How the hell was he supposed to handle this?
Minato's head pounded.
In two days, the mission would start. He would be darting ahead with Flying Thunder God to scout enemy positions. He couldn't also keep watch on what happened behind him.
Leave it to Kai?
That didn't sit right. This wasn't some routine skirmish—they might end up clashing with Uchiha Madara himself.
And then there was the Nine-Tails.
Minato grimaced. He had to admit, he'd underestimated it before. But after hearing Kai's explanation, he finally understood: the Nine-Tails wasn't just a living weapon, it was also a walking library of shinobi history.
Which meant… once this mission was over, he needed to talk with Kushina. If they treated the Nine-Tails differently, maybe even kindly, there might be a way to tap into that bottomless well of knowledge.
But that was later.
Right now, the problem was Obito.
Being targeted by someone like Madara—how was he supposed to handle that?
If this were peacetime, it would be simple. Pull Obito out, keep him safe.
But it wasn't. They were in the middle of a war. As commander, Minato couldn't bend the rules just to shield his own student. Favoritism would destroy morale.
Besides… even if he pulled Obito from this mission, what good would it do?
Madara wouldn't give up after one failed attempt.
And since Madara was hiding in the shadows, Minato couldn't even confront him directly.
A nightmare.
"…Kai-kun, I—" Minato began, but Kai cut him off, voice steady.
"Big Brother Minato, no need to say more. Since I told you about this, I'll do everything I can to protect Obito. But listen carefully."
His eyes sharpened.
"We don't know what tricks Madara still has. We don't know how he'll make his move. That means all we can do is react. So I can't promise Obito's safety with absolute certainty."
"And one more thing—Obito cannot know. You know his personality. He can't keep a secret. If Madara finds out, who knows how he'll respond?"
Kai's tone grew heavier, each word pressing into Minato's chest.
"If Madara really pinned his hopes on Obito, then this plan is critical to him. If he discovers we ruined it… he'll go berserk. With three great nations already tearing into us, adding a rampaging Madara into the mix would be catastrophic."
His expression softened slightly.
"And finally—about me. I hope you'll keep my involvement confidential. I don't want to be exposed. I'm only telling you this out of trust—as a brother, Minato."
Why reveal all this?
Simple. To win Minato over.
Obito could live or die—it didn't matter. But Minato? Minato was far too important.
If he could secure Minato's favor, Jiraiya's influence would be finished. And once Minato wore the Hokage's hat, Sarutobi Hiruzen's refusal to step down would only make the tension delicious.
As for exposure? Kai wasn't worried. He might not be strong enough to beat a super-Kage yet, but running away? That, he could always do.
This was psychological warfare.
The more secrets Minato had to guard for him, the more subconsciously Minato would lean toward his side.
That was how true alliances were forged—through shared burdens.
Minato fell silent, then finally nodded.
"…Alright. I understand. I won't breathe a word about you, Kai-kun. And Obito… I'll leave him in your hands."
Two days later, dawn broke over the camp.
The two squads assembled. Minato gave a crisp briefing, then vanished in a flash of Flying Thunder God.
Kai, watching the yellow afterimage fade, spoke faintly:
"Move out."
No wasted words—classic Kai.
Shisui and the others, long accustomed to his blunt style, followed without complaint. Kakashi looked faintly displeased, but discipline kept him silent. Rin didn't care either way.
Only Obito dragged his feet.
"Obito, hurry up!" Rin called.
"Tch… yeah, yeah. Coming. So annoying…" he muttered, sulking as he trailed behind.
They'd all started from the bottom, so why was Kai suddenly the one everyone looked up to while he was still a nobody? The bitterness gnawed at him, but what could he do? Minato had arranged it, and no one else had objected.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.
The squads leapt through the forest, elite training evident in every silent movement.
At the front, Minato scouted to avoid patrols and large enemy camps. Within the group, Aya's Byakugan swept the terrain, steering them clear of smaller squads.
Their mission wasn't to fight—it was to destroy Kannabi Bridge. Avoiding battles was the priority.
Half a day later—
"Stop."
Aya's sharp voice cut through the air. Everyone froze, dropping instantly into concealment.
"Three Hidden Stone units ahead," she reported. "I sense three Jounin and nine elite chūnin."
All eyes turned to Kai.
He frowned. "If we detour?"
"At least twenty minutes," Aya answered. "And I'm sensing faint chakra signatures farther out. Could be more units."
Her Byakugan was shackled by the Caged Bird Seal—no perfect 360, limited range. At distance, she could only pick up vague traces.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"In that case… kill them. I'll handle the Jounin. Shisui, Kakashi—you take the chūnin. Obito, Kazama—you stay back and guard Aya and Rin."
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