SWNOVELXO Chapter 43: Mission complete.
While Kakashi and I were dealing with the remaining enemies, Minato-sensei was already fully engaged in his fight with Kandachi.
Kandachi had thrown everything he had at Minato—Water Release jutsu, the Conch King's needle barrages, and tongue whips—all executed with brutal precision. Minato weaved between them effortlessly, marking teleportation seals on nearby surfaces mid-movement, countering with Wind Release and impossible dodges.
Then it happened.
Kandachi summoned a massive Water Tornado—his strongest move yet.
But Minato didn't teleport this time.
Instead, he raised his hand.
**"Lightning Release: Thunderbolt!"**
A blinding bolt of lightning surged from his palm, tearing through the tornado like it was paper. The whole thing disintegrated in a burst of steam.
Caught off guard by Minato's Thunder Release, Kandachi was momentarily paralyzed.
He tried to command the Conch King to attack, but Minato had already vanished.
He teleported right beside him—using the seal he'd managed to place earlier during their exchange.
Kandachi recovered just enough to raise a Water Barrier , but Minato was ready.
His lightning-infused kunai sliced through the barrier like it wasn't even there.
And then—
**"Rasengan!"**
Minato's left hand shot forward, and the swirling chakra sphere slammed into Kandachi's gut.
*BOOM.*
Kandachi was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth. His summon vanished in a puff of smoke—unable to be maintained.
Minato stood there, calm amidst the fading mist, gripping Kandachi by the neck and with a snap.
died.
The fight was over.
---
(Present time)
While Minato held the broken commander, I sensed our surroundings—checking for any lingering threats. He noticed too and blinked at how things had shifted. He hadn't seen our side of the battle; he'd been focused entirely on Kandachi.
In a flash, he threw away the corpse of kandachi and teleported beside Kakashi and me.
"Is the target safe?"
I nodded. "Yes. I healed him. He's just unconscious—nothing serious."
Minato's eyes scanned the battlefield. "How did you defeat all of them?"
Before I could answer, Kakashi explained everything—our ambush, the trap, my **Wood Release**, and how I had neutralized nearly the entire force.
Minato looked stunned for a moment, then smiled. "You really are a Senju."
I could see the pride in both his and Kakashi's eyes. It meant something—this kind of trust. I had always known they were good people. Not like Danzo. If Danzo had known about my Wood Release before I manipulated him, he would've turned Konoha upside down to control or eliminate me. And Orochimaru? He'd have dissected me without a second thought.
But these two—my teammates—they only saw strength and loyalty.
For the first time, I felt like there were others—besides Tsunade—whom I could truly rely on.
Afterward, we moved toward the last two surviving Special Jonin. Only their heads stuck out of the ground—sealed and bound by my roots. The rest of their bodies were completely buried.
They had recovered from their initial shock and sat quietly, showing no resistance. Veterans. They had probably done hundreds of missions and stared death in the face more than once.
Minato examined them. "If they had suicide poison, they'd have used it by now. They thought they were going to win. By the time they realized they weren't—it was already too late."
He asked them some basic questions, but they remained silent.
"Then we rest," Minato said. "It's already night."
He started cleaning the area, but I stopped him and used Wood and Earth Release to bury the corpses and erase every trace of the battle.
Even Minato looked impressed.
We set up camp nearby. The daimyo's son woke up not long after. Surprisingly, he was humble and respectful—far from the bratty noble I had expected. Trauma changes people, I guess.
We gave him a separate tent to rest in.
Later, Minato, Kakashi, and I sat around a small fire. We chatted briefly before heading to our own tents.
The two surviving Rain shinobi remained buried, their chakra completely suppressed. They showed no signs of escape.
---
By morning, we had packed up and were ready to move.
Minato approached the two bound jonin and gave them one last chance.
"Only one of you needs to talk. The other dies. I'll count to three."
**Three.
**Two—
**O—
"I'll talk!" one of them shouted quickly.
At the same time, I pulled the other's body deeper into the earth, killing him instantly.
The survivor looked terrified but relieved.
Minato stepped forward. "Why did you kidnap the daimyo's son?"
"To frame the Sand Village," the man said. "We were ordered to kill you too and leave behind false evidence. Hanzo made a deal with the Hidden Stone to pit Konoha and Suna against each other."
I frowned. So that's what this was about.
Maybe the ambush I pulled on those Stone shinobi had pushed them too far. Honestly, though—I didn't care.
Their little plot had failed.
Minato asked a few more questions. When it was done, he gave the man a swift death—clean, silent.
He looked at me and gave a small nod.
I understood.
I pulled the man's corpse and severed head into the earth.
Cleanup: complete.
---
And with that, the mission resumed.
Minato, Kakashi, Ikkuyu (the daimyo's son), and I set off toward the capital of the Land of Fire to return the boy home.
Escort duty—almost complete.
But deep down…
I knew this wasn't the end.
Not even close.
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