Chapter 54 – Opinions and Adventure
"Obito! Stop fishing already and get over here!
Guy cupped his hands and yelled toward the riverbank, where Obito was still stubbornly splashing about.
The shout made Obito pause mid-step on the water, visibly torn between his two great desires—mastering the Water-Walking Technique… and tasting Taichi's legendary cooking.
In the end, hunger won.
He leapt out of the water, shook himself off like a drenched puppy, and ran back to join the group, grinning sheepishly.
"Obito," Taichi said as he handed him a freshly grilled skewer, "you can't rush water-walking. Some things take time. You can't get strong overnight."
Then he turned to Akimichi Tangdō with a teasing smile.
"Right, Tangdō?"
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Hey, hey!" Tangdō protested with his mouth full. "This body isn't fat—it's well-nourished! Took years of dedication to build this masterpiece!"
The laughter grew louder.
Even Kakashi's stoic façade cracked slightly as he turned away, pretending not to smile.
The group sat around the fire, eating and chatting freely. Between mouthfuls of food, the conversation turned to their new lives as genin.
Since Kakashi had been a genin the longest, he naturally became the center of attention, recounting a few of his earlier missions in his usual calm, clipped tone.
Taichi, on the other hand, picked out the lighter, more amusing stories from his own experiences, keeping the atmosphere lively.
"So basically," Obito said, frowning, "after becoming genin, we have to do a bunch of boring D-rank missions before we can even try anything cooler?"
"D-rank missions are just chores around the village, right?" Shizune asked curiously. "Do we ever get to leave the village for them?"
Taichi nodded, answering patiently.
"There's a reason for it. The village uses D-rank missions to help new genin learn the basics—how to follow orders, work together, and get used to real mission flow. It's not about danger; it's about building teamwork and discipline."
He paused to flip another skewer, the flames reflecting in his calm, focused eyes.
"If you rush into higher-ranked missions too soon, you'll only make mistakes that could cost you your life—or someone else's."
The words carried a quiet weight, born of experience.
For a moment, the group fell silent, thoughtful despite the crackling fire and the smell of roasted fish.
Then, naturally, the lighthearted mood returned.
Asuma had somehow ended up sitting right beside Kurenai, handing her food with a grin that made her blush slightly.
Obito and Kakashi were back to their usual banter, bickering between bites.
Shikaji, Tangdō, and Shinya lay sprawled in the grass nearby, lazily digesting, half-listening, half-dozing.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the trees, the laughter of friends mingling with the warm scent of grilled food—a fleeting, perfect moment of peace before the storm that none of them yet knew was coming.
Rin quietly sat down beside Taichi, watching him in silence for a long while.
Taichi noticed her hesitation and turned toward her with a gentle smile.
"Rin, is something bothering you? If there's anything I can help with, just say it."
Hearing his warm tone, Rin finally gathered the courage to speak.
"Taichi… do you think someone like me—after graduation—could really do well as a ninja?"
At first, Taichi was puzzled, but after a moment's thought, he understood what she meant.
"You're worried about the future, aren't you?"
"Mm." Rin nodded honestly. "You and Kakashi make it sound easy, but… I know missions aren't all fun and adventure. Danger's part of the job, isn't it?"
Before Taichi could answer, Shizune walked over and sat nearby, her curious eyes reflecting the same concern. Clearly, she had overheard their conversation.
Taichi looked at the two girls and couldn't help thinking about their fates.
Shizune would eventually be taken under Lady Tsunade's wing, learning medical ninjutsu and surviving long into the future.
But Rin… her path would be far more tragic. Manipulated by Uchiha Madara, forced into an impossible situation—
and in the end, dying by Kakashi's hand to protect the village.
The memory of that story weighed heavily in Taichi's chest. He looked at Rin, and for a fleeting second, pity flickered in his eyes.
Rin, sensing something strange in his gaze, shifted uncomfortably.
Snapping back to the present, Taichi smiled faintly and spoke in an even tone.
"This is just my personal opinion, but… Rin, Shizune—you both may not have the strongest physical aptitude, but your chakra control is exceptional. You should consider focusing on medical ninjutsu. If you train hard, you could become medical ninja. The village values that kind of skill highly."
