Chapter 80: Sensei, Someone Sold Our Intelligence
Namikaze Minato's appearance was so silent it startled many in the tent, chilling their hearts. They experienced firsthand the threat of the Yellow Flash up close, deeply understanding why the Rock ninja said encountering the Yellow Flash meant they could immediately abandon their mission and retreat.
Not retreating wouldn't work!
Counting throughout the entire shinobi world, how many could withstand the Yellow Flash's assassination? This speed was simply too fast—fast enough that one might lose their life to the Yellow Flash before even realizing it.
"Minato, you arrived quickly!"
Orochimaru looked at the suddenly appearing Minato.
"No choice—I really didn't dare delay."
A bitter smile appeared on Minato's lips. "Receiving Kakashi's message absolutely shocked me. I didn't dare waste even a quarter hour. I also didn't have time to inform you first, Lord Orochimaru, so I presumptuously barged in and interrupted the discussion. My apologies."
He turned his head left and right. He basically knew everyone—after all, there were only so many jonin, the circle was only so big. Recognizing each other was normal. He nodded greetings to acquaintances.
"It's fine. We just finished discussing matters."
Orochimaru said with a smile. His gaze swept over everyone. "All of you disperse! Return to your respective duties and prepare for the counterattack against the Mist ninja. Move quickly—anyone who dares drag their feet will face the consequences."
"By the way, Ritsu-kun and Team Kakashi stay behind. I estimate Minato has words for you."
At the end, he added another sentence.
Aburame Torune and the others obediently withdrew from the tent.
In the blink of an eye—
Only Orochimaru, Namikaze Minato, Team Kakashi, and Hyuga Ritsu remained in the tent. Oh yes, and the prisoner Suikazan Fuguki lying on the ground.
"Lord Orochimaru, you mentioned counterattacking the Mist ninja? What exactly is..."
Minato looked at Suikazan Fuguki on the ground, looked at Ritsu, then looked at Orochimaru.
"That's not important. Minato, you needn't concern yourself."
Orochimaru waved his hand. "You should focus on arranging matters for your student! Suddenly becoming the Three-Tails Jinchuriki—this will keep you busy. Don't worry about my affairs here."
"True enough."
Hearing this, Minato smiled bitterly. "When I received Kakashi's message, I almost thought it was a prank. But Kakashi isn't the type to enjoy jokes. Since he said Rin suddenly became the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, there must be quite a convoluted story behind it..."
He looked at Kakashi and Nohara Rin, his only two remaining students.
Both appeared unharmed.
"Lord Orochimaru, I wonder if it's convenient here..."
"Feel free. I have nothing urgent right now. Also, I specifically kept Ritsu-kun here precisely to help clarify things for you. Discuss whatever you need to. I need to go out for a bit to back up Hiruko, lest the investigation work can't proceed."
Orochimaru spoke and quickly walked out of the tent.
"Investigation? What happened?"
Minato keenly caught the sensitive term.
"Sensei, someone sold our intelligence." Kakashi immediately seized the opportunity, loudly complaining.
"What?"
"Deputy Commander Aburame Torune assigned us a supply transport mission but only dispatched our single squad. Halfway through, we encountered precise Mist ninja pursuit. They came specifically for us—no, specifically for Rin. They planned to seal the Three-Tails into Rin's body, then bring Rin back to infiltrate the village and release the Three-Tails inside."
Minato's expression became exceptionally serious and solemn. He looked at Kakashi and asked: "Kakashi, do you have physical evidence?"
"Yes."
Kakashi produced a storage scroll. "Inside are three Mist ninja heads. Sensei, if you have a Yamanaka clan ninja read the residual memories, you should gain something."
At the time, because Ritsu had successfully seized the Senju clan bloodline using the Chimera Technique, his emotions ran high and he didn't hold back, directly killing all of Kirishima Shinya's subordinates.
However, Kakashi had been very thorough in his considerations, having his ninja hound Pakkun retrieve three intact heads, which he'd hidden without giving to others until Minato arrived.
"Also, Suikazan Fuguki might know about this too. When Kakashi's team was attacked, I also encountered Mist ninja assault. These two groups most likely coordinated their actions—not two isolated incidents." Ritsu added.
"These... damn bastards!"
Minato caught the storage scroll Kakashi passed over, his expression especially ugly.
He took a deep breath to suppress the fury in his chest, put away the scroll, reached out and patted Kakashi's shoulder. "Well done, Kakashi."
"It's all thanks to the Hyuga clan head. If not for him, we'd probably all have died in this mission."
Kakashi continued feeding his teacher inflammatory information.
Sure enough, Minato's gaze became increasingly sharp. Obito's sacrifice had already pained him greatly. If something happened to Kakashi and Rin too, and they were harmed by their own people—
"Kakashi, rest assured! I'll speak to the Hokage about this matter. Whoever did it will pay the price."
Saying this—
He looked at Ritsu, his expression somewhat complex. The last time they'd met at the Hyuga compound, he'd even fought with Ritsu. "Ritsu-kun, thank you for saving Kakashi and Rin!"
"Minato-senpai, no thanks necessary. Saving Kakashi and the others was also saving myself. After all, if Kakashi's team all sacrificed themselves in this mission and only I survived, who knows what kind of blame they'd pin on me to incite you, Minato-senpai, to fight me to the death!"
Ritsu shrugged, his attitude relaxed.
Minato pressed his lips together, didn't ask who the "they" Ritsu mentioned were, only said: "Regardless, thank you for saving Kakashi and Rin."
Finishing—
He turned to look at the girl who'd kept her head lowered. His tense muscles unconsciously relaxed as he said gently: "Rin, how do you feel right now?"
"Occasionally it's like someone is talking in my head, making it ache a bit. Other than that, I'm fine."
Nohara Rin answered softly.
She raised her head, looking at the teacher standing before her. "Sensei, in the future... can I still be a medical ninja?"
"Of course you can. Becoming a Jinchuriki is nothing major. Don't forget my wife is also a Jinchuriki. From now on, you'll train with her and have her teach you how to master a Tailed Beast's power."
Minato reached out and rubbed his student's head in comfort.
Taking the opportunity, he examined the chakra within the girl's body, discovering violent, powerful chakra fluctuations different from the Nine-Tails yet identical in nature. Simultaneously, a seal firmly locked this violent chakra away.
"Tailed Beasts..."
Minato sighed deeply.
He withdrew his hand and looked at Kakashi, saying: "Kakashi, tell me everything from beginning to end in careful detail."
****
50+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces