The Kannabi Bridge mission has been completely altered. What was originally a covert operation focused on stealth and sabotage has transformed into a semi-exposed test of survival and adaptability.
The level of danger has shifted dramatically—from the already brutal "one in ten chance of survival" to something that borders on "no chance at all." For a traveler or outsider who stumbled into this mission, this change would be nothing short of catastrophic.
But it's not just this mission—Uchiha Kai's actions have significantly altered the entire front against Iwagakure.
Originally, Konoha's performance on the Iwa front was dismal. The Leaf forces had just descended from the grueling conflict at Kikyo Pass and were given no time to recover before being ordered to hold the line in the Land of Grass against the relentless Iwa-nin.
Under such conditions, any normal shinobi force would have collapsed. Were it not for their devotion to their village and comrades back home, many would have likely broken long ago.
It's clear that Konoha's leadership, desperate for a breakthrough, sanctioned the sabotage of the Kannabi Bridge—hoping to sever Iwa's supply lines and force them into peace talks.
But things played out differently this time. Although the mission's original objective remained, the unexpected success of a joint rescue operation—spearheaded by Uchiha Kai—created havoc behind enemy lines.
Now, the Iwa forces engaged on the front are facing plunging morale and are being pushed back.
Naturally, this reversal boosted Konoha's morale. Word spread quickly through the ranks: a special operations team was striking from behind enemy lines.
Even the Konoha high command received reports—especially about Uchiha Kai. His activation of the Sharingan was relayed to Jiraiya through Namikaze Minato and swiftly reached the upper echelons of the village. It likely won't be long before the Uchiha Clan itself learns of his existence.
Even if the Uchiha elders wanted to pull Kai back, they couldn't. He was deep behind enemy lines, handling the most sensitive and critical tasks. There could be no compromise.
From the village leadership's perspective, a Three Tomoe Sharingan user like Uchiha Kai was no different than Uchiha Obito had been when he first awakened his own eyes. It would be "better" if Kai never returned from the Land of Grass—permanently eliminating a political wildcard.
Uchiha Kai didn't know the full picture, but he could guess enough. That was reason enough to continue moving forward—doing what had to be done.
They were racing against time. Delay meant death.
After Minato evacuated the wounded and non-combatants, Kai remained with Imai Kenta to clean the battlefield.
Each nation had sensory-type ninja. Their job now was to delay detection for as long as possible. But to Kenta's surprise, Uchiha Kai picked up a fallen Iwa-nin's blade and strapped it to his back.
"You use a sword?" Kenta asked, raising an eyebrow as he dug a grave.
"No," Kai answered simply, glancing at a severed head on the ground.
They didn't dare use fire-style jutsu to dispose of the bodies—too risky. Without escape jutsu, all they could do was bury the corpses the old-fashioned way.
"Then why take the sword?" Kenta frowned, growing suspicious. "Don't tell me…"
"Relax," Kai rolled his eyes. "Your swordsmanship's way too precise to just copy. Besides, do I look like I need kenjutsu?"
Kenta thought about it, then nodded. Truthfully, Kai didn't need swordsmanship.
Kai's speed—augmented by his Sharingan—made him terrifying. The visual clarity of his dōjutsu allowed him to strike vital points with perfect precision. One well-placed slash was all he needed.
So no, he didn't need refined sword skills. He only needed to be able to swing.
Still, who wouldn't want a Sharingan?
From genin to Kage-level combatants, the Sharingan remained potent at every stage. True, evolving it came with psychological risks—and some Uchiha did lose themselves—but even so, the power it offered was undeniable.
Kai glanced at Kenta, who said nothing further. He let the subject drop.
Of course, Kai would study Kenta's swordplay in secret. He had no intention of copying it outright, but having a contingency made him feel safer.
While Kenta buried the last of the dead, Kai stood back. He was still technically recovering from the last battle, and as team captain, he had the authority to stay out of the physical labor.
Although Minato was present, he wasn't part of Kai's original unit—Kai was Kenta's assigned commander.
Kenta didn't complain. He preferred Kai healthy—it made survival more likely.
Once the bodies were handled, the two departed.
With Minato's kunai marker in Kai's possession, they weren't worried about regrouping. Staying in place risked another ambush.
Sure enough, Kenta sensed Iwa-nin approaching their previous location not long after they left.
They picked up speed. About ten minutes later, Minato appeared at their side in a flash of yellow light.
"Iwa-nin's found our last location," he said, scanning the area.
"Just in time," Kai nodded. "Any news on Kakashi and the others?"
"Asuma's team is fine. The Hyūga chūnin will recover. But Kakashi… he needs to be sent back to Konoha." Minato's voice held a hint of sorrow, but he smiled slightly. "We also ran into Jiraiya-sensei. He's offering support."
"Jiraiya-sama?" Kai raised an eyebrow. That was good news.
With Jiraiya on the front, Iwa's reinforcements might be delayed. That would buy them a few precious hours.
"Oh, and Kakashi left something for you," Minato said, pulling a scroll from his pouch. "He said it's a gift."
"A gift?" Kai took the scroll, unrolling it slowly…