Just as the trio was sharpening their blades, preparing to infiltrate enemy territory.
In a building in Konoha, a quiet conversation was taking place.
"Even so, it was those two who violated Konoha's rules first."
"Sorry, Jonin Minato. As the head of Konoha's Security Force, I… can't help you."
The speaker was Fugaku Uchiha.
The clan leader of Konoha's Uchiha clan and the head of the village's Security Force.
Just moments ago, Minato Namikaze, with whom he rarely interacted, had quietly sought him out.
Fugaku Uchiha knew this man and appreciated the strength of this common-born ninja.
To reach this level without a prestigious bloodline, Minato Namikaze earned his respect.
But Minato Namikaze's request…
Fugaku Uchiha hesitated for a long time.
Two kids who might have headed to the battlefield, plus the son of White Fang, currently at the center of controversy.
To mobilize the Uchiha, bypassing the Hokage to mount a rescue…
It wasn't realistic.
Doing so would only cost the Uchiha the Hokage's trust.
Look at Sakumo Hatake… Once the mighty White Fang of Konoha, a figure close to the Hokage, now reduced to someone even a genin could mock.
The Uchiha weren't much better off.
"I see…"
A flash of disappointment crossed Minato Namikaze's eyes.
He could pretty much determine the true direction his three students had taken.
Not Sunagakure, but the Iwa battlefield, where Sakumo Hatake's lifelong stain originated.
Those three little brats were really giving him a headache…
Minato Namikaze instinctively wanted to report the situation to the Hokage, hoping for approval to go rescue them.
But when he reached the Hokage's building and saw the Third Hokage in person… he inexplicably gave up on the idea.
Senior White Fang had received a mission here not long ago, hadn't he?
To ensure his comrades' safety, Senior White Fang abandoned the mission, and now he was the target of the entire village's blame.
Minato Namikaze asked himself honestly.
In that situation, would he… also find it hard to choose?
The Third Hokage right now must be in a similar dilemma…
So, he suppressed the urge and instead approached the Konoha Security Force, explaining the situation.
But Fugaku Uchiha's reaction…
"My apologies for overstepping. I'll take my leave."
"Please, for the sake of Souta-kun and Obito-kun's future prospects, keep today's conversation confidential."
With that, Minato Namikaze's figure vanished.
If this avenue didn't work, he'd have to try another…
Minato Namikaze had considered heading out secretly to support them himself.
He was confident he could bring the three kids back unharmed!
That's what a responsible jonin should do.
But precisely because of that, as their jonin instructor, was he only supposed to teach them to "follow Konoha's ninja regulations"?
Clearly not.
At that moment, Minato Namikaze thought of his own teacher.
That free-spirited man who never cared about rules and restrictions.
If it were his teacher…
What would he do?
Minato Namikaze couldn't help but ask himself.
The answer was obvious.
His teacher would undoubtedly track down the three kids without hesitation and give them a thorough beating!
Okay, that was what he himself most wanted to do right now.
But his teacher would likely find the three kids and not drag them straight back to Konoha.
More likely… he'd ask them what their goal was this time.
A jonin instructor's duty was to teach and pass down the Will of Fire, not just to protect their students' safety…
If what the three kids were trying to do was entirely right—aside from breaking the rules—then what reason did he have not to help his students?
Minato Namikaze wrestled with his thoughts, but his gaze gradually hardened.
He had arrived at the Hatake clan grounds.
Here lived a senior he deeply respected.
Respected in the past, and still respected now.
Here lived the father of one of his students…
Minato Namikaze took a deep breath, stepped forward a few paces, and knocked firmly on the door.
"Senior White Fang, it's Minato Namikaze, Kakashi's jonin instructor."
"There's an urgent matter I'd like to consult you about."
…
Meanwhile.
In a wide, rushing river, three round heads popped up.
It was Minato's team of three genin.
They had changed into Iwa ninja outfits. Though the fit wasn't perfect, their drenched clothes made it hard to tell.
Yuto Souta roughly calculated the distance.
They were still a fair way from the Kannabi Bridge, but much farther ahead, danger would be imminent.
They were getting closer and closer to Iwa's ninja forces…
"Kakashi, are you ready…" Yuto Souta asked quietly.
"Yeah." Kakashi Hatake nodded solemnly.
But after a moment's thought, he closed his eyes.
"Sorry, give me one more minute."
Mimicking his father's appearance wasn't hard; the tough part was capturing his presence.
The more familiar he was with his father, the harder it became…
"No pressure. Just channel the mindset you have when you're beating up Obito."
Yuto Souta hesitated for a moment before whispering.
Obito Uchiha's face darkened instantly beside him…
Two minutes later.
Kakashi Hatake was finally ready.
Forming hand signs, a puff of white smoke enveloped him, and he transformed into his father, Sakumo Hatake.
At the same time, Yuto Souta and Obito Uchiha took deep breaths, and then…
"Sakumo Hatake!"
"In the name of the Third Hokage! I'm taking you down today!"
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