[Chapter Size: 1900 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 39.
...
...
"Is there something here, Minato?" Hanabi approached Minato while he stared intently at the scene before him, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
"No, I still can't see anything that could explain what happened here," Minato replied, touching the ground, trying to find any trace of a struggle or even footprints, but there was nothing.
They were in the middle of a forest between the camps and the outposts at the border, where there had been reports of Konoha ninjas disappearing. Their team had been assigned to investigate since no other team sent here had managed to find any clues so far.
The mission was simple: search for signs of the missing teams and try to uncover anything that the others might have overlooked.
"How strange... there's nothing here," Minato murmured, a bit concerned about the untouched scenery while the reports suggested people were vanishing month after month. "Well, let's continue along the route; I want to check other areas here to see if we find anything," he suggested finally.
They had already scoured the entire area. As soon as Minato called for them to move forward, Mikoto and Duy, who had been spread out in different corners, approached. Then they continued along the route.
It had been seven months since Team 7 had entered the northern border, and the investigations into the first disappearances had begun four months ago. Several teams had been sent, but all returned empty-handed.
The area in question was near Camp 6, but it also connected Camps 5 and 4, on the left side near the Land of Hot Springs. Ninjas from all these camps were disappearing. This had become such a severe problem that routes were altered to avoid the location.
However, the disappearances continued in other nearby points, with this place being central, leading everyone to believe Kumo was involved. But it seemed strange to Minato since there were almost no signs or evidence left behind. It was as if people simply vanished like ghosts. It felt as if a Kamui user was taking them, but Minato knew that shouldn't be possible, though he had another suspicion in mind.
"What do you think this is?" Mikoto asked Minato as they stood in another area with the same result.
"I don't know..." Minato replied in a somber tone while opening the report once again before him. It listed all the disappearances that had occurred. He examined the list of names. There were people from various origins, but one specific detail caught his attention: many members of the Uchiha clan were among the missing. It was the clan with the highest number of missing members by far—at least 32 of them. Although they only accounted for one-fifth of the total, it was highly suspicious.
Minato's eyes naturally fell to the ground. He tried to process what could cause something like this. No matter how skilled a ninja was at infiltration, it was nearly impossible to enter without leaving any trace. Using his Haki, Minato didn't sense anything.
Even though Camp 4 was nearby, explaining the high number of Uchiha among the missing, Minato began to consider that the other disappearances from different camps might be distractions or a smokescreen for targeted captures.
'So... is Madara involved?' Minato thought, pondering his hypotheses.
If Zetsu was indeed capturing Uchiha and other ninjas, this was a bigger problem than he had imagined. Even with his mastery of Observation Haki, Minato wouldn't be able to handle something so stealthy. Zetsu could easily camouflage himself with nature. Only Naruto, with his ability to sense emotions, could identify him clearly. Minato's Haki could potentially do it if it were stronger, but he wasn't at that level yet. That was why he hadn't wanted to get involved with Nagato—he knew he couldn't protect him from Zetsus.
"What should we do, then, Minato?" Mikoto asked again, watching him as he studied the scroll. He sighed and put it away.
"Let's return to the camp and submit our report," he replied finally, as there was nothing more they could do at that moment.
However, just as they were about to return and leap through the trees, all four of them stopped. A team appeared, moving quickly among the trees, heading directly toward them, and landing in front of them.
Minato couldn't help but frown as he saw who was there. The person leading the group didn't even try to hide his intentions. His eyes glowed with the activated Sharingan, staring directly at Minato.
"You..." Mikoto murmured, stepping closer to Minato, fully aware of what this could mean.
"Namikaze Minato!" A voice filled with anger echoed from the other side. The person spoke with intensity, his red eyes radiating a clear intent to confront Minato.
"Uchiha Fugaku," Minato said, recognizing the future patriarch of the Uchiha clan standing before him. He didn't seem pleased to hear his name spoken. Minato could imagine why. The other Uchiha with him also had their Sharingans activated, each one of them looking equally furious.
"Why are they acting like this?" Duy asked, suspicion evident in his voice, while Mikoto and Hanabi, noticing the tense situation, began moving into combat stances.
"Minato Namikaze, you..." Fugaku Uchiha repeated, continuing, "you dare to disrespect our clan? We've heard that you intend to take the clan leader's daughter and challenge us."
He spoke as Minato narrowed his eyes. "It's not a lie. Mikoto will be my wife, and I challenge the Uchiha clan to try and take her from me," he stated openly, his tone firm.
Hanabi and Duy were surprised by this declaration. Meanwhile, Fugaku looked as though he wanted to kill Minato with his eyes alone. It was a significant humiliation for him.
