Chapter 46 – Watch Me Launch Orochimaru's Secret Base Into the Sky!
"So that's how it went. I've convinced Orochimaru to join our Amegakure Assault Squad."
The next morning, Uchiha Yujiro once again stepped into the Hokage's office.
He laid out everything for Minato in detail — every step, every thread neatly tied up.
"Once Orochimaru's gone," Yujiro continued calmly, "you can seize the chance to raid his secret laboratory.
I'm certain you'll find hard evidence there — proof tying Orochimaru and Danzō together."
Minato's expression softened, relief and gratitude flickering across his face.
"You've really gone above and beyond, Yujiro. To think even someone like Orochimaru could be persuaded… that's incredible."
Then, his tone shifted — cautious, probing.
"Though… do you have any idea what Orochimaru's been researching exactly?"
Yujiro gave a small shrug, his face unreadable.
"Probably the usual — forbidden techniques Konoha wouldn't approve of.
The only question is just how forbidden we're talking."
Then he smiled faintly, as if tossing out a casual remark:
"After all, even the Flying Thunder God is technically a forbidden jutsu, isn't it?
If Orochimaru's just doing something on that level, it's not like he needs to keep it that secret… right?"
Minato paused, thoughtful.
"...You're not wrong."
And with that, the topic of Orochimaru and Danzō came to a quiet close.
---
Minato's eyes glimmered with resolve — he was already thinking ahead, planning his next move.
He'd gather his most loyal men.
They'd strike Orochimaru's hidden estate in one swift operation.
There was only one problem.
The ANBU.
That once-elite organization had long since been riddled with Danzō's spies and loyalists.
If Minato ordered a raid, who would the ANBU obey — the Hokage… or the shadow lurking beneath him?
Still, Minato Namikaze wasn't without his own foundation.
His true power base wasn't the ANBU.
And it certainly wasn't the Police Force under the Uchiha.
It was the shinobi army itself.
---
During the Third Great Ninja War, The Yellow Flash of Konoha had led countless campaigns, cutting through enemy lines like lightning through storm clouds.
That legendary record hadn't just earned him a nickname — it had earned him the respect and loyalty of Konoha's upper ninja ranks.
And that mattered.
Konoha liked to boast of its "democratic" system, but everyone knew the truth:
the "demo" part applied to everyone,
and the "cratic" part only applied to the jōnin.
Only jōnin had the right to vote for Hokage.
Without their support — without solid wartime credentials — Minato's position as the Fourth would've been impossible to secure.
Now, with peace returning, that same army had quietly evolved into a loyal faction — the Fourth Hokage's Corps.
Its members weren't the noble clans or the political elites.
They were the small family shinobi, the civilians, the nameless who fought and bled under Minato's command.
They were his heart and backbone.
And now, when Minato needed to move against Danzō's shadow…
those men and women would move at his word.
"If ANBU is tainted," Minato murmured, gaze sharp as kunai,
"then I'll build my own hand to strike."
Yujiro watched him silently, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
The Fourth Hokage's calm, gentle smile was gone — replaced by the glint of a commander ready for war.
And in that moment, Uchiha Yujiro knew—
When Minato Namikaze decides to act…
even a secret base isn't safe on the ground.
These men—Minato's soldiers—were the kind who would die for him without hesitation.
To put it bluntly, if Konoha ever broke into civil war, the Sarutobi clan and the ANBU would almost certainly side with the Third Hokage.
But the veterans of the Fourth's War Corps?
They'd charge at the old man like beasts, hurling shuriken straight into his wrinkled face.
Minato had already made up his mind.
Once Orochimaru left the village, he would send in his troops—
and one by one, those "secret research labs" would be blown straight into the sky.
---
"Wait, wait, hold up."
Yujiro hooked an arm around Minato's neck with a grin.
"Give it some time before you strike, yeah?
If you move too soon, Orochimaru might get suspicious—and you don't want him swooping back mid-raid with a bunch of snakes from Ryūchi Cave, do you?"
Minato frowned, then nodded.
"You're right. I'll stay in touch. Before the operation begins, I'll contact you.
And if possible…"
Yujiro raised an eyebrow.
"You mean capture Orochimaru, right?"
"If possible," Minato said quietly. "But if not… let it go."
Yujiro smiled inwardly.
Oh, don't worry—it's definitely going to be the second option.
Letting Orochimaru escape might dent Minato's trust in him a little, sure.
But that was fine.
Losing a bit of "trust" was a small price to pay compared to losing a genius scientist—
especially one who could expand his rapidly growing industrial empire.
"Then I'll leave the rest to you."
"Got it."
---
And just like that, the plan was set.
✅ The Amegakure Strike Plan — Clear.
✅ The Akatsuki Recon Plan — Clear.
✅ The Orochimaru Lab Raid Plan — Also Clear.
Everything was ready to roll.
…Well, almost everything.
Because there was one person they didn't mention.
One person everyone "forgot."
Uchiha Obito.
---
Neither Uchiha Yujiro nor Minato brought up his name.
Not because they'd forgotten—
but because they chose not to.
After all, the so-called Legendary Sannin Trio were absurdly strong right now.
In this point of history—Konoha Year 50—Akatsuki was still in its infancy,
the Six Paths of Pain weren't fully formed,
Madara wasn't revived,
and Kaguya was still sealed.
Right now, those three together were practically the strongest team in the entire ninja world.
If they ever teamed up to hunt Obito down, even that lunatic Casanova wouldn't stand a chance.
But that wasn't the point.
Because, just as Nagato was Jiraiya's karmic burden,
Obito was Minato's.
He was the student.
The one Minato had once believed in, protected, and loved as family.
So when that student strayed from the path—
when he turned his back on humanity and descended into darkness—
it became the master's duty to face him.
Minato wouldn't ask Jiraiya to do it.
He'd do it himself.
And before that day came, he'd try—he'd fight—to bring Obito back.
But if there was truly no way…
Then he would grant him peace.
Flying Thunder God Slash!
---
With everything decided, the preparations were complete.
Uchiha Yujiro returned once more to the Uchiha training grounds.
Just like before—strength training, shuriken drills, kunai control, instant movement practice…
Only this time, there was one major difference.
Lightning danced in his hands.
Ox—Rabbit—Monkey!
Lightning Release: Chidori!
But his wasn't the same as Kakashi's or Sasuke's.
Yujiro's Chidori crackled with a dark violet-red glow—beautiful, menacing, and fierce.
The speed, the power, the edge—
none of that had changed.
Purple lightning gathered in his palm,
hardening his hand into a blade sharper than any forged steel.
It was elegant destruction.
And then—he drew his sword.
As the blade slid free, that violet lightning coiled around it like a living serpent.
Lightning Release: Chidori Blade!
Satisfied, Yujiro admired the weapon in his hand for a moment.
Then he drew another sword—
a chakra metal blade—
and poured fire-natured chakra into it.
Now, in each hand, he held a weapon infused with a different element—
one of lightning, one of flame.
Perfectly balanced.
No enemy, no matter their element, could face him without fear.
A new technique—one no one had ever seen before.
He could've just called it "Dual Element Style," but that was boring.
And since every ninja in the world seemed to have a flair for dramatic names…
Yujiro grinned.
"Lightning and fire… swordsmanship… alright then—"
'Ninjutsu: Thunderfire Sword!'
Then he paused.
Blink.
"Wait… no, that sounds kinda lame…"