Incident - The Red Banquet
Morning. The villagers, rising from their beds, washed up and had breakfast, mentally preparing for the workday ahead. As they left their homes, an unusual unease filled their hearts. Those who passed by the famous restaurant noticed a large hole on the second floor where a window should have been.
Ninja had cordoned off the perimeter with tape and were quietly conversing, holding mops. They wore chemical protective suits, and their white gloves had turned red.
The villagers felt tense but continued on, trying not to pay attention. However, some couldn't suppress their curiosity and tried to ask the ninja, disguised as cleaners, what had happened.
What terrified everyone was the horrible smell emanating from the building, and the faces of the ninja-cleaners were contorted with disgust. Suddenly, one of these ninja ran out of the building and collapsed to his knees. Within seconds, he vomited, and everyone who saw this felt a wave of revulsion, their faces twisting into grimaces.
Looking closer, some realized what had happened. One of the villagers pointed to the open door through which several people were carrying out bodies.
Thus, rumors of a murder began to circulate around the restaurant, but only the ninja of Tanzaku knew the truth. The villagers were forcibly dispersed, and later they learned the truth from the restaurant owner, who had hosted a banquet in honor of a noble named Nao but had gone home out of exhaustion. When he returned, he discovered the massacre. He described the situation in detail, and the information spread faster than the report sent by the head jonin to the Hokage.
In the Hokage's Office
Minato was discussing important matters with the Hokage when suddenly there was a knock on the door. The Hokage said: Come in - A masked man, indicating his affiliation with the Anbu division, entered the room. He approached the Hokage and handed him a letter.
After reading it, the Hokage narrowed his eyes. It just reached us now? - he fumed.
Minato was surprised by the Hokage's reaction. What happened? - he asked.
The Hokage handed him the letter, and as Minato read it, his eyes widened with anger, and he clenched his fist.
Minato: I can't believe it... - he said, glaring at the Anbu. The Anbu felt a wave of fear, his body seemed to grow heavier, and he fell to his knees, barely able to breathe.
Trembling with fear, the Anbu said: This information is reliable, over 60 residents of the Tanzaku district have been killed.
Hokage: Calm down, Minato. I understand your reaction, but we need to think with a clear head.
Hokage: Minato, it seems the people you saw on the Hokage Rock two days ago are connected to this massacre.
Minato: Why?
Hokage: The timing matches. The mass murder in Tanzaku and your encounter with potential enemies happened within a two-hour window.
Minato, contemplating the Hokage's words, said: You're right, but why kill innocent people?
Hokage: To be honest, these were gang leaders. They were bandits and marauders, but they had a lot of money and sponsored the Daimyo. This allowed them to avoid punishment from Konoha's shinobi. They had gathered for a celebration and were brutally slaughtered.
Minato: What are you getting at?
Hokage: We must end the war quickly, as our budget has been halved. If we don't finish the war in ten days, our provisions will run out, and people will start to starve. Then the war could be lost... The Daimyo, to avoid defeat, is ready to use the Jinchuriki.
Minato: I see... I understand. Konoha will prevail, - he said, turning to leave.
Hokage: I expected a different reaction, something like anger and rage.
Minato, hearing the Hokage's words, slowly turned his head: Don't worry, I'm thinking with a clear head right now, - he said, disappearing.
Minato stood at the top of the residence, and in his eyes, he envisioned Kushina being used as a weapon. At that moment, Minato felt pure rage.
In the evening, he returned home and had dinner with his wife, Kushina. She noticed the worry in his eyes. As they lay down to sleep, she asked him: What's wrong?
Minato smiled brightly and reassured her, hiding the turmoil and anger in his heart. He embraced his wife, and she fell asleep peacefully. Minato understood that this could be their last night together. Relishing the scent of her hair and the softness of her skin, he held her tightly and finally managed to sleep.
In the morning, he had breakfast and told Kushina he was returning to the front. She was struck with sudden worry, a chill running down her spine.
Minato's returns had become routine for her, as he was the one relaying information from the front to the Hokage, a task that took him no more than ten minutes. Thanks to the Hokage, he got to see his wife, staying for an hour or half an hour.
But today, he had stayed the entire day, unlike two days ago when he returned only for three hours in the middle of the night. A mother's or wife's heart senses impending trouble.
She felt she might never see her husband again.
She hesitated a bit but then said: Please, don't go today, - tears of sorrow streaming down her cheeks.
Minato froze, these words took him by surprise. He hadn't expected them. The spoon he was holding fell to the floor. He immediately stood up, gently embraced her, wiped her tears, and smiled, saying: Don't worry, I'll be back, - as he patted her head.