A week ago, Fugaku had discovered that Mikoto might no longer marry him. This news left him stunned—he needed that position to solidify his status as the future clan leader. With the current patriarch growing old and soon to become an elder, Fugaku, being the strongest and the favorite, seemed poised to take over. However, Mazu Uchiha had revealed that the engagement contract with Mikoto might not be upheld since she declared she would marry someone else. She had even said she would fight anyone to prove her choice.
Upon learning that a team from Camp 6, including Mikoto's Team 7, had come to investigate, Fugaku gathered a group to confront them, finding them in the middle of the forest.
It didn't seem like the most civilized approach, but this was the Uchiha clan and the ninja world. Fugaku intended to take what he wanted by force, if necessary, even if it meant fighting a substantial number of opponents.
"What did you say? You dare humiliate me like this?!" Fugaku shouted at him.
"That's not true! We never had any engagement to begin with for you to claim he's stealing me from you!" Mikoto exclaimed, stepping beside Minato and activating her Sharingan.
"Mikoto, do you even understand what you're doing?!" Fugaku yelled at her, his anger now directed at Mikoto as well. "Do you really intend to abandon the Uchiha name and marry someone outside the clan? This is unacceptable! Your father cannot be serious!"
"I will choose who I want to be with..." Mikoto said, closing her eyes and activating a stronger Sharingan almost unconsciously. But a hand stopped her.
"Stop it," Minato said firmly, looking at her. She glanced at him with her three-tomoe Sharingan and nodded, realizing she was being impulsive.
Minato let Mikoto step back and turned to face Fugaku. "Then prove you're stronger than me, Fugaku Uchiha. All of you can come at me at once," Minato said, stepping forward. The Uchiha didn't seem intimidated, watching as Minato distanced himself slightly from his group.
"Defeating you here in the middle of nowhere is a waste of time," Fugaku said. "I challenge you to a fight after this war, Minato Namikaze. I challenge you to face me in front of the entire Uchiha clan. Do you think you're special just because you have S-rank jutsu and are called a war hero?" He sneered with a tone of anger.
"That's not a bad idea. Very well, I accept your challenge, Fugaku. I'll be waiting for this fight," Minato said calmly. Though he was ready to act if Fugaku made an aggressive move, he couldn't deny that Fugaku's proposal was better. It would give Minato a chance to end any opposition from the clan regarding Mikoto being with him.
"As soon as the war ends, you'll receive the challenge," Fugaku said, the only words he offered before turning and leaping into the trees, heading back to Camp 4.
This wasn't even about Mikoto anymore, from Fugaku's point of view. He felt humiliated and wanted to humiliate Minato in return. He sought to prove his worth as a leader and put an end to anyone insulting the most powerful clan in Konoha.
"What was that...?" Duy murmured, unable to do anything but listen to everything that had transpired.
"Family troubles," Minato commented. Though it seemed like a joke, his tone remained neutral.
"Thank you," Mikoto murmured, and Minato turned to her with a smile.
"It's fine. You know this was inevitable, so I'll face him in front of all the Uchiha," Minato said.
"Now, let's get going," Minato added, signaling everyone to follow. They nodded and leaped into the trees, returning to Camp 6. Duy still had a doubtful expression, while Hanabi cast a knowing glance at Mikoto and Minato.
As they left the area, silence returned. Even the animals seemed to avoid the place, leaving it eerily quiet.
In one of the trees, a white figure emerged, observing where the two groups had departed. "Looks like they got away..." White Zetsu said in a disappointed tone.
Other Zetsus began to appear near him, half of their bodies merging with the ground. "Yeah... we gathered so many of us, and in the end, they just left... Black Zetsu isn't going to be very happy we failed the mission," they began to murmur.
"Anyway, let's head back. We need to report what happened... It's been so dull around here lately since the Konoha ninjas have become so cautious," the one in the tree said, retreating into it. The others sank back into the earth, leaving the area completely empty once again.
Elsewhere, deep underground, while the Zetsus traveled through the soil, a two-toned Zetsu was working with a jar filled with liquid. Inside the jar were two pairs of Sharingan eyes. Carefully, he placed them on a shelf lined with other eyes.
"Zetsu." An old voice called out, and the Zetsus turned to the man seated near them. He was connected to a strange flower by a cable—none other than Uchiha Madara himself.
"Yes, Madara," White Zetsu answered in his usual cheerful tone.
"How is our target?" Madara asked, his gaze fixed on the two-toned Zetsu.
"He's very excited!" White Zetsu responded playfully.
"The Uchiha boy is showing interest... I am speaking to him," Black Zetsu's ominous voice replied, sending a chill through the atmosphere.
"I see... I want you to bring him to me as soon as he accepts our proposal," Madara said, his commanding tone leaving no room for argument.
The Zetsus nodded, departing the area while Madara remained, waiting patiently for an heir who could be corrupted and used to advance his plan until he could be revived by the Rinnegan.
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