Imai Kenta had always harbored doubts—about himself, his place on the battlefield, and especially about being placed on a team with Uchiha Kai. From the start, he seemed the weakest and most harmless among them.
But he was also painfully aware of those doubts. And Kai, sharp as ever, likely saw them too. After all, the rank of chūnin was just a title. No one survives eight years on the front lines without carrying a few scars—mental or otherwise.
Still, Kenta was confident that Kai and the others didn't fully understand the extent of what he was hiding. And now, with no allies in sight, he couldn't afford to fake it just to survive.
If he kept pretending, Uchiha Kai might not even bother recovering his body. Knowing Kai, he'd probably incinerate the corpse with a Fire Release jutsu and move on without a second thought.
"Interesting, kid," the Iwa-nin sneered, rushing forward.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" Kenta's voice was suddenly calm, composed. While sidestepping the enemy's charge, he rapidly formed the necessary hand seals. In the next instant, a great water dragon burst forth from the stream beneath the bridge.
Kenta Imai actually knew ninjutsu.
If Uchiha Kai had witnessed this, he would've been shocked—especially by Kenta's precision and speed. It was obvious this wasn't a technique he had just picked up. He had trained in secret. This didn't match Kai's image of Kenta: a civilian-born ninja with little access to advanced ninjutsu training.
The dragon surged toward the Iwa-nin. But the enemy wasn't inexperienced either. Without flinching, he adjusted his grip on his kunai and stabbed directly into the water dragon's head.
With brute force and pinpoint accuracy, the chakra-formed beast split down the middle and collapsed into harmless spray.
Still pressing the attack, the Iwa-nin darted forward again, eyes locked on Kenta.
But Kenta remained unnervingly calm. The enemy's killing intent was intense—but not enough to rattle him.
Kenta's fingers blurred through another set of seals. Suddenly, the Iwa-nin's eyes widened. Mid-charge, he leapt into the air—just in time.
A row of sharpened earth spears erupted from the ground where he'd been standing. Had he not jumped, he'd have been impaled.
Caught off guard in midair, the Iwa-nin couldn't defend. Kenta lunged, drawing his ninja blade in a flash of motion. Like lightning, his strike cut the enemy cleanly in half.
But that wasn't the end.
The moment the body hit the ground, it dissolved into smoke—a Shadow Clone.
From within the haze, a silhouette froze, unmoving.
Drip… drip…
Blood hit the ground.
As the smoke cleared, the real Iwa-nin stood frozen, disbelief in his eyes. A blade pierced through his chest, emerging from the front.
"S-Shadow Clone…?" he gasped. "When? You… you saw me?"
"I didn't," came the voice from behind.
Kenta Imai stood there, stoic, his hand still gripping the hilt of his blade.
"But I sensed you. I'm not Uchiha—I can't see chakra with a Sharingan. But your chakra signature gave you away. Did you think I repelled your first ambush by luck? You faked it well. But I could feel you."
He pulled the blade free. Blood gushed down the Iwa-nin's torso as he crumpled to the stone.
The pier was stained crimson. Kenta collapsed into a seated position, breathing heavily.
"Man… I'm exhausted," he muttered, managing a tired grin. "Can't believe I ran into one of those Camouflage Jutsu guys. Uchiha Kai's going to be furious he missed this. Knowing him, he'd probably have one-shot this guy with some overkill genjutsu or something."
He chuckled to himself. "Hell, even Aya Hyūga could've handled this one. The advantage of dōjutsu users is no joke."
After a deep breath, Kenta composed himself. The fight hadn't lasted long, but it had drained him. Mentally, more than physically.
But there was no time to rest.
His mission wasn't over. Compared to Kai or Minato-sensei, his task was simpler—yet it was just as crucial.
Kenta quickly began placing explosive tags. He was at the bottom of the bridge now, unaware of what was happening above—but the shockwaves and explosions he'd felt during the fight made it clear: it was hell up there.
"I hope Namikaze Minato is alright," he muttered. "How the hell am I supposed to get back if he's not?"
Not only Kenta Imai hoped Minato was safe—Uchiha Kai did too.
But unlike Kenta's anxiety, Kai had no real fear. He knew how strong Minato Namikaze was.
There were few shinobi who could thrive in the chaos of the Third Shinobi World War. Minato was one of them. A generational talent.
Sure, Madara and Obito might have outclassed him—but by then, those two were operating on an entirely different level. If Minato had lived longer, maybe he'd have become just as legendary as Naruto someday.
Now, facing the fully released Five-Tails, Minato still showed no signs of being overwhelmed. His incredible speed and precise chakra control made him more than a match for the rampaging beast.
Freed from the burden of sealing it, and with no fear of collateral damage this far from Konoha, Minato could finally fight without restraint. Rasengan after Rasengan rained down—each variant more devastating than the last.
The Five-Tails was being pummeled into submission.
It wasn't Konoha's responsibility to seal this tailed beast. So Minato didn't hold back. And the Five-Tails—despite its brute strength—could hardly land a clean hit.
"I wonder how things are going elsewhere," Minato thought, narrowing his eyes.
"There was fighting under the bridge… chakra surges… That means there were hidden enemies down there. And Kai… he's up against four Iwa-nin alone. I need to wrap this up quickly."
Another Rasengan formed in his palm—larger than the last, swirling with overwhelming power.