After donning his armor, Minato tied the protector of his village tightly and disappeared, reappearing in the Hidden Leaf Village's military camp. He headed straight to the command tent of the great Sannin, Orochimaru. Approaching the entrance, he asked: May I come in? - A positive response came from inside.
Entering, Minato saw Orochimaru and Shikaku Nara arranging pieces on a map spread out on the table. As Minato approached, Orochimaru spoke: You're late, - in a serious tone.
Minato: I apologize, I took the day off to spend with my wife, - he said, bowing at a 45-degree angle.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and, smiling, instantly guessed: So, we have bad news? - He knew psychology, and the fact that Minato had stayed the whole day with his wife for the first time indicated preparation for bad news. It was clear from Minato's eyes that he was ready to kill all enemies in his path.
Minato: Yes, - confirmed Minato.
After three minutes of explanation, Orochimaru and Shikaku understood how dire the situation was. They grasped Minato's state of mind, and Orochimaru encouraged him: Your fear and rage are understandable. Worry is pointless, we will think of something, - he said.
For several days, they developed strategy and tactics for the attack to crush the Hidden Stone. All this time, Minato patrolled the camp and gave orders while Orochimaru and Shikaku spent two days nonstop formulating a plan, considering all the pros and cons.
The forces were unequal: 2000 shinobi from Konoha against 5000 from Iwa. Therefore, they had to minimize losses.
Orochimaru assigned the most critical mission to Kakashi.
Under Kakashi's command were no more than ten shinobi. He selected the stealthiest and strongest from those he knew. They set out by noon, anxious, knowing the immense responsibility on their shoulders.
Penetrating deep into the shinobi skirmish territories, they moved slowly but very stealthily. Reaching the stopping point, they checked the time and realized they had arrived on time.
For their mission, over a hundred shinobi had to be sacrificed just to divert the enemy's attention. After ten minutes, Shinoichi with the Byakugan was surveying the area. Suddenly, a loud explosion was heard several kilometers away, and Kakashi knew the mission had begun. They started moving, bypassing the sentinels who rushed towards the explosion at high speed.
Hiding in the bushes, Kakashi observed the enemy's guards and, nodding to his team, initiated the attack. The bridge was guarded by four, two on each side. This made the task easier for Kakashi's squad.
A sudden attack from the bushes caught the enemy off guard. One of the guards didn't even move before his chest was pierced by the Chidori technique. Kakashi instantly threw a kunai at another shinobi, and ten sharp needles flew from the bushes. One enemy froze from Kurenai's genjutsu technique, hiding in the bushes. The Iwa shinobi was killed by the needles, but another used the Earth Wall technique and blocked Kakashi's kunai.
A nearby shinobi was knocked down by a kick from Might Guy, leaving only one enemy. Kakashi took a low stance, tensed his legs, and began forming the seals for the Chidori technique.
He covered over thirty meters in three seconds, breaking through the Earth Wall and striking the enemy's heart, killing him instantly.
It was a victory.
Kakashi's squad was elated and began securing explosive tags on the underside of the bridge. Four of them assumed the appearance of the guards, while the rest proceeded to the next bridge.
Upon reaching the second bridge, they executed the same strategy. They infiltrated so closely and quietly that the enemies were shocked by the sudden attack and were instantly killed. The tags were placed just as on the first bridge, and they began preparing for the night.
As the sun set behind the mountains and darkness fell, the bridge guards were relieved by their replacements. Kakashi, disguised as a guard, nodded at Genma standing nearby, and he nodded back.
Drawing kunai, Kakashi and Genma silently killed four shinobi before beginning their retreat. Kurenai and Asuma, along with Shinoichi and Ebisu, who had been hiding in the bushes, followed them.
Activating the explosive tags, they ran further. A massive explosion startled the birds, and the bridge, engulfed in flames, collapsed into the 50-meter-deep gorge. Kakashi changed direction and headed toward the first bridge. Soon, another explosion was heard in the distance. Now their mission was to survive the ensuing battle.
After a few minutes of running, they reached the first bridge and regrouped with the main team. However, three chunin had been killed. They were Shinoichi's students, and seeing their deaths, he fell to his knees, his mind shattered like glass, losing all sense of purpose.
Asuma tried to lift the fallen bodies, grabbing them by the collars. Analyzing the situation in seconds, Kakashi made a difficult decision.
He saw a wounded Guy, who was in shock, staring at the chunin's corpses. Realizing they had been killed by the replacement guards, Kakashi shouted: We're leaving!
Grabbing Asuma by the arms, he squeezed them: Leave them! We need to go! Take Guy, now! - he barked.
