"Buzz."
Waves of shock radiated within the barrier, expanding outward with violent force. But no matter how fierce the explosion, the black lines etched into the barrier swallowed the energy whole. The destructive force, which could have easily leveled the surrounding forest, was consumed completely upon contact with Minato's Space Barrier.
The explosion raged for over a minute before it finally subsided, leaving an eerie silence in its wake. Minato exhaled deeply, his muscles relaxing as he dispelled the barrier.
With the protective seal lifted, thick smoke began to pour into the clearing, masking the area in dense, choking fog.
But amidst the swirling smoke, there was something unusual—a specific area remained untouched, as if an invisible wall kept the dust and debris at bay. This was the spot where the space had distorted earlier.
Minato's sharp blue eyes flickered, narrowing as he observed the anomaly. The distortion in that space was smaller than before, but still stubbornly persistent.
Slowly, the warped space began to stabilize, returning to its natural state. Minato's golden brows relaxed slightly, a subtle sign of relief.
Over the past few days, he had repeated these experiments, each time pushing his chakra reserves to their absolute limit. Without the Nine-Tails' chakra as his fallback, Minato knew it would have taken him months—if not years—to master this technique.
His preparations for this moment had spanned nearly a decade.
This was uncharted territory. No one in the history of the shinobi world had ever touched this level of power. Even with his natural talent, Minato recognized how much luck had played a role in his progress.
Not even the Sage of Six Paths, the fabled ancestor of all shinobi, had crossed through time and space in this way.
This power… was beyond the realm of traditional ninjutsu.
And with it, Minato was confident that no defense—no matter how formidable—could withstand his technique.
"I'm almost there."
He murmured to himself, his voice low but filled with determination. This special ninjutsu was nearly perfected. The process of executing it was still complex, and while it wasn't quite ready for real combat, especially against someone like the Third Raikage, Minato had completed the hardest part.
Now, it was just a matter of refining the technique.
Forming a hand seal, Minato activated Sage Mode again. The orange markings appeared at the corners of his eyes as he gathered natural energy.
He raised his palm, and a new seal began to materialize, its color growing brighter with each passing second.
There was no time to rest.
Minato had to master this technique—and fast. The war wouldn't wait.
In the Humid Cave…
"Rustle."
The faint sound of footsteps echoed off the damp stone walls. Kakashi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them.
A Kirigakure ANBU appeared before him, their face hidden behind a strange mask. Without a word, the ANBU reached down and untied the gag from Kakashi's mouth.
Before Kakashi could react, the shinobi shoved a few military ration pills into his mouth and forced water down his throat. The gag was replaced just as quickly.
Kakashi didn't resist.
"He's cooperative… a smart kid," the ANBU thought, their gaze lingering on Kakashi for a moment longer than necessary.
They knew better than to underestimate a child on the battlefield. Anyone who had survived this long—especially in a war as brutal as this one—was far from naïve.
To an outsider, Kakashi's compliance might look like weakness, like he'd lost his resolve as a shinobi. But in truth, it took far more courage to remain calm and survive than to lash out recklessly in a hopeless situation.
Without another word, the ANBU turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Kakashi closed his eyes again, his mind racing.
Why did they capture me… but not interrogate me?
The typical reason for taking prisoners was to extract information. Yet, Kakashi had been left alone—no questions, no threats, just isolation.
And why was he being guarded by Kirigakure ANBU?
ANBU were directly under the Mizukage's command. No one else could control them—not even high-ranking jonin.
Kakashi's mind spun. He was strong, but not that important. His skills alone wouldn't warrant attention from the Third Mizukage.
Unless…
It's because of my father…
Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, was a legendary figure. But even then, would that be enough?
Or maybe… it's because of Minato-sensei.
The Yellow Flash was famous across the shinobi world, feared and respected in equal measure. But how could Kirigakure have known Kakashi's connection to him?
If they did know, wouldn't they have interrogated him by now or used him as a bargaining chip?
And if that was the case… where was Rin?
Are they interrogating us separately? But if they knew who I was, wouldn't I be more valuable than Rin?
The contradictions piled up, and despite his sharp intellect, Kakashi couldn't piece together the puzzle.
Elsewhere in the Underground Hideout…
"Ahem."
Madara's coughing echoed through the cave, each rasping breath a reminder of his frailty. His body was failing, but his mind remained sharp.
As his breathing steadied, he opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of White Zetsu.
"My time is running out," Madara whispered, his voice hollow but resolute. "The seal is complete. Imprison Kakashi and the girl—Rin—together."
He paused, a thin smile creeping across his lips.
"As for guarding them, leave it to her—."
White Zetsu tilted his head, a grin spreading across his face. "her? Interesting choice."
Madara chuckled softly, a dark glint in his eye.
"Once she learns who they are, she won't see them as enemies. After all… their teacher is her savior."
Back to Kakashi…
Kakashi's world was shrouded in darkness. A blindfold covered his eyes, and his ears were plugged, muting the sounds around him.
But he didn't need his sight to sense where he was. The dampness against his skin, the faint scent of salt in the air—it all pointed to one conclusion.
I'm on an island… somewhere in the Land of Water.
Guided roughly through the cavern's winding passages, Kakashi felt himself being led into another cave.
Shortly after, he heard soft footsteps approaching.
Rin…
Though he couldn't see her, Kakashi recognized the faint, familiar sound of her steps. They were slower, heavier than usual, as if she were exhausted or injured.
He strained to listen as Rin was brought into the same cave, but something else caught his attention—a new presence.
A Mist ANBU was waiting at the entrance, their face hidden behind a strange mask. But their slender frame and long brown hair betrayed their identity.
A female ANBU.
In Kirigakure, female ANBU were rare—especially within the elite ranks directly under the Third Mizukage.
"Move, brat!"
The shinobi escorting Rin shoved her forward roughly. She stumbled, falling to the ground with a soft cry.
The contents of her ninja tool pouch spilled across the stone floor, metal clinking against the rock.
"Pathetic," the guard sneered, yanking on the rope binding her wrists.
But something strange happened.
The female ANBU glanced down at the scattered tools, her eyes narrowing behind the mask.
For a split second, her emerald-green eyes gleamed with recognition.
Among the fallen tools, a single kunai stood out.
It was different from the rest—its shape unique, with black patterns etched into the handle.
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