Naruto: The Second Chance of Obito Uchiha
Chapter 11: Into Enemy Territory
The war had officially begun.
For weeks, Team Minato had been dispatched across the Land of Fire, escorting supply convoys, reinforcing outposts, and gathering intelligence near the border.
Every mission brought them closer to the front lines.
Every mission reminded them that this was no training exercise.
Before sunrise, Team Minato stood inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the assembled shinobi.
Beside him stood Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Shikaku Nara, and several jonin commanders.
A large map covered the table.
Minato stepped forward.
"Our previous reconnaissance confirmed that Iwagakure has expanded its forward bases."
Hiruzen nodded.
"Because of that, we've authorized a deeper reconnaissance mission."
He looked directly at Team Minato.
"Your objective is to locate enemy supply routes and return with their positions."
"No unnecessary engagements."
"Information is the priority."
Minato answered immediately.
"Understood."
Outside the Hokage Tower, Rin adjusted her medical pouch.
"This one feels different."
Kakashi nodded.
"It is."
Obito looked toward the village gates.
The deeper they traveled into enemy territory…
The closer they came to the events he remembered.
He silently reminded himself.
Don't rush.
Changing history recklessly could create even greater problems.
By midday, Team Minato crossed into a dense forest near the border.
The trees grew taller.
The air felt heavier.
Conversation disappeared.
Every sound mattered.
Minato raised a hand.
The team stopped instantly.
Ahead, wagon tracks crossed the road.
Fresh.
Kakashi knelt beside them.
"Less than a day old."
Obito studied the surrounding terrain.
"The tracks split here."
Minato looked over.
"How can you tell?"
Obito pointed toward the ground.
"The right path has twice as many footprints."
"The left trail is a decoy."
Kakashi examined the dirt himself.
After a moment, he nodded.
"He's right."
Minato smiled faintly.
"Good observation."
The team followed the true trail for another hour before reaching a steep overlook.
Hidden below was a narrow canyon.
Dozens of supply wagons slowly traveled through it.
Iwa shinobi guarded both ends.
Minato counted quietly.
"Enough supplies to support an entire battalion."
Rin carefully sketched the convoy onto a scroll.
Kakashi memorized the guard rotations.
Obito watched the cliffs.
His instincts suddenly flared.
Someone was coming.
He whispered,
"We're not alone."
Almost immediately…
A kunai flew through the trees.
Minato deflected it.
"Take cover!"
Five Iwa shinobi emerged from the forest.
Their leader smiled coldly.
"So…"
"The famous Yellow Flash sends children to spy on us."
Minato stepped in front of his students.
"I'm your opponent."
The enemy leader laughed.
"We'll see."
The remaining four rushed Team Minato.
Kakashi intercepted one before the man could reach Rin.
Steel clashed again and again.
Rin supported him by throwing precise kunai that forced the enemy backward.
Meanwhile, two shinobi surrounded Obito.
One formed hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Spear!"
Stone erupted beneath Obito's feet.
He jumped at the last instant.
Too predictable.
He landed behind the attacker.
A quick strike to the shoulder disrupted the enemy's balance.
The second shinobi attacked with a sword.
Obito parried the blade before locking the man's wrist and throwing him over his shoulder.
The two enemies crashed into one another.
Obito immediately stepped back.
He had won…
Without revealing more than necessary.
Nearby, Minato's battle had already ended.
The enemy leader blinked.
Minato was gone.
A split second later…
The Flying Thunder God Technique carried him behind the Iwa jonin.
One precise strike.
The battle was over.
The remaining enemy shinobi hesitated.
"Retreat!"
Within moments, they disappeared into the forest.
Silence returned.
Rin rushed toward Minato.
"Sensei, are you alright?"
"I'm fine."
He looked at his students.
"You all handled yourselves well."
His gaze rested on Obito for a moment longer.
"You've become remarkably calm under pressure."
Obito smiled.
"I've had good teachers."
Minato laughed softly.
"I suppose that's true."
By nightfall, Team Minato had returned to a hidden observation point overlooking the canyon.
Their mission was complete.
Rin sealed away the intelligence scroll.
"This should help the village."
"It will," Minato replied.
"Every piece of information saves lives."
Obito looked toward the distant convoy.
He remembered another life.
A life where countless Leaf shinobi had died because information arrived too late.
Not this time.
This convoy would never reach the battlefield.
The following evening, Team Minato returned safely to Konoha.
Inside the strategy room, Hiruzen and the senior commanders reviewed their report.
Shikaku quickly began moving markers across the battlefield map.
"If we strike here…"
He pointed to the canyon.
"We can cut off one of Iwa's primary supply lines."
Jiraiya smiled.
"Now that's valuable intelligence."
Tsunade nodded.
"This could shorten the fighting on that front."
Minato looked toward his students.
"You've all done excellent work."
Obito quietly looked at the map.
One small victory.
One small change.
History wasn't fixed.
It could be rewritten.
And for the first time since awakening in the past…
Obito felt certain.
The future was already beginning to change.
Far beyond the Land of Fire, however…
The leaders of Iwagakure were preparing their response.
The next battle would not be a simple reconnaissance mission.
It would be a fight for survival.