eyes of the remaining two Mist Ninjas. They immediately leaped backward, their hands moving in unison as they hurled kunai tied with explosive tags in every direction.

"Boom! Boom! BOOM!"

The detonations roared through the night, flames surging into the sky. The shockwaves sent debris flying, but even amidst the destruction, there was no sign of their enemy.

A moment later—

"Bang!"

Before they could comprehend what was happening, they were struck with such force that they collapsed to the ground, their bodies going limp.

A faint rustling of fabric reached their ears.

Swish!

The golden-haired figure finally appeared before them.

The two Mist Ninjas, still conscious but utterly helpless, raised their eyes with difficulty. Under the flickering glow of the fires, they saw a man standing over them, his expression as cold as steel.

And then, recognition dawned.

Their pupils shrank in terror.

"You… You're—Konoha’s Yellow Flash?!"

Far from the battlefield, on the edge of an island within the Land of Water, a woman concealed beneath a mask stood watching the horizon. Her delicate features, hidden under the fabric, tightened with unease.

"There shouldn't be any enemy forces stationed on the nearby islands."

Her voice was calm, but there was a trace of tension in it.

"In that case… this might be the only opportunity to get those two children out of here."

Her eyes flickered as she reached into her tool pouch, pulling out a uniquely shaped kunai. She stared at it for a long moment, her fingers tightening around the handle.

"Senior Minato, these are your students. I trust you’ll keep them safe."

Her resolve hardened. Without hesitation, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, swiftly moving toward the depths of the island.

Inside a damp, dimly lit cave, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the silence.

Both Kakashi and Rin stirred, their eyes snapping open simultaneously.

The woman had arrived.

Before either of them could react, she moved with practiced ease, flipping a kunai into her palm.

Kakashi's breath caught. His muscles tensed instinctively, but his body did not move.

Rin's eyes widened in alarm, a muffled protest escaping her throat.

Both of them were gagged, unable to speak.

Was this it? Was Kirigakure finally going to execute them?

It had been so long since they were captured, yet no interrogation had taken place.

Just as Kakashi was beginning to question the situation, the woman abruptly swung the kunai—

And sliced through the ropes binding his feet.

Kakashi’s breath hitched.

For a moment, he thought he had imagined it.

The woman didn’t hesitate. She moved fluidly, cutting the restraints around his wrists as well.

Kakashi immediately tried to stand, but the moment he moved, his legs buckled.

"You’ve been tied up for too long. Even as a ninja, your blood circulation isn’t immune to the effects."

Her voice was surprisingly gentle. If it had been an ordinary person, they might have lost all function in their limbs from being restrained for so long. Even shinobi, with their superior physical conditioning, needed time to recover.

Without another word, the woman turned to Rin and freed her as well.

Kakashi, now regaining some feeling in his arms, quickly pulled off the gag from his mouth.

"Why are you helping us?"

His sharp gaze locked onto the masked woman. His mind raced with possibilities, but none made sense. She was an Anbu of Kirigakure—an enemy.

The woman hesitated for a fraction of a second.

Then, as if expecting the question, she reached into her pouch again and retrieved a kunai.

A very specific kunai.

Kakashi’s eyes widened.

"This… This is Minato-sensei’s kunai!"

The woman chuckled softly.

"Then there’s no doubt… You truly are his students."

Kakashi stared at her, baffled.

"You… know Minato-sensei?"

The woman tilted her head slightly, her voice laced with nostalgia.

"Of course. Many years ago, in the Hidden Mist, he saved my life."

Kakashi frowned slightly. The very idea that Minato-sensei had been inside Kirigakure was a classified secret. Only a handful of people in Konoha knew about that mission.

"So, since you are Minato-senpai's students, I couldn’t just stand by and watch."

With that, she reached up and removed her mask, revealing a delicate, breathtaking face beneath.

Both Kakashi and Rin found themselves momentarily speechless.

Then, the woman offered a small smile.

"My name is Mei Terumi."

Chapter 568: A Desperate Escape

"So beautiful…"

Rin couldn't help but marvel as she looked at the older girl standing before her.

Mei Terumi’s facial features were strikingly delicate, but it was her eyes that stood out the most—clear and bright like emeralds, yet brimming with confidence and determination. Unlike most who possessed such beauty, there was nothing fragile about her. A sharp intelligence and a shinobi’s spirit shone through her gaze, making it clear that she was no ordinary kunoichi.

Kakashi, however, frowned slightly.

For an Anbu ninja to reveal their face so easily was highly unusual. Concealing one's identity was a fundamental principle, yet Mei Terumi had taken off her mask without hesitation.

She was doing this to show sincerity.

