On Uchiha Street.
Three figures were approaching from three different directions.
Soon, they met at an intersection and came to a stop.
They regarded each other with slight surprise, staying silent for quite some time.
"Yo, Shisui! Itachi!"
The first one to speak was Obito Uchiha. Early that morning, he had received a notice from the Anbu.
After a quick preparation, he left home, ready to personally participate in this mission specifically requested by his teacher, Minato.
Obito didn't know the full story, but from the Anbu's behavior, something big was definitely brewing.
However, always eager to prove himself, he didn't hesitate at all—he felt energized instead.
Looking at the two younger generations before him, who had not only achieved far more than he had, but also held much higher status within the clan.
Though Obito never cared about superficial honors, he still wanted to prove through action that he was no longer the same clumsy loser as before.
"It's Obito!"
Shisui nodded, recognizing the person in front of him.
Their paths hadn't crossed much, but over recent years, Obito had built up somewhat of a reputation.
He wasn't naturally gifted like others, but he could often be found persisting with quiet effort in some secluded spot.
Shisui had seen him more than once on the training grounds, bare-chested, endlessly practicing ninjutsu and taijutsu.
Besides that, Obito had a straightforward personality, making him easy to get along with among their clan members.
"Senior Obito!"
Itachi, significantly younger than Obito, immediately used respectful speech.
"Mm!"
Obito grinned, scratching the back of his head.
"Headed to Sensei Minato's too?"
Obito glanced at their outfits, noticing both carried full gear—a large ninja tool pouch strapped to the thigh and a tanto behind the back.
"That's right. Did you receive notification from Hokage-sama as well?"
Seeing Itachi nod slightly, Shisui answered Obito's question.
"Same here! Then let's go together—I got mine too!"
With that, Obito turned his body toward the exit of the compound.
Shisui and Itachi shared a brief look, then fell into step behind him.
Among the three, Obito was the oldest, yet also the most impulsive.
Both Shisui and Itachi had seen childish sides of Obito, but that didn't interfere with carrying out missions together.
...
In the Hokage Office.
Before any other ninja arrived, two people were already seated inside—
Minato Namikaze, the Light of Konoha, and Jiraiya, one of the Sannin.
"So that's how things stand. What do you think, sensei?"
Minato sat across from Jiraiya, his eyes fixed steadily on the older man.
"Mm… I'll handle Orochimaru."
Jiraiya said gravely, his mind flashing through experiences from many years ago.
Strange as it seemed, even though Orochimaru had betrayed the village so long ago, he'd never given up on the idea of bringing him back to the village.
In this regard, Jiraiya thought just like his previous life, Naruto Uzumaki—just as stubborn… or maybe even naïve.
"If my teacher can keep Orochimaru occupied during this mission, the other ninja should be able to capture a member of Akatsuki."
"The only concern now is whether Orochimaru and that ninja are still under surveillance by the Stone shinobi. After all, ninja of their caliber aren't easy to tail..."
Minato's gaze sharpened, with faint dark circles beneath his eyes from lack of sleep the previous night.
He wasn't worried about his deployed team failing to obtain intelligence, but rather feared that once they were dispatched, the enemy might disappear again without a trace.
"Then let's act quickly! As soon as everyone arrives, we'll set off immediately!"
Jiraiya had become impatient the moment he heard news about Orochimaru.
Yet for the sake of Minato's plan this time, he forced himself to suppress his inner impulse.
This wasn't just about Orochimaru anymore. The main goal was gathering intel on Akatsuki.
Previously, he had brought back a White Zetsu Clone, believing initially that its unique state might provide useful intelligence.
But in reality, when Inoichi entered its already-collapsing mind, there was absolutely nothing inside—not even a hint—emptier than an animal's brain.
Sure enough, a clone was merely a clone. Although it looked real—even eerie—it gave up nothing useful about the original.
"Yes, for this operation, I've arranged such a powerful lineup. Teacher, please take a look. Do you think anything needs additional reinforcement?"
"Kakashi and Guy have completed many missions together; they're very well-coordinated."
"Besides, their destructive power exceeds that of typical ninjutsu-type shinobi."
"They will serve as the main force against this Akatsuki member."
"Moreover, I've also enlisted Shisui Uchiha—the one known as 'Shunshin no Shisui.'"
"He'll be able to provide crucial tactical support to Kakashi and Guy from the sidelines."
"And besides, he himself is an extremely powerful ninja. Last time, it was him who rescued the Kazekage from Saitama Uchiha's hands!"
"Next are Itachi Uchiha and Obito Uchiha. Their strength is considerable too, though the main reason I brought them along this time is for training purposes."
"Especially Obito—he always looks so careless and sloppy. Honestly, it worries me."
After explaining his reasoning, Minato looked at Jiraiya, waiting for his feedback.
"No problem!"
Jiraiya nodded. He'd heard of all the shinobi Minato mentioned before.
Although he rarely returned to Konoha Village, it didn't mean he was unaware of what was going on inside it.
"Let's hope this time we actually come back with something. And not have the enemy vanish into thin air again once we get there."
Ultimately, everything depended on whether the enemy remained under observation by those Stone shinobi, not escaping without a trace.
Knock! Knock!
Someone was at the door, and both Jiraiya and Minato turned to look.
"Come in!"
Minato raised his voice slightly, signaling the person outside to enter. He assumed it was probably the others arriving.
Jiraiya leaned back on the sofa, his gaze passing over Minato, through the glass behind him, toward the grayish sky outside and the gradually intensifying light at its horizon.
"Teacher!"
"Hokage-sama!"
The first to arrive were Kakashi and Guy. At that moment, both had slightly damp faces, steam rising from their brows.
"You're here! Go ahead and sit down and rest! Why are you two so hot?"
Minato looked at the sweat on their foreheads and felt puzzled.
Although they traveled a long way to get here, there was no reason for them to be this exhausted, right?
"Alright!"
Kakashi and Guy answered in unison and stepped forward together.
"Jiraiya-sama!"
Drawing closer, they noticed Jiraiya sitting on the couch with his back to them and quickly greeted him.
"Mm, sit down."
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes. His gaze lingered on Kakashi as if he were looking at a familiar face, stirring old memories in his mind.
"Alright!"
Guy grinned. He was the least formal of the bunch and had the largest, most larger-than-life personality.
As soon as the two sat down, Guy leaned close to Kakashi.
"Kakashi, this time we'll call it a draw. I didn't eat breakfast this morning, which is why you managed to catch up to me!"
Guy whispered, his tone very serious.
"I also skipped breakfast!"
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