Land of Grass, Iwagakure forward operating base.
"Lord Tsuchikage, an urgent report."
Onoki sat casually in his chair, a cup of herbal tea in his hand. He subtly stretched his lower back as he took the intelligence report with his free hand. As he read, his brow furrowed.
"Minato Namikaze... the boy who made a na for himself on the Kumo front?" Onoki murmured.
"That's right. It's said he's already on his way here," Kitsuchi said, refilling his father's cup, his voice laced with concern.
Over the years, Minato Namikaze had earned a fearso reputation in the war against the Cloud Village. Even with absolute confidence in his father's strength, he couldn't help but worry.
Onoki, sitting in silent contemplation, shared his son's concern. He knew his own limits. He may have been able to suppress Kyosuke, but the pressure the boy had put on him was imnse. If another powerful shinobi were to join the fray, there was no telling what might happen. He needed to prepare.
Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to a particular detail in the report.
"His students are traveling with him..."
Hearing this, a thought sparked in Kitsuchi's mind. "Father, I understand what you're thinking."
"Good. I'll leave it to you," Onoki said, his expression returning to its previous leisurely calm.
Kitsuchi gave a quiet bow and left to make the arrangents for his special mission.
To capture Minato Namikaze's students.
At dawn the next day, a still-sleeping Kyosuke was unceremoniously dragged from his bed by a hurried Hyuga Saori.
"Hey! It's the middle of the night!" Kyosuke complained, his eyes still heavy with sleep.
Saori smacked him on the forehead, ignoring his indignant glare, and gestured toward the tent's entrance.
Kyosuke looked over, his vision still blurry, and saw a man with golden-blond hair looking at him with an embarrassed smile.
At the sight of him, Kyosuke's eyes lit up, all traces of sleep vanishing in an instant. "Minato-san! You're finally here!"
"Ah, sorry to wake you," Minato Namikaze said apologetically. He had traveled through the night to arrive as quickly as possible.
He still has that sa gentle personality, Kyosuke thought with a smile, stepping forward to give him a hug.
"It's been a long ti, Minato-san."
"Yes, it has."
After a brief greeting, Kyosuke got dressed and led Minato to the command tent, where Hyuga Hiashi and the others were already waiting.
On the way, he asked, "Did Kakashi and the others not co with you?"
It was the first question that had popped into his mind the mont he saw Minato. This was the Land of Grass. Uchiha Madara was lurking sowhere underground, waiting for his chance. If Obito walked into this unprepared, a web of conspiracies would be waiting for him. Kyosuke knew he had to do sothing.
Minato's reply made his blood run cold.
"The situation was urgent, so I ca ahead alone. Kakashi and the other two are on their way." As he spoke, he noticed the change in Kyosuke's expression.
"What is it? Is sothing wrong?" Minato asked, his voice hesitant.
Realizing his emotions had been exposed, Kyosuke quickly ca up with an excuse. "Minato-san, it's highly likely that Iwa has learned of your arrival. I'm worried about Kakashi and the others."
Minato understood imdiately. "You think they might try to kidnap them to use as leverage against ?"
"That's unlikely," Minato said, shaking his head. "This mission was top secret. Besides Jiraiya-sensei and a few mbers of the high council, no one else knew."
Sigh... Kyosuke thought with a bitter smile. It's not Iwa I'm worried about. It's Madara.
In his initial excitent at hearing Minato was coming, he hadn't thought things through. Now, he realized he may have made a grave mistake. Influenced by the original story, he had subconsciously assud that as long as the Kannabi Bridge incident didn't happen, Obito would be safe.
But now, he saw the flaw in that logic. Who was to say Madara had to make his move at the bridge? As long as he could fake Obito's death and make it look like Iwa's doing, the location didn't matter. And as for a motive, Minato Namikaze's presence was reason enough. Kyosuke didn't believe for a second that Minato's movents could escape White Zetsu's notice.
All the pieces fit. If he were in Madara's position, this is exactly when he would strike.
But he couldn't explain any of this to Minato. Left with no other choice, he took the first opportunity to discreetly summon two of his personal shinobi guards.
"I need you to take so n and quietly intercept Kakashi's team. Ensure their safety at all costs," he said, giving them a detailed description of the trio. He hesitated for a mont, then added, "If—and I an if—you run into any trouble, or if you encounter a powerful enemy, your own safety is the priority. Do you understand?"
"Understood," Number 7 and Number 13 replied, exchanging a serious look.
"Go."
...Do what you can, and hope for the best, Kyosuke thought with a heavy sigh.
He wasn't entirely without hope. Even if he couldn't save Obito from Madara's machinations, he could always storm the cavern later and rescue him by force.
With that thought, he pushed his worries aside and returned to the tent.
Now that Minato Namikaze had arrived, it was ti for the Northwestern Corps to launch its counterattack.
In the subterranean cavern, the aged Uchiha Madara listened to White Zetsu's report.
"According to the information I leaked, the old Tsuchikage is already preparing to make a move on Obito. The plan is proceeding smoothly," Zetsu said.
"Good," Madara replied, his voice a low rasp. "However, I am changing the plan. We need to accelerate the 'successor's' developnt."
"Uh, isn't that a bit rushed?" Zetsu asked, hesitant.
"Just do as I say. It is better to be safe than sorry," Madara said, his head bowed, his face hidden in shadow.
"Yes..."
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