57 V.1-C.57│The War Wages I│
While there may, or may not be some that are currently getting marriage proposals, others were still stuck to deal with the war going on at this time.
Specifically Minato Namikaze finds himself on the frontlines of the war, alongside the team he was given that have all become chunin ranked shinobi. However, that doesn't mean that just because they are chunin that their team was now dismantled or no longer of any use or cohesion.
Right now, Minato and Team Seven have been stationed within the center of the conflict happening between Konoha and Iwa.
The two main aggressors in the war that has sprung up.
He was... a little distressed at the moment, for all the good that he has done, it seemed like his position as the potential Fourth Hokage was not as set in stone as he would've liked.
Sure, not gaining Kushina and having her under his control, or at least allied to himself was one of his pieces of the puzzle that seemed to not be working.
That would've been fine, that is if he now didn't have to compete with another potential candidate. True, Obito was strong, maybe even strong enough to contend with the current Minato, but he was relatively unknown.
He wasn't someone of big renown and fame, instead only having gained a small amount of respect from those on the border between the Lands of Lightning and Fire. That aside, he is a member of the Uchiha, and supposedly there is already someone else from the Uchiha that the Uchiha themselves were willing to prop up.
Fugaku Uchiha. Then there was Minato's next competitor, one that he would have the most problems trying to deal with, Lord Orochimaru.
How could Minato compare to one of the current 'Legendary Sannin?' The answer to that question would be to make contributions in the war that is happening right now, and he thought he was off to a good start.
When Konoha became involved in the Third Shinobi World War, Minato's obligations became split between training his students and helping with the war effort.
Kusagakure is located in a country that could simply go by the name of the Land of Grass. Konohagakure and Kusagakure are of course at this point allied, given the nature of the current conflict was taking place within said Land.
It was especially important because it was Iwagakure that has used Kusagakure for their own selfish purposes.
The Land of Grass is rich with forests, some consisting of giant mushrooms or bamboo. It also seems to have many rivers and deep ravines.
During the Third Shinobi World War, the country was invaded by Iwagakure and served as an important front between Iwa and Konoha.
Now, Konoha and Iwa would be going at it against each other in these peoples lands, and it was not something that Minato was all that hurt about. In fact, he really has no other loyalties other than to himself and the village.
Some could even compare him and his actions to Danzo Shimura, just that Minato is not as extreme as such an individual. Danzo was also sort of a contender for the Hokage title, but he didn't seem to want it and instead was supporting another for the position.
It was just that Minato was unsure of who he is going to support in becoming the Hokage. Minato is well aware that Danzo was an important person for the village.
"Master Minato." A voice woke Minato from his internal thoughts, and as he looked towards the sound, he saw that it was one of his team members, Kakashi Hatake.
"Kakashi... What is it?" Minato was in charge of one part of the battlefield, and he had to put someone in charge of the team while he has his responsibilities split up. That person he had chosen was of course Kakashi.
"I have received the reports. We are currently being pushed back in this location." Kakashi had pulled out a map, pointing towards a specific spot as he placed the in progress map down on the table in front of him.
The two were in a room, a building that was right at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass. They were currently resting before they would make a push into the Land of Grass currently under the control of Iwagakure.
"Hmm... I see. Thank you, Kakashi." Minato replied as his mind sped through all scenarios and conditions that would be needed for him to make a positive change.
"What are we going to do?" Kakashi asked, having grown a bit concerned that Minato was away from the team as he was focusing on other things other than training them, or spending any time with them.
Kakashi himself didn't exactly grow a close relationship with Minato, as Minato hadn't really done anything to really help change the way he thinks about things. Though, Minato wasn't someone that would totally neglect his team he is responsible of.
However, he was also someone that had goals and desires, and his team was just another responsibility, a small one, on top of the other greater ones that would help him achieve what he wants.
"You are going to continue what you have been doing. Soon, we, Konoha, will be going into Kusagakure and starting an attack." Minato replied before he took the map on the table, storing it somewhere else.
"But-" Kakashi was about to say something more, but he was stopped.
"No buts, Kakashi. You are the only one that can lead your team now. It is important that you remember that things don't always go the way that you want." Minato responded, having interrupted Kakashi.
Kakashi went silent as Minato said, well aware that Minato does have other responsibilities that may seem greater than what he and his other teammates may need to deal with.
In fact, Kakashi was newly promoted into the position of jonin, meaning that he does have the qualifications to do some important things. "You will have a mission. A mission that includes the Kannabi Bridge." Minato said, shocking Kakashi as he knows the significance of this bridge.
"Are you sure?" Kakashi asked, questioning Minato about whether or not this was a good idea. There are many things to consider, and this spot was especially dangerous because it was well protected by the other side.
The Kannabi Bridge was a large bridge, spanning a river in Kusagakure. This bridge is a vital pathway to Iwagakure's line of supply.
"Yes." Minato responded as he placed his hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Don't worry." Kakashi would soon leave after the small amount of reassurance Minato had given, and Minato would return to his thoughts.
Reminded by Kakashi that he was someone that has to look after a team. 'I guess I could try and help as soon as I can...' He would deal with his own mission first before coming to help Kakashi, knowing full well how Konoha was lacking anyone capable enough to take this mission.
Minato's thought did wonder over towards another, or two others to be specific as well. Obito Uchiha and Kushina Uzumaki.
At this point, Minato has lost interest in trying to gain the trust or alliance of the jinchuriki purely because he knows that he would be unable to. He may have been confronted by Kushina at some point during the chunin exams that his and her team participated in.