She truly wanted to help them escape.

Kakashi exhaled softly. "I’m sorry."

It was an apology for doubting her, though his wariness had not completely faded.

Regardless of her intentions, this was a rare opportunity. If they hesitated, they might not get another chance to escape.

Mei Terumi glanced at Kakashi and saw the flicker of caution in his eyes. She didn't blame him.

She understood.

These two were captured by Kirigakure. If they weren’t suspicious of her, it would mean their teacher, Minato Namikaze, had failed in training them.

Even if she let them go, escaping Kirigakure’s pursuit wouldn’t be easy.

There was another guard stationed on the island. Once the escape was discovered, there would be no hiding it.

"In that case, I’ll tell you my plan now," Mei Terumi said with a small chuckle.

After listening to her proposal, Rin's brows furrowed.

"Do we really have to hurt you?"

In her eyes, Mei Terumi was their savior. The thought of harming her, even if it was staged, felt wrong.

"This is necessary," Mei Terumi replied firmly. "You don’t have to worry about it."

Her tone was calm but unwavering.

"On the contrary, if you don’t do this, you’ll be putting me in even greater danger."

Kakashi understood this immediately. He turned to Rin and explained, "If she helps us escape without injuries, her superiors will suspect her. She needs visible wounds to make her story believable."

Rin bit her lip.

"But… will they believe it?" she murmured, doubt creeping into her voice.

Kakashi’s expression darkened as he pondered the same question. He looked back at Mei Terumi.

"I think it’s a valid concern," he admitted. "But with your status, even if they suspect you, your clan should be able to protect you."

Mei Terumi smirked slightly. "Smart boy. How did you figure that out? Was it my surname?"

Kakashi nodded.

"Yes. The Terumi clan is influential in Kirigakure. I assumed you were related to someone powerful."

Mei Terumi's smile grew a little wider.

"You're right. My father is Terumi Ryuunosuke, the current head of the Terumi clan."

Kakashi and Rin stiffened.

Terumi Ryuunosuke—the same man leading Kirigakure’s forces in the invasion of the Land of Fire.

Kakashi had suspected that Mei Terumi was from a noble bloodline, but he hadn’t expected her to be the daughter of one of Kirigakure’s top commanders.

"Your teacher knows this as well," Mei Terumi continued. "If you successfully escape, you can confirm it with him."

Her words erased any remaining doubt in Kakashi’s heart.

If this were a trap, it was an unnecessarily elaborate one. There were too many easier ways for Kirigakure to manipulate them.

"Thank you," Kakashi said, bowing deeply.

Mei Terumi was taking a risk for them.

Even with her family's influence, aiding enemy shinobi in their escape was treason. If things went wrong, she could face severe consequences.

She studied them for a moment before speaking again.

"There’s something I want to say. It might sound hypocritical coming from me, but I’ll say it anyway."

Kakashi and Rin looked at her expectantly.

"I don’t agree with this war," Mei Terumi said firmly. "The nations of Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water were the ones who started it. Even though we are enemies, I want to say… I’m sorry."

Kakashi and Rin exchanged glances.

A part of Kakashi wanted to dismiss her words as empty sentiment. Apologies wouldn’t bring back the people who had died. But—looking into Mei Terumi’s eyes, he saw no deception. She meant what she said.

He sighed.

"Mei-senpai, none of us wanted this war. So there’s no need to apologize."

Rin nodded. "You saved us. That’s what matters."

Their sincerity made Mei Terumi smile.

She handed the special kunai in her hand to Kakashi.

"Once you escape, keep this with you at all times."

Kakashi took the kunai, recognizing it instantly.

"Minato-sensei’s kunai."

"I believe Minato-senpai is already aware of your situation," Mei Terumi said. "If so, he will do everything in his power to leave the battlefield and come for you."

Minato was Konoha’s strongest shinobi. His presence alone could change the outcome of the war.

But that also meant he couldn't move freely.

The fact that he had given this kunai to Kakashi and Rin spoke volumes about how much they meant to him.

"Understood."

Both Kakashi and Rin nodded solemnly.

Mei Terumi then pulled out a small pouch and handed it to them.

"These are military rations. Use them to regain your strength."

As Kakashi reached out to take them—

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Sudden clashes of weapons echoed from the other side of the island.

"Ah!"

Mei Terumi let out a sharp cry as Kakashi’s kunai struck her left shoulder.

"Rin, go!"

Kakashi grabbed Rin’s wrist, ignoring her worried glance toward Mei Terumi. He activated his Body Flicker Technique, pushing his speed to the limit.

Swish!

Not long after, another figure appeared beside Mei Terumi.

