The Commander-in-Chief's Disobedience and the Relentless Initiation of Inspection Procedures

Namikaze Minato's fingers ultimately tightened around that cold Flying Thunder God Kunai.

He did not look at Hyuga Hiashi again, nor did he argue another word.

Rules, he understood.

The greater good, he understood that too.

Yet some things were carved into one's very bones, oaths sworn on the very first day of becoming a shinobi, far heavier than any rigid frameworks written in case files.

For instance, never abandoning comrades.

When he made his choice, his entire presence shifted. That decisiveness and sharpness belonging to a battlefield hero instantly overwhelmed his steady composure as the commander-in-chief.

"Lord Commander-in-Chief." Hyuga Hiashi's voice sounded once more, this time carrying a trace of an unnoticeable warning, "Any action of yours will be completely recorded by the Byakugan Sky Net."

Namikaze Minato acted as if he had not heard.

In his world, there remained only those dozen or so oblivious Konoha comrades under the distant sand dunes, alongside the impending executioners' blades.

The next instant.

There was no violent chakra fluctuation, no earth-shattering sound.

A golden light, like a flash of firefly, vanished abruptly in place.

The night wind blew past, whipping up a few grains of sand as if nothing had happened at all.

Hyuga Hiashi stood quietly in place, his pure white eyes reflecting the trajectory where that golden light finally dissipated.

He made no attempt to stop him.

Stopping a hero determined to rush to his death was neither dignified nor did it exceed his duty scope as an inspector.

His task was not to interfere, but to record.

"Record the time."

Hyuga Hiashi's voice was colder than the desert night.

Behind him in the shadows, a ninja of the Hyuga Branch Family responded and stepped forward, holding a blank scroll in hand.

"Target: Southern Border Joint Stability Maintenance Force