Peaceful days passed in the blink of an eye. On the Land of Water front, Kirigakure maintained a wait-and-see attitude, keeping its troops stationed without making a move.
But Ōnoki on the Land of Earth front was not a patient man.
An army of twenty thousand ninja crossed the border of the Land of Grass and directly attacked Konoha Main Camp.
The Land of Earth and the Land of Fire did not share a direct border. Three smaller countries lay between them: from south to north, the Land of Rain, the Land of Grass, and the Land of Waterfalls.
The Land of Rain was drenched in rain year-round and had Hanzo, Hanzō the Half-God. Hanzo's relationship with Konoha was neither good nor bad; everything depended on interests. Advancing through the Land of Rain was not the best route of attack. Ōnoki did not want to fight Hanzo before fighting Konoha.
Then there was the northern Land of Waterfalls. Apart from the Five Great Nations, the Land of Waterfalls was relatively powerful, and Takigakure had quite a few strong ninja.
Compared to the Land of Grass, the Land of Waterfalls was clearly a tasteless morsel—useless to occupy, yet a pity to abandon.
Therefore, advancing through the weaker Land of Grass, which lacked high-level combatants, was Iwagakure's best route.
Konoha had also established its main camp at the edge of the Land of Grass's border.
Its central location allowed it to guard against Iwagakure suddenly invading through the Land of Waterfalls while also supporting the Land of Rain front to the south.
In just half a month, Iwagakure, led by Ōnoki, had launched no fewer than five fierce assaults on Konoha Main Camp!
For a time, morale at Konoha Main Camp on the Land of Earth front plummeted.
On top of that, the Legendary Sannin had left one after another, casting an inescapable shadow over everyone in Konoha.
The Third Hokage felt increasingly powerless and realized that he truly had grown old. Konoha had reached the time for a generational change, and he decided to elect the Fourth Hokage as soon as possible.
Sakumo Hatake was dead, and the Legendary Sannin had left. Whether in strength or reputation, Minato Namikaze was the obvious choice.
However, the Land of Earth front was in urgent need of aid.
After deliberation by the council of elders, they unanimously decided to send Minato Namikaze to the Land of Earth front first.
The day the war was settled would be the day Minato Namikaze became the Fourth Hokage.
This was also the day Konoha dispatched a large army to reinforce the front lines.
"Minato, Konoha's future is in your hands." The Third Hokage solemnly looked at Minato Namikaze, the sole towering tree left among Konoha's new generation.
Konoha needed a decisive victory to raise morale. As long as they drove back Ōnoki of Iwagakure, Kirigakure of the Land of Water would withdraw without a fight.
Conversely, if Iwagakure broke through, Kirigakure would certainly press its troops to the border to pick up the spoils.
At that point, Kumogakure, which had been watching from the sidelines, might deploy its army, and even Sunagakure, which had signed a peace agreement, might turn against them.
Therefore, this battle could only be won, never lost!
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Minato Namikaze nodded gravely. He understood the importance of this battle.
"Go." The Third Hokage placed all his hopes on Minato Namikaze. Deep wrinkles crisscrossed his gaunt cheeks.
"Move out!" With a wave of Minato Namikaze's hand, five thousand elite troops, all Chunin or above, immediately set off.
In a dark corner by Konoha's gates, Danzo's eyes gleamed as his gaze flickered back and forth between the Third Hokage and Minato.
The corner of his mouth rose slightly in a scornful sneer. "Entrusting the future to a brat? Hiruzen, you really have grown old!"
With a gust of wind, Danzo's murmur and figure vanished from where he stood, as though he had never appeared at all.
Konoha's reinforcements marched swiftly. Led personally by the already designated future Fourth Hokage, everyone held a fire in their hearts.
A fire that wanted to slap the Stone Ninja back to their homeland. With the future Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, leading them, they feared nothing!
As one of the reinforcements, Tōka honorably became one of the figures swiftly darting through the forest.
However, what frustrated him most was not becoming a ninja sent to reinforce the Land of Earth front, but...
"I don't get it. I just don't get it." From the moment Tōka left Konoha's gates until they were about to reach the Land of Fire's border, he had kept repeating the same words.
"Why was I assigned to Minato's team? And isn't this guy the supreme commander of the Land of Earth front? Why does he still need a four-man team?"
Tōka glanced at the two people leaping ahead of him. One was as steady as a rock, while the other was as excited as a monkey. From the bottom of his heart, he was unwilling beyond measure!
Why wasn't there a cute girl in the team?!
