The moonlight flowed like water over the peaceful Uchiha Clan compound.
Chiya leaned against one side of the bed, gently stroking Mikoto's hair with his fingertips.
Mikoto breathed peacefully, and a faint, intoxicating blush still lingered on her face.
Her sleeping face was gentle and peaceful, and she looked a little thinner than before.
It was obvious that managing the clan so well required a great deal of effort.
Mikoto handled the affairs of the clan and the Police Force with ease, sometimes making even Chiya feel inferior.
She was also highly respected within the clan.
As expected of the perfect wife he had raised since childhood.
She had always worked hard and constantly improved herself, but these past years had truly been difficult for her.
Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched slightly.
He sensed a familiar chakra fluctuation.
A trace of surprise flashed through Chiya's eyes.
From the chakra alone, he had already guessed who had arrived.
He carefully got out of bed, making sure not to wake Mikoto, who had just fallen asleep, quickly put on his clothes, and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the room.
"Visiting me in the middle of the night, Minato, you're becoming more and more like an ANBU."
Chiya stood in the courtyard.
He looked toward the figure standing on the courtyard wall.
"Sorry for disturbing you."
Namikaze Minato jumped down from the wall.
His short blond hair glowed faintly under the moonlight.
The gentle smile was still on his face, but his expression was more serious than usual.
Chiya turned around and looked him over.
"Why did you come back? How is the situation on the front lines?"
Minato took a deep breath before speaking in a deep voice.
"The northwest battlefield has stabilized for now, but Iwagakure's pursuit force is even larger than we expected."
Chiya nodded, his eyes deep in thought.
"Don't worry. The battlefield changes every moment. There will soon be a new development."
"A new development?"
Minato's eyes lit up.
"Lord Chiya, have you already made a plan?"
Chiya simply nodded.
"Of course. What, Jiraiya didn't tell you?"
Minato gave an awkward smile and shook his head.
"Master Jiraiya has already left Konoha. He said he was going to reinforce the southwest battlefield."
"I wasn't able to meet him."
Chiya nodded.
"Then you came to see me this late at night for more than just reporting the battle situation, didn't you?"
He looked at Minato with a faint smile.
Minato's expression became serious as he looked directly into Chiya's eyes.
"Lord Chiya, I want to know... what should I do next?"
Chiya was silent for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Are you willing to become another bait?"
"Bait?"
Minato was slightly stunned.
"Another one? Is there already someone serving as bait?"
"That's right."
Chiya's gaze became sharp.
"For Konoha's sake, the Third Hokage will personally draw the main forces of Kumogakure and Kirigakure."
Hearing this, Minato's eyes immediately widened.
"Lord Hokage... actually..."
His pupils trembled.
He was the Kage of an entire village.
Yet he was personally acting as bait.
Chiya did not say anything more and simply looked at him.
"And you, Namikaze Minato, the successor of the Flying Thunder God Technique. As long as you appear on the battlefield, your value alone will be enough to drive the enemy mad."
"They will never want a second Senju Tobirama to appear."
During this war, because the village had followed Chiya's battle arrangements.
After the war began.
Minato had always played a support role.
His only real achievement on the battlefield.
Was his battle against the A and Killer Bee duo from Kumogakure.
Even then.
The battle situation had been too tense for either side to claim victory.
The duo had also withdrawn safely.
The news that Namikaze Minato could use the Flying Thunder God Technique had spread throughout the ninja world, but it had not yet reached the level of fear it had in the original storyline.
The Flying Thunder God Technique had disappeared after Senju Tobirama's death.
Now that Minato had successfully mastered it.
He would naturally become a thorn in the side of every major ninja village and a priority target for assassination.
Minato immediately understood what Chiya meant.
"Lord Chiya, do you want me to launch a feint attack from the southwest battlefield, then lure the enemy toward the northern battlefield?"
"Exactly."
Chiya nodded.
"This way, because they are fighting separately, the enemy's forces will inevitably become scattered, while our main force can easily gather together."
"We will fight the decisive battle on the northern battlefield, survive by fighting with our backs against the wall."
"This is the most effective strategy for Konoha under the current situation."
Survive by fighting with their backs against the wall?
