Kikyo Mountain, Konoha Command Tent.
"You're saying that Kakashi, Shisui, and Might Guy were temporarily reassigned to Minato Namikaze!?"
Konan, who had returned, wore a visibly displeased expression and lowered her head, speaking hoarsely:
"Lord Shirou, Minato Namikaze presented an order directly from the Hokage. He has the authority to mobilize any ninja squad on the frontlines to carry out this top-secret mission!"
Upon hearing this, Shirou's eyes narrowed slightly. Though his face wore a faint smile, a chilling glint flickered in his gaze.
"Heh, it seems Minato Namikaze also views me as an unstable element in the village. This is likely an opportunity to probe my intentions and gather information on me."
If it were anyone else, they would probably use this chance to send Kakashi and Shisui on a dangerous mission, thereby eliminating two of his disciples.
But since the person in question was Minato Namikaze, Shirou understood his character well. Minato, despite embodying the Will of Fire championed by the Third Hokage, always had his boundaries.
"Using a standard Konoha squad to conduct a reconnaissance mission as a cover for executing this top-secret plan... it seems Minato Namikaze has grown into a competent leader who knows how to make sacrifices."
Behind his calm smile, Shirou instantly saw through Minato's strategic intentions.
On the surface, this team would appear to Iwa-nin as a mere reconnaissance squad from Konoha trying to gather intelligence. Meanwhile, Minato Namikaze would use this as a cover for his real plan.
"Lord Shirou!"
Konan knelt on one knee, her face full of guilt, looking as though she were pleading for forgiveness.
"It's my failure, Lord Shirou. I couldn't stop Kakashi and the others!"
Looking at Konan kneeling before him, Shirou remained calm, rhythmically tapping the table with his fingers. As other ninjas came in to deliver intel, Konan maintained her kneeling posture.
Though some cast odd glances at her, it was clear to everyone that she must have failed an important task—otherwise, she wouldn't be subjected to such punishment.
No one from Konoha would plead for leniency. This was war, and their hearts had long been hardened.
By sunset, Konan's face had turned pale—not from physical exhaustion, but from inner turmoil and self-doubt.
"Then tell me, Konan, why did you refuse?"
When Shirou's voice broke the silence, Konan, overwhelmed with guilt, responded in a trembling voice:
"My life belongs to Lord Shirou. My loyalty lies with you and only you!"
Though she didn't say it outright, it was evident that when Minato presented the Hokage's order, Konan had chosen to refuse, while Kakashi and the others had agreed without hesitation.
Shirou understood this all too well. Kakashi Hatake, Shisui Uchiha, and Might Guy were loyal Konoha ninjas. While they might harbor discontent about the village's darkness, they would never betray it.
To fulfill a top-secret mission for the village was the duty of every loyal Konoha ninja.
Konan, however, was different. As someone from the Land of Rain, her sense of belonging to Konoha was comparatively weaker.
Looking at Konan's pale face, Shirou gently shook his head and spoke in a soft voice:
"Now do you understand why I punished you?"
The intelligent Konan seemed to realize something. Her face suddenly regained some color, and she looked up at Shirou with slightly moist eyes, trying to suppress her emotions.
"I... I understand now! I disobeyed the rules of Konoha by refusing to carry out the village's top-secret mission. This isn't just unacceptable for a Konoha ninja like me—it also reflects poorly on you, Lord Shirou…"
At that moment, Konan finally understood the reason behind today's punishment. It was all for appearances.
Seeing Konan's perceptive nature, Shirou smiled in satisfaction and nodded.
"Good. It's enough that you understand. However, that alone isn't sufficient. I'll issue an order that you've been sent on a mission to gather crucial enemy intelligence, which explains why you had to return."
Never underestimate the significance of small matters. While this might seem trivial to him, it could plant the seeds of destruction for someone like Konan.
For a ninja, their strongest weapon was their will. Once their will or faith collapsed or became twisted, they were as good as finished.
"Organize these intel reports and distribute them accordingly."
As Shirou reviewed the day's intelligence, he massaged his temples while Konan, having regained her usual composure, stepped forward to sort the documents with her typical efficiency.
This kind of scene was nothing new for the Konoha ninjas stationed at Kikyo Mountain.
Tsunade was often busy treating injuries in the rear medical camps. Orochimaru was as elusive as ever, and Jiraiya preferred to stay on the battlefield, constantly gathering intelligence.
As a result, the entire command of the Kikyo Mountain battlefield had long been left to Shirou. This situation had persisted for so long that everyone had grown accustomed to it.