Shizune's eyes widened slightly. His advice echoed exactly what Tsunade had once told her—it only deepened her resolve.
Rin, however, looked uncertain. She had no clan, no special inheritance—just a normal family. The thought seemed to darken her expression.
Taichi noticed and sighed softly. He knew her well. In their academy days, Rin had always been kind, often helping him when he struggled.
He couldn't just stand by and let her drift toward a grim future.
"Tell you what," Taichi said after a pause. "I've been studying medical ninjutsu myself. I'll write down some of my notes and experiences from the past two years and give each of you a copy."
He smiled. "No favoritism."
Rin's eyes lit up instantly.
"Taichi—thank you! I don't even know how to repay you!"
She knew how valuable his guidance was. Over the last two years, Taichi had spent every break training and interning at the hospital—many of the doctors there had nothing but praise for his natural talent. To her, this gift was priceless.
"We're friends," Taichi said lightly. "And besides, you've helped me plenty of times too, haven't you?"
Rin smiled brightly, the worry in her eyes finally easing.
Just then, a loud argument echoed from the edge of the clearing.
"Here we go again…"
Taichi turned to see Kakashi and Obito squabbling at the entrance of the Forest of Death.
"Come on," he said, standing. "Let's go see what they're up to."
Rin and Shizune followed as the three of them approached the commotion.
As they got closer, the voices became clearer—Obito and Asuma were enthusiastically suggesting an "adventure" inside the Forest of Death.
Naturally, Kakashi was against it. He and Taichi had arrived early that morning precisely to make sure no one did something reckless like that.
But Obito was relentless. The moment he spotted Taichi and the others, his excitement doubled.
"See, Kakashi? You and Taichi are both real shinobi now! You're strong—super strong! If you two come with us, there's nothing to worry about!"
Apparently, even flattery was fair game if it meant getting his way.
"We'll just stay around the outer edge," Obito added quickly, seeing Kakashi hesitate. "It's not that dangerous… unless you're scared, Kakashi?"
He gave Kakashi a smug, provoking grin.
At seven years old, Kakashi still had the pride of a boy—and Obito knew exactly how to push his buttons.
"Fine," Kakashi muttered. But as soon as he said it, regret flickered across his face. His eyes darted toward Taichi, silently pleading for backup.
Taichi hesitated for a moment, ready to refuse. But then he remembered his earlier thoughts about Rin and the others—their lack of real-world experience.
Perhaps a little danger, under supervision, could be the best kind of lesson.
"It's fine," he said, meeting Kakashi's gaze with a reassuring look. "We'll keep an eye on them. Think of it as early field training."
"…Alright," Kakashi sighed.
With both of the "real" shinobi agreeing, the rest of the group cheered.
They were young, eager, and full of courage—future ninja in every sense.
After some quick discussion, they decided on a plan:
Taichi and Kakashi would stay alert as rear guards and safety nets, only stepping in if things went wrong.
The rest—Obito, Asuma, Guy, and the others—would take the lead and handle the exploration themselves.
Once everyone was ready, they slipped past the wire fence and entered the Forest of Death.
Sunlight filtered through the tangled canopy, casting dappled shadows across the ground. The air was thick and damp, filled with the earthy scent of moss and decay.
Obito led the way, pulling aside hanging vines as he charged ahead.
Behind him, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio followed closely, while Guy and Asuma brought up the rear.
Rin, Shizune, and Kurenai walked in the middle, kunai in hand, keeping watch.
Meanwhile, Taichi and Kakashi moved silently above them, leaping from branch to branch, blades half-drawn—ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
The deeper they went, the more chaotic things became. They tripped over roots, stumbled through thick undergrowth, and drew laughter with every minor mishap.
Still, between the laughs, they learned things no classroom could ever teach—how to read tracks, how to spot herbs, how to listen to the forest itself.
Then—
Crack.
The sharp snap of a dry twig instantly froze everyone in place.
Guy spun around, dropping into a Leaf Whirlwind stance, while Obito's fingers flicked a shuriken into his palm.
The bushes ahead rustled violently—then burst open.
A massive wild boar, nearly two meters tall and covered in gray-brown bristles, charged straight toward them, tusks glinting as it barreled through the undergrowth!
"Scatter!" Taichi shouted.