Scolding Namikaze Minato

Chapter 19: Rebuking Namikaze Minato at Dawn, Outside Konoha's Outpost on the Border of the Land of Grass

More than five thousand Iwagakure prisoners were held within a hastily erected barrier.

When Ōnoki appeared on the horizon, the prisoners stirred, hope igniting in their eyes.

"The Third Tsuchikage... has come."

"He came... to save us!"

"The Third Tsuchikage... really hasn't abandoned us!"

Cheers rose one after another. Though these Iwagakure ninja had been defeated and captured, their morale had not entirely collapsed.

They believed their leader would find a way to take them home.

However, hope came quickly and vanished even faster.

Ōnoki entered the central command tent. Less than half an hour later, he emerged with a grim expression, directly used the Light-Weight Rock Technique to fly away, and did not even glance at the prisoner camp.

"The Third Tsuchikage... abandoned us?"

"Thirty billion ryo... even Lord Tsuchikage... can't afford it?"

"We... were discarded as pawns..."

Despair spread like a plague. Some began pounding on the barrier, some cursed under their breaths, and even more slumped to the ground with empty eyes.

The unrest gradually escalated. The Konoha ninja guarding them nervously tightened their grips on their kunai, and word soon reached the central command tent.

An Uchiha ninja knelt on one knee and reported, "Clan Head Fugaku, unrest has broken out in the prisoner camp. They seem to believe Ōnoki has abandoned them."

Uchiha Fugaku was reviewing the details of the armistice agreement. In a low voice, he said, "Sanpo, go deal with it."

"Understood."

A few minutes later, Uchiha Sanpo arrived before the prisoner camp.

With his arms folded across his chest, he cleared his throat and said, "Everyone from Iwagakure! The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, has just gone to the Land of Earth to request War Reparations from the Daimyo. By noon, the full thirty billion ryo will be delivered, and you will be able to return safely."

Whispers immediately arose within the barrier.

"Liar! How could the negotiations end so quickly? That's thirty billion ryo, not three hundred million! How could the Daimyo possibly hand it over so easily?"

"Evil Uchiha... you must be plotting something again!"

"You didn't even give us breakfast... are you trying to starve us to death?"

Listening to their doubts, Uchiha Sanpo's smile did not change in the slightest.

He had expected this reaction. The war had lasted for over a year and accumulated so much bloodshed and hatred. How could a few words possibly resolve it all?

Thus, he shouted sternly, "The war has lasted for more than a year. Both sides have suffered casualties, so it is only natural that there is hatred between us. But recognize reality... Konoha has now... defeated Iwagakure."

Some Iwagakure ninja shouted defiantly, "Haha! Is Konoha out of people? You sent a baby-faced brat?"

Uchiha Sanpo did not get angry. Instead, he changed his tone. "All of you have survived this war until now. We of the Uchiha Clan believe none of you are weaklings. Our Uchiha Clan has always respected the strong, so even though you are prisoners now, we have not mistreated or humiliated you. Because we know... this defeat... was not your fault!"

He deliberately paused, letting those words strike precisely at the prisoners' most vulnerable places like a spinning shuriken.

Seeing many expressions soften, he pressed on. "If Iwagakure had not killed the Third Raikage three days ago, the Fourth Raikage would not have declared war on you. If you had not been facing pressure from fighting on two fronts, you would not have risked launching a surprise attack on our Konoha outpost last night, nor would you have fallen into our ambush."

Uchiha Sanpo raised his right hand and cried out with great emotion, "In truth, based on the Third Raikage's death, Konoha had already predicted... that you would launch a surprise attack last night. Therefore, this defeat was inevitable. It was a mistake by your leadership, and had nothing to do with the courage of you frontline soldiers."

The atmosphere within the barrier subtly changed.

The prisoners murmured among themselves, and looks of relief appeared on many faces.

That was right. They had fought in blood and battle until now. How could they have suddenly suffered such a crushing defeat? So it had been a mistake in the higher-ups' decision-making...

Uchiha Sanpo sneered inwardly. He had prepared this line of reasoning long ago.

In his previous life, whenever people lost in games, they often blamed their teammates.

It still worked remarkably well in the world of Naruto.

