Late Autumn, 49th Year of Konoha.
Although the flames of the Third Great Ninja War, which had raged for three years, were still flickering in various places, everyone could feel that this catastrophe, which had swept across the entire Ninja World, had reached the brink of exhaustion, like the cicadas of autumn.
The Five Great Nations were drained and their resources depleted, all seeking a dignified way to end this war of attrition.
And the final wedge to end this great war was driven into the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth, at a place called Kannabi.
There, stood a bridge.
Kannabi Bridge was not a magnificent structure, but it was the most critical channel for Iwagakure to transport supplies and troops to the main Konoha forces located within the Land of Grass.
Cutting it off was equivalent to strangling the throat of the Iwagakure frontline troops.
Konoha's high command, specifically the Anbu under Danzo Shimura, had precisely captured this strategic point, and an extremely dangerous and important S-rank mission was issued: completely destroy Kannabi Bridge.
The executors of the mission were the most dazzling geniuses of Konoha's new generation.
The team leader was the Jonin Minato Namikaze, the "yellow flash" who was renowned throughout the Ninja World and struck fear into the hearts of enemies.
The team members were Kakashi Hatake, who had been promoted to Jonin at the tender age of twelve and had inherited the swordsmanship and prestige of "Konoha's White Fang," as well as the Uchiha Clan's Genius youth—Uchiha Obito (two-tomoe Sharingan) and the Medical Ninja Rin Nohara.
At the beginning of the battle, Minato Namikaze used his unfathomable Flying Thunder God Technique to traverse the battlefield like a true flash, single-handedly destroying almost all of Iwagakure's frontline outposts and patrol units, creating an excellent opportunity for Kakashi's team to infiltrate.
He scattered his iconic specially made Kunai across the battlefield; every golden flash was accompanied by the fall of an Iwagakure Ninja.
His immense strength and mobility firmly captured the attention of the Iwagakure main force, setting the stage for his Disciples' actions.
However, the real cruel test fell upon Kakashi's team.
The infiltration process was not smooth sailing; they encountered an ambush by Iwagakure.
During the battle, in order to save Uchiha Obito, Kakashi's left eye was burned and blinded by a Stone Hidden Elite Jonin.
Young Uchiha Obito witnessed his companion get injured for him, and the power of the Uchiha Clan within him erupted under the extreme emotional stimulation, and his two-tomoe Sharingan suddenly awakened!
Relying on this newfound power, he actually turned the tables and killed the Stone Hidden Elite Jonin who had severely injured Kakashi, saving Kakashi.
But misfortune followed closely.
Just as they were about to reach their target, a greater crisis descended.
A top-tier Earth Style expert from Iwagakure, the Elite Jonin Mahiru, who could use the terrifying Ninjutsu "Rock Fist Technique" and "Earth Mountain Technique," along with a large number of Iwagakure reinforcements, arrived, forcing Kakashi's team into a desperate situation.
A fierce breakout battle erupted.
In order to cover his companions and to uphold his own Ninja Way, Uchiha Obito, who had always been called a "failure" but cared more about his companions than anyone else, resolutely chose to stay behind.
In the narrow cave passage, he faced the surging Iwagakure army head-on.
"Those who break the rules and abandon their companions are what we call trash!"
"But those who do not value their companions are worse than trash!"
Uchiha Obito roared, his newly awakened Sharingan spinning wildly as he tried his best to resist the enemy's attack.
However, the gap in strength and the disadvantage of the terrain were an insurmountable chasm.
The Iwagakure Jonin Mahiru unleashed a powerful Earth Style, triggering a massive cave-in...
Rumble—!
Huge rocks poured down mercilessly, instantly engulfing the figure of the young Uchiha Obito, leaving only the last half of his cry to Rin, and the ordinary Ninja tool pouch that Kakashi had held in his hand at the critical moment—a gift Kakashi had given him to celebrate his promotion to Jonin.
"Obito!!!" The wails of Kakashi and Rin were drowned out by the roar of the rocks.
The surviving Kakashi and Rin, carrying endless grief and the Sharingan entrusted to them by Uchiha Obito before his death (Kakashi's injured left eye was transplanted with Uchiha Obito's Sharingan), and bearing the will and last wish of their companion, broke through numerous obstacles and finally successfully arrived at Kannabi Bridge.
Severely injured and exhausted both physically and mentally, Kakashi, with Rin's assistance, unleashed his final potential.
Combining the power of the White Fang's short blade with his newly acquired Sharingan, he arduously killed the remaining Iwagakure Jonin Kakkou, and finally, exhausting all his Chakra, released the powerful Lightning Release: Chidori, completely destroying the bridge foundation of Kannabi Bridge!
A huge explosion soared into the sky, symbolizing the severance of the Iwagakure supply line and declaring the achievement of Konoha's strategic intent.
Almost at the same time, Minato Namikaze, having completed his interception mission, arrived just in time like a golden flash, saving the exhausted Kakashi and Rin.
In the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, Konoha won a pyrrhic victory.
They paid a heavy price: the death of Uchiha Obito (as believed at the time), Kakashi being severely injured and having a Sharingan transplanted, and Rin suffering physical and mental trauma.
But the strategic goal was perfectly realized: the Iwagakure frontline troops lost their most important supply channel, their morale collapsed, and they retreated steadily in subsequent battles, eventually having to propose peace talks to Konoha.
The news spread like it had grown wings, quickly reaching every corner of the Ninja World.
Hidden Sand Village, Kazekages Office.
When this detailed intelligence report on the Battle of Kannabi Bridge was presented by the Anbu, the upper echelons including Rasa, Chiyo, and Ebizō fell silent.
You could hear a pin drop in the office, with only the wailing of the wind and sand outside.
After a long time, Ebizō slowly spoke, his voice dry: "Kannabi Bridge has been destroyed... Iwagakure, has lost."
Elder Chiyo closed her eyes, as if she could see the scene of the bridge collapsing, and could feel the tragedy and determination of that battle.
"Minato Namikaze... and that son of the White Fang... has Konoha's new generation grown to such a level..."
Rasa's fingers tapped the table unconsciously, his expression grave.
The fall of Kannabi Bridge meant that the Third Great Ninja War, which had lasted for three years, had finally reached its ultimate turning point.
The biggest troublemaker, Iwagakure, was forced to withdraw.
Kumogakure had already been unable to continue fighting after the Third Raikage died in battle and the ab combination was restrained by Minato Namikaze.
Kirigakure had been repelled by Sunagakure at East Sea Bay...
All the flames of war, at this moment, lost the fuel to continue burning.
"It's over..." Rasa said in a low voice, his tone impossible to tell if it was relief or regret.
Lasting three years, sweeping across the entire Ninja World, and dragging the Five Great Nations and countless small nations into the abyss, the Third Great Ninja War, with the collapse of Kannabi Bridge and the defeat of Iwagakure, finally drew a bloody and weary period.
All major local wars ceased, and the Ninja World ushered in a short and fragile period of peace.
However, everyone knew that this was not eternal peace.
The seeds of hatred had long been buried deep, the struggle for resources had never ceased, and the balance of power remained subtle.
This truce was merely a short respite after the storm, a prelude to the next, greater storm to come.
But for Sunagakure, which had just experienced a crushing defeat and barely won a defensive battle, this time of respite was precious.