The grass was lush and green, and the wild weeds swayed in the breeze.
Within the Land of Grass, the former Minato Team, now Team Kakashi, was about to part ways. Their guiding teacher, Namikaze Minato, was giving them his final instructions and warnings.
In the corner, the corpse of Mahiru, an Iwagakure scout jonin from the Land of Earth, was gradually growing cold. Minato's expression had also turned unusually stern.
"Kakashi, don't use that move again. Your reflexes aren't fast enough to control it perfectly yet."
"Obito, the same goes for you. Since you brought up self-control, you need to become a strong ninja. You're a Chunin too, and you should learn to be independent."
"You're wearing goggles. How could sand possibly get in your eyes?"
He glanced around and caught sight of the worry on Nohara Rin's face. Their teamwork had been pretty good until now, yet somehow, at a time like this...
"I'll say it one last time. Your mission is to destroy Kannabi Bridge and set up a Sensory Barrier around the area. And while completing the mission, don't forget—"
"The most important thing for a ninja is teamwork. Understood?"
Kakashi remained silent. Obito wiped the tear tracks beside his eyes, while Nohara Rin looked worried. Minato gave her a gentle smile.
"Rin, I'm leaving them in your hands. Make sure you complete the mission and come back safely."
"Yes, Minato-sensei."
A dead branch snapped, its deliberately made sound echoing through the woods. Everyone tensed, then heard a familiar laugh.
"You really are strict, Minato-sensei."
A stark black outfit came into view, along with a Demon Fox Mask with a white base and red markings, its three eyes vivid. The Uchiha Clan crest stood out clearly on the black cloak's back.
"Hua Yue? Are you on a mission in the Land of Grass too?"
Obito was startled at first, then hurriedly wiped the tear tracks from his face, afraid this kid—considerably younger than him—would realize he'd been so frightened that he'd cried.
"No, my real body is at the border of the Land of Earth. This is just a Shadow Clone. What can I say? That guy was supposed to be my mission target. He's one of the Third Tsuchikage's best men. I guess it's no surprise, given that you're Minato-sensei."
Then Hua Yue shifted his gaze and warned them solemnly.
"Anyway, enough about that. You'd better be careful. There are plenty of capable Iwagakure ninja in the Land of Grass, especially around the outpost at the pass."
"If this mission goes smoothly, the war might gradually draw to a close. If Minato-sensei finishes his mission soon, I won't have to keep choking down Military Ration Pills at the border of the Land of Earth."
"That's enough chatting. You lot, don't wait until you've lost something to regret it. Kakashi, I'm off."
The white mist dispersed. A hint of confusion stirred in Kakashi's nearly icy gaze. Nohara Rin instinctively looked toward their teacher and couldn't help asking,
"Minato-sensei, what exactly is Uchiha Hanazuki's mission?"
"That child? His mission is much harder than yours. Work hard, and don't let your junior surpass you. Kakashi, Obito, I'm leaving."
His figure vanished. Rin carefully put away her teacher's Specialized Kunai, then looked at Obito with concern.
"I understand. You're the jonin, so you'll be in charge of this mission. Let's go. We can't let our junior look down on us..."
Obito said this with some reluctance, then turned toward Kakashi, his expression solemn.
Only then did Rin finally relax, her face once again filled with her usual gentle smile.
The three of them disappeared into the woods. A White Zetsu, its entire body pale, emerged from a tree and looked after them, a smile tugging at its lips.
"Everything is going according to plan."
"What kind of plan? Care to tell me about it?"
A clear, childish voice sounded from behind. White Zetsu's pupils contracted, and it turned around with difficulty. In the eyes of the Demon Fox Mask before it, an intricate Mangekyo left White Zetsu in a daze.
[Character Check-In: White Zetsu] [Abilities: Spore Jutsu, God Tree Cells, Mayfly Technique, Disguise Jutsu...] [Random selection in progress... Check-in successful. Today's reward: Mayfly Technique.]
"So that's how it is. He's so old he can't move, and relies entirely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to keep him alive. He even transplanted the Rinnegan into Nagato. The God of Shinobi from back then has grown so old he can barely move?"
Clang! A flash of cold light. The intense pain jolted White Zetsu awake, and it instantly vanished using the Mayfly Technique.
"Gone? It doesn't matter. I've got what I wanted. He was infected by the God Tree since the Warring States era, and as an ordinary person, he was pickled into a White Zetsu. Thinking about it carefully, it still feels unsettling."
After briefly treating it with Medical Ninjutsu, Hua Yue took possession of the precious specimen that Orochimaru had long coveted, known to the world as Hashirama Cells.
"It's time to give Madara a little Uchiha Shock. Don't disappoint me, Obito. Hahahahaha..."
His lips curled into a grin, his face wild with mania. Uchiha laughing maniacally.jpg
Meanwhile, White Zetsu had hurried back to the Graveyard of Mountains, its expression frozen. How had that Uchiha brat discovered it?
"Was it a coincidence? Damn brat. When I get back, Lord Madara's going to scold me again..."
Its figure sank into the grass roots. There was nothing it could do about getting scolded; if he found out about their existence, that would be the real problem.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The distant mountainside collapsed, and White Zetsu's already grim expression improved slightly.
"Phew, is the plan going smoothly? At least nothing's gone wrong near that brat. At least he won't get killed. That's great."
Without hesitation, White Zetsu prepared to travel to the place where Obito had been buried and take away Madara's chosen successor.
Unbeknownst to it, a space-time mark, faint to the point of being almost imperceptible, had quietly attached itself to White Zetsu. As it moved with the Mayfly Technique, it appeared clearly in Hua Yue's sight.
"The long Shinobi World War is finally nearing its end, and the seeds of the Fourth Shinobi World War have been buried as well. Should I go play the part of a caring big brother now?"
"Actually, forget it. That role doesn't really suit me. I'd better go back."
Several days later, in Orochimaru's laboratory in Konoha, Land of Fire.
With a cruel smile accompanying his cold gaze, Orochimaru glanced at Hua Yue, who was reading intently, and asked in an offhand manner,
"How is the Dust Release of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki?"
After a moment's thought, Hua Yue answered frankly,
"Of the ninjutsu currently known, it has the greatest offensive power. It's a Kekkei Tōta that's completely impossible to block, and virtually impossible to counter unless you escape its range."
Orochimaru nodded slightly, his hands never stopping their work.
"Ōnoki's ninjutsu and diplomatic skills have a lot to do with Iwagakure's continued strength. I hear the old man is quite stubborn, though."
Creak. The door opened, and Anko entered the room carrying a pile of materials. When she saw Hua Yue, her eyes lit up at first, then she huffed and needled him.
"Humph, so you do remember you're the teacher's student! I hardly ever see you around. Did you come rushing back because you heard the teacher was going to become the next Hokage?"
"Huh? The next Hokage? Wouldn't it be Lord Namikaze Minato?"