Chapter 4

Rhino Rock was a behemoth of a stone. Towering several hundreds of meters, casting an even more humongous shadow. Rhino Rock was perfectly carved into a curved horn, like a blade erupting from the ground attempting to strike the heavens. Theories arose about whether the rock was a natural occurrence or man-made, yet the answer is still unknown. The mystery is part of its charm. Minato was cautious and a little unsettled, because Rhino Rock was, in fact, quite a popular tourist attraction for the villagers in the Land of Grass. There were many tourists at the rock at this very moment, marvelling at the wonder of the giant stone. However, Minato seemed to be drawing chatter and glances towards himself. After all, it was quite rare to be in the presence of the Leaf Villages very own Yellow Flash. Some people didn't know where to look, turning from the Rhino Rock to Minato. That made Minato even more suspicious. The Hidden Stone must be moving the scroll out in the public eye. Not that the public would know the contents of the scroll or its severity in having it fall into enemy hands.
Hiding in plain sight.
There weren't any stone shinobi around now. Not ruling out that they might return, Minato didn't want to fight in an area surrounded by civilians, but he didn't think the stone ninja would share that same sentiment.

"There's a lot of people here just to see a giant rock." Obito pointed out.

"It is a landmark, besides, I think it's quite astonishing really, to see the power of mother nature," Rin added.

"Focus on the mission," Kakashi said

Kakashi and Obito had kept speaking to each other at the absolute minimum. Barely talking at all after the incident with the three stone ninja.

"Come on you three, this way," Minato called out. As they walked from the rock, they came to a seating area where other travellers had sat down to rest. Obito sat down and watched as two kids were playing ninja on the grass, pretending to fight and making hand signs. Obito smiled at the children's innocents. Immediately he thought back to the fight earlier. Kakashi had always said that Obito's only real talent came from the power of his Sharingan. He hated that Kakashi said that. Yet, he also hated how right he was. Without the Sharingan, Obito would be struggling a lot more on this mission. Which was why Obito tried not to use in every fight. He wanted to show Kakashi and his whole team that he could be powerful and skilful without the need to rely on the Sharingan.
That had almost got Kakashi killed.
Despite what Obito says and shows, he did feel bad it.
It's not just what Kakashi said either. Obito still remembered the day that he was told he would be the student of the legendary Yellow Flash of the Leaf, he could barely contain his excitement. A part of Obito always feels invincible and indestructible whenever he is with his sensei. No matter what Obito does wrong or what he doesn't do, he never felt any danger when with his sensei. Although Minato had saved Kakashi, he knew that was no way to think. He couldn't rely on his sensei being there forever.
Obito had to grow into his own.
He is also a shinobi of the Leaf.
Obito looked at Kakashi.

"What?" Kakashi asked.

"N…nothing," Obito replied.

Obito looked away from Kakashi and scanned the park. He saw a couple making out near a group of tree trunks. Immediately his mind thought of himself and Rin. He blushed and pushed the thought out.
Something else, however, did catch his eye. On the tree where the couple was kissing was an arrow that had been carved into the wall. At the same time, even with all the background noise of people speaking and laughing he head another child speak.

"Mummy, what does that arrow on the tree mean?" Obito looked at the spot where the child was looking and saw another arrow.

"Obito, what are you staring at?" Minato asked.

"Sensei, it might be nothing, but look at that." Obito pointed to the tree. "There's another one over there."

Minato stood up and walked over to the kissing couple and stared right at them. They stopped immediately.

"Dude, do you mind?" The boyfriend said harshly.

"Oh my god, you're the Yellow Flash." The girlfriend said.

"Sorry about this, guys, but could I take over this spot?"

"Of course, we were just leaving. Come on," The girlfriend yanked her partner with her. "He is so dreamy, those eyes."

"I'm right here." Exclaimed the boyfriend.

Kakashi, Obito, and Rin came to their sensei's side all staring at the carved arrow.

"Look there's more," Obito pointed out. More trees further out also had arrows carved into them. Minato went to the other tree to look at the arrow then returned to his team.

"We've got groups of Stone ninja tracking down other groups, passing the scroll from one team to another. Now we have arrows carved into trees showing directions. The other tree has the same thing and there are more arrows that lead further into the forest. It's very coincidental. It looks like the enemy has split up into two different directions." Minato explained.

