The world of ninja was changing quickly, and tensions were high.
The long Third Shinobi World War was finally becoming a stalemate, with neither side gaining ground.
In Kirigakure, the village was struggling to stop infighting within its own ranks.
Kumogakure pulled back its forces and went into hiding. Killer Bee was kept safe inside the Valley of Clouds and Lightning by his brother Ai, who had only one arm.
Sunagakure was making plans to start talking with Konoha about peace.
The only village not worried about politics or fighting within itself was Iwagakure. They were completely united and untouched by trouble.
Iwagakure was a village built for war.
To keep fighting, the leader of the Land of Earth told his nobles to cut back on spending, even on food and clothes, to help pay for the war.
It was even said that the leader himself was eating cornbread. This was big news in the Land of Earth's newspapers.
Iwagakure's motto was "Unity is Strength!"
At every meeting, Onoki led discussions with the Land of Earth's leader and the nobles.
They were always changing their plans to take over the ninja world.
More than ten thousand Iwa ninja were ready to fight.
Their plan was simple: march together into Konoha and crush the village founded by Senju Hashirama.
For Onoki, this was also a chance to get revenge for old wrongs.
He would never forget how Uchiha Madara had humiliated him and the Second Tsuchikage.
What happened in his youth shaped his entire life.
The anger in his heart could only be released on Konoha.
He was especially excited when he heard that all the Uchiha clan ninja were being sent to the battlefield.
Even though Uchiha Madara had been dead for a long time, destroying the village he created and wiping out the Uchiha clan would be a satisfying way to solve his problems.
While the ninja world was changing so fast...
---
Meanwhile...
Namikaze Minato was speeding through the jungle, using the Body Flicker Technique so fast that he was hard to see.
I have to catch up…
In the original future, Rin was captured by the Third Mizukage, who was being controlled by Uchiha Madara. The Three-Tails was sealed inside her.
Kakashi went to save her.
On the way back to Konoha with Rin, they were chased by Kirigakure Anbu.
In the end, to stop the Three-Tails from destroying Konoha, Rin bravely killed herself by jumping in front of Kakashi's Chidori.
Namikaze Minato's face grew serious as he remembered what happened in the first timeline.
But things were different this time.
First, the Third Mizukage and his fifty Anbu bodyguards were dead.
Then, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were killed by Senior Sakumo.
Now, Kirigakure only had a few strong fighters left: Yagura, Terumi Mei, Ao, and a few others.
Yagura was probably busy trying to stop the fighting in his own village.
So, it must be Terumi Mei and Ao who are after them.
Terumi Mei and Ao were also involved in the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan being stolen.
So...
Namikaze Minato jumped out of the forest and landed on the grass.
Thump.
He put his finger on the ground to sense chakra.
He felt a large amount of chakra gathering nearby.
Kakashi and Rin were among them.
"So, Obito must be close too..."
With the cells of the First Hokage and White Zetsu inside him, Obito had become very good at hiding.
Even Minato's senses couldn't find him.
But he had to be there.
Whoosh!
In a flash, Namikaze Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique and appeared next to Kakashi.
He had given Kakashi a Flying Thunder God Kunai when he became a Jonin, and Kakashi always carried it with him.
The kunai was working as intended.
"I made it!"
Before his students could react, Namikaze Minato flashed around, killing several Kirigakure ninja in an instant.
Ao, the leader of the pursuit team, frowned. "This is bad! It's the Golden Flash! What should we do?"
He looked at Terumi Mei, the girl who was about Kakashi's age.
She had brown-red hair and already had a charming look about her.
She would definitely be beautiful when she grew up.
"Withdraw..."
Terumi Mei quickly decided to retreat.
In a few years, she would be stronger than Namikaze Minato, and might even become the Mizukage.
But not now.
The difference in age was too great.
After glancing at Namikaze Minato, she created a white mist. The remaining Kirigakure ninja stopped their mission and left.
"Minato Sensei!?"
Kakashi was excited to see Namikaze Minato arrive in time.
Nohara Rin, still shocked, also looked over and nodded to her supervising Jonin.
"Rin, are you okay?"
Namikaze Minato stepped forward and put his hand on Rin's shoulder.
He was worried that she might have the Three-Tails sealed inside her, like in the first timeline.
"I'm fine, Minato Sensei..." Nohara Rin said, confirming that she was okay.
Luckily, because the Third Mizukage died early in this timeline, Yagura was able to become Mizukage sooner.
Yagura wanted the power of the Three-Tails and made himself the Three-Tails Jinchuriki to scare others.
So, history had changed.
Rin, who had been chased, was only a little scared and tired.
Namikaze Minato thought about how many times Rin had been captured.
"That's great..."
---
At the same time, in the jungle nearby, Obito watched the scene with excitement.
He looked very different now.
Minato Sensei had arrived in time.
He had saved Rin.
That was wonderful.
While Obito was happy, Black Zetsu felt uneasy.
And Tobi White Zetsu, wrapped around Obito, was waiting for Black Zetsu's orders.
Should he take control of Obito by force, or...?
"Forget it..."
Black Zetsu shook his head.
Someone with a three-tomoe Sharingan like Obito couldn't be Madara's pawn.
The original plan was to save Obito and give him White Zetsu/Hashirama cells so he would awaken his eyes and become Madara's pawn.
But Namikaze Minato had arrived in time and saved Nohara Rin.
It was all Might Duy's fault for kicking the Third Mizukage to death.
And that Konoha White Fang, who killed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist so easily.
Kirigakure was a mess because of them.
Whoosh.
The Tobi White Zetsu on Obito's body slowly unwrapped and disappeared.
"Obito, this is as far as I can help you..."
Tobi White Zetsu's words had a strange meaning.
"Yes, thank you... I won't forget the time I spent with you..."
Obito's long hair covered his shoulders. He had lost his childishness and now seemed determined.
His half-disfigured face and body made him look calm and mature.
Obito couldn't help but rush out of the forest to join Namikaze Minato, Kakashi, and Nohara Rin.
Villagers meeting each other, with tears in their eyes.
The four were overjoyed to be together again after so long.
Black Zetsu looked at Obito, thinking that when Obito awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, he might go back to find Madara.
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[T/N:
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