Chapter 38: The Final Line of Defense

"Trouble?"

Kai frowned. Anything Minato deemed troublesome must indeed be a significant threat. Minato's strength and experience set a high bar, so the enemy they were about to face must be formidable.

Swallowing hard, Kai worried that perhaps Kitsuchi had managed to reinforce their position. But no, if it were Kitsuchi, he wouldn't pose such a challenge for Minato. Could it be the Third Tsuchikage? That seemed unlikely too, given the ongoing need to defend against the Land of Lightning's incursions.

So what kind of adversary could make Minato wary? Kai racked his brain but couldn't figure it out. He turned his gaze to Minato, hoping for an explanation.

"The final defense squad's exact numbers are unknown, but I observed two of them," Minato began without preamble. "One is Gari, and the other... is Han."

Upon hearing these names, Kenta seemed unfazed, likely because he didn't know who they were. But Kai's expression darkened. He couldn't recall who Gari was, but Han was unforgettable. Han was the Jinchuriki of the Five-Tails, Kokuo. Although his role in the series was minor and he quickly fell to the Akatsuki, his strength was not to be underestimated.

Kai remembered Han's ability to kick away Naruto in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, a testament to his incredible chakra and physical prowess. The fact that Han was here indicated the Third Tsuchikage's significant ambition, even amidst their current strategic situation.

The unspecified number of personnel added another layer of uncertainty. If luck was on their side, they might face fewer enemies, but if not, they were in for a tough fight.

Kai exchanged a glance with Kenta. Both knew this was the final push. They didn't have the luck of Aya, but they did have an opportunity, albeit a dangerous one.

"I'll take on Gari," Kai said after a moment's thought. "Kenta-kun, you go place the explosive tags under the bridge. I'll give you all of mine. It's a pity Aya isn't here..."

"I'll handle Han," Minato nodded, dismissing the issue of Aya. He then turned to Kenta. "Kenta-kun, place the explosive tags, but be careful. If there are too many enemies under the bridge, try to hold them off until we can support you. Understood?"

"Yes," Kenta nodded, accepting the task without complaint. Despite its uncertainties, this mission was preferable to facing either Han or Gari directly. If the bridge was unguarded, Kenta would be the safest. But he knew such luck was unlikely.

"Kai-kun, Kenta-kun, take these," Minato said, handing them each a pill from his pouch. "This is a chakra recovery pill from the Akimichi clan. It's very effective with minimal side effects, though you'll feel extreme fatigue afterward."

Kai took the yellow pill without hesitation, swallowing it in one gulp. Kenta declined, shaking his head. His chakra recovery was already remarkably fast, a testament to his unusual physical condition. But Kai, still not fully recovered from his fight with Kitsuchi, needed all the help he could get. Even with soldier pills, his recovery had been slow.

Now, at this critical juncture, Kai saw no harm in taking an extra pill from the Akimichi clan. He had some knowledge of their potent medicinal pills, and as long as it wasn't the red pill, he felt reassured. Almost immediately, he felt his chakra recovering at an impressive rate.

"Now, about Gari," Minato said once he saw Kai's recovery had started. "Gari is part of the Explosive Corps and possesses a bloodline limit. He's young but highly skilled."

"A bloodline limit, huh?" Kai nodded. "Seems I picked the right opponent. A bloodline limit requires another bloodline limit to counter effectively."

Kai was familiar with Iwa's Explosive Corps. Future members included the likes of Deidara, who defected before showing his prowess in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Deidara's luck was considerably better, being a peer and disciple of the Fourth Tsuchikage. Despite his eccentricity, Deidara's abilities were formidable, even capable of defeating or killing the Fifth Kazekage.

The Explosive Corps was renowned, so Gari wouldn't be a simple opponent. If he were weak, the Third Tsuchikage wouldn't have placed him in such a critical position alongside Han.

Kai rubbed his chin, wondering if Gari was like Deidara, with mouths on his hands and a penchant for explosive clay. If so, he'd need to be extra cautious.

"I remember Itachi taking down Deidara with a single genjutsu. Maybe I should try that," Kai mused, feeling his chakra rapidly returning. His genjutsu skills were decent, and he'd once used it on himself to awaken his Sharingan.

Suddenly, Kai's expression turned peculiar. He realized he rarely used genjutsu. Before awakening his Sharingan, it had been inconvenient, but now he could use it openly. Reflecting on his recent battles, he realized he had underutilized this powerful tool.

Fighting Kitsuchi hadn't allowed for genjutsu, as the opponent wouldn't easily meet his gaze. Afterward, Kai had been in a semi-depleted state, saving chakra and avoiding unnecessary jutsu use. His recent foes hadn't warranted his full arsenal.

Seeing this oversight, Kai sighed. He had treasures yet to be fully utilized. He resolved to end this war quickly; he had much to refine.

(Chapter End)