"What happened?!"

Mei Terumi clutched her wounded shoulder, gritting her teeth.

"The hostages… they escaped."

The Mist Ninja's face turned red with fury. "How did you let this happen?!"

He glared at her but quickly realized his mistake. Mei Terumi was an elite Anbu—she answered only to the Third Mizukage. He had no authority to reprimand her.

After a moment of hesitation, he turned and bolted toward the village, likely to report the escape before he could be blamed for negligence.

Mei Terumi watched him go, her expression unreadable.

She had known he would do that. He wanted to shift responsibility onto her.

I can’t just sit here and do nothing. Otherwise, I’ll be completely on the defensive.

Her gaze flickered toward the sea—toward the direction Kakashi and Rin had fled.

I hope you make it back safely.

Then, without hesitation, she disappeared into the night.

Meanwhile, on another part of the island—

A Kirigakure ninja emerged from the shadows, a sinister smirk twisting his lips.

Slowly, his body began to shift. His skin rippled unnaturally, his features twisting and reforming until—

A pure white face emerged.

White Zetsu.

His eerie grin widened as he whispered to himself.

"Let’s see how far you two can run."

With that, he melted into the ground, vanishing without a trace.

Chapter 569: Shadows of War

In the heart of the Land of Fire, within the fortified Konoha camp—

Swish!

A flicker of movement disturbed the stillness outside the temporary encampment.

The guards stationed at the entrance tensed up immediately, their hands gripping their weapons. But the moment they saw who it was, their expressions changed from caution to sheer relief and elation.

"Minato-sama!"

The figure before them was none other than Namikaze Minato.

Despite his youth, Minato was already revered as Konoha’s greatest hero in the Third Ninja World War. His unparalleled speed and strategic brilliance had turned the tides of battle countless times, earning him the moniker "Konoha’s Yellow Flash."

No one could match his battlefield achievements.

Minato gave a slight nod in response but wasted no time. His piercing blue eyes scanned the camp briefly before he disappeared in a blur of motion, heading straight for the command tent.

He had no time to waste.

Inside the tent, the atmosphere was heavy.

Seated around the strategy table were key figures of Konoha’s war effort—Uchiha Fugaku, Senju Nawaki, and several other high-ranking officers. Their expressions were grim, their minds burdened with the weight of recent events.

Suddenly, Nawaki’s eyes widened as he sensed something.

"Minato?!"

His startled voice broke the tense silence, drawing the attention of everyone else.

The tent flap swayed, and in the next instant, Minato appeared before them.

"Minato?"

Surprised exclamations filled the room.

His sudden arrival shocked them all, for according to their last reports, Minato had still been stationed at the border, engaged in a confrontation with the Third Raikage's forces in the Land of Moon.

None of them had received word of his return.

Minato’s gaze swept across the faces in the tent, but he didn’t dwell on their reactions. Instead, he closed his eyes briefly, expanding his sensory field across the entire camp in an instant.

A moment later, his sharp eyes locked onto Fugaku.

"Where are Senior Tenki and Senior Dan?" he asked solemnly. "Are they out on a mission?"

The moment those words left his lips, the expressions of everyone in the tent grew unnaturally stiff.

Minato immediately sensed something was wrong.

His gaze darkened as he took a step closer to Fugaku.

"What happened on the front lines?" His voice was firm, unwavering. "Did Kirigakure break through the defense line? How did they manage to infiltrate so deep into the Land of Fire?"

His earlier battle with the Kirigakure shinobi had provided him with little useful information. Kirigakure had become more secretive in recent years, and its ninja were trained to resist interrogation. Unfortunately, Minato had neither the luxury of time nor the expertise in extracting information through prolonged methods.

The silence in the room was suffocating.

After a long pause, Fugaku finally exhaled and spoke, his voice laced with guilt.

"It was my failure as a commander that led to this situation."

Minato narrowed his eyes.

His gut told him the situation was far worse than Fugaku was admitting.

As he listened to the full report, Minato’s usually calm demeanor darkened further.

"A… monster?"

His heart clenched.

From what Fugaku described, a monstrous entity had appeared on the battlefield—an overwhelming force that had single-handedly turned the tide against Konoha.

From their accounts, Minato estimated that its power rivaled, if not surpassed, the Nine-Tails itself.

Even with his current strength, he wasn’t confident he could take down such a creature alone.

The mere fact that the Konoha forces weren’t completely annihilated was nothing short of a miracle.

"Senior Duy…"

Minato murmured the name softly.

He knew the legend. In the original timeline, Might Duy, the father of Might Guy, had sacrificed himself by opening the Eighth Gate of Death to annihilate the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

But in this war, history had shifted.

