Two Ten-Pulls

After chatting for a little while longer about the recent state of the battlefield, Minato Namikaze's expression gradually turned serious. He changed the subject and got down to business:

"All right, enough small talk. Let's discuss what matters."

"The Iwagakure forces have already broken through our defenses and surrounded Mimura Hamaki's unit. The situation is critical."

"We need to set out immediately, rescue Mimura Hamaki and his men, and stop Iwagakure from invading the village any further."

As he spoke, Minato's gaze fell on Aragaki Yasushi, Asuma, and Yuhi Kurenai. In a solemn tone, he assigned their tasks: "Tomorrow, your teacher and I will reinforce the main battlefield, hold back Iwagakure's main force, and rescue Mimura Hamaki."

"Your squad's mission is to destroy Kannabi Bridge and cut off Iwagakure's supply line. That will give us a chance to encircle their forces on the main battlefield."

He paused, then added, "You've carried out plenty of missions to sabotage their logistics and cut off their supplies lately, so you have a lot of experience. That's why I'm entrusting you with this important task."

"However, Iwagakure will probably have an elite jonin guarding Kannabi Bridge. Kakashi's team will go with you as well, so you can look out for each other."

"Once I've rescued Mimura Hamaki, I'll use the Flying Thunder God Technique to come support you right away."

Finally, Minato smiled reassuringly. "All in all, the mission shouldn't be too difficult. Just be careful."

After hearing that, Aragaki Yasushi felt his heart sink.

Shouldn't be too difficult?

Was he kidding?

Kannabi Bridge!

This was clearly a hell-difficulty mission!

He'd known this was coming. Why was it so hard to quietly farm points and grow stronger?

Still, he hadn't expected his own squad to be primarily responsible for the mission, with Kakashi's team playing support.

Sigh. It's all because I've been grinding missions like crazy lately. I gave Minato expectations he shouldn't have had.

Asuma, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement, rubbing his hands together as if he couldn't wait to set off.

Yuhi Kurenai looked a little nervous, but she still nodded, her expression resolute.

After all, they only had to cut off the supply route. How hard could that be?

Besides, Minato would come to support them. What was there to be afraid of?

To Yuhi Kurenai, this mission was practically a chance to earn battle merits for free.

Seeing them, Aragaki Yasushi had no choice but to agree.

"We'll complete the mission."

The instant he finished speaking, a panel appeared out of thin air before his eyes.

[Mission: Destroy Kannabi Bridge]

[Reward: +2000 points]

Aragaki Yasushi's heart gave a sudden thump.

Two thousand points!

Had he read that right?

That was two thousand points!

A ten-pull in the limited banner cost only nine hundred points at a ten percent discount. With two thousand points, he could do two ten-pulls and still have enough for two single pulls.

Aragaki Yasushi immediately banished all his worries.

What if they had to destroy Kannabi Bridge?

They'd do it!

Besides, the mission only required them to blow up the bridge. As long as he found the right opportunity and destroyed it, the mission would be complete.

Once he got the points, he could pull right there on the spot.

If he drew something powerful, like Talismans or a mask, he could make a successful getaway even if the Tsuchikage showed up—not to mention an Iwagakure jonin.

Staying alive would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?

After leaving the tent, Asuma and Obito were practically buzzing with excitement.

After all, this was the first time they'd been given such an important mission.

Before this, they'd either stolen intelligence or destroyed small outposts. They'd never had a chance to take part in a mission that could affect the course of the battlefield.

Even if they weren't going to the main battlefield and were only responsible for cutting off the enemy's supply line.

Watching them carry on excitedly, Aragaki Yasushi couldn't take it anymore. He poured cold water on their enthusiasm.

"Don't get excited too soon. The enemy will definitely have a jonin guarding Kannabi Bridge. This mission is dangerous, so we have to be careful. We don't want to fail to destroy the bridge and end up losing our own lives instead."

Obito immediately protested, bristling with indignation. "What's there to be afraid of? It's just a jonin."

"Kakashi's already a jonin, too. We can definitely handle this easily."

Obito sounded unbearably cocky, as if a jonin were no more than a Genin he could push around.

Kakashi still wore his usual cool expression as he replied flatly, "The enemy has a jonin, so we do need to be careful. We can't let our guard down."

He turned to Obito, his voice cold and merciless. "Dead Last, don't hold us back. If I have to, I'll abandon you without hesitation to complete the mission."

Obito instantly flew into a rage. He lunged at Kakashi, claws flailing, and shouted, "You're the Dead Last!"

Though Kakashi sounded indifferent, he was actually quite excited, too.

Ever since his father, White Fang, had died, Kakashi had fallen into a self-destructive spiral and become obsessed with taking on dangerous missions.

Put simply, he wanted to die on a mission and be free of everything.

That was why Kakashi had been so excited after accepting this dangerous mission.

At dawn the next day, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Aragaki Yasushi and the others packed their gear and set off to reinforce Mimura Hamaki and the others at the front line.

Along the way, Asuma and Obito continued bickering noisily, while Yuhi Kurenai and Nohara Rin followed quietly behind. Kakashi and Aragaki Yasushi brought up the rear.

Minato Namikaze, Akimichi Doto, and the others led the way at the front.

But before they'd covered even half the distance, Minato and Akimichi Doto's group stopped. After giving them a few instructions, they turned and hurried toward the main battlefield.

The situation there was critical, and Mimura Hamaki and his men were still surrounded. They couldn't afford to waste any time.

Fortunately, Kakashi had a specially made kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God Mark. Once Minato resolved the crisis on the main battlefield, he could use the Flying Thunder God Technique to come help them in an instant.

That was why everyone except Aragaki Yasushi felt the mission would be easy.

All they had to do was sneak to Kannabi Bridge, find a chance to blow it up, then stay put and wait for Minato to arrive. After that, they could follow the Yellow Flash and mow down the enemy.

They'd take care of the easy part, and Minato would do the killing.

After parting ways with Minato, Aragaki Yasushi led the group toward Kannabi Bridge at a rapid pace, without stopping.

They hadn't gone far when Kakashi suddenly came to a halt. He signaled for everyone to be quiet, his expression grave.

Someone was there?

Aragaki Yasushi wondered, following Kakashi's gaze as he scanned the area, but he couldn't spot a soul.

Thanks to his Origami technique, Aragaki Yasushi was one of the top Chunin, even capable of holding his own against a jonin.

After all, an ordinary ninja—whether a jonin or a Genin—would be done for if they were stabbed in a vital spot.

There wasn't that much difference between them.

But in terms of raw ability, Aragaki Yasushi still couldn't match Kakashi.

For example, Kakashi was better than him at sensing and had more mission experience.

Even though Aragaki Yasushi hadn't sensed anything, if Kakashi said something was wrong, then something probably was.

Yuhi Kurenai, Nohara Rin, and the others immediately stopped as well. They held their breath, tensed up, and warily fixed their eyes on the surrounding woods.

But they waited for a full three minutes. The only sound was the wind rustling the leaves.

Obito finally couldn't hold back and muttered under his breath, "Kakashi, are you sure you didn't imagine it?"

The instant he finished speaking, a black shadow suddenly sprang from the nearby bushes, two gleaming short swords strapped to its hands, and lunged straight at Obito.