Naruto: Puppet Master Undercover in Konoha

Shindai's puppet Kannazuki has now been successfully created.

Kushina Uzumaki asked, "So your puppet creation is finally completed. Are you ready to meet up with Kakashi and the others?"

At the thought of interrupting his peaceful life in Konoha and going off to war, Shindai was a hundred percent unwilling, so he replied half-heartedly, "I've been exhausted for so long. I should at least rest for a few days, right? After all, Kakashi's mission usually doesn't directly involve combat. Besides, both Kakashi and Obito are pretty strong now, with Rin supporting them. Whether I'm there or not makes no difference, so I'll go once I've rested enough."

Kushina pursed her lips and said, "You've really done exactly what Minato predicted. Just as he guessed."

Shindai looked puzzled, "Huh? What do you mean?"

Kushina explained, "Before Minato left to carry out his mission, he told me that once your puppet was finished, you'd probably be reluctant to leave and make various excuses to stay in Konoha. Therefore, Minato instructed me that once your puppet was ready, I should inform The Third, and force you to join Kakashi and the others."

Shindai's expression gradually turned incredulous, "Lord Minato's being way too harsh! How could he do this?! That's completely unreasonable!"

Kushina coughed slightly and defended Minato Namikaze, saying, "Hey, how can you talk about him like that? We're currently in wartime, after all, and you're now a proud Genin of Konoha. It was specially arranged by Lord Minato with The Third that you were allowed to comfortably conduct research at home.

Otherwise, during wartime, every ninja must obey orders and head to the battlefield immediately. Who would let you live so comfortably doing research here? Also, Obito and the others have been waiting for your return all along. How can you bear to keep them hoping and waiting for you to fight side by side while you're avoiding things here in Konoha?"

Shindai muttered softly, "What's so glorious about being a Genin anyway? Plus, I'm not really avoiding anything—I just want to rest properly for a bit. Alright, alright, I'll go then. Sister Kushina, what's the current situation in the ninja world now?"

It had already been about two months since he last came to Konoha from Grass Country, and Shindai guessed that the current situation must have changed somewhat.

Kushina's expression turned serious, "The situation in the ninja world is changing day by day. Previously, I heard that Lord Minato had several confrontations in Rice Country with A from Kumogakure and B, the newly appointed Eight-Tails Jinchuriki..."

Shindai was surprised, "Isn't Kumogakure locked in fierce battle with Iwagakure? Why are they fighting against Lord Minato now too?"

Kushina shrugged her shoulders, "Who knows? According to what I've heard, it seems that a Cloud Ninja looted many supplies from Konoha, which is why Minato was sent there. Then, because Cloud Ninja couldn't handle Minato, Kumogakure had no choice but to dispatch A and the Jinchuriki. However, Kumogakure has now almost completely withdrawn from this war."

Shindai asked, puzzled, "How did that happen?"

"Why did Kumogakure nearly pull out of this war?"

Kushina Uzumaki explained, "The Third Raikage of Kumogakure died. It's said that he led a group of ninja in an attempt to launch a surprise attack on Iwagakure, but they were discovered. The Third Raikage and his unit were ambushed by over ten thousand Rock ninjas.

To allow his comrades to escape, the Third Raikage fought alone to distract the enemy. He battled nonstop for three full days and nights to give his teammates time to escape, until he finally died from exhaustion.

Because of this incident, morale in Kumogakure suffered a major blow. They launched a furious counterattack against Iwagakure seeking revenge, but such hate-driven fighting couldn't last long. Soon enough, the higher-ups in Kumogakure began recalling Cloud Ninja stationed outside—they seemed ready to withdraw from this war."

Shindai slightly opened his mouth. He knew the situation would definitely change, but didn't expect it to change so drastically—the Third Raikage had actually died outright.

Curious, Shindai asked, "By the way, was there really as many as ten thousand Rock ninjas?"

Kushina scoffed, "How could that be? That number must've been exaggerated. Having several thousand would already be impressive enough."

Kushina continued, "Iwagakure also suffered greatly because of this incident and became much more cautious. I heard they no longer dare to confront us head-on at the battlefield, avoiding fights whenever possible. But most likely, they're regrouping and rebuilding their forces and could launch an offensive against Konoha at any moment.

Right now, what troubles Konoha the most are Sunagakure and Kirigakure. Originally, they were fighting each other chaotically in the Tea Country, but their battle gradually spilled into our Land of Fire. Therefore, we Konoha ninja had no choice but to get dragged into their messy conflict.

According to analysis, this war might end in as quickly as one year."

Shindai paused, reflecting on what she'd said.

Indeed, as Kushina described, the war probably would end within a year.

Because Kakashi would soon turn twelve.

When Kakashi turns twelve, he will attain the rank of true Jonin. After becoming a Jonin, during the Kannabi Bridge Battle, Kakashi will implant Obito's Sharingan eye. Later, Rin Nohara will become the Three-Tails Jinchuriki and return to Konoha with intentions to destroy it, only to be eventually stopped by Kakashi.

Ultimately, Konoha appears to have repelled an enemy right at its gates, and following that battle, the Third Great Ninja War will all but come to an end.

Looking strangely at Kushina Uzumaki, Shindai said, "Wait, something doesn't add up. You've been staying in Konoha all along—how do you know so much about the battlefield developments?"

Kushina laughed uncomfortably, "You caught me. Actually, Minato occasionally sends me messages; he updates me about the situation sometimes, so I know a bit about what's going on."

"Okay then."

Shindai's expression turned solemn. His heart felt anything but joy at the prospect of the war ending. Naturally, this was due to Obito and others.

Obito, Rin Nohara, and Kakashi are currently his closest friends.

Shindai truly didn't want Obito to become that Masked Man who had donned a mask, abandoned himself, and lived in darkness. He preferred the awkward, cheeky Obito he knew.

He also didn't want Rin Nohara, who was so kind and always treated him well, to become a sacrifice—a tool used to push Obito into darkness.

Likewise, he didn't wish for Kakashi to bear the crushing loss of both Obito and Rin Nohara one after another, suffering torment both physically and mentally.

As a close friend, Shindai didn't want to see them suffering, plunging into endless darkness.

In truth, as long as Obito could be saved, those tragic consequences might never unfold.

But... should things really be changed?

The reason Shindai wanted to alter Pakura's future was simply because she wasn't especially significant in the grand scheme of things.

Yet whether it was Kakashi, Obito, or Rin Nohara, they were all crucially important.

What if changing the future changed everything completely?

One of Shindai's sources of security came from understanding the future.

Although these memories had gradually faded, he still had a general sense of how things would unfold.

If things changed, that sense of safety would vanish.

Furthermore, if the future turned out better, it could work out—but what if it got even worse instead?

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