Land of Fire
The moon hung low, veiled behind a thin sheath of clouds that dulled its glow. Crickets chirped in scattered intervals, and a breeze rustled the tall grass that crept along the forest floor. The smell of dew and pine lingered—quiet, sharp, alive.
But Rei Arakawa couldn't sleep.
She lay still in her sleeping bag for what felt like hours, arms crossed under her head, eyes locked on the fraying fabric of the tent above. Her heart had settled long ago, but her mind wouldn't stop racing. She kept seeing Yumi—clinging to her with bloodied hands, her face wild with shock, her mouth forming broken cries that Rei couldn't unhear.
"He didn't even scream," Yumi had said. "He just stepped in front of me."
Rei turned onto her side and exhaled through her nose.
The Kannabi Bridge was only a day's march away. A mission. A chance. A small, sliver-thin possibility that she might come face to face with another Iwa shinobi.
If that happened—when that happened—she'd be ready. She had to be.
A sudden shift in the bushes drew her eyes to the edge of the camp. A silhouette—tall, lean—rose from a crouch near Minato's tent. Just past the firelight, Rei spotted Obito standing with Minato. They were speaking quietly, but the Uchiha's posture was animated—arms moving, shoulders rising and falling. Minato said something else, gentler this time, and then placed a hand on Obito's shoulder.
The next moment, Obito smiled faintly and waved goodbye.
He turned—and his eyes locked with hers.
"Rei?" he called out, blinking in surprise.
She pressed a finger to her lips sharply. "Shh!"
Obito winced and awkwardly jogged over, crouching low as if too late to hide his volume. His cheeks were already turning pink by the time he reached her.
"You're awake too?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.
Rei stayed seated on her rolled-up sleeping bag, arms resting loosely over her knees. "Apparently."
Obito stood for a moment, unsure of what to do, then slowly sat down beside her. Not too close—but close enough to feel the edge of her presence. He drummed his fingers once on his thigh, then stopped.
"You, uh..." He cleared his throat. "You okay?"
Rei turned her head slightly. Her voice was quiet. "I'm... getting ready."
"For what?"
She looked toward the trees. The sky beyond was dark with stars, but none of them felt steady enough to hold onto.
"For the bridge. For if we run into Iwa shinobi."
Obito nodded slowly. "Yeah. Same. It's a weird feeling. You know what you're supposed to do, but..." He trailed off, fidgeting. "Anyway. I just had a talk with Sensei. Kind of helped."
Rei didn't respond right away. She wasn't the type to ask what about.
But Obito offered anyway. "He told me that power doesn't come all at once. That it's okay to still be figuring things out. And that bravery doesn't always look like a clean win."
She gave him a glance—brief, but not unkind. "He's right."
Silence stretched for a moment. Then Obito turned, more hesitant now.
"Hey, Rei... Can I ask you something?"
Her shoulders stiffened slightly. "...What?"
He looked down, voice softer now. "Do you know what really happened with the White Fang?"
Rei froze.
Her breath caught so suddenly that she almost didn't feel it.
That name.
Sakumo.
It hit her like a kunai to the ribs—sharp, unexpected, personal.
She looked at him fully now, lips pressed into a line. "...Did Minato-sensei tell you?"
Obito nodded, looking unsure. "Yeah. Not everything. Just... what Kakashi went through. How it wasn't just about the war. That it was personal. Something about... you helping."
Rei sighed through her nose. She looked away again, voice low.
"I was there," she admitted. "That night."
Obito blinked. "The night...?"
Rei nodded once, almost imperceptibly.
"When they found him. When it happened," she said. "I found Kakashi standing there. Sakumo tried to... He almost..." She faltered. "Kakashi was frozen. I ran to get help. I kept him alive until the medics came."
Her voice didn't break, but something in her face did.
"I stayed at the hospital all night. I don't even know why. I guess I thought Kakashi would say thank you. Or... something."
Obito swallowed, his voice hushed. "Did he?"
Rei let out a bitter chuckle. "He took it out on me. Practically said it was my fault. That if I hadn't dragged attention to their house, Sakumo wouldn't have—" She shook her head. "I don't know. Doesn't matter anymore."
Obito's face fell. "That's not fair. That's not..."
She looked at him. "He was hurting. We both were."
Obito paused before saying, "You don't have to be strong all the time."
