"Then I'll leave these two brats in your care."
After roughly yanking Rin to her feet, the Kirigakure shinobi addressed the female ANBU standing silently nearby.
"Mm."
The woman's response was indifferent, her voice barely more than a whisper. Yet, her eyes were glued to the ground where Rin's spilled ninja tools lay scattered. Among them was a kunai unlike any other—its distinct shape and black engravings unmistakable.
The Kirigakure shinobi, satisfied with the curt reply, turned on his heel and left the cave, his footsteps echoing into silence.
Swish!
As soon as she was certain he had left, the female ANBU moved in a blur, reappearing in front of the scattered tools. She bent down and picked up the unique kunai, turning it over in her gloved hands.
Beneath the mask, her composed expression wavered.
"This is his kunai… there's no doubt about it."
Her heart, usually cold and steady from years of ANBU service, fluttered with emotion. Memories she thought long buried began to surface.
Staring at the kunai in her palm, her emerald-green eyes softened. Reflected in its polished surface was a face from her past—youthful, with dazzling blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
But what she remembered most vividly was his smile.
It had an infectious warmth, capable of easing even the most turbulent of hearts. That smile had once calmed her own storm, back when life had been simpler, before the shadows of war consumed them all.
"Minato..."
It had been ten years since they last crossed paths. The boy she once saw had grown into a formidable figure, a legend whose name echoed across the shinobi world.
Though she served Kirigakure and Minato fought for Konoha, she couldn't bring herself to harbor any hatred toward him. If anything, she felt a strange sense of pride in his accomplishments.
Her gaze shifted from the kunai to Rin, who sat quietly nearby.
She didn't know the girl's connection to Minato, but the presence of this special kunai spoke volumes.
With a soft sigh, the ANBU woman moved to Rin's side. Gently, she placed her hands on the girl's shoulders, offering support.
Rin flinched at the unexpected kindness. Bound and gagged, with her senses dulled, she couldn't comprehend the sudden change in treatment.
The ANBU helped Rin sit down across from Kakashi, who was still blindfolded and gagged, his posture rigid even in captivity.
For a brief moment, the woman hesitated. Then, as if making a silent decision, she removed the blindfolds and gags from both of them.
Blinking against the dim light, Kakashi and Rin stared at each other in disbelief.
"Rin?!" Kakashi gasped.
"Kakashi, is that you?!" Rin's voice trembled, relief and fear mingling in her tone.
The familiar sound of each other's voices filled the cave, cutting through the oppressive darkness.
Kakashi's sharp eyes darted to Rin's pale face, reading the exhaustion and fear etched into her features. Despite her brave front, the terror of their situation weighed heavily on her.
Turning his attention to the female ANBU standing nearby, Kakashi met her gaze briefly. But her mask revealed nothing.
He shifted back to Rin, his voice soft but steady. "Don't worry, Rin. I'll protect you."
Rin managed a weak smile, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yeah…"
Though their situation was dire, having Kakashi by her side gave Rin a renewed sense of hope.
The ANBU woman watched their exchange in silence, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth beneath the mask.
Without another word, she turned and walked out of the cave, leaving the two children alone. She made no move to restrain them again.
Her intentions were clear—she wanted to observe their interactions, perhaps to gather information. But Kakashi and Rin, both sharp in their own ways, revealed nothing beyond their names.
Outside the cave, the ANBU woman stood still, the kunai still clutched in her hand.
"Kakashi and Rin…"
Though the names were unfamiliar, she was certain that with time, she could uncover their significance.
"Minato-senpai, if these two are important to you… let me help you, just this once."
At the Border of the Moon Country, Konoha Camp
Inside the command tent, the air was thick with tension. The senior Konoha shinobi gathered around the central table, their faces grim.
Hatake Sakumo's expression was particularly severe. He could sense the shift in the battlefield—Cloud Ninja forces were becoming increasingly restless.
"It seems the Third Raikage can't sit still any longer," one of the jonin remarked, breaking the heavy silence.
Suzuka, standing beside Sakumo, nodded thoughtfully. "Of course. Over in the Land of Grass, the Iwagakure defenses have been steadily collapsing. Uchiha Yoruki nearly took out the Four-Tails Jinchuriki in the last battle."
A faint smile touched her lips. She and Sakumo had known Yoruki since their youth, back when he and Minato were just promising young shinobi. Now, they were the village's strongest pillars.
"Yeah," Sakumo agreed, his tone measured. "And on the Sand Ninja front, Chiyo's forces are struggling against Tsunade. Age is catching up with her, and Tsunade's in her prime."
With Konoha gaining ground on both fronts, the Cloud Ninja were under immense pressure. If they didn't act soon, they risked losing the war by default once their allies fell.
Given the Third Raikage's fierce reputation, it was no surprise that Cloud forces were amassing for one final, decisive strike.
"This attack will be different," Sakumo said quietly. "They're going all in. This will decide the war."
The room fell silent again, each shinobi lost in their own thoughts.
"Where's Minato?" one jonin muttered under his breath.
Though the words were spoken softly, they echoed in the tense room.
Minato was the heart of Konoha's war effort. His absence weighed heavily on everyone's minds. With the Cloud Ninja preparing to unleash their full force, only his presence could instill the confidence they needed.
Swish!
As if summoned by their thoughts, a familiar flash of yellow light filled the tent.
Minato appeared in the center of the room, his blond hair slightly tousled, his blue eyes calm but sharp.
The moment they saw him, the tension in the room eased. Every shinobi turned to him, relief flooding their faces.
Minato glanced around, reading the atmosphere instantly. A faint smile played on his lips.
"It seems," he said softly, "the time has come to decide the outcome of the Third Shinobi World War."
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