Occasionally, Konan, Uchiha Mikoto, and even Tsunade herself would come to assist with organizing the work.
Even Jiraiya seemed to have noticed something and deliberately avoided getting involved. After all, the war was already dire enough. If internal conflict arose within the village, how could they continue fighting?
For the sake of the village—and because he disliked such situations—Jiraiya had retreated to the battlefield.
As Shirou enjoyed a rare moment of peace, five shadow clones could be seen off to the side, diligently training their chakra nature transformations.
Although he had already mastered them, further refining his control over chakra nature would enhance the power of his jutsu. A prime example was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen's Fire Release techniques were so advanced that they burned white-hot, with much higher temperatures than ordinary fire.
Likewise, while an average ninja's Earth Release might create a sturdy wall of earth, Hiruzen could produce solid rock formations far more durable.
Thus, even after mastering chakra nature transformations, the road to perfecting them was an endless journey of training.
"Shirou~!"
A cheerful, lively voice rang out as a flash of vibrant red dashed in. The next moment, Uzumaki Kushina leaped onto Shirou, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Shirou, your chakra still smells so intoxicating. I just want to devour it!"
Hanging onto his neck, Kushina displayed a greedy expression. Thanks to the Uzumaki clan's powerful sensory abilities, she could sense the unique allure of his chakra.
Perhaps it was a case of beauty lying in the eyes of the beholder, but Kushina had always been deeply infatuated with Shirou's chakra. Sometimes, even just being near it made her look utterly content.
This kind of connection was a deeper, more sensitive bond than a mere embrace.
"Kushina, how many times have I told you? Using your sensory abilities so recklessly can easily cause trouble."
Shirou sighed helplessly. Since he also possessed strong sensory abilities, he understood how it felt.
In fact, during their intimate session, activating sensory abilities could lead to an even deeper level of chakra resonance, amplifying sensitivity and intensity.
"Shirou, let me savor your chakra's scent a bit longer."
Kushina grinned carefreely, ignoring the others around them. As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, most Konoha ninjas avoided her anyway, so she saw no need to care about their opinions.
"Shirou, is there a mission this time?"
Joining them was Mikoto, who approached and gently massaged Shirou's temples with a warm smile.
As Shirou enjoyed this rare moment of relaxation, with Konan dutifully working nearby and unfazed by the scene, he couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
"Nothing major, just a small situation. Kakashi's team has been assigned a mission..."
Shirou calmly explained the current situation to the two people, while understanding in his heart that this must be the arrangement of fate.
Even under such circumstances, Kakashi and Obito still managed to cross paths. However, none of that was important. What mattered was that old Madara was about to kick the bucket!
The mere thought of the hidden Uchiha Madara nearing his end filled Shirou with excitement.
"No matter what, having one less person watching from the shadows is a relief. Although it doesn't change much, it's still rather unsettling. This might be a chance to obtain more of the omnipotent power of the Six Paths..."
Shirou squinted his eyes, a faint smile creeping onto his lips.
In his prime, Madara was untouchable. If one were to rank strength based on eye abilities, Uchiha Madara was at least two full levels above him.
The Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. The Rinnegan.
"The power of Asura and Indra... The power of the Six Paths fully merged into the omnipotent force of creation..."
Shirou narrowed his eyes. For someone like him, slowly evolving through natural means would take far too long. Sometimes, shortcuts need to be taken.
"Not to mention the discovery of White Zetsu. A careful ninja with a meticulous mind and a bit of deduction should naturally notice something suspicious..."
Thinking of this, Shirou smiled again. As for how Uchiha Madara was hiding himself or making his arrangements, that had nothing to do with him.
"What?! They sent Kakashi's team on such a dangerous mission?!"
Kushina Uzumaki grumbled in discontent, though she didn't seem angry. After all, this was the fate of a ninja.
There was no such thing as a mission without danger.
"Kushina, how's your training been going lately? Have you mastered it?"
Hearing Shirou's inquiry, Kushina immediately put away her playful demeanor and responded seriously.
"Shirou I can now fully control the five-tail state. As for the six-tail state, I can only maintain it for about ten minutes at most..."
Listening to Kushina's progress in strength, Shirou revealed an approving expression. After all, Kushina didn't tame the tailed beast's power through understanding but through sheer force.
The four-tail state already rivaled some of the stronger Kage-level shinobi. The six-tail state was on par with the rampaging Deva Path Pain.
"Of course, if I had you and Sister Mikoto's Mangekyo Sharingan, perhaps I could extend the duration."
