Playing a Supporting Role

The news that the battle would begin early did not shock them too much. Obito, for one, was practically bursting with excitement.

But once they entered the Iwayado Toad's stomach and Minato explained the situation, he could no longer get excited.

"Whoa, they're all Chunin... and there are even two Jonin..."

"What's wrong? You were itching to fight when you first came in~"

Seeing Obito become dejected, Kakashi mercilessly mocked him.

"Damn it, I'll show you how strong I am. They're just Chunin, aren't they? My Fire Release will burn them to death one by one!"

Hearing Obito say that, Shiranui Genma suddenly remembered that Fire Release had the worst hit rate among all ninjutsu in the Naruto World, so he abandoned the idea of using Fire Release against the enemy.

"Alright, let's discuss our strategy." Minato's gentle voice rang out, and everyone gathered around as their gazes gradually focused on him.

"Based on the descriptions from those two bandits, the enemy has two Jonin and four Chunin. Under normal combat arrangements, Yushi and I would each face a Jonin, Genma and Roku would each face a Chunin, and the four of you would split into pairs to fight the remaining Chunin. Does anyone have any other suggestions?"

"Can Roku's strength really handle a Chunin? Genma might be able to manage one, but only barely."

Kamise Yushi looked at the ever-masked Kakashi, his face full of confusion.

Minato nodded with a smile. "He can. In fact, he's already close to Jonin level."

"C-Close to Jonin..." Kamise Yushi opened his mouth, stunned beyond words.

At that moment, Genma and the others all turned to look at Kakashi. Obito's reaction was the most exaggerated, his face practically twisted with gritted teeth. However, Kakashi wore a mask the entire time, so it was impossible to tell whether he was pleased or upset.

"Lord Minato, could you give each group one of your special kunai and have Roku face a Jonin?"

"Hey, hey, hey, Genma, aren't you sending him to his death? This guy may be annoying, but he's still my companion~"

Obito's voice grew quieter and quieter as he spoke, and he awkwardly glanced at Kakashi.

"You... have a good strategy?" Rather than immediately rejecting the idea like Obito, Minato looked seriously at Genma.

"Yes. If possible, I'd like Roku and Teacher Yushi to each face one of the Jonin, while the six of us fight the Chunin. Lord Minato should be able to quickly deal with one Chunin, and once you've finished the one you're facing, you can swiftly ambush the Chunin fighting the others. That way, we should be able to finish them all quickly. So..."

Genma was using Tian Ji's Horse Racing Strategy. Kakashi was such a genius, and was famously known for always fighting evenly matched opponents—without the Sharingan, he should still have no trouble fighting a Jonin.

After all, Kakashi was already eight years old and had been a Chunin for two years.

Everyone's gazes flickered back and forth between Kakashi and Minato.

"I think we can try it. I might not be able to defeat a Jonin, but I won't be beaten immediately either. As long as I can stall long enough, that'll be enough, right?"

Kakashi looked at Genma. The Dead Fish Eyes visible through his mask seemed to have gained a little life.

Seeing Kakashi say this, Minato pondered for a moment before replying, "Then we'll do it this way. If it succeeds, our odds of winning will be much higher."

Regardless of whether they won or lost this battle, speed was the real key.

If they failed to quickly eliminate this group of Rogue Ninja, the Chunin might not be able to escape, but the Jonin still had a very good chance of fleeing. Thus, when Minato first heard Genma's strategy, he was rather pleased, though he was somewhat concerned for Kakashi's safety.

After Minato agreed, each pair received one Flying Thunder God Kunai, while those acting alone each received one as well.

Not long after, the Iwayado Toad carrying everyone arrived at the mountain. Minato's Shadow Clone, who had spotted it, tucked the toad into his pocket and headed toward the mountain stronghold.

"Hey, Tanaka, why are you coming in during patrol time!?"

Before he had gone far, Tanaka—who Minato's Shadow Clone had transformed into—was stopped.

"We found a very unusual kunai outside. I wanted to hand it over to the boss~"

"A kunai?"

Seeing the man's curiosity, Minato's Shadow Clone took out a Flying Thunder God Kunai and handed it to the bandit.

"Huh, there seem to be a lot of strange words on it. It really is unusual. Don't go in, then. Tonight, your big brother here will arrange a pretty woman for you. I'll take this thing in myself~"

"Mm, alright, I'll do as you say, big brother~" Minato's Shadow Clone put on a lecherous grin, much to the bandit's satisfaction.

The bandit quickly headed into the compound. What he did not expect was that Minato's Shadow Clone did not leave, but kept watching as he entered what looked like a reception hall.

"Bang!"

A thunderous boom rang out from within the mountain stronghold, and Minato's Shadow Clone immediately released the Iwayado Toad.

Everyone was released in an instant and charged into the stronghold from all directions.

"Ahhh!!" Countless women screamed.

"Clang! Clang!"

Weapons collided with crisp ringing sounds.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Massive explosions erupted from numerous directions.

The moment Minato made his move, he killed an unprepared Chunin.

However, the other Rogue Ninja only sensed him alone and immediately surrounded him.

What they did not expect was for countless more ninja to appear, forcing them to fight head-on.

Although things differed from the plan, the situation was far better than before. Genma and Kakashi therefore joined forces against one Jonin.

Since they were all ninja from Kirigakure, they quickly used the Mist Technique after exchanging blows.

Seeing his vision obstructed, Minato immediately used a Wind Style Jutsu, blowing away most of the mist.

But only moments later, the Mist Ninja fired countless kunai with Exploding Tags attached. The others reacted quickly as well, using the Substitution Technique to evade.

After the explosions, Kakashi and Genma stood back-to-back, warily watching for the Kirigakure Jonin who seemed to have vanished.

While the two of them remained locked in a stalemate with the jonin, Minato's ambush on the Chunin was effortless.

Thus, Obito and the others only held out for a moment before quickly joining Minato in taking care of the remaining three Chunin.

However, when they later wanted to fight the jonin, Minato stopped them and instructed them to deal with the Mountain Bandits and rescue the innocents instead.

Seeing that Genma and Kakashi were quite young, the hidden jonin had no intention of attacking first.

The pressure on him was extremely low right now. If things went badly, he could simply flee; if they went well, he could still launch an attack.

The other jonin was not so fortunate. Kamise Yushi's seasoned combat experience and overwhelming strength placed immense pressure on him. Even the Mist Technique could not completely evade the other man's senses.

After waiting a long time without any movement from their opponent, Genma and Kakashi began to worry.

Genma swiftly formed hand seals and created three Shadow Clones.

The Shadow Clones quickly formed hand seals as well, each spitting out a fireball.

The fireballs hit nothing, merely thinning the mist somewhat.

"Heh, and you dared come looking for trouble with us with strength like that?"

The barrage of fireballs drew the other party's mockery, but Genma was instead somewhat pleased.

"And what can you do? You've been hiding for so long just to fight two kids. Don't tell me you're afraid of us?"

The simplest provocation naturally could not make him reveal himself, but the hidden jonin merely snorted. "What a joke. This is strategy. Haven't you noticed that the commotion nearby has died down? I'd guess your companions have already been brutally killed. Heh heh~ I remember there were a few girls too. Maybe they'll get a good humiliating before they die~"

Although he knew it was all just the other man's imagination, Genma still clenched his teeth, his fists cracking loudly.

"Genma, calm down!"

"I know. But he won't show himself anyway, so there's nothing to be afraid of!"

Having calmed himself, Genma spoke in a teasing tone.

"Hahaha, brat, perhaps you don't know Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique. Even if things turn against me, I can still kill you silently and escape!"

"Wah!"

"Not necessarily!"

A flash of golden light streaked past. Minato suddenly appeared, dragging the hidden jonin out as though he were catching a chick and pressing a Shuriken against his throat.

Shiranui Genma was completely dumbfounded. That slap to the face had come far too quickly.

As Minato drew closer, Genma saw that his eyes were no longer blue, but yellow, with a horizontal golden pupil in the center.

Others might not have understood, but Shiranui Genma was shocked beyond words.

This was the Sage Mode he had dreamed of day and night. Minato could already use it now—it was simply unimaginable.

Though Minato might already have been eighteen or nineteen, that talent was still far too outrageous...

"I'll leave him to you two~"

Smiling, Minato placed the captured jonin before them and casually added a seal.

"Ah... what are you doing... Ah... my Chakra, it's... sealed!!"

The Kirigakure Jonin had originally wanted to struggle, but upon discovering that his Chakra had been restrained, his entire body went limp and the light faded from his eyes.

"Don't worry, Teacher Minato."

"Minato-sama, hurry and help Teacher Yushi. It's probably almost over there~"

"Mm, I'm going now~"

With that, Minato immediately flashed away. Before long, a scream rang out from not far away.

Genma could only feel both envy and helplessness at such efficiency.

If Minato could already use the technique of instantly killing dozens of jonin with a single Flying Thunder God Kunai, they could probably coast through this entire mission lying down.

Yet when they had suddenly charged into the stronghold earlier, he had only instantly killed one Chunin.

Genma could not help looking forward to when the Golden Flash's famous battle would finally begin.

With everyone working together, all the Kirigakure Rogue Ninja were dealt with. One Mountain Bandit escaped, while all twenty-two women were rescued.

Although the mission had been completed exceptionally well, Genma felt as though he had merely been along for the ride.

When the final fleeing Mountain Bandit was caught with the help of Kakashi's dogs, the only remaining task was figuring out how to settle these women.

Most of the women were fine. Perhaps they had not been kidnapped for long, so their bellies had not begun to swell.

Only one gentle-looking red-haired woman was found by Rin, after an examination, to have been pregnant for several months.

When asked about her family, she only stammered and did not dare say anything.

In the end, after sending away the other women who had homes, the woman they learned was named Kana could only follow them to the town.

I've planted a little foreshadowing here—try guessing.