Chapter 94: Minato Joins the Battle
Three hours after the Hokage's summons, deep in the forest near Hokage Rock, the atmosphere had grown heavy enough to crush the heart.
Whether they were Uchiha, members of the Mutual Aid Association, Hyuga, or other major clans—everyone's faces were dark with unease.
Because this was no ordinary incident. This was something far greater—something that had already spiraled beyond anyone's control.
If the earlier chaos over Aizen's death and the infighting among the Mutual Aid Association had still been within Konoha's limits of tolerance, this… this was different.
The only reason they'd dared to fight so openly was because they believed in one man—Sarutobi Hiruzen, the hero of Konoha. Under Aizen's influence and endless propaganda, the Third Hokage's prestige had reached its peak. Few would dare to question his authority.
They fought freely only because they believed the Hokage could handle the aftermath.
And yet, when Hiruzen secluded himself, refusing to act, the silence itself became a message. To the outside world, it looked like tacit approval—a green light to act on their own.
So they did.
They obeyed instinct over reason, each faction following its own interpretation of the Hokage's will. In this primitive chaos, they clashed, each convinced they were preserving order in his name.
Because everyone believed that as long as they produced results, the Hokage would emerge to recognize them. That was their unspoken faith—a distorted reflection of obedience.
They could quarrel, fight, even spill blood within their clans. But there was one line that could never be crossed—no one was to challenge the Hokage's authority.
That rule, etched into every shinobi's heart, had survived even Aizen's era. It was why every conflict, every rebellion, eventually circled back to the Hokage for resolution. He was the anchor of Konoha's stability.
Even the Uchiha's defiance had roots in loyalty—they simply wanted to secure their place in the system Aizen had built.
But now, the Hokage had called for them.
Even the most skeptical clans obeyed. Within minutes, every major family had gathered at the foot of Hokage Rock.
And yet, the Hokage was nowhere to be seen.
At first, it was noisy—arguments, shouting, threats. Many assumed Hiruzen was watching quietly from somewhere, waiting for the right moment to appear and mediate.
But as time passed, the noise died down.
After an hour, their tempers cooled.
After two, their nerves began to fray.
And after three hours… silence.
The kind of silence that felt like a blade pressed against the skin.
No one could believe it. Not appearing for three hours didn't enhance the Hokage's authority—it destroyed it.
Everyone knew Sarutobi Hiruzen's nature—he might not have desired wealth, but he craved influence, admiration, recognition. To ignore a summons for this long was unthinkable.
For a man like him, silence was worse than death.
As the minutes dragged on, even the Uchiha—once wild with anger—stood subdued. Their fury was checked by the quiet fear spreading among the Mutual Aid Association's members.
At this point, acting recklessly would mean provoking not just the clans, but the Hokage's neutral forces still loyal to him. One misstep could turn every faction against them.
So, rather than move blindly, they turned to the Chakra Network.
Someone had to know where the Hokage was.
Unfortunately, only three people had direct clearance: Aizen, the Hokage himself, and Danzo.
But there was one more option.
Minato Namikaze.
As one of the Chakra Network's original developers, Minato possessed developer privileges—an administrative mode that allowed him to bypass certain restrictions.
Stepping forward, the blond shinobi called on the remaining clan leaders and elders to assist in unlocking the network's restricted logs. Together, they formed a circle beneath the looming shadow of Hokage Rock.
The faint scent of iron still lingered in the air.
Two ninjas exchanged uneasy glances, then looked up at the crimson stains that streaked the Rock's surface—the same stains from Aizen's supposed death.
Their eyes reflected a single, unspoken dread.
It felt like something unseen was watching them.
An invisible presence that moved through the village unseen, stealing faces, snatching away those they trusted most—and returning in their shape.
The horror stories they'd laughed at as children suddenly didn't feel like stories anymore.
Now they felt real—terrifyingly real.
Groups of family ninjas huddled together in threes and fours, their faces pale as they whispered in trembling voices. The Uchiha and members of the Mutual Aid Association exchanged old stories—terrifying legends buried deep in their clans' histories.
At this moment of suffocating tension, the air above them suddenly split open. Several black cracks appeared in the sky, rippling like distorted glass.
Then, before anyone could react, Minato Namikaze appeared. Beside him stood numerous elders and clan heads, their expressions far grimmer than those of the shinobi waiting beneath Hokage Rock.
