Rin smiled softly. "Obito, you look excited."
"Whatever!"
Obito crossed his arms, but his twitching expression betrayed him. His body was far more honest than his words—this was the first time he had ever left the village, and the thrill was written all over his face.
"Idiot," Kakashi muttered flatly.
Obito spun on him. "Kakashi! You're calling me an idiot again?!"
"Enough," Rin said quickly, stepping between them. "We're on a mission."
Obito snorted, marching a few steps ahead of the team. "What kind of mission is this? It's been a whole day, and we haven't even seen a bird!"
Ryoma walked at the rear, his expression calm, lips curved in a faint smile. No birds, perhaps… but we're not alone.
High in the trees, two masked shinobi watched the four Konoha youths carefully. Their hitai-ate gleamed with the insignia of Kirigakure.
"Three kids that young, already wearing flak jackets as genin? Looks like Konoha's really desperate. Even Academy brats are being sent on missions now."
"That's not our concern. We should report this to Lord Jūzō immediately."
"Hold on. Just three children and one unknown stray. If we take them down, it'll be great credit when we return!"
"You mean… capture them?"
"Exactly. Maybe we can even pry out information about Konoha's troop movements. That would be a real achievement."
"…Fine."
The two Mist-nin exchanged a glance, their decision made.
Team Minato followed the sunlit forest path, coming upon a shallow pool of water.
Ryoma's eyes narrowed. He trailed behind the others, watching.
The instant he stepped forward, two figures burst from the water—Kirigakure shinobi lying in wait. Their blades cut cleanly through Ryoma's body, splitting him apart.
Rin screamed. Obito and Kakashi froze.
The Mist-nin smirked. "One down already. And here's our second target!"
They flickered behind Obito, kunai poised.
Obito's eyes went wide. His body locked up in terror, unable to move. The blades flashed toward him—
But Kakashi was faster. He intercepted with a sharp kick, knocking both enemies back. He caught Obito by the collar and dragged him out of harm's way.
Obito collapsed to his knees, trembling. His heart pounded with the suffocating realization—They killed him. Ryoma… is dead…
"Clone Jutsu!" Kakashi formed hand seals, producing two shadowy replicas at his sides.
The Mist-nin licked their lips. "Oh? A genin already using Bunshin? Looks like we found ourselves a genius. I love killing genius brats."
Rin, pale but resolute, flung a kunai toward them.
Clang! Their blades deflected it easily.
"Well, well," one sneered, eyes flicking to her. "And such a cute little kunoichi too. You'll fetch a better prize alive—haha!"
Kakashi gritted his teeth, splitting into three clones as he charged them.
"Foolish child."
Vines suddenly erupted from the ground, entangling the Mist-nin's legs.
"Huh?! What is this?!"
They struggled, but Kakashi's clones were instantly shredded apart by their counterattack.
Kakashi's real body lunged, kunai aimed for his enemy's heart. But in that same instant, the Mist-nin's blade was already at his throat.
Too slow…
Kakashi's eyes widened as both weapons closed in.
"Failed…" he whispered.
At that moment, the Mist-nin's hand was suddenly ensnared by vines erupting from the ground. Kakashi's kunai slid across his opponent's face, and in the same instant, his own blade drove straight into the enemy's chest.
"Ugh!"
The Kirigakure shinobi's eyes went wide. He stared at Kakashi in disbelief before collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
Kakashi staggered back, heart hammering in his chest.
Did I… just kill someone?
A slow clap echoed through the clearing.
"Congratulations, Kakashi," a calm voice said. "On your first successful kill."
Ryoma stood behind them, smiling faintly. "This is a shinobi's rite of passage."
The surviving Mist-nin's eyes bulged.
"Impossible! You… you were cut down! How are you still alive?!"
Team Minato turned as one, equally stunned.
Kakashi: "…"
Rin gasped. "Teacher Ryoma… you're alive?!"
Obito shouted, "Ahhh! It was just a clone?!"
Ryoma's smile deepened.
"Surprised? A shinobi never reveals his hand so easily. Now then—what about the other one? Don't just stand there. Deal with him."
Snarling, the remaining Mist-nin flung a hail of shuriken at them.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Every weapon was intercepted by thick wooden roots bursting from the earth, shielding the team completely.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "That… that's the legendary Wood Release—Mokuton?"
Rin's face lit up with admiration. "Sensei is amazing…"
Obito stood frozen, speechless.
Ryoma turned to him, his tone calm but sharp.
"Kakashi has already claimed his first kill. Now it's your turn, Obito. You're the other man in this squad. I'm giving you a task—kill him."
Obito's eyes widened. "What?! Why me?!"
Ryoma's expression hardened.
"If you can't take a life, can you really call yourself a shinobi? The enemy is already bound and helpless. If you don't have the resolve to strike, you may as well quit and go home."
...
TN:
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