Konoha Needs You

Minato's fingers gripping the scroll turned white. To make the Third Hokage issue such an insane recall order, Konoha must have faced a complete collapse.

"Go to the northern front and fetch Senior Sakumo!"

Minato turned to look at the squad leader. "Tell him I have a top-secret order and must return to the village!"

A moment later, Hatake Sakumo, clad in silver hair and carrying a short sword, lifted the tent flap and walked in with a cold aura.

Minato slapped several deployment maps directly onto the table, his speaking pace so fast he barely breathed.

"Lord Third didn't write the reason; the front lines can only be entrusted to you for now! The Third Squad will rotate to the pass, the reconnaissance squad will advance five miles north, and if you spot the Eight-Tails, launch a signal immediately!"

Sakumo glanced at that red secret order, a flash of shock crossing his eyes, and he grabbed the command token and nodded heavily. "Leave it to me, you return quickly!"

Without half a second of hesitation, Minato gripped his special kunai, chakra surging in his palm, and locked his mind onto the Flying Thunder God Seal along the route back to the village.

The Yellow Flash vanished in an instant.

Only the shogi pieces from the sand table, knocked over by the air current, remained in the tent, rolling all over the floor with a rattling sound.

At this moment, Minato, hurrying back to Konoha at full speed, was filled with anxiety, his mind entirely occupied by ruined villages, invading armies, and the safety of his family.

He simply could not imagine that just a second earlier, he had been racking his brains and agonizing over how to accumulate military achievements to compete for the position of Hokage, thinking he