The Plan Begins

Inside the Konoha Camp.

Nearly all the Jonin serving as commanders were present, gathered in a circle around the map and Yūto at its center.

Yūto pointed to Takekuri Gorge on the map and said gravely, "Dodai is suspicious by nature, but precisely because of that, he'll choose this seemingly dangerous route."

A Jonin frowned in doubt. "Wouldn't it be safer for Kumogakure to retreat directly into the Land of Lightning?"

"Time waits for no one." Yūto shook his head. "They have to race against the clock to move the Eight-Tails. Takekuri Gorge is the shortest, most direct route. Dodai will bet that we won't dare set an ambush so close to the Kumogakure Main Camp."

Another Jonin suddenly slapped the table. "But Takekuri Gorge has Flying Thunder God Formula markings! Lord Minato can teleport a squad there to intercept and kill them at any time!"

"That's exactly the key." Yūto sneered. "Dodai will think we've predicted he'll avoid the Flying Thunder God Coordinates. Instead, he'll exploit our blind spot-the most dangerous place is the safest."

The Jonin exchanged glances. Although they admitted Yūto's reasoning made a great deal of sense, still...

Yūto was too young. They just couldn't trust him.

Just then, the tent flap flew open, and Tsunade strode in with her hands on her hips. "Because that old fox Dodai used to play the very same mind games!"

She continued, "Strategist-type ninja love countering their opponents' predictions. Yūto's thinking is sound."

Although Yūto now had Tsunade's support, the final decision still rested with Minato, the frontline commander.

Minato pondered for a long time before finally nodding. "I support Yūto's idea too."

"The last trap targeting the Uchiha already proved that Dodai is a ninja who loves schemes and tricks. To deal with someone like him, we have to think of what he'll think of before he does!"

Seeing that even Minato, their commander, had agreed to Yūto's plan, the other Jonin could hardly say anything more.

Especially with Tsunade, the Medical Ninja everyone considered the "strongest," also in agreement.

Under Minato's command, the ninja in the Konoha Camp quickly assembled. Naturally, this did not include the ninja of the Uchiha Clan.

The Uchiha Clan's ninja were the contingency Yūto had held in reserve, a contingency meant to force Dodai to act according to Yūto's plan.

Minato nodded to Fugaku. "Clan Head Fugaku, please lead the Uchiha ahead."

Fugaku's gaze was steady, and a glimmer of understanding flashed through his Sharingan. "I understand Yūto's arrangements. The Uchiha's actions will ensure Dodai has no way out."

With that, he waved his clansmen together, and their figures swiftly vanished into the dense forest.

After watching the Uchiha leave, Minato turned to his assembled subordinates and ordered, "Everyone, stand by. Wait for the Hyuga Clan's signal."

One of Minato's subordinates could not help questioning him. "Lord Minato, if we delay too long, we'll miss our chance to ambush them!"

Minato smiled faintly, pointed to the Flying Thunder God Formula on his Kunai, and said, "There's no need to worry about distance."

Another exclaimed, "Isn't Flying Thunder God a Body Flicker Technique? How does it solve the time difference?"

Minato smiled faintly and explained, "Flying Thunder God isn't an ordinary Body Flicker Technique. It's Space-Time Ninjutsu that allows spatial jumps through Jutsu Formula markings."

His subordinate froze for a moment, then understood. "So that's how it works! No wonder you can come and go like a ghost on the battlefield, Lord Minato, appearing anywhere in an instant!"

Another ninja scratched his head and laughed somewhat awkwardly. "I'd always thought you were simply fast..."

Minato nodded gently. "So even though Fugaku and the others left ahead of us, we can reach the battlefield immediately after receiving the signal."

Dark clouds blanketed the sky above Takekuri Gorge as Kumogakure's escort force quietly appeared on the narrow path through the gorge.

A walked in the middle of the group, his wary gaze sweeping their surroundings. But just as Yūto had predicted, he did not take excessive precautions in this seemingly dangerous area.

