Naruto: Zoro of Uchiha Chapter 46 46: The Battle of Kannabi Bridge

"Zoro, you truly don't mind? It seems this old man really has grown more foolish with age."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly placed the Hokage hat back onto his head while carefully observing every subtle change in Zoro's expression.

"It's nothing."

Zoro's face remained calm and composed, looking every bit like a shinobi who had been completely indoctrinated by the Will of Fire.

But inwardly, only indifference remained.

So the old bastard actually knows he's beco worse with age.

Back in his younger years, Hiruzen had possessed both courage and strength.

During the great shinobi wars, fighting one against many had been effortless for him.

He had earned the title:

The Professor of the Ninja World.

But now?

Now he rely clung to the Hokage position, guarding his little corner of power while growing increasingly indecisive.

And it wasn't only the Uchiha Clan that had begun developing dissatisfaction toward him.

Even the other clans within Konoha had slowly started losing faith as well.

That was why, not long from now, Hiruzen would choose to step down and allow Minato Namikaze to succeed him as Hokage.

On the surface, it was a transfer of power.

In reality, it was more or less an act of taking responsibility and withdrawing gracefully.

"Zoro, I truly did not misjudge you."

Hiruzen smiled warmly and patted Zoro's shoulder.

"You already possess the mindset of a Hokage."

"Continue working hard in the future, and treat the village as your own ho."

"So…"

Zoro calmly looked at him.

"Was there a mission you summoned here for?"

Naturally, he knew Hiruzen had not called him over rely to offer a few complints and an apology.

At least for now, it still was not ti to completely tear apart all pretense between them.

Hearing the question, Hiruzen's expression slowly beca serious.

"Haah…"

"The Great Ninja War has already begun."

"Minato has already been deployed to the battlefield near Kumogakure. But now, Iwagakure has also begun making large-scale movents."

"To be honest, Konoha's current situation isn't optimistic."

Hiruzen's gaze darkened slightly.

"Iwa's forces have already broken through Kusagakure and reached the borders near the Land of Fire."

"Although Konoha has dispatched elite shinobi to intercept them imdiately, the nurical difference between both sides is simply too great."

Hearing this, Zoro fell silent briefly.

The war had started earlier than he expected.

Could it be because of the butterfly effect caused by his own existence?

The familiar information instantly caused a certain phrase to surface in his mind.

The Battle of Kannabi Bridge.

Sure enough, Hiruzen's next words imdiately confird his suspicions.

"The frontlines are under enormous pressure. According to the latest intelligence, approximately one thousand Iwagakure shinobi are currently stationed near the front."

"The primary objective of this mission is to destroy the enemy's supply point and sever their supply route."

"After discussion, we've decided to place you in command of Minato's squad for this operation."

Hiruzen stared directly at Zoro.

"Zoro… you won't disappoint the village's trust in you, will you?"

His expression had already beco completely solemn as he formally assigned the mission.

Zoro did not waste words replying.

Instead, he simply turned and left the office directly.

He did not know why the Battle of Kannabi Bridge had begun several months earlier than expected.

But one thing was certain—

He would not miss this opportunity to raise his prestige even further.

In the past, Zoro had always operated from the shadows under the identity of ANBU.

But now things were different.

This ti, he would remove the mask entirely and reveal himself openly before the world.

Iwagakure had always favored overwhelming force tactics.

Whenever they mobilized, it was in the thousands or even tens of thousands.

And the true key to victory in this battle was not rely destroying a bridge or severing supply lines.

The real deciding factor would be the direct confrontation between those thousand Iwa shinobi and Konoha's frontline forces.

That was Zoro's true mission this ti.

Support the frontlines—

And deal with those thousand Iwa ninja.

As for destroying Kannabi Bridge itself?

That was probably little more than beginner-level field training for Kakashi and the others.

While thinking through the situation, Zoro soon arrived at the gathering point.