Rei tilted her head, eyebrow raised. "Says who?"
Obito smiled awkwardly. "Says me."
She let the silence sit this time. Then: "I didn't bring the Hisatsume to show off. I brought it because I think I'll need it. And if I meet another Iwa shinobi—"
"You'll take them down," Obito finished quietly.
Rei nodded. "Yeah."
"But not for the village."
"No."
Obito's voice was more certain this time. "For Hiro."
That made her look at him again. Not sharply. Not coldly. But with a kind of muted understanding.
"...Yeah," she said. "For Hiro."
They sat together in silence as the moon peeked out from the clouds again, washing their camp in silver. Somewhere beyond the trees, an owl hooted softly into the night.
For the first time in hours, Rei exhaled fully.
She still couldn't sleep.
But somehow... she didn't feel so alone.
The morning came gently, with the rustle of tall grass and the chirping of birds tucked somewhere in the trees. Dew glistened faintly across the moss-covered stones, and sunlight pierced the canopy in long, golden threads.
Rin sat cross-legged beside Kakashi, her expression focused as she carefully unwound the blood-speckled gauze from under his arm. Her hands moved with practiced precision, despite the worry hovering in her eyes.
"It's healing well," she murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she reached for fresh bandages. "But don't overexert yourself or you'll open the wound again."
Kakashi averted his gaze, shoulders tense. "Yeah."
It was barely more than a mumble. He didn't meet her eyes.
Rin didn't push. She simply wrapped his arm with quiet care, the silence between them filled only by birdsong and the gentle pull of fabric.
A few paces away, Rei stood near her pack, stretching her arms above her head until her spine cracked in a satisfying pop. She rolled her shoulders and crouched to double-check her gear—kunai holsters secured, rations tucked, water skin full. The Hisatsume was slung across her back like a promise she hadn't made yet.
She didn't speak to anyone. But her presence radiated readiness, a quiet tension coiled beneath calm.
Obito, meanwhile, was still chewing the last bite of his rice ball, crumbs dotting his sleeves. His goggles hung around his neck, and he looked like he hadn't slept much—but he was grinning anyway.
Minato zipped his vest closed and stood, brushing dirt from his gloves. "Let's start heading out," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "We'll move in formation and take breaks as needed."
"Yes, sir," they all said in unison.
Rei's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear. She met Minato's eyes briefly before adjusting the strap across her chest and falling into step behind Kakashi, who had already started moving with his usual silent discipline.
They took to the trail in pairs—Kakashi in front, Rei close behind. Obito trotted up beside her, giving a half-hearted salute as he passed. Rin and Minato followed at the rear, keeping a watchful eye on the formation.
The forest around them shifted as they moved—sunlight dappled the earth, shadows slipping across their feet like silent companions. A breeze tugged at Rei's hair, lifting strands off her shoulders. She didn't bother to tie it back.
They didn't speak much.
There was no need to.
Each step brought them closer to the Kannabi Bridge.
And whether they said it aloud or not, they all knew what that meant.
Rei's eyes scanned the tree line with every few paces. Her ears tuned in to the subtle disturbances—birds scattering too quickly, branches bent in strange directions, the absence of usual forest chatter.
Her fingers twitched toward her kunai pouch more than once.
She wasn't nervous. She was waiting.
Waiting for the moment her instincts would be proven right. For the moment the mission would no longer be theory, but blood and movement and memory.
Obito glanced at her sideways. "You always walk like that?" he asked under his breath.
Rei didn't look at him. "Like what?"
"Like you're expecting the woods to bite."
"They already have," she replied.
He blinked at that, unsure whether to laugh or go quiet.
She didn't give him the chance to decide.
"You should walk quieter," she added after a pause, "You sound like a bear."
"Hey!" Obito hissed.
But her mouth twitched—just slightly. Almost a smile.
Kakashi glanced back at them. "Focus."
Rei sighed. "We are."
Minato's voice drifted from the rear. "Don't be too tense, everyone. There's still some ground to cover before we're in danger."
"But we will be in danger," Rei said, not turning around.
Minato's eyes met hers briefly. He nodded.
"Yes," he said. "We will."
The path narrowed as they pressed deeper into the bamboo forest. Stalks towered on either side of the dirt trail like silent sentinels, green and pale gold under the climbing sun. The sound of the wind here was different—softer, but sharper too, like it was whispering secrets through the hollow trunks.