Asuma started running into the forest, slinging one of Guy's injured arms over his shoulder and dragging him along. Kakashi approached Shinoichi and tried to talk to him, but Shinoichi's hearing was muffled.
Shinoichi slowly looked into Kakashi's face and said: Live with your head held high, son of the White Fang. I've served my time, - he said, tears streaming down his face as he sat in front of his students' bodies.
They had to leave Shinoichi, who remained crying over his dead students.
Kakashi could hear clashes everywhere, the sound of metal, flesh being sliced, and jutsu explosions.
Kakashi: Faster! - Kakashi urged, leading the squad to complete the mission and hide in a cave.
They settled in the cave, breathing heavily: How did this happen? - Kakashi suddenly asked.
Guy, feeling guilt and immense sorrow, said: I hesitated and couldn't kill. They saved my life, and I let them die… I'm worthless, - he sobbed.
Everyone understood Guy's weakness; he was strong physically and spiritually, but his morals prevented him from killing.
Kakashi: Everything that happened is in the past. We completed the mission, even if we lost four, - he said quietly.
The entire responsibility for the mission's success rested on Kakashi's shoulders.
At that time, two thousand Konoha shinobi attacked the unsuspecting, hungry, and exhausted Iwa shinobi. Despite Iwa's numerical superiority, they began losing from the start of the battle.
Orochimaru himself joined the fight. Shinobi intermingled, and the positions from which they fought prevented Orochimaru from summoning his snake.
The battle was bloody and deadly. Shinobi used their jutsu against the enemies, even if allies were nearby. On a stone cliff stood Minato, his hair blowing in the wind. He observed the battlefield, assessing the situation. To win quickly, the Iwa army commander had to be killed. This was Kitsuchi, a loyal subordinate of the Tsuchikage. As commander, he fearlessly led his shinobi into battle.
Kitsuchi joined the fight as soon as the explosions were heard and the alarm bells rang, alerting everyone to the attack. The awakened shinobi rushed into battle and quickly began to die. The attack was shocking, as Konoha had taken a defensive stance and had never attacked during the war. Kitsuchi killed ten Konoha shinobi with his techniques and was about to use his strongest jutsu...
Suddenly, a sharp whistle pierced the air, continuing even amidst the battle. Something fell on Kitsuchi's head, creating a crater over three meters wide and raising a cloud of dust tens of meters high. Everyone felt an intimidating presence from the dust cloud, which frightened both Iwa and Konoha shinobi. When the dust settled, everyone saw the face of the attacker - Minato Namikaze. He grabbed Kitsuchi by the face with one hand, holding him still.
According to Orochimaru's plan, capturing or killing the commander would guarantee victory. But the Iwa shinobi did not intend to stop and continued fighting. Minato looked at Kitsuchi's smirking face, realizing his plan had failed. Clenching his fist, he struck Kitsuchi's face, shattering his nose and knocking out several teeth. But Kitsuchi did not lose consciousness and completed his technique, forming the final seal.
Kitsuchi: Earth Sandwich Technique! - he shouted, and two huge boulders emerged from the ground, crushing a hundred Konoha shinobi.
Minato was surprised; the technique was much more powerful than those used by predecessors. He was enraged, but even so, the forces had almost evened out, with nearly two thousand enemy shinobi killed.
Minato joined the battle, swiftly slashing enemies' throats, who didn't even realize what had happened.
The battle lasted ten minutes, after which the Iwa shinobi began to flee like cowards. Konoha started gathering the bodies of the dead and counting the deceased and wounded. Victory was hard-won, leaving only a thousand Konoha shinobi, while Iwa had three thousand left.
Minato's heart was warmed by the thought that this victory might protect his wife from being used as a weapon. His hands trembled with exhaustion, having killed so many people in one day. His chakra was nearly depleted, and his strength was fading.
Orochimaru approached him.
Orochimaru: Now, we just need to finish them off. The Tsuchikage is currently in his village, so everything went well, - said Orochimaru.
Minato: Thank you, - Minato bowed at a 45-degree angle, thanking Orochimaru.
Orochimaru: Now they are without food and water, and they can't escape to the Cloud or elsewhere. They have only one option left: to go to the Hidden Rain.
Minato: Won't they start plundering the peaceful villages of the Rain?
Orochimaru: Of course, they will. A hungry person will kill even their brother for food. So don't worry, when they start their looting, I'll negotiate with Hanzo the Salamander to become allies and eliminate the remaining enemies. I'm sure he will accept my terms, - said Orochimaru proudly, revealing his cunning plan and expecting a compliment.