"It could be a trap," Kakashi said.

"Even so, I think this is too important of a lead to be dismissing." Minato looked at his students, specifically at Kakashi and Obito. "As much as I don't want to do this, I believe we're going to have to split up. I'll go alone and follow one trail. The three of you will travel together and follow the other trail. If there's a chance that a group that has the scroll is on one of these paths, we must take the chance to apprehend them. Even if it means splitting up."

"I will obey your orders sensei," Kakashi said.

"So will I," said Obito.

"Good, I think it's obvious, but I will say it again since Kakashi is a Jonin he will be team captain."

"Yes, sir. I won't let you down."

"One more thing before we leave. This mission is extremely important. If the enemy gets that scroll back to their village they could learn all the secrets of our villages clans, including the Uchiha's Sharingan. If they had that information, it would devastate our village. Especially if the Hidden Stone shared that information with other villages. That being said, I would rather lose the scroll then lose the three of you."

"Sensei!?" Kakashi started to say.

"Listen to me," Minato cut him off, "Stay together, stay vigilant, plan ahead and plan smart. If you encounter the enemy don't hold back. Kakashi, Obito, despite your differences I know that you care for one another, work together, fight together. You're all stronger as a team then you are apart. Kakashi, use your intellect and your knowledge of your teammate's abilities to gain the best advantage you can. Obito, do not be afraid to show your true power. You are an Uchiha, be proud of it, if you do you'll become an opponent that enemies will fear. Embrace that. Is that clear."

"Yes sensei." Kakashi and Obito said it in unison.

Minato smiled, "Rin, keep the boys safe will you."

"Of course, sensei."

Minato extended his arm in front of his team. Kakashi, Obito, and Rin placed their hands on Minato's, one hand on top of the other.

"Good luck, team," Minato said.

"Same to you, sensei," said his three students.

Team Minato split up. They began following their own individual trails.

(Somewhere near the border of the Land of Grass)

It was night, darkness surrounded the three stone ninja, the only light coming from a small campfire burning dimly. Sayatsuchi sat on a log in front of the flames, warming her hands. It offered little comfort as her bones shivered in the night's cold. Hamatsuchi and Ametsuchi sat close to her, soaking in as much as the fire's warmth they could.

"Damn, wish we could make a bigger fire," Ametsuchi said.

"You know why we can't," replied Sayatsuchi.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Bigger fire means more attention." Ametsuchi's eagle summon flew down from the black sky. He could hear the bird's wing beat and readied his arm out as a landing pad.
The eagle landed on his master's arm.
Ametsuchi took a piece of paper that was strapped to his eagle's leg then told his summon to go back out into the night sky and keep a sharp eye out. The eagle ascended, eventually vanishing into the sky.

"Looks like it's our time to shine. The scroll will be given to us within the next ten minutes." Ametsuchi told his team. His two teammates said nothing and kept waiting.

Around ten minutes later a bush started to ruffle. A huge, bulky man wearing a standard stone ninja outfit and a bandana covering his head brushed past the bush and stood in front of Sayatsuchi and her two comrades.

"Right on time," Ametsuchi said.

"I wasn't followed, I made sure." The newcomer said.

"You have the scroll?" asked Sayatsuchi. The newly arrived ninja placed his hand into his back pocket and took out a scroll. Sayatsuchi stood up and took the scroll off the man.
"This whole mission has led up to this point. We're the last group the closest to the border but we're not close to the village. We'll make our move now." Sayatsuchi said.
She turned and handed the scroll to Ametsuchi. "You're our best sensory type ninja out here, you'll take the scroll back to the village alone, you can sense enemies the furthest away which means it should be easy for you to take alternate routes and remain undetected. As planned Hamatsuchi and I, along with you." She faced the bulky ninja, "Will regroup with the other groups and form a miniature army to keep the enemy away from you as long as possible. I don't need to tell you how important this mission is, so don't screw up, Ametsuchi."

"Don't worry about me, this war is now practically won with this information in our hands." Ametsuchi boasted. "Alright, I'm done here, I'll start heading back to the village, I will see you all there." Ametsuchi leaped into the dark night, making his way back to his village.

"We still have another three hours before we regroup with the others. Sit down, Daizo, eat something, you'll need your strength." Sayatsuchi said.

"Is that the new guy everyone keeps talking about?" Daizo questioned.