Minato slowed, his steps growing quieter. He turned to face the group, expression unreadable.
"We'll be splitting up from this point," he said calmly, but the edge of caution touched his voice. "Good luck to you all. The enemy the other day was a scout, doing surveillance alone. From here on out, we'll be facing coordinated teams. Be careful."
No one responded at first.
Then Obito took a single step forward, eyes not meeting anyone's as he muttered, "Let's get going... captain."
The title hung in the air like a shuriken mid-flight.
Kakashi blinked. Even Rei glanced at Obito, the smallest flicker of surprise on her face. There was something steadier in his posture, something changed. She remembered catching him saying goodbye to Minato the night before. Whatever was said clearly reached him.
Kakashi didn't say a word. But the way his jaw shifted spoke volumes.
"All right... let's go!" Minato said with a final glance at them all.
"Yes, sir," they echoed together, and with that, they split off—Minato disappearing like smoke between the trees, and the rest turning toward the dense northwestern ridge, where Kannabi Bridge waited.
They moved fast and low, darting through the trees. The bamboo blurred around them, their footsteps muffled by moss and fallen leaves. Rei kept pace near the front, eyes narrowed, every muscle coiled.
Booby traps littered the path like the bones of failed missions. Hidden tripwires, buried tags, silent spikes strung between branches. Kakashi would halt them every few minutes, crouching over a diagram, while Obito dripped eye drops into his left eye with a sniff.
"I said don't blink so much," Kakashi muttered without looking up.
"I can't help it," Obito shot back. "The drops sting."
"You'll be blind before the mission's done."
"I'd still have better vision than your attitude."
Rei ignored them, ears tuned to the wind. They crossed a narrow pond using stones slick with algae, then vaulted over a ridge where bamboo trees grew so close together it looked like a wall. Her senses buzzed.
Something's wrong.
She slowed slightly, squinting up through the canopy.
There.
Chakra. Too many signatures for wildlife. Too heavy. Too still.
"Kakashi—" she started.
But he raised his hand, stopping the group just a breath before a sudden whistle broke through the air.
Above them, bamboo trunks snapped free, launching downward like missiles—sharpened at the ends and aimed to impale.
"Katon: Fireball Jutsu!" Obito shouted, weaving signs so fast it startled even Kakashi. A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, engulfing the falling traps midair. They burst into ash and flaming shards before they could touch the ground.
Smoke thickened.
From within one still-intact bamboo stalk came a blur of motion—an Iwagakure shinobi dropping like a predator.
Rei was already moving.
Her kunai whistled through the air as she leapt to meet the enemy head-on, blades clashing in a metallic crack. Sparks flew. She didn't flinch.
"You're dead," Rei hissed through clenched teeth, her voice low and cold. Her anger surged—images of Yumi screaming, of the Leaf's silence.
But then—
A scream split the air.
Rei's heart stuttered.
She turned sharply, just in time to see Rin collapse limp in the arms of another Iwagakure shinobi.
"We're taking this one," he said.
The shinobi she was fighting landed beside him, brushing dust from his shoulder with a devious smirk. "We'll keep her safe... for a price."
Rei's breath locked in her throat.
"Rin!" Obito shouted, the panic in his voice raw and immediate.
Without thinking, they both charged.
Obito for his teammate.
Rei for one of her best friends.
"Wait!" Kakashi barked from behind them, but they didn't hear him—or didn't care.
Just before they reached them, a large puff of smoke burst into the clearing. The ground trembled. Bamboo trees bent under the force of the chakra.
When the smoke cleared, the Iwagakure shinobi were gone.
So was Rin.
"Obito! Rei! Don't go after them!" Kakashi barked, his voice sharp and commanding as his arm extended to block their path.
"What?!" Rei snapped, her eyes wild with disbelief.
"Do you realize what you just said?!" Obito demanded, stepping up to Kakashi, nearly nose-to-nose with him.
"Yes," Kakashi replied coldly, his eyes locking with theirs, unreadable. "The three of us will continue the mission."
"And Rin?!" Obito shouted, his voice cracking. "What about Rin?!"
"We can't just leave her," Rei added, her tone low but edged with fury. Her fists clenched by her sides.
"Rin comes later," Kakashi said flatly.
Rei's heart thudded. Something in her chest gave a painful twist, like a thread being pulled taut to its breaking point.