Uchiha Obito was equally displeased. Rin had been a great teammate—she knew medical ninjutsu, was gentle, and most importantly, adorable.
Why the hell had she been replaced by Tōka? Still, Obito's irritation only lasted a moment due to his thick nerves. He was incredibly excited because he could finally go to war.
The only one who thought the personnel change was fairly good was Kakashi. It was not that he disliked Rin; he simply believed from the bottom of his heart that gentle and kind Rin was not suited to being a ninja.
She could better demonstrate her value, and be much safer, as a medic in the medical division.
Since graduating from the Ninja Academy, Tōka had gone to the Land of Wind front.
As for Kakashi, Rin, and Obito, leaving Kakashi aside, Rin and Obito had clung tightly to Minato's thigh and, following Tōka, also become Chunin.
Although Minato's team had not directly participated in the Land of Wind front, how could missions undertaken by Minato possibly be low-level ones?
Compared to their classmates from the same graduating class, the three members of Minato's team had naturally advanced much faster.
His thoughts raced, and Tōka came back to himself when he sensed an approaching presence.
"Tōka, why are you frowning like that?" Kakashi's figure suddenly appeared, matching Tōka's speed as he followed beside him.
"Ah..." Tōka sighed, unsure how to answer.
Could he tell Kakashi that Obito had caught Lord Madara's attention and that someone in their team might die?
But on second thought, Tōka felt that this was not so bad. At least Rin was not on the team, so she would be safe.
Rin was such a cute and understanding girl. What a pity it would be if she died!
Tōka could only comfort himself this way. He glanced at Kakashi and made up an excuse. "It's nothing. I haven't been sleeping well lately..."
"Tch, what do you mean you haven't been sleeping well? You're obviously scared!" Obito appeared beside Tōka at some point, looking smug.
As he spoke, Obito proudly showed off the accessories on his Chunin vest.
Kakashi and Tōka kept their eyes forward and directly chose to ignore him.
Tōka's situation was classified, but Kakashi knew a little about it. The bone forest from the battle at Kikyo Mountain could not possibly be covered up by a simple gag order.
And Tōka was powerful, with that strange Kekkei Genkai...
Kakashi did not think he could defeat Tōka. He could not even manage an even fight against him.
Tōka's reason for ignoring Obito was even simpler. He simply thought Obito was not only stupid now, but exceptionally stupid.
Talking to idiots lowered one's IQ!
Perhaps Lord Madara should take Obito away and properly train him.
Suddenly!
Just as Obito grew angry at being ignored by the other two, a golden figure abruptly appeared before them.
A strange wave of energy spread out, enveloping all four of them.
Buzz!!
The scenery shifted. Golden light flickered, as if they had traveled through space and time.
Tōka, Kakashi, and Obito instantly left Konoha's main force behind and appeared directly in an unknown forest.
Compared to Kakashi's shocked face and Obito's utterly confused expression, Tōka remained unusually calm.
He knew this was Minato Namikaze's ability—the Space-Time Barrier!
Tōka was not sure how strong Minato Namikaze currently was, but the Space-Time Barrier possessed enough power to directly transfer a Tailed Beast Bomb. Carrying the three of them was nothing remarkable.
"Sensei, what is this..." Kakashi came back to his senses and asked in a low voice.
"Huh? Aren't we going to the battlefield?" Obito belatedly shouted as well.
Looking at Minato Namikaze's solemn face, Tōka felt conflicted. He had a persistent feeling that a sinister premonition was welling up like spring water.
As the supreme commander of the front lines, Minato had left the troops with his own team.
Could it be...
Tōka's pupils suddenly contracted, and then he frowned.
Minato Namikaze took in all three of their expressions and quietly committed them to memory.
Kakashi was steady enough, but too rigid in the way he handled things.
As for Obito...
For a moment, Minato could not think of how to describe this child. A little hot-blooded, a little foolish?
He did not know why those two words had popped into his mind. He shook his head and tossed away the mess of thoughts.
Finally, Minato turned his gaze toward Tōka.
Was this kid really only seven years old? No, he seemed to be eight now.
He had been in Konoha for nearly two years...
"Time really flies!" Minato smiled faintly and sighed, leaving the three of them baffled.
He looked at Tōka. "You've been in Konoha for two years now. Have you gotten used to living here?"
"Hm?" Tōka raised a brow. This guy really had the makings of a Hokage. He had not even taken office yet, and he had already learned to speak in official platitudes?
Tōka did not respond, and Minato simply continued smiling at him.
For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat strange.
The older and younger pair gazed at each other "affectionately," while a faintly "pink" aura filled the air.
Obito was impatient and was about to speak, but Kakashi stopped him.
Obito was dense, but Kakashi was thoughtful. He knew that Minato-sensei must have something important to say to Tōka.
After a moment of silence, seemingly uncomfortable under Minato's gaze, Tōka pursed his lips. "It's fine. More or less manageable."
"Whew..." Hearing that, Minato secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Tōka did not hate Konoha, it was enough.
As for a sense of belonging to Konoha, that could come after he started a family and built a career...
At that thought, Minato gave an awkward smile. Tōka starting a family seemed to be something for ten or twenty years from now.
"Tōka has made good friends in Konoha too, right?" As he spoke, Minato glanced at Kakashi. Though Kakashi was several years older than Tōka, there were only a few people in Konoha who could speak with Tōka.
Kakashi, Gai, and Tōka had fairly good relationships.
"I suppose." Tōka nodded perfunctorily. He had roughly guessed what Minato was about to say, but he hated having conversations framed in official platitudes.
In his eyes, it was simply a waste of time!
Before Minato could continue, Tōka got straight to the point. "Lord Minato, if you have something to say, just say it. If I can do it, I will. If I can't, I'll try my best."
Hearing this, Minato was slightly taken aback. He had underestimated the eight-year-old before him.
He truly should not view Tōka through the eyes one used for a child!
"Since we've come this far, I'll be direct as well." Minato's expression turned serious, and even his tone became solemn.
Here it comes! Tōka's gaze sharpened. He knew what Minato was about to say was no small matter. It was very likely that mission!
Kakashi and Obito exchanged a glance and put away their usual carelessness and joking expressions.
Minato nodded with satisfaction. Overall, he was still quite pleased with his two disciples.
"First, let me explain the current situation to you..."
Konoha was rich in land and resources, located at the center of the continent and surrounded by the four great nations.
Although the Land of Wind had been defeated, several hundred Jonin had escaped. Its top-level combat power still could not be ignored.
The Land of Water was in the midst of civil war, yet it had lost seven ninja swords in the Land of Fire and suffered a major setback. Now it had stationed several thousand troops at the border. Though there had only been small-scale clashes so far, it had officially declared war on Konoha.
The Land of Lightning possessed formidable military strength and was only inferior to Konoha in accumulated foundations. It had remained silent, but that did not mean Kumogakure would remain silent forever. Kumogakure was waiting for an opportunity, waiting to take a vicious bite when Konoha was at its weakest.
Finally, there was the Land of Earth and Iwagakure, the pressing problem that needed to be resolved.
Ōnoki's strength, backed by the Kekkei Tōta Dust Release, was beyond question. Since advancing through the Land of Grass, he had battered Konoha Main Camp until it teetered on the verge of collapse.
Within a month, Konoha would have no more reinforcements. Then the front line would be breached.
"I believe you all understand the importance of this battle. Victory will bring peace." Minato's voice grew heavier, and his eyes sharpened.
If they failed... then their families, friends, and everything else in Konoha behind them would be destroyed.
Kakashi was the first to think of his father and the glory of the Hatake clan.
Obito was the first to think of his loved ones, of Rin...
Tōka tilted his head. His black eyes flickered obscurely, impossible to read, and no one knew what he was thinking.
"This time, we have reinforced them with five thousand elites, but the frontline forces are largely made up of Genin. These reinforcements only barely even out the strength of both sides." Minato continued.
"If we want to drive back Iwagakure with the forces currently deployed, it will be impossible without three to five years!"
Konoha could afford to drag this out, but it also could not afford to do so.
The Land of Lightning and the Land of Water would not give Konoha that much time, even if they wanted Konoha and Iwagakure to wear each other down.
Kakashi's small face tightened as he reached behind him to touch the White Fang short blade strapped to his back. His eyes were filled with determination.
He suddenly asked, "Sensei, what is the mission?"
"Exactly. Minato-sensei, stop beating around the bush and just tell us the mission." Obito adjusted the forehead protector on his brow and shouted, "I'm Uchiha Obito! What mission could possibly stump me?!"
Tōka curled his lips but said nothing.
Minato's gaze narrowed slightly. He had said so much because he wanted Tōka to give this everything he had...
Since things had come to this, all he could do was trust him.
Minato took a deep breath before speaking. "This mission has only one objective..."
With a rustle, a map was spread out.
Minato's finger pressed down on it, pointing directly at a location within the Land of Earth.
"Kannabi Bridge!"
Before you continue