News of Kannabi Bridge

Year 49 of Konoha, late autumn.

The Third Shinobi World War had lasted three years. Though its flames still flickered sporadically across many regions, everyone could sense that this calamity sweeping through the entire Ninja World had, like the chirping cicadas of autumn, reached the edge of exhaustion. The major nations were worn out and their resources depleted, all seeking a dignified way to end this war of attrition.

The final wedge that would bring this great war to an end was driven into a place called Kannabi, on the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth.

There stood a bridge.

Kannabi Bridge was not a grand structure, yet it was Hidden Rock Village's most vital route for transporting supplies and troops to its frontline forces facing Konoha's main army in the Land of Grass. Cutting it off was equivalent to seizing the throat of Iwagakure's frontline troops. Konoha's upper echelon, and Root under Shimura Danzō, precisely identified this strategic point. An extremely dangerous and crucial S-rank mission was issued: completely destroy Kannabi Bridge.

The mission's executors were the most dazzling geniuses of Konoha's new generation.

Their Jonin leader was Minato Namikaze, the renowned Yellow Flash who struck fear into enemies throughout the Ninja World. The team consisted of Kakashi, who had become a Jonin at merely twelve years old and inherited both the blade techniques and renown of Konoha's White Fang; the gifted Uchiha youth Obito Uchiha, with his Two-Tomoe Sharingan; and the medical ninja Rin Nohara.

At the outset of the battle, Minato Namikaze used his unfathomable Flying Thunder God Technique to dart across the battlefield like a true flash of light. Alone, he nearly wiped out Hidden Rock Village's frontline outposts and patrol units, creating an excellent opportunity for Kakashi's team to infiltrate.