Three familiar figures imdiately entered his sight.

"Zoro-kun, you're here."

Rin Nohara waved cheerfully and revealed a gentle smile.

"Did Hokage-sama assign you a mission too?"

"Hmph. Why is he the one leading us?"

Obito Uchiha pouted openly, his face filled with dissatisfaction.

"Because Zoro can beat you with one hand."

Kakashi Hatake crossed his arms and rcilessly destroyed Obito's complaint in a cold tone.

"Isn't that reason enough?"

Kakashi was now eleven years old.

Stimulated by Zoro's terrifying growth over the years, he had beco a jōnin an entire year earlier than in the original tiline.

As for Obito, he had naturally long since passed the Chūnin Exams as well.

"You damn Kakashi!"

Obito imdiately exploded.

"Nobody thinks you're mute just because you stay quiet all day!"

Baring his teeth and claws, Obito lunged toward Kakashi again.

But with Rin desperately trying to stop him, he could only rage helplessly from the side.

"You already know the contents of the mission, right?"

Wearing specially tailored black shinobi attire, Zoro calmly walked over to the group.

"Of course."

Obito proudly patted his chest.

"We're just blowing up a bridge, right? Easy."

"You'd better stay careful."

Zoro patted Obito's shoulder and reminded him seriously.

"This ti, we're heading onto a real battlefield."

Seeing such a gentle side of Zoro, Kakashi froze slightly inwardly.

Back during their ti together in ANBU, he had never once seen Zoro show this kind of warmth toward anyone else.

For so reason, a strange sourness suddenly rose in Kakashi's chest.

That's right.

He was jealous.

All this ti, he had been desperately chasing after Zoro's footsteps.

Yet the person Zoro actually paid attention to was Obito.

It gave Kakashi the bizarre feeling that all his emotions and efforts had sohow been misplaced.

They had worked together in ANBU for over a year.

And yet not even the slightest sense of camaraderie had developed between them?

Several years ago, on that rainy day, Zoro had suddenly barged into Kakashi's world and torn open a crack within the darkness surrounding him.

From that mont onward, Kakashi had unconsciously begun paying attention to everything related to Zoro.

Zoro…

You really are a scumbag, aren't you?

You casually pull people closer—

Then act like nothing happened afterward.

"Kakashi?"

Obito looked back in confusion.

"Let's go already. Why are you spacing out?"

"Oh… right."

Kakashi finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly followed after the group.

"Kakashi, did sothing happen?"

While walking ahead, Zoro casually glanced sideways at him.

"You seem distracted. That won't end well once we enter battle."

"Th-that… nothing happened."

Kakashi could maintain his cold attitude toward almost anyone else.

But whenever he faced Zoro, there was always a trace of awkward unnaturalness in his behavior.

"Oh?"

Zoro raised a brow slightly.

"In that case, I'll leave the bridge demolition mission to the three of you for now."

"Just destroy the bridge."

His tone beca serious.

"Do not engage enemy shinobi on your own."

Even if Zoro thought until his brain exploded, he still would never guess what Kakashi had been thinking about earlier.

Then again, Kakashi had always been the secretly emotional type beneath that cold exterior.

"Eh?"

Rin blinked in confusion.

"Zoro-kun, isn't your mission the sa as ours?"

"I'm the team leader for this operation."

Zoro calmly glanced toward Kakashi.

"So naturally, I have my own separate task."

Then he spoke directly toward him.

"Kakashi."

"I'm leaving these two in your hands."

His real mission involved the thousand Iwa ninja gathered at the frontlines.

Compared to that battlefield, destroying the bridge itself was secondary.

All Zoro could do was hope the three of them managed to hold out until he arrived.

After hearing Zoro's instructions, Kakashi firmly nodded.

Seeing the determination in Kakashi's eyes, Zoro finally turned and left alone.

He only hoped that Black Zetsu would not create unnecessary trouble this ti around.

***

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