Duy had instead given his life to buy time against an unknown monster, allowing thousands of Konoha shinobi to retreat safely.

A true hero.

Minato clenched his fists.

Kato Dan and Hyuga Tenki were killed in action.

Two of Konoha’s finest shinobis had fallen. Their deaths severely weakened Konoha’s military strength.

But what troubled Minato even more—

Was this the work of "him"?

A cold, dangerous glint appeared in Minato’s eyes as his thoughts drifted to a single individual.

"The masked man…"

The mysterious disappearance of the Hyuga ninja…

The sudden appearance of a monstrous entity on the battlefield…

It all pointed back to that one man.

The very same man who, years ago, had infiltrated Konoha and single-handedly eliminated the Anbu under the Third Hokage’s command, attacked Kushina as she was giving birth, and unleashed the Nine-Tails upon the village.

The same man whose identity Minato had been trying to uncover for years.

He recalled the events of the past.

That night in Konoha.

The strange sealing jutsu placed on Kushina.

The rumors of a figure pulling strings behind the scenes in Kirigakure.

Everything connected back to him.

For years, Minato had entertained the possibility that this masked figure was Uchiha Madara himself. But after careful research and discussions with the Third Hokage, he had confirmed that Madara had perished long ago in battle against the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama.

That meant the masked man was someone else entirely.

Someone who wanted the world to believe he was Madara.

For what purpose?

Minato didn’t know.

But he did know this—if this man had infiltrated Kirigakure and gained control over its forces, then the true scale of this war was far greater than anyone realized.

A chill ran down Minato’s spine.

This was no longer a simple war between nations.

This was a shadow war, orchestrated by an unseen hand.

The masked man’s words echoed in his mind.

"The attack on Konoha was both a spur-of-the-moment decision and something I had been planning for a long time… for war, and for peace."

"I am someone who can unify this world. I have countless means to achieve it."

Minato took a deep breath, forcing himself to focus.

If this man truly aimed to manipulate the war from the shadows, then Konoha was in greater danger than ever before.

Even if this conflict ended, the masked man’s plans would not.

Konoha would always be in his sights.

And perhaps… it wasn’t just Konoha.

Maybe his ambitions extended far beyond a single village.

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on it.

Right now, Minato needed to address the immediate crisis.

The 200 Kirigakure shinobi who had broken past Konoha’s defenses had already spread into the Land of Fire.

If left unchecked, they could wreak havoc on the civilians.

Minato turned back to Fugaku.

"According to your report, the Kirigakure army launched their attack immediately after the unknown monster appeared."

Fugaku nodded.

"And from what you observed, their main force doesn’t seem interested in fully invading the Land of Fire?"

"That’s correct," Fugaku confirmed. "It seems they’re holding their position, rather than pushing deeper."

That detail unsettled Minato even more.

If Kirigakure wasn’t attempting a full invasion… then what was their true objective?

Minato frowned.

And then, as if a missing piece of the puzzle clicked into place—

He suddenly turned to Fugaku, his voice sharp.

"Where’s the kunai I gave you?"

Chapter 570: Awakening in the Shadows

"I had kept it in the main tent until the camp was attacked by that monster. I sent people back to look for it, but they couldn’t find it. It must have been destroyed in the chaos, right?"

Fugaku answered immediately.

Minato’s expression remained unreadable as he processed the information.

"Is that so?"

He wasn’t convinced. If the kunai had been destroyed due to excessive force, it would explain why he couldn't sense the mark anymore. But something didn’t add up.

Why couldn’t he sense the presence of any of his other marks either?

Back during the Nine-Tails attack, the masked man had demonstrated an alarming familiarity with his Flying Thunder God Technique, countering his every move and systematically removing all of Minato’s marked kunai. That level of precision had played a crucial role in separating him from Kushina and allowing the Nine-Tails to be released.

The fact that this same pattern was occurring now made Minato uneasy.

Why go to such lengths to erase his presence on the battlefield?

What was the true purpose behind all of this?

Minato didn’t have an answer yet, but he hated being in the dark.

Still, despite the troubling circumstances, his arrival at the Konoha camp had at least brought a glimmer of good news—the war was ending.

After Minato had defeated and killed the Third Raikage, the balance of power had shifted drastically. The Four Great Ninja Nations could no longer continue their campaigns against Konoha.

The war was all but over.

And yet, as Minato stood there, looking at the faces around him, he could sense an unspoken weight in the air.

Senju Nawaki clenched his fists, frustration evident in his stance. Beside him, Fugaku carried a look of guilt.

Then, after a long silence, Fugaku spoke.

