Chapter 34: The Gift
The Kannabi Bridge mission had drastically changed. What was originally a stealth sabotage operation had turned into a semi-open mission. The level of danger had escalated from "nine lives to one" to "almost certain death." A single traveler's interference had wrought such destructive change in this mission.
Not only had this mission changed, but the entire Iwa front had been drastically altered by Kai's actions.
In the original history, Konoha's performance on the Iwa battlefield was quite poor. Fresh off the defeat at Kikyo Pass, they had no time to rest before being thrust into the fight in the Land of Grass against Iwa. Such a situation would break anyone. If not for the thought of protecting their homeland, these ninjas would have long been unable to hold on.
Konoha likely had no choice—although Kai believed it was more about gaining greater benefits. Thus, the decision was made to attack the Kannabi Bridge, cutting off Iwa's supply lines and forcing them to the negotiation table to end the conflict.
However, now things were different. Although the mission's objective remained the same, Kai, by a twist of fate, had managed to rescue a group of prisoners and cause chaos in Iwa's rear lines.
This disruption led to a significant decrease in Iwa's morale on the front lines, forcing them into a continuous retreat. Naturally, this boosted Konoha's morale as every frontline ninja knew of a team operating behind enemy lines.
Even the higher-ups in Konoha had received this information. The details about Kai had been placed on their desks, especially the report from Minato to Jiraiya about Kai activating his Sharingan, which had made its way to the Konoha leadership. It wouldn't be long before the Uchiha clan also became aware of his existence.
But even if they did, the Uchiha clan couldn't pull Kai back. He was deep behind enemy lines, carrying out the most secretive and crucial mission, and Konoha wouldn't compromise on that. For the higher-ups, it was better if Kai, who had awakened with a three-tomoe Sharingan, remained in the Land of Grass forever, much like Obito Uchiha, who awakened with two tomoe.
Kai didn't know these specifics, but he could guess, which allowed him to continue focusing on his mission. They were racing against time, and failure would bring dire consequences.
As Minato took the wounded and non-combatants away, Kai and Kenta cleaned up the battlefield. Each country had sensory ninjas, so they needed to delay detection as long as possible. Kenta was surprised when Kai picked up a sword and strapped it to his back.
"You practice swordsmanship?" Kenta asked curiously while digging a pit to bury the bodies.
"No," Kai shook his head, finding the situation quite troublesome. They couldn't risk starting a fire to destroy the bodies with Fire Release, and neither of them could use Earth Release, so they had to resort to the primitive method of digging pits.
"Then why carry a sword?" Kenta asked, suddenly wary. "Unless..."
"Relax. Your swordsmanship is too advanced for my Sharingan to copy directly," Kai rolled his eyes. "But do you think I need any special swordsmanship?"
Kenta thought for a moment and nodded. Indeed, Kai didn't need specialized sword techniques. With his terrifying speed and the Sharingan's dynamic vision, he only needed to strike critical points on his enemies. Hence, Kai probably didn't need extensive training in swordsmanship, just the ability to wield a blade effectively.
The Sharingan was undoubtedly a valuable asset, desired by many for its versatility in any phase of combat. Although its evolution could drive users to madness, the power it granted at every stage was unparalleled.
Kai glanced at Kenta, who didn't press further, and Kai chose not to elaborate either. Of course, he had secretly copied some of Kenta's techniques. While he didn't need them, having an insurance policy gave him peace of mind.
As Kenta finished burying the bodies, Kai, still recovering, refrained from physical labor. Technically, he was still Kenta's superior, given that Minato wasn't officially part of their squad. Temporary squad leaders and designated leaders had distinct roles, and without Minato around, Kai was in charge.
Kenta had no objections, knowing that Kai's full recovery would increase their chances of survival. After dealing with the bodies, they set off. With Minato's kunai, they weren't worried about him finding them. Staying in one place too long risked an ambush.
Their decision proved correct when Kenta sensed a group of Iwa ninjas heading toward their previous hideout shortly after they left. They quickened their pace, and ten minutes later, Minato appeared beside them.
"It seems Iwa has found us," Minato observed the surroundings, instantly understanding the situation.
"Pretty much. If we hadn't moved, we'd be surrounded by now," Kai nodded. "How's Kakashi?"
As the temporary squad leader, Kai felt obligated to show concern for his teammates, especially in Minato's presence.
"They're okay. Hyuga Chunin should be fine, but Kakashi needs to be taken back to Konoha," Minato sighed, then smiled. "I also met Jiraiya-sensei. He'll be supporting us."
"Supporting us?" Kai was surprised, then nodded. This was excellent news. With frontline support delaying the Iwa forces' return, they'd gain a few precious hours.
"Oh, and Kakashi left something for you," Minato said, pulling out a scroll from his pocket. "Consider it a gift."
"A gift?" Kai took the scroll and slowly opened it.
(Chapter End)