No.
She had heard those same words once before. The day her mother, Aiko, was taken. The team leader had chosen to "finish the mission" instead of saving her. And when they returned, there was no one left to save. Rei had vowed—never again.
"Absolutely not," she whispered, the words like ice on her tongue.
Kakashi turned to face them fully now. "Think about it. The enemy wants to gather intel. They won't kill Rin right away. She's a medical shinobi—if she's captured, they'll want her to treat their wounded. That buys us time."
"You're assuming her safety based on nothing!" Obito yelled. "What if those guys don't care?! What if they kill her the second we turn our backs?! Saving Rin takes priority!"
"He's right," Rei said, voice tight. "If it were you instead of her, we'd be doing the same."
Kakashi didn't flinch. "A shinobi... must sacrifice a comrade in order to carry out the mission. That is the rule. If we fail this mission, it could prolong the war. More lives could be lost. That's the reality we're in."
Rei's amber eyes narrowed into slits. Her voice dropped to a cold whisper.
"That's not what Sakumo would have said."
For a second, Kakashi's expression cracked.
"Don't speak of my father," he snapped, venom in his voice.
Rei stepped closer, her words deliberate. "Sakumo chose people over rules. And yeah, the village turned their backs on him, but he chose humanity. That makes him more of a shinobi than you."
"That's just an assumption!" Obito shouted, shoulders trembling. "And for something like that, you're willing to abandon a teammate?! Rin saved our lives! When we were hurt, when we were bleeding out, she was the one who kept us alive! You think that doesn't matter?!"
"That was her duty," Kakashi said stiffly. "She knew the risk—"
Obito's fist slammed into Kakashi's jaw.
It happened so fast, Rei didn't have time to stop it.
Kakashi staggered a half-step, hand flying to his face, but didn't retaliate.
"I don't like you," Obito seethed, voice trembling. "I never have."
"Wait, guys—" Rei started, but Kakashi spoke over her.
"I don't care. I'm the captain. You will obey me. That's why we have the rule: members must follow the orders of their leader. Obito, you're weak. Rei, you're reckless. That's why I was chosen to lead this team."
Rei's fists balled. "Strong leaders don't let their comrades die," she said, her voice cutting like a blade. "You're so obsessed with rules, you've forgotten what they're supposed to protect."
Obito grabbed Kakashi by the collar. "Then why won't you try to save Rin?! If you're so strong, then act like it! Show us your strength by protecting someone you care about!"
Kakashi yanked himself free. "If you give in to your emotions, even for a second, and the mission fails, you'll regret it forever. That's why our code forbids emotional attachments. You both should know that."
Rei scoffed. "You sound like one of those Elders. All rules, no soul. Newsflash, Kakashi—numbing yourself doesn't make you strong. It makes you empty."
Obito's hands trembled. He shut his eyes for a moment, trying to hold himself together.
"Rin was concerned about your well-being," he said softly. "That medkit she gave you? She sewed a protective amulet into it."
Kakashi stared, unreadable.
"The medkit," he said quietly, "and medical ninjutsu... are systems developed by the Hidden Leaf to increase mission success. But I told you yesterday—getting something useless just gets in the way."
"...Something useless?" Obito echoed.
"Yes. Emotions are useless."
Rei stared at Kakashi like she didn't recognize him anymore.
"Forget it, Obito," she said, voice flat. "He won't change. Not now. Not ever."
She turned, starting down the trail the Iwa shinobi had taken Rin.
"Let's go rescue Rin."
Obito's head snapped toward her, eyes wide. But he didn't hesitate. He let go of Kakashi and followed her without another word.
"You both don't understand anything!" Kakashi shouted after them, his voice cracking.
"Not about what happens if you break the rules..."
They didn't turn back.
But Obito slowed. He looked at Rei, who already knew what he was going to say. Her heart thudded with anticipation.
Obito turned to face Kakashi one last time, eyes blazing.
"I believe... that the White Fang was a true hero," he said. "Sure, in the world of shinobi, those who break the rules are called scum..."
He paused, taking a breath.
"But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."
Rei's breath hitched.
Warmth flooded her chest, sharp and sudden. Her throat tightened. She didn't speak—but in that moment, she felt like Obito had said everything she never could.
They walked side by side into the woods.
