Minato? Who?

"Have you never heard that where there's a will, there's a way?"

Kakashi was left speechless by the retort.

Where there's a will, there's a way... Right. As long as people were still around, what couldn't be done?

But...

Strange, when had the mission system become this twisted?

Was it because of the Will of Fire?

But in an instant, Kakashi's heart tightened.

Damn it! He had almost been brainwashed!

"Who issues your missions? And how do you accept and complete them?"

Kakashi asked.

"During wartime, missions are issued by the big shots in the village. In peacetime, we shinobi mainly survive on missions commissioned by nobles and Daimyo."

"We classify missions by difficulty and set standard rewards accordingly. After completing a mission, shinobi can receive a certain commission. Of course, the village takes a cut as well."

Kakashi explained.

"Huh? So you're saying your survival depends on taking missions?"

Kakashi nodded.

"That's right!"

"Of course, the Daimyo provide the village with some development funds every year, but that alone is nowhere near enough. We have to accept commissioned missions!"

"Even the appointment of our Hokage is decided by the Daimyo, so... missions are an indispensable part of both shinobi and the village."

Kakashi and Obito were completely speechless.

Even the Hokage had to be approved by the Daimyo?

What right did they have to approve him? What did they understand?

A bunch of useless drunkards could actually point fingers and interfere with shinobi villages?

And what were you shinobi even doing? With such immense strength, why could you only survive by relying on missions?

Those nobles could make you wait on them hand and foot just because they had money. Then what had you trained so hard for?

Wasn't that the same as treating yourselves like dogs? Money was the chain, and whoever had money held the other end of it.

Obito felt that this world was no longer as wonderful as it had seemed at first.

This Shinobi Village System was not as romantic as the old people in the Empire had described.

What the hell was this?

"The Shinobi Village System really is a cancer! It has to be unified! I never understood what the Emperor said before. I thought it would be better for a hundred schools of thought to contend, but in reality, people are bound by their own greed and desires, and just like this world, conflict and friction never end!"

"This is a mistaken world, Kakashi!"

"Kakashi, let's go wipe out that bastard merchant called Gato!"

Obito was filled with righteous indignation.

Upon hearing that, Tazuna was already moved to tears.

"Thank you! Thank you, two shinobi-sama! The people of the Land of Waves will definitely remember what you have done!"

Naruto swallowed beside them, wanting to interrupt but realizing that what they were discussing was too advanced for him to understand.

"Alright, we can't be bothered dragging you along for the rest of the way. Obito, place restrictions on them."

Since they had already decided to help, Kakashi no longer hesitated.

To them, eliminating a crooked merchant was nothing more than a trivial matter.

Unlike Kakashi and Konoha Village, they did not need to worry about so much—such as the Land of Fire's Daimyo, Gato's dealings with them, diplomacy, and so on.

They just had to do it!

They had no justice or law, and as long as there were benefits to be gained, they endlessly exploited ordinary people. Konoha Village found it troublesome, but the two of them certainly did not!

Perhaps if they won the people's support, the Empire's integration into the Land of Waves could proceed without obstruction!

Not far away, Sasuke finally returned, bleeding all over and gasping for breath.

Naruto's eyes instantly widened in fury at the sight.

This was the one who had sacrificed Naruto's first kiss! His best buddy!

How had he become like this?

"Sasuke! Daijoubu?"

Naruto cast Sasuke a concerned look.

Seeing Sasuke looking somewhat absent-minded, Naruto shifted his gaze to Obito and Kakashi.

"Hey! You two bastards! What did you do to Sasuke?"

Naruto roared as he questioned the two, flames of anger flickering in his eyes.

He could not bear to see Sasuke hurt. His heart was filled with dissatisfaction and rage toward Obito and Kakashi.

Obito looked at Sasuke and could not help clicking his tongue inwardly.

This kid was too ruthless with himself. The Imperial Body Refining Method required gradual progress. He had overdrawn his cells at such high intensity, so naturally they could not endure it and began bleeding.

"Master..."

Sasuke spoke, looking at Obito.

Naruto was instantly dumbfounded.

He stared at Sasuke in disbelief.

"Sasuke! Do you know what you're saying?"

"Master? You actually acknowledge these two people as your masters?"

"You chose to betray the Hidden Leaf Village, didn't you, Sasuke? How could you do this? Didn't we agree that we would compete for the position of Hokage together and inherit the Will of Fire?"

"No! I won't allow you to do this!"

Naruto shouted frantically, trying to make Sasuke change his mind.

Sasuke looked at Naruto with disdain and sneered.

"Foolish Naruto!"

"Who would be interested in competing with you for that position of Hokage? You simply don't understand what I carry!"

With only hatred for Itachi in his heart, along with the determination and courage to avenge his clan, Sasuke no longer cared at all about the so-called Will of Fire.

Whoever had power was the boss. He felt no pressure whatsoever about betrayal.

Not everyone had been thoroughly brainwashed by the village like Naruto.

Kakashi glanced at Sasuke and sighed.

"Sigh... This is all the sin created by the village..."

"No! Impossible! Sasuke isn't that kind of person!"

Naruto looked at Obito again.

"It must be you! You put him under Genjutsu!"

Naruto struggled, trying to attack Obito and Kakashi.

Shadow Clone Technique!

Relying on his immense Chakra, Naruto immediately created countless clones.

Obito was also startled inwardly.

"Is this the talent of the Uzumaki Clan? His strength isn't much, but his Chakra reserves surpass most Jonin in the Empire! No... many Jonin could spend their entire lives without reaching such terrifying Chakra reserves!"

The Shadow Clone Technique was considered a forbidden technique precisely because many people could not control their Chakra reserves properly. Creating too many clones could easily cause sudden death.

Yet this brat had created several hundred clones in one go!

But Obito was only mildly surprised.

Fire Release—Great Fire Annihilation!

Terrifying flames erupted, and the Shadow Clones exploded one after another into clouds of white smoke.

Naruto's true body soon appeared.

Obito grabbed him and placed a Curse Seal on him that sealed his Chakra. Naruto was instantly at a loss.

Feeling the Chakra in his body vanish completely, Naruto asked nervously, "You... what exactly did you do to me?"

Obito sneered disdainfully.

"Kid, you're far too reckless and ignorant. I'm curious—did Minato-sensei not teach you properly?"

Obito simply could not understand it. By all rights, Minato-sensei had been exceptional in both talent and ability. How could Naruto in this world be so unbearable?

Could Minato-sensei in this world have died young as well? But how was that possible? Setting everything else aside, his Flying Thunder God Technique was unmatched when it came to preserving his own life!

Forget Kage-level opponents—even Six Paths-level opponents would have great difficulty trying to kill him!

"Minato-sensei? Who's that?"

Naruto wore a puzzled expression.