Although Minato had some doubts, he also understood.
Chiya was never someone who spoke without reason.
After thinking for a moment, determination flashed through Minato's eyes.
"I understand."
"I'm willing to become this bait."
Chiya looked at him deeply.
"You should understand that being bait is not an easy task."
"One mistake, and you'll be surrounded, or even... die in battle."
Minato smiled.
His smile was as gentle as ever, yet filled with unwavering determination.
"If my sacrifice can bring victory to Konoha, then it will be worth it."
Chiya looked at him.
After a moment, he smiled.
"As expected of Jiraiya's disciple."
'As expected of Namikaze Minato.'
Chiya sighed inwardly.
Minato bowed slightly.
"Then I'll go make the preparations."
"Wait."
Chiya stopped him and took a scroll from his clothes before handing it over.
"Take this."
Minato accepted the scroll and froze for a moment.
What was this?
A tactical deployment?
"Inside this scroll is a ninjutsu called Rasengan."
"The inspiration for this technique came from the Tailed Beast Ball."
"With your talent, it shouldn't be too difficult."
"If you master it successfully, it will make up for your lack of offensive power during battle."
Minato tightened his grip on the scroll.
"Rasengan..."
He murmured softly.
Then he gave Chiya a deep bow.
"Thank you."
Chiya waved his hand.
"It's getting late. Go back and get some rest. You'll be heading to the battlefield tomorrow."
"Oh, right. Before you leave, remember to meet with the Third Hokage."
"Yes!"
In the original storyline.
This technique had originally been developed by Namikaze Minato after three years of research.
Creating it from scratch had been extremely difficult.
Now that he had the scroll and understood the principles behind it.
Learning the technique would become much easier.
Besides, all Chiya had really done was copy the Rasengan according to its principles.
As soon as Minato finished speaking, his figure turned into a streak of golden light and disappeared into the night.
Chiya watched the direction where he had left.
The scarlet Sharingan in his eyes slowly spun as a confident smile appeared on his face.
"Everything is ready."
"Everyone, leave the rest to me."
The night wind rustled the leaves in the courtyard, as if responding to his whisper.
...
The next day.
The Konoha elite force led by Hiruzen Sarutobi moved swiftly through the morning mist.
Danzo and the Root ninja hid in the shadows, following closely like ghosts.
Their destination was the eastern battlefield.
The situation there was the worst.
Kirigakure had deployed all of its elite forces, while Kumogakure continued sending endless reinforcements.
The Hyūga Clan, the Inuzuka Clan, the Shimura Clan, and the others were leading their troops in a desperate struggle.
They were already on the verge of collapse.
The operation.
With the Third Hokage acting as bait.
Would also begin from the eastern battlefield.
They would lure the enemy toward the northern battlefield.
"Lord Hokage!"
An ANBU instantly appeared, dropping to one knee.
"Lord Minato's reinforcement unit has arrived!"
Hiruzen nodded slightly.
Not long afterward, a golden flash streaked across the sky as Namikaze Minato appeared before everyone.
His short blond hair was slightly messy, but his clothes remained neat.
His eyes were still as sharp as ever.
"Lord Hokage!"
There was surprise in Minato's voice, but even more relief.
"I visited Clan Head Chiya last night."
"Chiya?"
Danzo's voice came from the shadows, carrying a hint of coldness.
"You went to the Uchiha Clan compound last night?"
Minato answered honestly.
"Yes. Lord Chiya has unique insights into the situation. I went to seek a way to break Konoha's current crisis."
Hiruzen fell into thought.
Danzo merely let out a cold snort, but, for once, did not object.
"Minato."
"What is your mission?"
Hiruzen looked at Minato with a solemn expression.
Minato smiled.
"The same as yours, Lord Hokage."
"What?!"
"What?!"
Hiruzen and Danzo were both stunned.
Danzo recovered first.
His expression immediately turned hostile as he looked at Minato.
"Damn that Uchiha Chiya!"
"I'm not qualified, but he is?!"
━━━━━━━━━━━━
❤️ Enjoying the Story?
⭐ Every 500 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter!
📖 Read 120 chapters ahead on Patreon.
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
Thank you for your support!
━━━━━━━━━━━━