Leaving Kakashi in silence behind them.Land of Fire
The moon hung low, veiled behind a thin sheath of clouds that dulled its glow. Crickets chirped in scattered intervals, and a breeze rustled the tall grass that crept along the forest floor. The smell of dew and pine lingered—quiet, sharp, alive.
But Rei Arakawa couldn't sleep.
She lay still in her sleeping bag for what felt like hours, arms crossed under her head, eyes locked on the fraying fabric of the tent above. Her heart had settled long ago, but her mind wouldn't stop racing. She kept seeing Yumi—clinging to her with bloodied hands, her face wild with shock, her mouth forming broken cries that Rei couldn't unhear.
"He didn't even scream," Yumi had said. "He just stepped in front of me."
Rei turned onto her side and exhaled through her nose.
The Kannabi Bridge was only a day's march away. A mission. A chance. A small, sliver-thin possibility that she might come face to face with another Iwa shinobi.
If that happened—when that happened—she'd be ready. She had to be.
A sudden shift in the bushes drew her eyes to the edge of the camp. A silhouette—tall, lean—rose from a crouch near Minato's tent. Just past the firelight, Rei spotted Obito standing with Minato. They were speaking quietly, but the Uchiha's posture was animated—arms moving, shoulders rising and falling. Minato said something else, gentler this time, and then placed a hand on Obito's shoulder.
The next moment, Obito smiled faintly and waved goodbye.
He turned—and his eyes locked with hers.
"Rei?" he called out, blinking in surprise.
She pressed a finger to her lips sharply. "Shh!"
Obito winced and awkwardly jogged over, crouching low as if too late to hide his volume. His cheeks were already turning pink by the time he reached her.
"You're awake too?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.
Rei stayed seated on her rolled-up sleeping bag, arms resting loosely over her knees. "Apparently."
Obito stood for a moment, unsure of what to do, then slowly sat down beside her. Not too close—but close enough to feel the edge of her presence. He drummed his fingers once on his thigh, then stopped.
"You, uh..." He cleared his throat. "You okay?"
Rei turned her head slightly. Her voice was quiet. "I'm... getting ready."
"For what?"
She looked toward the trees. The sky beyond was dark with stars, but none of them felt steady enough to hold onto.
"For the bridge. For if we run into Iwa shinobi."
Obito nodded slowly. "Yeah. Same. It's a weird feeling. You know what you're supposed to do, but..." He trailed off, fidgeting. "Anyway. I just had a talk with Sensei. Kind of helped."
Rei didn't respond right away. She wasn't the type to ask what about.
But Obito offered anyway. "He told me that power doesn't come all at once. That it's okay to still be figuring things out. And that bravery doesn't always look like a clean win."
She gave him a glance—brief, but not unkind. "He's right."
Silence stretched for a moment. Then Obito turned, more hesitant now.
"Hey, Rei... Can I ask you something?"
Her shoulders stiffened slightly. "...What?"
He looked down, voice softer now. "Do you know what really happened with the White Fang?"
Rei froze.
Her breath caught so suddenly that she almost didn't feel it.
That name.
Sakumo.
It hit her like a kunai to the ribs—sharp, unexpected, personal.
She looked at him fully now, lips pressed into a line. "...Did Minato-sensei tell you?"
Obito nodded, looking unsure. "Yeah. Not everything. Just... what Kakashi went through. How it wasn't just about the war. That it was personal. Something about... you helping."
Rei sighed through her nose. She looked away again, voice low.
"I was there," she admitted. "That night."
Obito blinked. "The night...?"
Rei nodded once, almost imperceptibly.
"When they found him. When it happened," she said. "I found Kakashi standing there. Sakumo tried to... He almost..." She faltered. "Kakashi was frozen. I ran to get help. I kept him alive until the medics came."
Her voice didn't break, but something in her face did.
"I stayed at the hospital all night. I don't even know why. I guess I thought Kakashi would say thank you. Or... something."
Obito swallowed, his voice hushed. "Did he?"
Rei let out a bitter chuckle. "He took it out on me. Practically said it was my fault. That if I hadn't dragged attention to their house, Sakumo wouldn't have—" She shook her head. "I don't know. Doesn't matter anymore."
Obito's face fell. "That's not fair. That's not..."
She looked at him. "He was hurting. We both were."
Obito paused before saying, "You don't have to be strong all the time."
