Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!-Chapter 445: Kawakaze Appears

Amidst the chaotic battlefield, no one noticed as Obito's body quietly sank into the ground, vanishing completely.

For some unknown reason, the last Akatsuki ninja also suddenly collapsed, lifeless.

"Almost time. Prepare to retreat."

Minato kept track of the time—his Sage Mode was nearing its ten-minute limit.

After exchanging a final blow with Nagato, he withdrew to Kitsuchi and Rōshi's side.

"Understood."

Kitsuchi and Rōshi didn't hesitate. They knew that once Minato exited Sage Mode, the battle would immediately turn against them.

"Retreat!"

With a commanding shout, the Iwa ninja coalition began their practiced maneuver—fighting while withdrawing in an orderly fashion.

To make the retreat look more convincing, Nagato continued his relentless pursuit, but he still couldn't break through Minato's defensive line alongside Kitsuchi and Rōshi.

"Until next time."

With most of the troops already evacuated, Minato placed a hand on Kitsuchi and Rōshi's shoulders and disappeared right before Nagato's eyes.

...

"Has anyone seen Obito?"

Rin scanned the familiar faces around her but couldn't find Obito anywhere.

In every previous battle, no matter how beaten he was, Obito was always the first to show up in front of her afterward.

What was different this time?

"I didn't notice. I'll help you look."

Kakashi pulled Kurenai along as they stepped away—they had been too engrossed in their fight with Nonō.

"He's probably injured again and too embarrassed to show up."

"I'll go ask around."

Asuma quickly walked off.

"I'll help you search."

Guy, seeing their friends scatter, chose to stay by Rin's side.

"Thank you."

Rin's voice was weak, her mind clearly elsewhere.

The two of them moved through the Konoha forces, but there was still no sign of Obito.

When the group reconvened, their expressions were grave.

A growing sense of unease spread among them.

"Obito... Obito, he..."

Rin couldn't even finish her sentence before tears welled up in her eyes.

"No, it can't be..."

"I'll go ask Minato-senpai for help."

Kakashi suspected that Obito might have been taken by Akatsuki, and if anyone could track him down, it was Minato.

"I'm coming with you."

Rin quickly followed Kakashi, while the others dispersed again to continue searching.

As long as they didn't see a body, there was still hope.

...

"Minato-senpai, I need to talk to you."

Kakashi caught up to the front of the group, where Minato was still with Kitsuchi and Rōshi.

"What is it?"

Minato slowed his pace, his tone calm. Sensing the moment, Kitsuchi and Rōshi took the hint and moved ahead, giving them space.

It wasn't their place to interfere in personal matters between teacher and students.

Besides, Minato's recent actions had proven he wasn't suspicious in any way.

"Obito is missing."

"I suspect..."

Minato remained cautious, not finishing his sentence.

Rin silently wiped her tears, watching Minato expectantly.

"I understand. I'll ask around later."

"There shouldn't be any problems."

Minato still felt that Kakashi and the others were overreacting. What could possibly go wrong in a battle with Akatsuki?

"Alright. Let me know if you hear anything."

Kakashi also knew that Minato couldn't reach out to Nagato at the moment.

"Will do."

With that, Minato picked up his pace and continued forward.

...

"Don't worry, Minato-senpai will definitely bring back good news."

"When we get back to Konoha, we'll give Obito a good beating."

"You told him not to get hurt, and now he goes and gets captured instead."

Kakashi tried to comfort Rin, and Minato's composed demeanor made him feel a little less anxious.

"I'm going to kill him."

Rin, influenced by Kakashi's attitude, forced a wobbly smile.

"You said it. Don't back out later."

Kakashi pointed at her with a teasing grin, and for a moment, the gloom of Obito's absence lifted just a little.

"Ugh, shut up."

Blushing, Rin left Kakashi behind and walked away on her own.

...

By nightfall, the Iwa coalition finally found a secure place to set up camp.

Once everything was settled, Minato discreetly sent a message to Nagato via a slug.

All that was left was to wait.

Nagato searched the Akatsuki camp from top to bottom but found no trace of Obito.

Something was wrong.

When Minato received the report, his composure finally cracked.

How does a person just disappear?

Without informing Kakashi, Minato immediately returned to the battlefield from earlier that day.

But apart from bloodstains and broken weapons, there was nothing left.

Akatsuki had been thorough—there was no chance they had simply overlooked Obito.

As Minato's mind raced, he suddenly sensed someone approaching.

"Who's there?"

His body tensed as he took a defensive stance, eyes sharp as he scanned the darkness.

"Still sharp, I see."

A familiar voice reached his ears. A figure appeared beside him in an instant.

"Sensei?"

Minato's eyes widened in shock. Wasn't he supposed to be in Konoha?

"What's wrong? Surprised?"

Kawakaze smirked, his tone laced with amusement.

"No... Sensei must have been worried about us."

Minato lowered his head in guilt, assuming Kawakaze had come because he and Nawaki failed to properly look after their teammates.

And in a way, that was true—Obito had disappeared under his watch.

"You're overthinking it."

"If you really failed to take care of someone, I'll deal with you when we get back."

"But Obito's situation isn't on you—the enemy hid their tracks well."

Kawakaze wasn't the type to babysit them, even if his own son was on the battlefield.

"What happened to Obito?"

"Who took him?"

"Sensei... you already know?"

Minato's eyes burned with curiosity.

"Relax. The boy's fine."

"Just go back and reassure your team."

"There's no need for you to know the details. By the time today ends, this will be over."

"Now, go back."

With that, Kawakaze's body dispersed into smoke.

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"Did Sensei know I'd come here?"

Minato stood frozen for a moment before shaking his head.

Of course he did. He knows me too well.

"Well, at least I have an answer to give."

Trusting Kawakaze completely, Minato stopped thinking too deeply about it and returned to camp.

When he arrived, he assured Kakashi and the others that Obito was safe and that they had nothing to worry about.

At last, the storm caused by Obito's disappearance settled.

...

That night, in her dreams, Rin furiously pummeled Obito to vent her frustration.

Rin's laughter filled the room as she imagined it all—Obito finally coming back, his face swollen like a pig's head as he awkwardly confessed his feelings to her.

"Geez, thinking about romance in the middle of the night," Kurenai muttered, rolling her eyes as she pulled the blanket over her head.

Little did she know, her own parents had once complained about her too.

She wasn't any better than Rin—just one hypocrite calling out another.

...

As the night deepened, the moon hung high, casting a soft glow over the land.

Meanwhile, deep underground, Zetsu carried an unconscious and barely-breathing Obito, racing forward at full speed.

The last thing he wanted was to deliver a corpse to Madara.

With that thought, Zetsu quickened his pace, tunneling through the earth.

Minute by minute, he grew closer to his destination.