After hearing Shirou's question about her training, Kushina immediately understood there was likely a major battle ahead. Her expression became solemn as she mentioned an alternative strategy.
However, Shirou simply shook his head and laughed.
"That won't be necessary. Ten minutes is enough. In the six-tail state, you're essentially using tailed beast chakra transformation. If you unleash it fully, you can turn into a giant-tailed beast, right?"
"I can, but it's more of a chakra-based tailed beast form, not a complete transformation. The drawback is that it consumes chakra quickly and is vulnerable to sealing techniques."
After all, this wasn't a true tailed beast transformation, but rather a form created from tailed beast chakra, making it naturally easier to counter.
"That's good enough."
Shirou's calm voice echoed, and then he turned to Konan and said in a deep tone:
"Quietly gather our elite ninja. After being suppressed for so long, it's time for Konoha to vent the anger buried in its heart with a counterattack."
"Understood."
Following Shirou's order, the ninjas stationed at Kikyo Mountain picked up on the scent of war. One by one, they prepared themselves with cold resolve.
...
In a damp forest, a small ninja squad was leaping through the trees, moving deeper into enemy territory.
"Everyone, stay alert. We've already entered the heart of Iwa's territory. Don't reveal yourselves lightly. Our mission is to support Jonin Minato Namikaze in completing the village's top-secret plan."
When the group stopped to rest on a thick tree trunk, Kakashi Hatake, his short silver hair shining faintly, issued orders with a serious expression, his dark eyes peering out from behind his mask.
"Here… and here… Based on our intel, be cautious. Our goal is to create chaos in this area to cover Minato Namikaze's mission. Once it's done, retreat immediately. No one is to fall behind."
At just twelve years old, Kakashi was already mature beyond his years thanks to Shirou's teachings. Without succumbing to the grief of his father's death, Kakashi had developed unwavering resolve and conviction.
What's more, Kakashi didn't waste his time or talent creating new ninjutsu.
It wasn't that inventing ninjutsu was a waste, but during wartime, Kakashi's age and potential were better spent on improving his strength. There would be plenty of time to develop personal techniques after the war.
"Captain Kakashi, understood. Let's rest here for now."
The youngest member of the team, Shisui Uchiha, nodded earnestly. He was meticulous when it came to missions.
Meanwhile, Might Guy, clad in his signature green jumpsuit, stood on guard, his expression serious as he remained aware of the dangers of being deep in enemy territory.
"Don't worry, Kakashi! You're the boss this time, and we'll complete the mission. That's what youth is all about!"
Might Guy, though solemn, still managed to flash his trademark gleaming smile, revealing his large, bright teeth.
The others couldn't help but twitch their lips at the sight. Even Shisui scratched his head awkwardly, feeling embarrassed.
"Tch, what's so special about Kakashi? He just became a Jonin before us. Just wait—I, Obito Uchiha, will be the second Jonin of our generation!"
The goggled, brash Obito crossed his arms and shot Kakashi a competitive glare. However, his jealousy grew when another teammate chimed in.
"Kakashi, have some water."
Rin Nohara, with a gentle smile, took out a water pouch from her backpack and handed it to Kakashi.
"Rin! That damn Kakashi!"
At that moment, Obito turned red with frustration, glaring at Kakashi with wide eyes.
As Obito and Kakashi bickered, Rin shook her head helplessly.
"Obito, we're in enemy territory. Focus on the mission for the village."
Although Kakashi wasn't originally part of their team due to Shirou's intervention, he, Rin, Obito, and Guy had all been classmates in the ninja academy.
Kakashi, Rin, Obito, and Might Guy were closer than most.
"Obito's fiery spirit, that's what youth is all about! But once we're back, I, Might Guy, will be the first to challenge Kakashi!"
No matter where they were, Guy's cheerful personality managed to lighten the mood. Even in the heart of enemy territory, his antics reduced the tension, easing the sadness of the recent loss of Obito's former teammate.
"Obito, why don't you try beating Guy first?"
Kakashi rolled his eyes at Obito, his tone indifferent. This only angered Obito further.
"Damn you, Kakashi! Stop acting so smug!"
As the group bantered, a pale face emerged silently from the trunk of a distant tree, gazing at them with a sinister expression.
"Hehehe, so these are the ones Lord Madara has chosen. Compared to Uchiha Shirou, they seem rather lacking. Oh well…"
With a hoarse laugh, the face slowly melted back into the tree trunk. Unbeknownst to Kakashi and his team, their every move was already being watched.