Rei tilted her head, eyebrow raised. "Says who?"
Obito smiled awkwardly. "Says me."
She let the silence sit this time. Then: "I didn't bring the Hisatsume to show off. I brought it because I think I'll need it. And if I meet another Iwa shinobi—"
"You'll take them down," Obito finished quietly.
Rei nodded. "Yeah."
"But not for the village."
"No."
Obito's voice was more certain this time. "For Hiro."
That made her look at him again. Not sharply. Not coldly. But with a kind of muted understanding.
"...Yeah," she said. "For Hiro."
They sat together in silence as the moon peeked out from the clouds again, washing their camp in silver. Somewhere beyond the trees, an owl hooted softly into the night.
For the first time in hours, Rei exhaled fully.
She still couldn't sleep.
But somehow... she didn't feel so alone.
The morning came gently, with the rustle of tall grass and the chirping of birds tucked somewhere in the trees. Dew glistened faintly across the moss-covered stones, and sunlight pierced the canopy in long, golden threads.
Rin sat cross-legged beside Kakashi, her expression focused as she carefully unwound the blood-speckled gauze from under his arm. Her hands moved with practiced precision, despite the worry hovering in her eyes.
"It's healing well," she murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear as she reached for fresh bandages. "But don't overexert yourself or you'll open the wound again."
Kakashi averted his gaze, shoulders tense. "Yeah."
It was barely more than a mumble. He didn't meet her eyes.
Rin didn't push. She simply wrapped his arm with quiet care, the silence between them filled only by birdsong and the gentle pull of fabric.
A few paces away, Rei stood near her pack, stretching her arms above her head until her spine cracked in a satisfying pop. She rolled her shoulders and crouched to double-check her gear—kunai holsters secured, rations tucked, water skin full. The Hisatsume was slung across her back like a promise she hadn't made yet.
She didn't speak to anyone. But her presence radiated readiness, a quiet tension coiled beneath calm.
Obito, meanwhile, was still chewing the last bite of his rice ball, crumbs dotting his sleeves. His goggles hung around his neck, and he looked like he hadn't slept much—but he was grinning anyway.
Minato zipped his vest closed and stood, brushing dirt from his gloves. "Let's start heading out," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "We'll move in formation and take breaks as needed."
"Yes, sir," they all said in unison.
Rei's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear. She met Minato's eyes briefly before adjusting the strap across her chest and falling into step behind Kakashi, who had already started moving with his usual silent discipline.
They took to the trail in pairs—Kakashi in front, Rei close behind. Obito trotted up beside her, giving a half-hearted salute as he passed. Rin and Minato followed at the rear, keeping a watchful eye on the formation.
The forest around them shifted as they moved—sunlight dappled the earth, shadows slipping across their feet like silent companions. A breeze tugged at Rei's hair, lifting strands off her shoulders. She didn't bother to tie it back.
They didn't speak much.
There was no need to.
Each step brought them closer to the Kannabi Bridge.
And whether they said it aloud or not, they all knew what that meant.
Rei's eyes scanned the tree line with every few paces. Her ears tuned in to the subtle disturbances—birds scattering too quickly, branches bent in strange directions, the absence of usual forest chatter.
Her fingers twitched toward her kunai pouch more than once.
She wasn't nervous. She was waiting.
Waiting for the moment her instincts would be proven right. For the moment the mission would no longer be theory, but blood and movement and memory.
Obito glanced at her sideways. "You always walk like that?" he asked under his breath.
Rei didn't look at him. "Like what?"
"Like you're expecting the woods to bite."
"They already have," she replied.
He blinked at that, unsure whether to laugh or go quiet.
She didn't give him the chance to decide.
"You should walk quieter," she added after a pause, "You sound like a bear."
"Hey!" Obito hissed.
But her mouth twitched—just slightly. Almost a smile.
Kakashi glanced back at them. "Focus."
Rei sighed. "We are."
Minato's voice drifted from the rear. "Don't be too tense, everyone. There's still some ground to cover before we're in danger."
"But we will be in danger," Rei said, not turning around.
Minato's eyes met hers briefly. He nodded.
"Yes," he said. "We will."
The path narrowed as they pressed deeper into the bamboo forest. Stalks towered on either side of the dirt trail like silent sentinels, green and pale gold under the climbing sun. The sound of the wind here was different—softer, but sharper too, like it was whispering secrets through the hollow trunks.
