The difference in strength was overwhelming.

Ebizo had brought several experienced Jonin. And Konoha? Apart from Minato Namikaze, an elite Jonin, their lineup included two ANBU operatives, a few Chunin, and fresh graduates from the Ninja Academy.

The disparity was stark.

At that moment, Minato Namikaze relied on his newly mastered [Flying Thunder God Technique] to hold back Ebizo. As for the rest of the Konoha ninjas, he was stretched too thin to protect them all. One by one, his comrades were being struck down by the Sand forces.

Even he had sustained numerous injuries.

Minato's brow furrowed. He couldn't continue like this. He'd be fine—thanks to Flying Thunder God, he could evade death—but the others?

Was retreat the only option?

He gritted his teeth in frustration. The grain shipment Konoha had worked hard to prepare was at risk of being destroyed. If that happened, it would take at least a week to replace it. And in the chaos of war, a week was more than enough time for the tides to turn against the Leaf.

Still, if they didn't fall back now, the entire convoy could be wiped out.

Minato, usually calm and composed, found himself cornered in a rare moment of indecision.

"...No," he muttered. "Protecting them comes first."

He exhaled sharply and shouted, "Everyone fall back! Head for the interior of the Fire Country—I'll cover the retreat!"

"Sensei! I want to fight by your side!" Obito yelled, his goggles gleaming, voice filled with reckless determination.

This was before the darkness had taken root in him—back when he still resembled Naruto: headstrong, foolish, and far too earnest.

"Move!" Kakashi barked, grabbing Obito's arm. "Don't be an idiot."

Hearing this, Rin followed suit. Kakashi, now a Chunin, understood the scale of the threat. Staying would only get them all killed.

The remaining Konoha ninja followed suit without hesitation. Unlike Obito, they weren't as reckless.

Ebizo watched their retreat but didn't pursue. Instead, he gave an order.

"Leave two behind to burn the supplies. The rest, focus on Minato Namikaze. We end him here!"

That was his true goal all along.

The Sand had been tracking this supply route for days, knowing Minato himself would eventually appear. Destroying Konoha's supplies and killing one of their most promising Jonin—two birds with one stone.

Otherwise, why would someone like him—Kazekage's elder—personally lead the attack?

With a shout, he lunged forward, and the other Sand Jonin followed, launching a barrage of deadly techniques toward Minato.

Minato was already at a disadvantage. Without [Flying Thunder God], he would've been finished long ago.

But escaping now wasn't an option. His students had just fled, and if he used his teleportation to escape, Ebizo and the others would easily catch up to them.

For the first time, he felt what the Second Hokage must have experienced—the weight of sacrifice, the pressure of leadership.

Dodging and teleporting endlessly, Minato danced on the edge of death.

Suddenly—

BANG!

A flare burst into the air, its whistle cutting through the chaos.

Three figures descended, landing in front of the battlefield.

Minato didn't recognize the masked figure leading them—clearly ANBU—but the other two he knew well: Hyuga Tokugawa and Aburame Shida, both former classmates from the Academy.

Relief flickered in his expression. "You're here. Is Lady Tsunade coming?"

Tokugawa scanned the battlefield with his activated Byakugan. Shida's stoic face remained unchanged, though the sudden release of insects from under his cloak betrayed his tension.

"There are only three of them!" Ebizo called after using his own sensory technique. "Three of you, deal with the newcomers. Everyone else—focus on Minato!"

Three Sand ninjas moved toward the reinforcements.

Just then, a faint electric hum echoed.

Before Tokugawa or Shida could react, the three Sand ninjas dropped—lifeless.

Kaito walked forward silently, his fox-like mask gleaming under the sunlight.

Neither of the others had seen him move.

Shida released more insects toward the fallen enemies, his voice unsteady, "They're...they're dead."

"I saw it… with my Byakugan!" Tokugawa stammered.

Shida's gaze returned to the battlefield. "Minato can't hold out much longer!"

"Let's move!" Tokugawa shouted, and the two joined the fray.

Though not on Minato's level, their clan techniques gave them more than enough power to stand against a Jonin.

Ebizo's expression darkened. He turned to curse the three Sand ninjas—only to realize they were already dead.

The tide had turned.

With Tokugawa and Shida joining the fight, and three Sand Jonin down, Minato's burden had eased. Only Ebizo and one more Jonin now remained near him.

Minato's eyes briefly landed on Kaito. His stance, the precision of his kill—he was no ordinary man.

Ebizo clenched his teeth, his plan unraveling before his eyes. Everything had been going perfectly... until that masked man appeared.

And now, the battlefield belonged to Konoha.

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