Hah! Such potent illusionary arts, I shall unravel them again!

Time turned back five minutes.

White Fang had just experienced the most important choice of his life.

Mission, or comrades.

In the world of ninjas, there is a set of rules.

Every line of these rules is written with the four words: "Mission comes first."

But he chose the latter.

Abandon the mission, rescue his comrades.

The price might be heavy, but White Fang did not regret it.

Being able to still feel his comrades' heartbeats was very important to White Fang... he was happy.

At least, that was how it was five minutes ago...

White Fang never imagined that because of his attempt to destroy Kanabi Bridge, Iwagakure would be so deranged as to send the Five-Tails Jinchuriki to pursue him!

"It seems the rest of the way, you'll have to walk on your own, lads."

White Fang finally stopped in his tracks; he did not intend to return to Konoha.

"To be honest, it has been my honor to carry out this mission with you all."

"Although we failed... it doesn't matter, we still have a chance!"

Cling—

White Fang drew his Short Blade, looking at the behemoth charging toward him from behind, his sharp eyes filled with resolve.

"Go back!"

"Leave this to me! I will buy you enough time!"

"One day, you must complete the mission we couldn't, blow up that bridge, and then let my son scatter my ashes upon it!"

"Promise me!"

At this moment, even though his body and mind were exhausted, White Fang could feel unparalleled strength!

Watching the backs of his comrades as they left with reluctance, White Fang smiled with relief...

"I'm sorry, Kakashi... if you want to defeat that brat from the Uchiha clan, you might have to rely on yourself."

White Fang was making his final farewell to the only softness in his heart.

The behemoth drew ever closer, and with every leap, the earth trembled!

Thump—

The exhausted White Fang did indeed feel a hint of pressure.

"Five tails, is this the oppressive force of the Five-Tails..."

White Fang tightened his grip on his blade.

His blade was very sharp and could easily slit an enemy's throat.

But facing a monster like this...

"Hey! You White-Haired Uncle up ahead!!!"

Amidst the tremors of the earth, a childish voice rang out.

It was a bit muffled and hard to hear clearly, but White Fang was startled!

"Are there others nearby! Civilians!?"

White Fang looked around, quickly searching for the figure; he did not want any civilians to die in the aftermath of this battle!

"Are you guys going to Konoha too? We're heading the same way, let me give you a lift!"

The voice sounded again.

"Hm?" White Fang's expression gradually turned strange.

He heard it clearly this time, but the key was... the voice seemed to be coming from above the Five-Tails?

Looking closely...

There really was a little brat up there, standing next to the Five-Tails' horn; it was hard to notice if you didn't look carefully!

And this voice... it seemed quite familiar?

He seemed to have heard it not long ago... yes, in Konoha, at the Hokage Office Building!

It was that Uchiha brat who shouted about the Will of Fire, yet used Fire Style to send the Konoha guards to the hospital!

How could he be standing on the head of the Five-Tails...

"Genjutsu... so that's it. To think I could be caught in it without realizing, is this the ability of the Five-Tails?"

White Fang sneered. As a veteran of countless battles, how could he fail to distinguish reality from illusion?

You think you can use this to deceive a father?

What father could resist such a temptation? At the very least, you should have transformed into the likeness of Kakashi!

"Release!" White Fang closed his eyes.

"Hm? It didn't work?"

"Heh, such a powerful genjutsu. Release again!"

"Hm?"

"...What is this human doing, Indra?" Five-Tails asked, somewhat puzzled. "Is he preparing some kind of ninjutsu?"

"No, he's saying goodbye to his past self." Ruohuo patted Five-Tails' horn to signal a stop.

Five-Tails used all four legs to forcefully halt its massive momentum, plowing two distinct trenches into the ground before coming to a steady stop right in front of White Fang, the kicked-up dust coating his face.

Sensing no killing intent, White Fang was confident in his judgment and continued trying to dispel the genjutsu.

He was soon choking on the dust and coughing, and just as he was about to open his eyes and retreat, he saw the massive Five-Tails crouching low, lowering its head.

Eyes the size of copper bells stared straight at him, and white steam puffed from its nostrils, blowing directly into his face.

Gulp.

Even White Fang felt his throat go dry at this moment.

Just then.

"Oh, it's you, Kakashi's dad."

Ruohuo acted as if he had just recognized him. "I saw you on the first day of school, mister... Are you heading back to Konoha too?"

"This..."

White Fang was bewildered. He truly hadn't sensed any killing intent; could this really not be a genjutsu?

But how could this Uchiha brat possibly...

"You are... Ruohuo-kun? The first-year class representative who defeated Kakashi?"

White Fang's intelligence was indeed a bit outdated; he had been executing missions on the front lines for the past two months.

"That's right, but I'm a Chunin now. I just finished a rescue mission and am on my way back."

Ruohuo pointed to the Five-Tails beneath his feet. "Let me introduce you; this is my new partner, Five-Tails."

"I ran into this guy during my mission. He tried to stop me from destroying Kanabi Bridge, so I defeated him."

"Then Five-Tails came out and became my companion."

Ruohuo hoisted Han's corpse, heavily implying that he had helped destroy Kanabi Bridge.

Only then did White Fang notice the features of the corpse... why did it look like Iwagakure's Five-Tails Jinchuriki?

Unlike Konoha, where information regarding the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki was top secret—with the Third never letting that person leave the village, keeping the information airtight—Iwagakure and other villages were clearly much more "lax" in this regard.

While they didn't exactly broadcast their Jinchuriki's information, they frequently sent them to the battlefield, attempting to create overwhelming local advantages.

White Fang recognized Han as the former Five-Tails Jinchuriki.

He became even more convinced that he was under a genjutsu...

A brat who hadn't even graduated from the ninja academy destroyed Kanabi Bridge against such defenses, killed a Jinchuriki, and obtained the Five-Tails?

"As expected of a Tailed Beast... such an absurd genjutsu, yet I can't find a way to break it?"

White Fang tilted his head and chuckled mockingly.

"Then I'll just have to start by taking care of you, the brat inside this illusion!"

A cold glint flashed in White Fang's eyes, and just as he was about to move, the next second—

"ROAR!!!!!!"

Five-Tails' furious roar shook the heavens. A tangible sound wave, accompanied by billowing white smoke, sent White Fang and his blade flying!

"Detestable human..." Five-Tails' voice was filled with disgust.

"Indra, are you sure he will be of any use to you?"

"..." Ruohuo was silent for half a second.

"I suppose so... he's just not very bright."

Well, anyone who would choose to commit suicide is generally not very bright.

(Cherish life; it is everyone's responsibility.)