He looked toward a clearing inside Takekuri Gorge. This was where he had fought Minato several days earlier.

They had fought, but he had never even touched Minato's body during the battle.

A Flying Thunder God Kunai was still hidden in a crack between the rocks in the clearing. A did not notice it.

A day earlier, Kumogakure ninja had already gone to Takekuri Gorge to clear away the Flying Thunder God Kunai Minato had left behind.

Minato had deliberately placed this Kunai after the cleanup.

Several kilometers away, the pupils of a Hyuga Clan ninja using the Byakugan contracted slightly. "Target spotted. Eight-Tails chakra confirmed!" he said quietly.

The Yamanaka ninja beside him immediately formed hand seals, using a Clan Secret Technique to transmit the intelligence back to the Konoha Camp in an instant.

Inside the camp, Minato abruptly raised his head, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. "The signal's here!"

He quickly rose and ordered, "Everyone, get ready!"

The ninja were just about to set off when Minato suddenly raised a hand to stop them. "Wait. Everyone, hold hands!"

Though puzzled, they quickly complied.

Minato pressed a hand against one ninja's shoulder and said gravely, "Flying Thunder God Technique!"

In an instant, space warped, and the entire force vanished.

The next moment, dozens of Konoha ninja appeared out of thin air on the rock walls of Takekuri Gorge, completely cutting off Kumogakure's retreat.

A's pupils constricted sharply. At last, he realized he had fallen into a carefully designed trap.

A's emergency signal was instantly transmitted back to the Kumogakure camp through the Heavenly Transfer Technique. Dodai's pupils constricted sharply when he received the news, but when he heard that the Konoha ninja numbered about the same as their own force, his tense expression relaxed instead.

He sneered. "Hmph, equal numbers? It seems Konoha thinks Flying Thunder God can make up for the gap in fighting strength."

He swiftly ordered, "Pass down the order. Have Killer B prepare to break out! Since they dare surround us, let them see Kumogakure's true strength!"

Dodai had already read the battle report from their previous encounter with Minato. In his analysis, Minato was incapable of taking down both A and Killer B at once.

If Minato chose to take down A, Killer B would use Tailed Beast Transformation to swiftly wipe out the force Minato had brought.

If Minato chose to take down Killer B, A would likewise use Lightning Release Chakra Mode to swiftly kill large numbers of Konoha ninja.

In short, there was only one Minato. He could not deal with two super ninja at the same time.

But there was one thing Dodai had not considered.

The objective of this operation was neither A nor Killer B, but Dodai himself, far away in the Kumogakure camp.

From beginning to end, Minato had never intended to kill either A or Killer B.

At Minato's position, a Konoha ninja quietly approached him and said in a low voice, "Lord Minato, Kumogakure used the Heavenly Transfer Technique. The news has probably reached their camp by now."

Hearing this, Minato also breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Yūto had been right. Kumogakure did indeed possess a high-speed movement ninjutsu like the Heavenly Transfer Technique.

Had Yūto not assured him so firmly that Kumogakure also possessed ninjutsu for transmitting intelligence quickly, Minato probably would not have agreed to Yūto's plan.

A glared furiously at Minato, instantly activating his Lightning Release chakra. "Konoha can't take down Kumogakure! Minato Namikaze, if you don't want heavy casualties among your men, retreat at once!"

But Minato merely smiled faintly and raised a hand to scratch his head. "Sorry, but on Konoha's side... I'm not the only one."

Before he had finished speaking, several pairs of scarlet Sharingan suddenly emerged from the shadows.

Fugaku stepped forward slowly, his three tomoe turning lazily, and said coldly, "Leave the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki to me. The Uchiha Clan will show him what true dōjutsu is."

A's expression changed drastically. He immediately signaled his subordinates with his eyes to send an urgent request for reinforcements to the Kumogakure camp.