"Minato, about Obito…"

At that name, Nawaki’s face darkened even further.

Minato stiffened.

He listened quietly as Fugaku and the others recounted the details of Obito’s death.

As the story unfolded, the light in Minato’s eyes dimmed.

Obito… dead.

Minato had always harbored hopes for the boy—hopes that one day, he could take up the mantle of Hokage and lead Konoha into a new era.

But that future was now impossible.

After a long pause, Minato exhaled, looking at Fugaku.

"There was nothing wrong with your decision," he said, his voice steady. "If I had been in your position, I would have given the same order."

A shadow crossed his face.

"I failed to guide him properly."

Minato knew Obito’s personality better than anyone. Given the situation, the boy had likely been unable to understand the necessity of Fugaku’s decision.

Even now, there was no way to bring him back.

But at the very least—he could protect the people Obito held most dear.

That was why Minato had rushed back so urgently.

However, with the situation as it stood, he couldn’t leave just yet.

"Have the teams you sent out gathered any intel?" Minato asked, shifting the focus back to the immediate problem—the Mist Ninja who had infiltrated the Land of Fire.

Fugaku nodded.

"Yes," he said, handing Minato a collection of reports.

Konoha’s forces had been spread thin.

With intelligence reports taking time to relay and process, the number of shinobi needed to track and eliminate enemy forces was double that of the enemy itself. Even for Konoha, this was an enormous logistical burden.

Minato skimmed the reports, quickly analyzing the situation.

"Understood," he said, making his decision instantly.

"I'll reassign a small detachment from the Moon Country front to assist with the cleanup. Leave this to me."

The war might be coming to an end, but loose ends still needed to be tied up.

Just as he finished speaking—

Swish!

Minato’s figure blurred out of existence.

The Underground Cave

Deep in the dark caverns of an unknown location, Obito Uchiha slowly opened his eyes.

He wasn’t sure how long he had been there.

"You're awake."

A voice echoed in the dimly lit cave.

Obito's body tensed, and he turned sharply, his gaze locking onto a figure standing beside him.

A strange, white-skinned man with a spiraled, mask-like face.

Obito frowned.

"Why are you always standing next to me every time I wake up?" he grumbled.

The masked figure chuckled.

"Didn’t I tell you? I’m watching over you."

Obito rolled his eyes. "If you’re always watching me, when do you even sleep?"

The Uzumaki-faced White Zetsu shrugged.

"I don’t need to sleep. I don’t need to eat. And I definitely don’t need to poop."

He smirked.

"You’re so annoying."

He clenched his fists, irritation boiling inside him.

Without thinking, he jumped from the bed and swung a punch at the masked figure.

Bang!

White Zetsu caught Obito’s fist effortlessly.

"Wow," he said dryly. "That was weak."

Obito gritted his teeth. "Tch!"

White Zetsu released his grip without warning, causing Obito to lose his balance and fall off the bed.

"Ow! Ow! Dammit, that hurts!"

Obito groaned instinctively. But then—

He paused.

There was no real pain.

Slowly, he stood up, examining his body.

Something felt… off.

A hollow sigh left his lips.

"I’m not… fully human anymore, am I?"

He turned to face the white-skinned being before him.

"Maybe, maybe not," White Zetsu replied. "But if you weren’t like this, you’d be dead."

Obito fell silent.

A memory flashed in his mind—Kakashi. Rin.

His hand curled into a fist.

"If I die… then there’s no one to save Kakashi and Rin."

White Zetsu sighed dramatically. "You keep saying their names in your sleep. It’s really annoying."

Obito scowled.

But he didn’t argue.

He couldn’t.

Because he had no idea what had happened to them.

Just then—

Ripples spread across the cave floor.

A second White Zetsu emerged from the ground, his eerie form appearing in front of Obito.

"You’re looking better than yesterday," the new arrival noted.

Obito snapped to attention.

"You! Did you find out what I asked you to?"

White Zetsu tilted his head, thinking.

"I haven’t heard anything about those two you mentioned—Kakashi and Rin."

Obito’s breath caught.

"But," White Zetsu continued, "I did learn something else."

Obito tensed. "What is it?"

A slow grin spread across White Zetsu’s face.

"Minato Namikaze killed the Third Raikage during the battle between the Land of Moon and Kumogakure. Cloud’s army suffered a crushing defeat."

Obito’s initial disappointment vanished.

His eyes widened.

Minato-sensei… won?

If the war was ending, then—

Kakashi and Rin!

Hope flared in his chest.

Minato-sensei would never abandon them.

If he had won the battle, then it meant one thing—

He was coming.

Minato-sensei would save them.

Absolutely!