--------------------------------------------------
"It's settled! Our organization is Akatsuki!" Yahiko announced.
...
In the Land of Lightning, Minato Namikaze faced Kumogakure's A-B Combo. Even though he fought both of them at the same time, he barely managed to win.
As he prepared to leave, Gyūki's voice reached him.
"Not bad. I'd expect that from one of Sensei's students. You held off both of them with those skills—but you're still the weakest student he's ever had."
Minato gave Killer B a puzzled look—or, more precisely, the Eight-Tails sealed inside him.
What exactly did that even mean? Why would the Tailed Beast say something like that to him?
Manji had only three students. Minato wasn't sure he could beat Kushina, but at worst, he figured he'd be second. He still thought he could be the best.
But the weakest? That couldn't be right.
Gyūki glanced at him and said nothing more. No one else had heard the remark.
For Gyūki, it was true. Manji's earlier students were Hagoromo and Indra, and Minato just wasn't in their league.
The Tailed Beast only mentioned it because he liked teasing him.
...
Back in his tent, Minato sighed. The fighting was getting worse, and Danzō's plans were becoming obvious.
Anyone who was watching could tell the Hokage wanted to take over the other nations.
Minato wrote Kushina a letter about what was happening at the front. He didn't want her to come out here. The war was just too harsh.
Around the same time, he received orders concerning Kannabi Bridge.
...
Out in the countryside, Minato stood before a low rise, facing three young shinobi: Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.
"I didn't expect you three to be on the battlefield so soon," Minato said, his expression turning serious.
He had been their jōnin leader before the war. The days they spent arguing on missions still felt like yesterday.
But even the hardest missions back then were nothing like a real battlefield. He couldn't promise to bring all three kids home safely like before. Out here, people died all the time.
"Minato-sensei! We've heard all about you! You're Konoha's Yellow Flash!" Obito said, beaming at his teacher.
Kakashi just nodded. He didn't say much, but he also wanted to prove himself to Minato. He wanted to be even better than his father.
Rin stood between them, holding onto the strap of her medical pouch. She wasn't as excited as the others.
No matter what happened, she had to do her best to protect them. They argued all the time, but she knew they really cared about each other.
"Remember, this isn't a training ground or a game," Minato said, his voice firm as he looked at their young faces. "Someone could die at any moment out here."
Their excitement faded. All three straightened and nodded.
"Yes, sensei!"
In the days that followed, Minato led them from one battlefield to another, finishing one dangerous mission after the next. The fighting made all three of them grow up quickly.
Then a mission scroll stamped with a crimson S-rank mark reached Minato's hands.
"Our objective is to destroy Kannabi Bridge and cut off Iwagakure's supply line," Minato said, putting the scroll away. "We'll split up."
"Understood!" all three replied, immediately alert.
"Relax. I'll take care of the bridge," Minato said, noticing how tense they were and trying to sound gentler. "You just need to watch the perimeter and be ready to help me if I need it."
"Yes, sensei!"
...
Meanwhile, deep underground in a dark cave, Tobirama Senju rested against a cold stone seat.
"That Uchiha kid, Obito. Are you sure he's the right one? You're confident you can manipulate him?" Tobirama asked.
"I'm certain," Madara said, leaning on his scythe between labored breaths, a confident smile on his aged face. "If it doesn't work, we'll find someone else."
"Madara, we're running out of time. The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path can keep us alive longer, but it can't make us immortal," Tobirama reminded him.
Izuna sat cross-legged nearby, his eyes closed and his chakra completely still.
"That's enough, Tobirama. It's time to start the show," Madara said, his Sharingan glowing in the dark as its red tomoe slowly turned.
...
Things played out just as Madara had expected. Before long, word came that Iwagakure shinobi had captured Rin.
Kakashi didn't hesitate. With Sakumo still alive, his father had always taught him never to leave a teammate behind, no matter what the mission was.
He immediately set off in the direction Rin had been taken, with Obito right behind him.
During the rescue, a kunai cut across Kakashi's face, and blood covered his left eye. Seeing his friend hurt made Obito's anger and desperation boil over.
His one-tomoe Sharingan changed, and a second tomoe appeared in each red eye as his fury pushed him to the next level.
They managed to rescue Rin.
Then a boulder crashed down, sending dust everywhere. Half of Obito's body was pinned underneath, and blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He forced himself to lift his head and look at Kakashi, who cried beside him.
Obito gave his Sharingan, along with the wish he never said out loud, to the friend who meant the most to him.
...
"Ow..." Obito groaned, slowly coming to. Everything hurt.
"Where... am I?" Obito asked, struggling to lift his head and look around.
He flinched at what he saw. Three old men were staring straight at him.
"Whoa! Who the hell are you?!"
He tried to sit up, but stopped when pain shot through his body. It felt like his bones might break.
Tobirama glanced at Madara. Was this really the Uchiha he picked? The kid seemed like a total fool.
Madara's face stayed the same. That difference was exactly what he wanted. An innocent kid like Obito could turn into the most ruthless person once he snapped.
"This is where the world of the living meets the world of the dead..." Madara intoned, leaning on his scythe.
Obito stared at him, confused. That didn't explain anything.
"You fell into our tunnel," Tobirama said bluntly. "You're lucky to be alive..."
—•——•——•——•——•——•—
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