Seeing the unrest gradually settle, Uchiha Sanpo nodded in satisfaction and left.

Yet from the corner of his eye, he spotted three familiar figures walking toward the central command tent.

"Namikaze Minato, Kakashi, Nohara Rin... what are they doing here?"

Namikaze Minato, Kakashi, Nohara Rin

Namikaze Minato bowed deeply and apologized sincerely. "Clan Head Fugaku, regarding Obito... I'm sorry... I failed to take good care of him."

Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin behind him also bowed. Nohara Rin in particular had red-rimmed eyes and had clearly just been crying.

Uchiha Fugaku had long grown accustomed to life and death. He said coldly, "Life and death on the battlefield are fated, Minato... you need not blame yourself... Obito simply had bad luck."

Namikaze Minato raised his head, his blue eyes filled with guilt. "But... if I had defeated the enemy faster... if the plan had been more thorough..."

Hearing this, Uchiha Sanpo barged into the tent and sneered, "Namikaze Minato, stop pretending! As the Eastern Front's commander-in-chief, you fought the Fourth Raikage so many times. Could you possibly not understand his character?"

Namikaze Minato froze. "Sanpo, what do you mean?"

"Iwagakure killed the Third Raikage, so the Fourth Raikage would inevitably seek revenge for his father and declare war on Iwagakure. That was why Iwagakure stationed forces at the border of the Land of Waterfalls: to resist Kumogakure's attack. In such circumstances, the Kannabi Bridge mission brought Konoha no benefit at all! You knew that and still carried it out. Wasn't it simply because you wanted to steal credit from our Uchiha Clan and pave the way for yourself to become the Fourth Hokage?!"

As soon as someone said it outright, the tent fell utterly silent.

Hatake Kakashi's eyes widened, and his breathing became hurried.

He remembered Obito's final words, remembered that fool who was always late, and remembered his brilliant final smile... Was all of this... merely a political performance?

"Is... what you said true?"

Nohara Rin covered her mouth as tears streamed from her eyes. "No... Obito... he..."

Nohara Rin: After Obito left, you're all I have left!

Namikaze Minato's face instantly turned pale. "Sanpo, you misunderstand... I never thought that way..."

Uchiha Sanpo sneered. "The war has lasted more than a year, and Konoha's supplies are extremely tight. If Iwagakure truly intended to transport supplies across Kannabi Bridge, then you would have received a mission to seize those supplies, not blow up a bridge!"

"To cooperate with your performance, they had Jonin Mimura Hamaki lead one hundred ninja to guard the border of the Land of Waterfalls. And Sarutobi Hiruzen's Kannabi Bridge mission for you was meant to be carried out alone. Yet you brought along three students. They slowed your march, causing ninety-six of the one hundred ninja who were cooperating with your performance to die in vain."

Namikaze Minato staggered back repeatedly. Pale-faced, he said, "I... I didn't know the truth... really!"

Uchiha Sanpo refused to let up, pressing forward step by step. "Iwagakure already excels at Earth Release. Building a bridge would take less than a minute. Besides, we ninja jump through trees and run across water. What use is blowing up a bridge? Such a flimsy excuse for blowing up a bridge—don't you think it's ridiculous?"

Uchiha Fugaku rose to his feet, his eyes sweeping over everyone. "Enough! The war has not completely ended. Internal disputes are meaningless."

Uchiha Sanpo unwillingly took a step back, but he still glared fiercely at Namikaze Minato.

Uchiha Fugaku walked over to Namikaze Minato and said calmly, "Obito died for Konoha, and the Uchiha Clan is proud of him. I believe you did not do it deliberately..."

Namikaze Minato bowed deeply, then led his two dazed students out of the central command tent.

Uchiha Sanpo said indignantly, "Clan Head, you are too forgiving! That Namikaze Minato clearly..."

Uchiha Fugaku interrupted him. "Sanpo. Remember, true strength does not need to prove itself by blaming others."

Outside the tent, Kakashi was still in shock.

He mechanically followed Minato, Uchiha Sanpo's words echoing through his mind.

If the Kannabi Bridge mission... had truly been unimportant... then what had Obito's sacrifice meant?