Minato slowed, his steps growing quieter. He turned to face the group, expression unreadable.
"We'll be splitting up from this point," he said calmly, but the edge of caution touched his voice. "Good luck to you all. The enemy the other day was a scout, doing surveillance alone. From here on out, we'll be facing coordinated teams. Be careful."
No one responded at first.
Then Obito took a single step forward, eyes not meeting anyone's as he muttered, "Let's get going... captain."
The title hung in the air like a shuriken mid-flight.
Kakashi blinked. Even Rei glanced at Obito, the smallest flicker of surprise on her face. There was something steadier in his posture, something changed. She remembered catching him saying goodbye to Minato the night before. Whatever was said clearly reached him.
Kakashi didn't say a word. But the way his jaw shifted spoke volumes.
"All right... let's go!" Minato said with a final glance at them all.
"Yes, sir," they echoed together, and with that, they split off—Minato disappearing like smoke between the trees, and the rest turning toward the dense northwestern ridge, where Kannabi Bridge waited.
They moved fast and low, darting through the trees. The bamboo blurred around them, their footsteps muffled by moss and fallen leaves. Rei kept pace near the front, eyes narrowed, every muscle coiled.
Booby traps littered the path like the bones of failed missions. Hidden tripwires, buried tags, silent spikes strung between branches. Kakashi would halt them every few minutes, crouching over a diagram, while Obito dripped eye drops into his left eye with a sniff.
"I said don't blink so much," Kakashi muttered without looking up.
"I can't help it," Obito shot back. "The drops sting."
"You'll be blind before the mission's done."
"I'd still have better vision than your attitude."
Rei ignored them, ears tuned to the wind. They crossed a narrow pond using stones slick with algae, then vaulted over a ridge where bamboo trees grew so close together it looked like a wall. Her senses buzzed.
Something's wrong.
She slowed slightly, squinting up through the canopy.
There.
Chakra. Too many signatures for wildlife. Too heavy. Too still.
"Kakashi—" she started.
But he raised his hand, stopping the group just a breath before a sudden whistle broke through the air.
Above them, bamboo trunks snapped free, launching downward like missiles—sharpened at the ends and aimed to impale.
"Katon: Fireball Jutsu!" Obito shouted, weaving signs so fast it startled even Kakashi. A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, engulfing the falling traps midair. They burst into ash and flaming shards before they could touch the ground.
Smoke thickened.
From within one still-intact bamboo stalk came a blur of motion—an Iwagakure shinobi dropping like a predator.
Rei was already moving.
Her kunai whistled through the air as she leapt to meet the enemy head-on, blades clashing in a metallic crack. Sparks flew. She didn't flinch.
"You're dead," Rei hissed through clenched teeth, her voice low and cold. Her anger surged—images of Yumi screaming, of the Leaf's silence.
But then—
A scream split the air.
Rei's heart stuttered.
She turned sharply, just in time to see Rin collapse limp in the arms of another Iwagakure shinobi.
"We're taking this one," he said.
The shinobi she was fighting landed beside him, brushing dust from his shoulder with a devious smirk. "We'll keep her safe... for a price."
Rei's breath locked in her throat.
"Rin!" Obito shouted, the panic in his voice raw and immediate.
Without thinking, they both charged.
Obito for his teammate.
Rei for one of her best friends.
"Wait!" Kakashi barked from behind them, but they didn't hear him—or didn't care.
Just before they reached them, a large puff of smoke burst into the clearing. The ground trembled. Bamboo trees bent under the force of the chakra.
When the smoke cleared, the Iwagakure shinobi were gone.
So was Rin.
"Obito! Rei! Don't go after them!" Kakashi barked, his voice sharp and commanding as his arm extended to block their path.
"What?!" Rei snapped, her eyes wild with disbelief.
"Do you realize what you just said?!" Obito demanded, stepping up to Kakashi, nearly nose-to-nose with him.
"Yes," Kakashi replied coldly, his eyes locking with theirs, unreadable. "The three of us will continue the mission."
"And Rin?!" Obito shouted, his voice cracking. "What about Rin?!"
"We can't just leave her," Rei added, her tone low but edged with fury. Her fists clenched by her sides.
"Rin comes later," Kakashi said flatly.
Rei's heart thudded. Something in her chest gave a painful twist, like a thread being pulled taut to its breaking point.
