Chapter 93: Incoming Attack

Whitewood had no good way to restrain Minato Namikaze, so he had to rely on this clumsy solution. Even after reinforcing him with Earth Style, he still wasn’t fully at ease, so he added in Afei’s Wood Style as well.

To prevent anyone from noticing the presence of Wood Style, Whitewood had Afei deliberately tone down the technique’s effect and put on a convincing show of sowing seeds and watering the vines, making the violent growth appear to be nothing more than a fertilizer reaction.

After a day, the Shinabi Bridge had been fully strengthened with Earth Style and then wrapped in tough, resilient vines. Even if Madara were to sit in a Gundam and dance across it, it could hold him—combat damage, of course, was another matter.

“Hmm… this new captain does have some skill,” said Leech, giving Whitewood a little more respect at the sight of how much the bridge had changed.

“I think we overdid caution,” Firelight said with complete ease. “In another half-day, the first batch of supplies would be delivered. As for the Konoha troops? I didn’t see even one trace of them.”

Whitewood, who had worked nonstop all day, rubbed his chin.

“Big Stone is still in the mushroom forest,” Afei reminded him.

Whitewood froze. “What?!”

He had completely forgotten he still had a wager to settle there. He ran to the mushroom forest in a hurry. A tricked illusion technique sent him through with almost no effort, and he found Big Stone sprawled across a giant mushroom, eyes rolled white, frothing at the mouth. Who knows what he had been through all day and night.

“You win…” Big Stone admitted when Whitewood stepped out.

“According to the bet, then you wear female clothes,” Whitewood grinned and selected the largest lolita-style outfit he could find.

“…I, Big Stone, accept defeat,” he said. Not only was he accepting it—his voice carried a small, private thrill.

Soon enough, a huge, awkward man about eighteen feet tall came into view, fussing with a pink parasol, wrapped in a poofy pink skirt, two white stockings covered in leg hair that no lace could disguise, his ugly face reddening like a ripe plum.
Ugh…
Everyone who saw him gagged.

Big Stone, mortified, tried to shed the costume quickly.

“Don’t take it off… this outfit gives a buff,” Whitewood said, turning away, unable to bear the sight.

…

Just as everyone was growing restless while waiting, a flare rose into the sky—an enemy-attack signal from the outer patrol.

Whitewood had ordered as of yesterday that if anyone saw a Konoha person, no matter how strong or weak, the signal was to be fired first, before any counterattack.

“It’s real. They’re really coming,” Firelight said, almost excited.

“Looks like we have a leak,” Leech said, knotting his brow in anger. “If I knew which bastard gave them our position, I’d tear him limb from limb.”

As the first enemy-sighting flare rose, then the second, the third, the fourth… more were sent up in succession. So this raid on the Shinabi Bridge was not a simple mission for Minato’s squad alone.

“They’re baiting us out,” Leech said. “It was a reliable read.”
“Really? What do you suggest?” Whitewood asked.

Leech glanced at the supply column struggling across the bridge. These were major siege-class ninja engines. If Konoha’s defenses were heavy—or if a colossal summon appeared—those machines would be their most decisive assets.

“We must not let Konoha forces get close! I suggest we take the field and intercept them ourselves,” Leech said gravely.

“Captain, give the order.” Firelight was eager.

“Fine—full deployment. No one stays behind. Sumashi, withdraw your engineering unit. Don’t come near unless I’m giving the command,” Whitewood issued what looked, to outsiders, a terrible order.

“Full deployment? No one remains to defend this post?” Leech, usually calm, was stunned.

“Do you think Minato is coming? Stay here, then?” Whitewood asked.

“Um… cough… I won’t stay,” Leech coughed and replied. If Minato had truly arrived, leaving a guard would be pointless anyway.

“Then full deployment. Keep Konoha’s forces locked outside the bridge!” Whitewood gave the order.

“Should I change out of this?” Big Stone tugged his skirt self-consciously.

“Absolutely not! You have no idea how lethal your current appearance is! Even Minato can’t guarantee a clean one-on-one with you!” Whitewood patted Big Stone on the shoulder, then caught a patch of chest hair peeking through the lace and almost vomited again himself.

…

A strange mushroom forest stretched ahead, its giant caps towering almost the size of houses, as if K. created it in a sudden burst of imagination.

Kakashi led Obito, Rin, and Minato Namikaze, their former team captain and former leader of the unit. They were moving quickly.

It was Kakashi’s first day as a newly promoted jōnin, and Minato had made him act as squad captain for the day.

“Kakashi, watch out for traps ahead!” it was Obito who shouted. After awakening his three-tomoe Sharingan, his vision scanned like a high-speed camera and spotted a trip wire stretched across the ground.

“We’ve entered the Shinabi Bridge area,” Kakashi said and signaled a halt while he checked the surroundings.

“Let’s just charge straight through. We’re on a mission tied to Konoha’s fate!” Obito said, eyes burning. Opening the Sharingan gave him great confidence… and pride.

“Right. We can’t waste time here. Prepare to run it,” Kakashi replied, unexpectedly agreeing.

“Both the Iwagakure and we know how important the Shinabi Bridge is. The ninjas defending it won’t be weak. If we charge blindly, we’ll only take casualties,” Minato said after assessing enemy presence nearby. His voice was low and careful.

“Teacher, you said today that I am the captain,” Kakashi replied, cold and firm.

“Uh…” Minato was taken aback. When this was Kakashi at normal times, he was easygoing, but the moment he entered duty mode he became rigid, as if the shadow of White Fang’s old self-harm still stood behind him, forcing him into a frozen machine.

“Fine! Relax, sensei. I’m no worse than Kakashi now.” Obito pointed a thumb toward his own Sharingan.

“Idiot, tail-end of the pack. Say that after you can already use genjutsu,” Kakashi said with a dead-fish expression, not treating Obito’s boast with the slightest regard.

“Pervert… bastard…” Obito went red with rage, but there was nothing to be done. Sharingan eyes were illusion-giving eyes, but the observation form was only support; genjutsu was the true power. Every time he tried to weave one, he got dizzy and tangled in it himself.

“Alright, alright… We’ll do it your way. Honestly, this noise makes me wonder how I’m supposed to leave you all behind in peace,” Minato said with a squint and a smile.

“Don’t worry, sensei. We’re all on the same side. I’ll calm them down,” Rin said softly.

“Mm. I do trust you. You’re all grown and capable adults now,” Minato said, smiling as he patted all three heads.

“Sensei, we’ll handle the enemies here. You go ahead to the Shinabi Bridge,” said Kakashi.

“Split into teams?” Minato asked, slightly hesitant. It did make the most sense, though no one knew whether the transport column had already crossed. “All right. I trust you. If there’s any grave danger, Kakashi, you must use the gift I gave you.”

“Let’s all go together,” Obito said, punching his fist.

“You stay here and protect Rin,” Kakashi said, and in a streak of lightning alone he was gone, disappearing into the mushroom forest in a blink, a hundred meters away.

“Damn…” Obito kicked at the ground in anger.

“Such a headache…” Minato muttered, pressing a hand to his forehead, then vanished in a few body flickers as well, still under Kakashi’s cover.

“Obito, we should go too. We can’t let Kakashi fight alone,” Rin said with a gentle glance.

“Y-yes… let’s go help Kakashi,” Obito said.