New teammates

Konoha's peace did not last long. The shadow of war once again fell over the land.

Despite the heavy losses it had suffered in the Land of Iron, Iwagakure did not retreat. Instead, it displayed the desperation of a cornered beast.

It swiftly regrouped and assembled an elite force a thousand strong, with Kitsuchi and Tō Shibito serving as joint commanders.

They swept across the Land of Grass with lightning speed, their advance aimed straight at the Land of Fire's border, determined to tear a chunk out of Konoha.

The faint light of dawn fell across the Konoha Gate. The three members of Team Minato were already fully equipped and ready to leave.

"Good morning, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito."

Asami Ri approached at a steady pace and nodded to the three of them.

"Ri, good morning." Rin Nohara instinctively returned his greeting politely, but a flicker of confusion soon appeared in her eyes.

"Hey, Ri! What are you doing here?" Obito blurted out the question on his mind.

Kakashi's attention, by contrast, was sharper and more practical. He studied Asami Ri and frowned. "The main force left for the front at dawn. You should have gone with them. Why are you here?"

Asami Ri spread his hands and explained calmly, "I'm not sure either. The Hokage Building issued an urgent transfer order last night, telling me to report here at this exact time today."

Though that was what he said, he understood perfectly well.

He knew exactly what it meant to pull a fighter like him away from the main force at such a critical moment and assign him to this location.

As the four of them spoke, a golden flash streaked through the air without warning, and Minato Namikaze appeared before them as though he had teleported.

"Ri, welcome to the team."

Minato Namikaze wore a warm, reassuring smile.

His gaze held undisguised appreciation as he looked at Asami Ri.

With the situation as unstable as it was, having this young man's help gave him greater confidence in the operation ahead.

Minato then turned to his three students, each wearing a different expression, and explained seriously.

"Since Kakashi has officially been promoted to Jonin, he will take command from this moment onward and serve as this squad's captain. Asami Ri will join as a full member, filling the vacancy in the squad."

He paused, his tone losing some of its familiarity and gaining a measure of authority. "As for me, I will no longer be your team leader. Instead, I will serve as your direct superior."

Before Obito could recover from the double shock of Ri's actually my teammate now and Kakashi's my captain, Minato's expression had already turned solemn.

"Move out!"

At Minato's command, five blurred figures vanished into the depths of the Dense Forest, leaving only leaves trembling in the gust of their passage.

They traveled at speed, crossing difficult terrain.

Only after they reached an open Grassland, and a brief farce in which Kakashi demanded a promotion gift from Obito had played out, did Minato's gradually sobering expression break the relaxed atmosphere.

"We're nearing the border. It's time to explain the details of the mission."

Minato Namikaze spread a large strategic Map over the grass, his long fingers tracing its intersecting routes.

"This is Iwagakure's current invasion route. According to the latest Intelligence, the enemy has amassed several thousand troops. Mimura Hamaki's unit, which is holding them back at the front, has come under heavy attack and suffered devastating losses."

Rin Nohara studied the red arrows marking enemy forces on the Map. Her brow furrowed slightly as she offered a perceptive assessment. "If the enemy is bold enough to advance so far in such large numbers, they must have ample support in the rear."

"Exactly. That makes this the key to our mission—" Minato pressed his finger firmly onto a place name. "Kannabi Bridge."

His expression grew especially grave.

"To defeat this thousand-strong force head-on, we would need to commit several times as many shinobi. That simply isn't possible under the current circumstances.

"But if we cut off their supply lifeline, we'll only need a handful of elite shinobi."

"An infiltration and sabotage mission?" Kakashi immediately grasped his teacher's intent.

"Yes." Minato nodded. "Team Kakashi, your mission is to infiltrate Iwagakure's rear lines in secret, destroy Kannabi Bridge completely, and cut off the enemy's support. Once the mission is accomplished, you must withdraw immediately."

Asami Ri stared at the Map, swiftly reviewing the current international situation in his mind, then added,

"Iwagakure exhausted enormous resources on the front in the Land of Iron, and internal tensions have been building for some time. This all-or-nothing large-scale surprise attack is simply an attempt to exploit our vulnerability. By quickly occupying territory in the Land of Fire, they hope to deflect pressure at home. Once Kannabi Bridge is destroyed, their lightning offensive will turn into a quagmire with no hope of support. At that point, pressure within Iwagakure's leadership will force them to abandon the offensive and withdraw."

A glimmer of approval passed through Minato's eyes as he listened to Ri's analysis of the wider situation.

"What about you, Sensei?" Obito could not help asking, a hint of unease in his eyes. "Aren't you coming with us?"

"I'll head straight to the front at full speed to reinforce Mimura Hamaki's unit," Minato explained patiently. "That will help stabilize the main battle line. I'll also launch large-scale feints to draw the attention of Iwagakure's main force and create the best possible opening for your infiltration."

He rose, sweeping his gaze across the four youths before him.

"I'll accompany you to the border. After that, we'll have to split up. Kakashi, as captain, you now carry the fate of the entire squad on your shoulders. You must not only ensure the mission succeeds, but also look after every one of your comrades."

As he spoke, Minato took out a specially made kunai with a distinctive design and solemnly placed it in Kakashi's hand.

"If you encounter something you absolutely cannot handle, channel Chakra into this kunai. No matter how far apart we are, I'll reach you immediately."

"The mission officially begins now."

Minato Namikaze's voice rang clear in the wind sweeping across the wilderness.

He was the first to extend his hand, holding it flat at the center of their circle.

Kakashi, Obito, Rin Nohara, and Asami Ri followed, stacking all five hands firmly together.

Then all five withdrew their hands at once. Without another word, they became swift blurs, charging without hesitation toward the shadowed land that would soon change their destinies.

Only after all traces of the five had vanished did a pale, eerie figure silently seep out of the previously empty ground like flowing water.

His grotesque yet comical face flickered in and out of view in the shadows. His unfocused eyes remained fixed on the direction Obito had taken, and a chilling smile curled his lips.

"Obito Uchiha... the gears of fate have begun to turn. They've officially stepped into the trap."

He gave a low, rasping chuckle, then his tone turned light and absurd, as though he were talking to himself.

"I'd better go back and tell Lord Madara. Still, come to think of it, does someone as powerful as Lord Madara even know what it feels like to take a shit? Hehehe, I'm really curious..."

Before his words had fully faded, his white body sank soundlessly into the solid earth as though slipping beneath the surface of water.

A breeze passed, gently stirring the tips of the grass, as though no living creature had ever set foot there.