"Yep, that's him, doesn't offer much of a conversation."

Hamatsuchi smiled at that remark.

"They say his strong though."

"I hope so. We are going to need that strength."

Daizo sat down on a log next to Sayatsuchi with a bowl of soup, chopped carrots and onions swimming around in the steaming broth.

"I take it you've heard the rumours going around?" Daizo asked.

"The Leaf has sent the legendary Yellow Flash after us. His avoided every trap we've set up and taken out a squad. But he is still one man, as skilled as they say he is, I doubt he can take on an entire squadron by himself."

"He's got a team with him."

"Two Chunin and a Jonin. I've dealt with stronger and larger groups."

Taking all three stone ninja by surprise. A loud Boom sounded off in the distance followed by a small earthquake. The stone ninja turned to face the source of the sound.

"There's no way the leaf ninja could be this far up," Sayatsuchi said incredulously. "You two let's go." Sayatsuchi formed the snake hand sign, the earth beneath the bonfire separated. The bonfire fell into the underground abyss, the earth then reformed back into solid ground. Erasing the evidence. The three stone ninja jumped into the jungle.

(Somewhere in the Hidden Leaf Village)

Danzo sat at his desk, waiting. Dimly lit candles decorating the corners of the table. A knock came at his door.

"Enter!" Called out Danzo. The door opened. The Root member who wore the spider mask entered the room followed by the Hyuga and Uchiha that he had saved with his teammates. Danzo sat up and moved to the front of his desk. "Hoza Hyuga, Enshi Uchiha, it is good to see you two doing so well. I am glad that the two of you weren't badly injured during your capture."

Hoza and Enshi stood in front of Danzo but then both fell to one knee.

"Lord Danzo," Enshi said. "It is our pleasure to meet you like this, we owe you a great deal of gratitude for saving us."

"We also owe our gratitude to the ANBU members who infiltrated the cave to reach us," Hoza said, only now just realising that Spider had vanished from the room.

"Please, you shower me with too many thanks. The two of you come from powerful clans and possess powerful Kekkai Genkai, losing the two off you would be a huge loss to the village." Danzo said.

"Still if there is any way that we can return the favour and be of some assistance to you, we would like the chance to repay you," Enshi said.

"Well if you insist on repaying debts, how about this. I would like you both to join me in my ranks," Hoza and Enshi were both taken aback by the suggestion. "Imagine the good we could do for this village with you on my side. We are at war with the other Hidden Villages, I need strong capable shinobi by my side to defend it. Who better to serve the village then members of the esteemed Uchiha and Hyuga clan? Your two clans are the roots of the tree that is the Leaf Village. There is no one more fitting then you to join me." Danzo's words were like sugar, sweet to listen to but the more you got to taste the worse the ending.

Enshi spoke first, yet his mind struggled to form sentences. In the end, though he had made his decision.

"My lord, I must say you continue to surprise me, you offer us a gracious request. I owe you my life, I would be willing to serve under you. Of course, I would have to run it by my family first, but I don't see any issues rising up."

"That's excellent news Enshi. What about you Hoza?" Danzo stared at Hoza with a piercing gaze like a lion hunting for deer.

"My lord, just like Enshi I do owe you my life. However, you know that the elders of the Hyuga clan are stubborn. I am afraid that they will never allow a Hyuga to join the ranks of the ANBU. They believe that the Byakugan should stay with the clan. I am sorry, but I cannot join you."

"Do not worry yourself, Hoza, I understand," Danzo said. "Let's end this conversation for now, I'm sure the two of you would like some rest and to reunite with your families. Once again it is good to have you back."

"Thank you, Lord Danzo," Enshi said.

"Thank you, Lord Danzo," Hoza Said

Enshi and Hoza left the room closing the door behind them. Danzo sat back down behind his desk.

"Spider, Snake, Monkey," Danzo called. Spider and Snake materialized from out the shadows, while Monkey dropped down from the ceiling. "Spider and Snake you will not allow the Uchiha or Hyuga to leave the compound, throw them into the dungeon. Into the chakra suppressing cells. Monkey you will tell the families of both Enshi and Hoza that their sons died during their kidnapping. Once you're done with that bring in Inoshin Yamanaka, it is time we put him to work."

The three Root ninja all nodded in unison then disappeared.