One of Asuma's attempt on trying to harm Obito, but also another on Minato holding some negative feelings for Obito as well.
Sure, that may be true, but he couldn't admit to that. Anyway, Minato now knew that Kushina didn't exactly like him and instead holds a dislike for him instead, not only due to the history of him in her class not doing anything, maybe even allowing her to be bullied and ostracized.
But now, she dislikes him simply because she managed to discover that he held a dislike for Obito. Kushina was extremely protective of Minato, and he now knew that the reason might be because she is more than interested in him in a normal capacity.
So of course he also analyzed his own chances of trying to win her over, and it was abysmal. Non-existent.
In ways, Minato saw a lot of his problems coincide with Obito's existence and has started to see him as someone that should be kept under his control. Minato realized if he ever wanted to keep Kushina under his control, he would need him.
If he wanted other things as well, in regards to some things to do with the Uchiha, or even to do with the interest of the Konoha higher ups. For example, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage had basically said to a few that he was considering Obito for the position of Hokage as well.
Minato realized more and more that Obito held some level of importance to other important people, despite him being someone that was unimportant himself.
He was nothing but an orphan like himself, and he was already much more 'lucky' than himself in many aspects.
'I will see if I can bring Obito under my control first, and then if I can't, then he may need to be removed somehow...' Minato may not be at the same level as Danzo when it came to stuff like this, but he was sure becoming more and more like him.
[]
Shisui Uchiha, a young, talented individual of the Uchiha clan that had graduated from the academy during these times of distress and war. Shisui was placed on a genin team alongside his best friend.
He was a very humble and down-to-earth individual. He was never arrogant about his own talent or accomplishments, yet was not above telling others when they made mistakes. At the same time, he was open-minded, never stubbornly believing in one ideal solely and strove to see that unique nature of current situation before him.
Shisui was also a deeply compassionate boy, even to enemies, showing sympathy and kindness to even those that he would be ordered to kill.
Of course, he hasn't had the time to showcase all that he is now, but he has been out on missions during this war so far.
Currently he is 7 years of age, where he had graduated from the academy at the young age of 5 years. It was an accomplishment, in comparison with the older boy known as Kakashi Hatake.
Some might not consider it as such, because of the fact that people are being graduated from the academy a little bit earlier due to the ongoing war. Most do however look at him as a talented individual, and more than once has he been complimented by his fellow clan members.
Even his father that was a participant in the war as well was someone that acknowledged his efforts.
Shisui was also shown to be very perceptive and intuitive even from a young age, able to see through the emotional nature of others and likewise able to notice the smallest details around him.
Shisui remembered the some words he had heard from another, from his father once. 'Self-sacrifice… a nameless shinobi who protects peace from within its shadow…' was the true mark of a shinobi.
Shisui was more aware of what this meant as time passed.
Although Shisui was devoted to his clan, he was equally devoted to the well-being of his village, a trait his own clan is apparently ignorant of. His devotion to his village was so strong that he never fell victim to the Curse of Hatred.
That is right, the infamous 'Curse of Hatred' of the Uchiha was something he was well aware of. How could he not be, as he has a nearly fully formed Sharingan, only at the second to last stage, or middle stage in the transformation process.
Bearing stark resemblance to his ancestor Kagami Uchiha, Shisui also had short, unkempt, dark-colored hair, black eyes and a relatively broad nose and well-defined eyelashes, that were turns upwards at each end.
He normally wore the standard attire of the Uchiha clan which includes a high-collared, dark-colored outfit along with a tanto strapped to the right side of the back of his shoulder. He also wore what appeared to be a harness for his tanto which ran across his chest and fastened over both his shoulders.
During his time in the regular forces, meaning right now, Shisui instead donned the standard Konoha-nin uniform.
After all, he was currently a participant in the war. "Oi...! Shisui...!" A voice called out to him and it was his best friend.
The two would go off to do their own training, having been stationed at another point that wasn't so dangerous but still of importance during the war. Specifically, he and his genin team was stationed at the sea border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.
Sure, conflict had broken out and he had been out on the field along with his teammates, but he wasn't anyone important, despite his growing reputation despite his young age.
Strangely enough, there were a few that seemed to compare him to someone else that was also an Uchiha. Although not as widely known as some, Obito Uchiha was a name that would come up for Shisui since they were a part of the same clan.
Supposedly, Obito Uchiha was a talented individual as well, just not exactly at the same level of talent that Shisui displayed. After all, Shisui graduated at the young age of five years, which happened to be two years ago.
Soon he would even try to become a chunin, and if everything goes right he would become a jonin as well. 'Maybe I should meet this person...?' Shisui would think to himself at some point, but would eventually forget not because he was forgetful or anything, but because he wouldn't hold any real relevance.
At least not to Shisui at this point, as someone within the shadows, a someone that was especially important for the events of the world to come was eyeing Shisui specifically because he has the Sharingan unlocked at such a young age. In fact, Shisui was close enough to developing the three-tomoe Sharingan, further increasing his prowess.
A yellow eyed individual was sent here to watch over Shisui, because Shisui has a big chance of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, and whoever this hidden individual is wants him to do so.
But it needed to happen naturally, given that Shisui was someone that didn't conform to the original 'Curse of Hatred' the Uchiha all supposedly fall victim to.
'A gift... Human's are interesting...' The yellow eyes individual, hidden in the shadows thought to itself.
