Mission Complete, the Road Back to the Village (Monthly Ticket Request at the Start of the Month)

To save Obito, they would have to see whether Uchiha Madara agreed.

Besides, Uchiha Madara had chosen Obito precisely because he valued the extreme selfishness hidden beneath his kind exterior.

How could there be no deaths in the ninja world? Without Uchiha Madara, perhaps Obito would have developed the same thoughts after suffering some heartbreak.

"Lord Minato, after we blow up the bridge tomorrow, will my merits be enough for me to become a Chunin?"

After comforting Kakashi for a few moments, Kiyohara went to find Namikaze Minato.

"Yes, they will."

Namikaze Minato nodded seriously.

This mission had been extremely difficult, yet Kiyohara had performed so brilliantly. By both reason and sentiment, he should be promoted to Chunin.

"Great."

Kiyohara nodded.

Becoming a Chunin would also mean a higher social standing in Konoha, better treatment, and benefits in many other areas.

Might Duy, who could shatter one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist with a single kick, had been looked down on his entire life simply because he held the rank of Genin.

If he had debuted as a Jonin like his son Might Guy, who would have dared mock him?

Of course, none of that was the most important thing to Kiyohara.

"Did you hear that? Once I return, I can become a Chunin. Can you advance me some abilities first?"

Kiyohara said to the Ash Box in his mind.

Whenever Renegade Kiyohara emerged, it seemed to accelerate the dissipation of his existence.

Whenever there was nothing to do, Renegade Kiyohara would lie inside the Ash Box.

"Wait until you become a Chunin, kid."

Listening to his past self speak so shamelessly, Renegade Kiyohara could not be bothered to respond.

The matter was nowhere near settled yet.

"Also, after a wish is set, it seems even I can't change it."

Renegade Kiyohara said.

He had just considered adding another wish or replacing it with something else, but unfortunately, a vague premonition told him it could no longer be changed.

"It can't be changed..."

Kiyohara stroked his chin.

It seemed that when he collected other Last Words Books in the future, he would need to make his future selves set their wishes more carefully.

If they made some ridiculous wish, they would waste an opportunity for nothing.

"Fine."

Kiyohara nodded.

In any case, after tomorrow, they could begin the journey back to the village. Once he returned and became a Chunin, he would be able to merge with Renegade Kiyohara.

Kiyohara hoped he could experience what it felt like to be treated as a genius too.

This was merely gathering together the efforts of every version of himself. It was all hard work and sweat!

With that thought, Kiyohara took out one of the spoils he had found while rummaging through the bags: "Earth Style: Subterranean Voyage."

This technique was exceptionally effective for escaping at critical moments.

It turned the surrounding earth into liquid, allowing one to move through it as if swimming.

Although he did not have Earth-nature chakra, he could still learn this technique.

Innate chakra natures merely made it easier to learn the corresponding release techniques.

For example, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Nara Shikamaru had proposed that tens of thousands of Allied Shinobi Forces use Earth Release ninjutsu together to block the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb.

It was impossible for every one of those people to possess Earth-nature chakra.

"Still, without the corresponding chakra nature, using it will consume more chakra..."

Kiyohara flipped through "Earth Style: Subterranean Voyage" a few times. If he used it, the consumption would probably not be small.

The next day.

Kakashi's injuries had improved somewhat under Nohara Rin's treatment. Seeing this, Namikaze Minato suggested they set out now.

The group swiftly moved through the forest, eventually arriving before an enormous bridge.

Because the Iwagakure ninja had died too quickly, the defenses in the other areas had yet to react.

Thus, this was also when they were at their weakest.

Kiyohara took out a large number of Explosive Tags from his backpack and stuck them onto the bridge.

The bridge was massive, wide enough for several vehicles to travel side by side.

For that very reason, once it was destroyed, repairing it with Earth Release ninjutsu would be extremely difficult.

After the chakra in Earth Release ninjutsu was exhausted, it would revert to ordinary soil and fall to the ground.

"War really burns through money."

Kiyohara thought as he attached the Explosive Tags.

These were all Explosive Tags from Kakashi's backpack. Their team naturally needed them to blow up the bridge.

With Namikaze Minato watching behind him, Kiyohara could not exactly pocket one or two while he had the chance.

Explosive Tags were actually very expensive. Even Nara Shikamaru found them costly.

Yet to destroy a single bridge, they had used so many Explosive Tags. Kiyohara estimated there were more than two hundred of them.

"Let's go."

After everyone had retreated to a safe location, Kiyohara and the others formed hand seals together, guiding the chakra left on the surfaces of the Explosive Tags.

Rumble!

A tremendous explosion echoed through the forest, making the trees sway and leaves scatter through the air.

The bridge, which had stood majestically there only moments ago, began to collapse slowly.

As Kannabi Bridge was blown apart, broken debris and dust surged into the sky, blanketing the entire area.

"The mission is finally complete."

Before leaving, Kiyohara gave the place one final look.

Kannabi Bridge could indeed deal a devastating blow to Iwagakure's logistics.

But Kiyohara did not think the war would come to an end.

Besides Iwagakure, there were Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and others.

This chaotic war would only gradually end in peace agreements after the Five Great Shinobi Nations had all fought until they were severely short of manpower and nearly unable to replenish their ranks.

Later that night.

A Konoha outpost welcomed a travel-worn team.

After settling Kiyohara, Kakashi, and the others, Namikaze Minato entered a tent.

"Hehehe, Minato, this mission was completed splendidly."

A pale-skinned young ninja with magatama earrings dangling from his earlobes looked at Namikaze Minato.

Orochimaru had not expected only one Uchiha to die this time.

Nor had he expected Kakashi to adapt so well to that transplanted Sharingan.

This could provide quite a few ideas for his research.

Namikaze Minato was somewhat silent.

In his eyes, the death of one disciple only meant the mission had been completed. It was far from deserving to be called splendid.

"I heard a civilian performed quite outstandingly this time as well?"

Orochimaru suddenly asked.

Kakashi's performance had been within his expectations. After all, he was Konoha's son, inheriting White Fang's exceptional talent, as well as the swordsmanship and ninjutsu passed down by White Fang.

But Kiyohara should have been merely a civilian brat, yet his performance this time had been even better than Kakashi's.

"Yes, Kiyohara did perform very well."

Namikaze Minato nodded.

On the way back, he had already submitted a recommendation to the village for Kiyohara's promotion to Chunin.

"I have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first, Lord Orochimaru."

Namikaze Minato waved to Orochimaru.

He was Jiraiya's disciple, while Jiraiya was the Third Hokage's disciple. Orochimaru was also the Third Hokage's disciple and Jiraiya's fellow disciple.

By that relationship, he was Orochimaru's disciple's nephew and should have called Orochimaru uncle.

"Go."

Orochimaru nodded slightly.

He then continued reading the intelligence reports.

He was merely surprised that a civilian brat possessed such talent, which inexplicably reminded Orochimaru of himself.

After all, among the Sannin, he could be considered a true civilian.

Even Jiraiya had an inherited Summoning Scroll and a deep connection to Mount Myoboku, one of the Three Great Sage Regions.