No.
She had heard those same words once before. The day her mother, Aiko, was taken. The team leader had chosen to "finish the mission" instead of saving her. And when they returned, there was no one left to save. Rei had vowed—never again.
"Absolutely not," she whispered, the words like ice on her tongue.
Kakashi turned to face them fully now. "Think about it. The enemy wants to gather intel. They won't kill Rin right away. She's a medical shinobi—if she's captured, they'll want her to treat their wounded. That buys us time."
"You're assuming her safety based on nothing!" Obito yelled. "What if those guys don't care?! What if they kill her the second we turn our backs?! Saving Rin takes priority!"
"He's right," Rei said, voice tight. "If it were you instead of her, we'd be doing the same."
Kakashi didn't flinch. "A shinobi... must sacrifice a comrade in order to carry out the mission. That is the rule. If we fail this mission, it could prolong the war. More lives could be lost. That's the reality we're in."
Rei's amber eyes narrowed into slits. Her voice dropped to a cold whisper.
"That's not what Sakumo would have said."
For a second, Kakashi's expression cracked.
"Don't speak of my father," he snapped, venom in his voice.
Rei stepped closer, her words deliberate. "Sakumo chose people over rules. And yeah, the village turned their backs on him, but he chose humanity. That makes him more of a shinobi than you."
"That's just an assumption!" Obito shouted, shoulders trembling. "And for something like that, you're willing to abandon a teammate?! Rin saved our lives! When we were hurt, when we were bleeding out, she was the one who kept us alive! You think that doesn't matter?!"
"That was her duty," Kakashi said stiffly. "She knew the risk—"
Obito's fist slammed into Kakashi's jaw.
It happened so fast, Rei didn't have time to stop it.
Kakashi staggered a half-step, hand flying to his face, but didn't retaliate.
"I don't like you," Obito seethed, voice trembling. "I never have."
"Wait, guys—" Rei started, but Kakashi spoke over her.
"I don't care. I'm the captain. You will obey me. That's why we have the rule: members must follow the orders of their leader. Obito, you're weak. Rei, you're reckless. That's why I was chosen to lead this team."
Rei's fists balled. "Strong leaders don't let their comrades die," she said, her voice cutting like a blade. "You're so obsessed with rules, you've forgotten what they're supposed to protect."
Obito grabbed Kakashi by the collar. "Then why won't you try to save Rin?! If you're so strong, then act like it! Show us your strength by protecting someone you care about!"
Kakashi yanked himself free. "If you give in to your emotions, even for a second, and the mission fails, you'll regret it forever. That's why our code forbids emotional attachments. You both should know that."
Rei scoffed. "You sound like one of those Elders. All rules, no soul. Newsflash, Kakashi—numbing yourself doesn't make you strong. It makes you empty."
Obito's hands trembled. He shut his eyes for a moment, trying to hold himself together.
"Rin was concerned about your well-being," he said softly. "That medkit she gave you? She sewed a protective amulet into it."
Kakashi stared, unreadable.
"The medkit," he said quietly, "and medical ninjutsu... are systems developed by the Hidden Leaf to increase mission success. But I told you yesterday—getting something useless just gets in the way."
"...Something useless?" Obito echoed.
"Yes. Emotions are useless."
Rei stared at Kakashi like she didn't recognize him anymore.
"Forget it, Obito," she said, voice flat. "He won't change. Not now. Not ever."
She turned, starting down the trail the Iwa shinobi had taken Rin.
"Let's go rescue Rin."
Obito's head snapped toward her, eyes wide. But he didn't hesitate. He let go of Kakashi and followed her without another word.
"You both don't understand anything!" Kakashi shouted after them, his voice cracking.
"Not about what happens if you break the rules..."
They didn't turn back.
But Obito slowed. He looked at Rei, who already knew what he was going to say. Her heart thudded with anticipation.
Obito turned to face Kakashi one last time, eyes blazing.
"I believe... that the White Fang was a true hero," he said. "Sure, in the world of shinobi, those who break the rules are called scum..."
He paused, taking a breath.
"But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum."
Rei's breath hitched.
Warmth flooded her chest, sharp and sudden. Her throat tightened. She didn't speak—but in that moment, she felt like Obito had said everything she never could.
They walked side by side into the woods.
Leaving Kakashi in silence behind them.