"Kill" Minato.

A small toad took in the entire late-night conversation between the master and his student.

So that was it.

Had Orochimaru poisoned the Whey Protein Powder?

Jiraiya sighed. Was Orochimaru still so intolerant of others? His heart remained shrouded in darkness.

Before Team Minato set out on their mission.

"Obito, return this bucket of protein powder to Zhengyi." Clearly, Minato knew about the poison. He didn't know why this master and student wanted to kill him, but seeking retribution or filing a complaint wasn't in his nature.

"Please tell Zhengyi that he and I are truly not enemies."

Minato had no intention of telling Obito about the poison; he feared it would ruin the friendship between the two boys. As long as Orochimaru and Zhengyi didn't target Kushina, he could endure anything.

"Yes!!"

Obito took the protein powder, but was he really going to return it?

This was Whey Protein Powder! Because production was extremely limited, you couldn't buy it even if you had the money.

He found a backpack, stuffed it inside, and carried it with him.

It was a treasure! He decided that even if he died, he would protect it well!!

"Oh, right, Teacher, you have to eat bananas before a big battle." Obito returned again; Minato assumed he had returned the powder and didn't bring it up.

"Bananas?" Minato was puzzled.

"Yeah, bananas are for replenishing fast-acting carbs. Just think of it as a quick energy boost before the fight so your body has more strength when you clash with the enemy later." Obito smiled and peeled one to eat.

Minato looked at Kakashi, who had already turned his back to them and started eating.

"Eat up, Teacher! We always eat these before working out at the gym; they really improve your athletic state."

Obito loved the yellow, ripe ones—they were sweet.

He didn't know if Zhengyi had done something to wrong him, but he had actually sent Anko to deliver these bananas to him.

Hmph, hmph, hmph.

Even if you use bananas to apologize to me, I won't forgive you. At most, I'll talk to you a little more.

Rin also tried eating a few, though she didn't dare eat too many for fear of gaining weight.

The green ones were naturally all given to Aoshui.

Since Obito and Kakashi had both given their seal of approval, Minato ate them with half-hearted suspicion.

"It's not good for me to eat too much before using the Flying Thunder God. You guys eat the rest." Minato smiled and distributed all the green ones.

Although the green ones didn't taste good, for the sake of the upcoming battle, Obito and Kakashi forced themselves to eat them.

Damn!!!

I feel like my whole body is overflowing with power.

"The green ones don't taste good. I injected poison into the green ones. Obito and Kakashi are both too cunning to eat them, and Obito wouldn't give them to Rin, so it had to be Minato who ate them."

"You are as clever as ever, Zhengyi. You even sent bananas as a precaution. I didn't expect Jiraiya to actually be monitoring me."

"You flatter me. But Teacher, is this poison of yours truly effective?"

"Of course, it was provided by Tsunade."

"Shikouyi, to think it was a drug developed by Tsunade. Then this student can rest easy."

"Hehehehehehe~~"

"Alright, stop laughing. Come with me to set the stage."

"Yes!!"

Inside a certain forest.

Team Minato encountered the elite Rock ninja Mahiru. Kakashi, eager to test his new technique, Chidori, fell into a crisis due to his excessive speed and lack of vision. Minato used the Flying Thunder God to instantly kill Mahiru and save Kakashi.

"Actually, you didn't have to save me. I could have killed him with taijutsu," Kakashi said aloofly.

"Kakashi..." Minato had a thousand words he wanted to say, but never mind, he would talk after the mission.

However, he felt a bit strange. Why had his chakra felt difficult to muster since just a moment ago?

He voiced his doubt: could there be something wrong with the bananas?

"It's normal, Teacher. You're just suffering from a 'carb coma' from eating too much. Once you recover, you'll welcome an even stronger version of yourself!" Obito flexed his muscles; in truth, he felt a bit dizzy too.

If one had the Byakugan to see through them, they would notice that the muscles on Obito's body were even more robust than those on Minato's.

"This idiot is right," Kakashi nodded. Yes, he had just been suffering from a carb coma, which was why he hadn't performed well.

"I see." Since Kakashi had said as much, Minato no longer felt anxious.

"Next, I will draw the fire of the main Iwagakure force."

"Kakashi, you will lead Team 7, with Obito and Rin, to destroy the bridge used for Iwagakure's logistical transport."

"Yes!"

Team Minato split into two groups to carry out their mission.

However, not even ten minutes after they parted ways, Minato felt his head spinning, as if he had been forcibly woken up after several sleepless nights.

Drowsy to the point of delirium.

I want to sleep so badly!!

"No... this isn't right..." Minato realized he could no longer sense his chakra.

Bananas! The banana Obito had given him was problematic!

But it was too late to realize it; he could only collapse to the ground in frustration. Before his mind went blank, he thought he saw someone kick him.

"Why did you kick him?" Orochimaru was somewhat speechless.

"To vent your frustration, Teacher," Zhengyi laughed.

"That was unnecessary," Orochimaru said, signaling for Zhengyi to carry Minato.

"It looks like the position of Hokage should be ours." Zhengyi felt great carrying Minato, but why was a dead man still breathing?

"Teacher, did Tsunade give you fake medicine? Minato isn't dead."

He checked Minato's nose, and it was indeed the case.

"Stop talking nonsense and follow me."

"Oh."

Then, they arrived at an Iwagakure military camp.

The White Zetsu responsible for sentry duty stared at Orochimaru and Zhengyi, who was carrying Minato, and they were stunned on the spot.

This script was all wrong.

It was not what Madara had told them.

Wasn't it supposed to be that Minato would come to draw the Rock Ninja's fire, and they only needed to join forces with the Iwagakure ninjas to stall Minato with their lives?!

How did the protagonist of the story, Minato, end up unconscious?

"I will give you 25 million ryo to make a deal with me; you will receive it once the task is complete." At this moment, Orochimaru spoke to the White Zetsu posing as a Rock Ninja.

25 million ryo was the entire budget for his laboratory.

The White Zetsu had become the leader here by being fearless and ruthless; without him speaking, the other Rock Ninja dared not move.

Oh~ So he wanted Iwagakure to kill Minato? He had finally gained some sense; his teacher had finally gained some sense. Zhengyi was so moved, feeling the satisfaction of a parent watching their child grow up.

"What should we do, Lord Madara? Should we make the deal with him?" The White Zetsu urgently notified Uchiha Madara in his mind.

"Uh." The Underground Elder was still in a daze.

He was getting on in years, and his CPU was running a bit slow.

Madara still hadn't processed what was happening.

What kind of play was Konoha putting on?

Infighting?!