The grass was lush and green, and the wild grasses swayed in the breeze.
In the Land of Grass, the former Minato Team, now Team Kakashi, was about to part ways. Their instructor, Namikaze Minato, was giving them his final reminders and warnings.
In the corner, the corpse of Mahiru, an Iwagakure reconnaissance jonin from the Land of Earth, was growing cold. Minato's expression had also turned unusually serious.
"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, so you should learn to stand on your own."
"You're wearing goggles. How could sand possibly get in your eyes?"
He glanced around and caught the worried look on Nohara Rin's face. Their teamwork had always been decent, but now, of all times...
"I'll say this one last time: your mission is to destroy the Kannabi Bridge. Don't forget to set up a sensory barrier around the area while you complete it."
"The most important thing for a ninja is teamwork. Understood?"
Kakashi said nothing. Obito wiped the tear tracks from around his eyes, and Nohara Rin looked worried, but Minato gave her a warm smile.
"Rin, I'm leaving them in your hands. Make sure you complete the mission and return safely."
"Yes, Minato-sensei."
A branch snapped. The deliberately made sound echoed through the woods, and everyone tensed. A familiar laugh reached their ears.
"You're pretty strict, Minato-sensei."
There he was: black clothes and robes, a white mask patterned in red with three eyes and a demon fox design. The Uchiha Clan crest stood out on the black cloak across his back.
"Hanazuki? Are you on a mission in the Land of Grass too?"
Obito first jumped in surprise, then hurriedly wiped the tear tracks from his face, afraid the kid—who was considerably younger than him—would realize he'd been scared into tears.
"No. My real body is at the border of the Land of Earth. This is just a Shadow Clone. How should I put it? That guy was supposed to be my mission target. He's one of the Third Tsuchikage's capable men. I guess that's what you'd expect from Minato-sensei."
As he spoke, Hanazuki turned his gaze and gave them a solemn warning.
"Never mind that. You'd better be careful. There are plenty of capable Iwagakure ninja in the Land of Grass, especially around the route and the stronghold."
"If this mission goes smoothly, the war might finally start winding down. If Minato-sensei finishes his mission soon, I won't have to keep chewing Military Ration Pills at the Land of Earth's border."
"That's enough chit-chat. You lot had better not wait until you've lost something to regret it. Kakashi-senpai, let's go."
The white mist dispersed. A trace of confusion quietly surfaced in Kakashi's almost icy gaze. Nohara Rin instinctively looked at her teacher and couldn't help asking,
"Minato-sensei, what exactly is Uchiha Hanazuki's mission?"
"That boy? His mission is even tougher than yours. Work hard, and don't let your junior surpass you. Kakashi, Obito, I'm off."
His figure disappeared. Rin carefully put away the teacher's special Kunai, then looked at Obito with concern.
"I understand. You're the jonin, so you'll lead this mission. Let's go. We can't let our junior look down on us..."
Obito finished speaking with a hint of reluctance, then turned to Kakashi, his face serious.
Only then did Rin finally relax, her usual gentle smile returning to her face.
The three disappeared into the woods. A pale White Zetsu emerged from a tree and looked toward their retreating figures, the corners of his mouth lifting in a smile.
"Everything's going according to plan."
"What kind of plan? Care to tell me about it?"
A clear, childish voice sounded from behind him. White Zetsu's pupils contracted, and he turned around with difficulty. The intricate Mangekyō Sharingan in the eyes of the demon fox mask before him left him bewildered.
[Character Check-in: White Zetsu] [Abilities: Spore Technique, God Tree Cells, Mayfly Technique, Impersonation Technique...] [Random draw in progress... Check-in successful. Today's reward: Mayfly Technique.]
"So that's how it is. He's so old he can't move, relying entirely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to stay alive. He even transplanted the Rinnegan into Nagato. The God of Shinobi has grown so old he can't even move."
Clang! A flash of cold light. The intense pain jolted White Zetsu awake, and he instantly vanished with the Mayfly Technique.
"He's gone? Doesn't matter. I got what I wanted. The God Tree started consuming him back in the Warring States period. An ordinary person, pickled into a White Zetsu... Thinking about it carefully, it still makes me uncomfortable."
After a quick treatment with Medical Ninjutsu, the precious specimen long coveted by Orochimaru—the one the world called Hashirama Cells—was now in Hanazuki's hands.
"It's time to give Madara a little Uchiha Shock. Don't disappoint me, Obito. Hahahahaha..."
His lips curled upward, his face wild with madness. Uchiha laughing maniacally.jpg
Meanwhile, White Zetsu's expression stiffened as he hurried back to the Graveyard Mountains. How had that Uchiha brat discovered him?
"Was it a coincidence? Damn brat. If I go back now, Lord Madara's going to scold me again..."
His figure sank into the grass roots. There was nothing he could do about getting scolded. If the boy discovered their existence, then things would really become troublesome.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The distant mountainside collapsed, and White Zetsu's already ugly expression eased a little.
"Phew. Is the plan going smoothly? At least nothing's gone wrong near that kid. At least he won't get killed. Thank goodness."
Without hesitation, White Zetsu prepared to travel to the place where Obito had been buried and carry away Madara's chosen successor.
He had no idea that a barely visible space-time mark had quietly attached itself to his body. As he moved with the Mayfly Technique, it appeared clearly in Hanazuki's eyes.
"The long Shinobi World War is finally coming to an end, and the seeds of the Fourth Shinobi World War have been buried along with it. Should I go play the caring big brother next?"
"Actually, forget it. That role doesn't suit me. I'll just head back."
Several days later, in Orochimaru's laboratory in Konoha, in the Land of Fire.
With a cold gaze and a cruel smile, Orochimaru glanced at Hanazuki, who was absorbed in his reading, and asked as if casually,
"How is the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki's Dust Release?"
After thinking for a moment, Hanazuki answered frankly,
"Of the known techniques, it has the greatest offensive power. It's a Kekkei Tōta technique that's completely impossible to block. Aside from escaping its range, there's practically no way to counter it."
Orochimaru nodded slightly, his hands never pausing.
"Ōnoki's techniques and diplomatic skills have a lot to do with Iwagakure's continued strength. I hear that old man is quite stubborn, though."
The door creaked open. Anko entered the room carrying a pile of materials. When she saw Hanazuki, her eyes lit up at first, then she huffed and needled him,
"Seriously, you still remember you're the teacher's student? I hardly ever see you. Did you come back because you heard the teacher was going to be the next Hokage?"
"Huh? The next Hokage? Isn't that Lord Namikaze Minato?"
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