They exchanged uneasy glances. None dared to be the first to speak, for even voicing their fears now felt like tempting fate itself.
As the murmurs turned into accusation and confusion, Minato stepped forward, his face shadowed with determination. He pushed through the crowd of clan leaders and used a loudspeaker technique, his calm but commanding voice cutting through the rain-soaked air.
"The Chakra Network has received an update," he announced, his voice steady but heavy. "The Hokage's movements have been detected."
The words silenced the crowd instantly. All eyes turned toward the man once known as Konoha's Yellow Flash—the symbol of hope, now standing as its last line of order.
"While on his way to Hokage Rock," Minato continued, "the Hokage encountered a chakra signature not registered in the network. He pursued it to the Forbidden Forest, where an immense chakra disturbance occurred."
He paused, scanning the crowd. "The network recorded a massive surge of water-nature chakra, followed by a blend of all five elemental attributes. According to the records, after a battle lasting nearly two hours, it was the Hokage who emerged victorious. But soon after, that unknown chakra unleashed a force beyond comprehension—one that completely suppressed the Hokage's chakra signature."
He took a breath. "After that… both vanished from the network."
A wave of disbelief rippled through the crowd.
"In other words," Minato said coldly, "it's highly likely that Hokage-sama was lured out, overpowered, and taken. It sounds impossible, but that is what the Chakra Monitoring Network confirms. Hokage-sama did not abandon us—he was kidnapped on his way here."
Murmurs spread rapidly through the gathering.
"Our hero of Konoha," Minato went on, "is now missing—just like Aizen-sama."
He glanced at his notes, the faint glow of chakra data flickering in his hand. "Using my developer privileges, I investigated Aizen's final night. The results were… disturbing. None of the shinobi stationed around him had active chakra signatures at that time."
The silence shattered.
"What did you say?!" someone shouted.
The crowd erupted, disbelief giving way to panic.
Those who had served near Aizen exchanged horrified looks. The idea that every guard, every loyal elite ninja, had vanished from the network was beyond reason.
Among the gathered ranks, one man trembled.
"I—I was there that night!" he stammered. The crowd immediately backed away, creating a wide space around him. Dozens of eyes turned on him, filled with suspicion and dread.
He waved his hands desperately. "I don't understand! How could I not have chakra fluctuations? My life in the village has always been normal!"
His voice cracked. "I was born in the Inuzuka clan! I trained there, bonded with my ninja hound, fought on the battlefield with him—you all saw it! I only returned because I was injured!"
He pointed to his chest, his breath shaking. "Agou and I fought side by side—we killed enemy after enemy, and in the end, we fell together… and were rescued! That's how we survived!"
Then, mid-sentence, his voice faltered.
"Wait… I remember… we were both bleeding out. Agou howled once, and then…"
His pupils widened.
"I… I think I died on that battlefield."
"…!"
Gasps filled the air.
Before anyone could move, the man's words began to crumble into incoherence. His body convulsed, the color draining from his skin as pale wood-like patterns began spreading across his flesh. His eyes glazed over as his form twisted and stiffened, the transformation unmistakable.
The crowd recoiled in horror.
Minato's face hardened as he watched the grotesque change complete itself. His voice, calm yet cold, broke the dreadful silence.
"As the developer of the Chakra Network, I can confirm this—there exists within Konoha a hidden entity. A phantom unit that even the network cannot detect."
He raised his head, his voice carrying over the wind and rain.
"This team assassinated Aizen Sosuke and lured away the Third Hokage. Their identities remain unknown—but they are here, among us."
His blue eyes sharpened.
"Our internal conflicts must cease immediately. From this moment on, our only priority is to root out these monsters hiding in our village and burn their organization to ashes."
He clenched his fists, his chakra flaring faintly. "If Aizen-sama truly fell because of them, then their people, their ideals, and everything they've built will be erased."
"I will temporarily assume operational command as Chakra Network Administrator," he continued. "During this period, all clans are to obey orders and cooperate fully. This is not the time for selfishness or doubt."
Finally, his voice lowered, carrying a quiet warning.
"And one last thing… to the great clans—do not let fear or favoritism blind your judgment. Failing to act properly now could lead to irreversible disaster."
The crowd stood frozen, the rain pattering against armor and masks.
After a long silence, Minato turned away. Without another word, he descended from Hokage Rock, his figure vanishing into the mist, followed by the loyal members of the Mutual Aid Association.
<><><><><>
[Check Out My Patreon For +40 Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]