If they wanted to save Obito, the only person they could ask was Uchiha Madara—and whether he would agree or not was an entirely different matter.
Moreover, Madara chose Obito precisely because beneath that seemingly kind exterior lay an extremely selfish core.
In the shinobi world, death was unavoidable. Even without Madara's intervention, if Obito experienced something heartbreaking, who knew whether he would still end up taking the same path?
…
"Lord Minato, once we finish blowing up the bridge tomorrow, will my contribution be enough for me to become a Chunin?"
After comforting Kakashi for a while, Kiyohara went to find Minato.
"It's enough."
Minato nodded seriously.
This mission was exceptionally difficult, yet Kiyohara performed remarkably well. Both logically and emotionally, it made perfect sense for him to be promoted to Chunin—unless the Konoha upper brass wanted to test his potential further and arranged another evaluation.
"That's great."
Kiyohara nodded.
Becoming a Chunin meant an elevated social standing in the village, better treatment, and many other benefits.
Take Might Duy, for example—he was strong enough to literally kick apart the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of the Mist, yet because he held only a Genin rank, he ended up being looked down on his entire life.
If he had debuted like his son, Might Guy, as a Jonin from the start—who would dare laugh?
Of course, none of this was the most important part for Kiyohara.
'You hear that? I'll be a Chunin when we return. How about you advance a little ability to me ahead of time?'
Kiyohara spoke toward the urn inside his mind.
Whenever Missing-nin Kiyohara emerged, his very existence seemed to accelerate its own dissipation. When nothing happened, he simply lay inside the urn.
"Let's wait until you actually become Chunin, kid."
Listening to his past self shamelessly begging, Missing-nin Kiyohara couldn't be bothered to respond.
This matter wasn't even officially decided yet.
"And once a last will is set, it seems even I cannot change it."
Missing-nin Kiyohara continued.
He had just been thinking about adding a new wish or replacing the current one, but some instinct deep inside warned him that it could no longer be altered.
"It can't be changed, huh…"
Kiyohara rubbed his chin.
It seemed that if he acquired other "Last Will" in the future, he would have to ensure those versions of himself set them carefully.
If someone set a ridiculous wish, it would be a complete waste of an opportunity.
"Well, fine."
Kiyohara nodded.
After all, they would be heading back to the village after tomorrow. Once he officially became a Chunin, he would be able to fuse with his missing-nin counterpart's other talents.
Kiyohara hoped that self could also enjoy the treatment of a prodigy.
After all, this was simply the accumulation of all his selves' efforts—sweat and hard work combined.
Thinking of this, Kiyohara took out one of the spoils he looted—Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole.
This technique was extremely useful for escaping in critical situations.
It allowed the user to liquefy the earth around them and swim through it like water.
Even though he didn't have an Earth-nature chakra affinity, he could still learn it.
Innate chakra attributes simply made it easier to learn corresponding nature transformations.
Back during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Shikamaru had even suggested that tens of thousands of shinobi simultaneously use Earth Release to block the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb.
There was no way every single one of those shinobis had Earth-nature chakra.
"But without the matching nature affinity, it'll take much more chakra to use…"
Kiyohara flipped through the scroll, estimating that the consumption would probably be quite high if he cast it himself.
…
The Next Day
Kakashi's injuries had already stabilized thanks to Rin's treatment, so Minato suggested they set off immediately.
The group darted swiftly through the forest and finally arrived at a massive bridge.
Because the Iwa-nins had died so quickly, the other defensive posts had not yet reacted. This was the weakest moment.
Kiyohara took a large number of explosive tags from his pack and began attaching them to the bridge.
The bridge was enormous—large enough for several carriages to travel side by side.
Because of this, once destroyed, repairing it with Earth Release would be nearly impossible. Chakra used to maintain the earth structure would eventually dissipate, causing everything to revert to ordinary soil and collapse.
"War really burns money…"
As he pasted tags along the bridge, Kiyohara sighed.
All of these explosive tags came from Kakashi's bag. If their squad wanted to blow up a bridge, huge amounts of explosives were naturally required.
And since Minato was watching from behind, Kiyohara didn't dare sneak one or two into his own pocket.
After all, explosive tags were expensive. Even someone like Shikamaru found them costly.
Yet to blow up a single bridge, they used over two hundred tags. Kiyohara estimated this was easily the case.
…
"Let's go."
Once everyone retreated to a safe distance, Kiyohara and the others formed hand seals and activated the chakra on the tags.
BOOOOOOM!!
A deafening explosion roared through the forest, sending trees swaying and leaves scattering.
The towering bridge began collapsing piece by piece.
With Kannabi Bridge destroyed, sand, stone, and debris shot into the air as thick smoke engulfed the entire area.
"We finally completed the mission."
Before leaving, Kiyohara took one last glance at the place.
Kannabi Bridge would indeed deliver a devastating blow to Iwa's supply lines.
But Kiyohara doubted this war would end anytime soon.
Besides Iwagakure, there were still Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and others.
This chaotic conflict would only end once all five great hidden village had reached the brink of manpower exhaustion—only then would the peace agreements be signed one by one.
…
Later That Night
A dusty, travel-worn squad arrived at a Konoha forward base.
After settling Kiyohara, Kakashi, and the others, Minato headed to the command tent.
"Well done, Minato, you completed this mission quite splendidly."
A pale-skinned young shinobi wearing magatama earrings looked at him.
It was Orochimaru. He was surprised that only one Uchiha had died.
Nor did he expect Kakashi to adapt so well to the newly transplanted Sharingan.
This could bring tremendous inspiration to his research.
Minato remained quiet.
To him, losing even one student meant the mission was merely completed, not a success—let alone something to be called splendid.
"I heard a civilian ninja performed exceptionally this time as well?"
Orochimaru suddenly asked.
Kakashi's achievements were expected—he was the son of Konoha's White Fang and had inherited great talent, kenjutsu, and ninjutsu.
But Kiyohara was supposedly just a civilian child, and yet his performance surpassed even Kakashi's.
"Yes. Kiyohara performed very well."
Minato nodded.
On the way back, he had already submitted the recommendation for Kiyohara's promotion to Chunin.
"I still have matters to attend to, Lord Orochimaru. I'll take my leave."
Minato waved politely.
As Jiraiya's disciple, Minato was also the student of the Third Hokage. Orochimaru, likewise, was Hiruzen's disciple. By lineage, Minato was Orochimaru's junior—his "nephew" in the shinobi arts.
"Go."
Orochimaru nodded faintly.
He continued reading the intel.
He was simply surprised that a civilian child could have such talent. Somehow, Kiyohara reminded Orochimaru of himself.
After all, among the Legendary Sannin, he was the one truly born as a commoner.
Even Jiraiya, for all his claims, still had inherited a family summoning scroll and a deep connection with Mount Myōboku.
(End of Chapter)