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Obito suddenly felt like something was wrong.
Why were the other three standing together, leaving him conspicuously isolated? Had he moved out of formation without realizing it?
After striking a confident pose on the training ground, Kushina turned and spotted the conspicuously isolated Obito first.
"Huh? Why do you think you're special?"
Staring seriously at Obito, Kushina walked toward him, step by step.
"Kushina-Senpai, that's not true! It's them, they're the ones who broke formation!" Obito hastily explained.
His explanation immediately put him at odds with the other three.
"Oh? Is that so?"
Kushina looked at the other genin and asked.
Akira Tsubaki shook his head.
Kakashi shook his head.
Even Rin was shaking her head. Thanks to Akira's earlier jab, Rin was determined to stick to the side of 'justice.'
Next, a notebook appeared in Kushina's hand, and a point was subtracted under Obito's name.
"It wasn't me, it really wasn't me!" Obito was frantic.
He was genuinely stressed. Being abandoned by his comrades for no reason was worse than being wronged like the White Fang himself.
"Practice good companionship—that's the first lesson of ninja teamwork," Kushina said seriously.
Then, she changed her tone.
"Next, I'll be temporarily leading Team Minato! And you are about to face a hellish mission."
"Each of you starts with 10 points. If your score drops to zero, you'll be washed out of the ninja program!"
On the training ground.
Hearing the new rules Kushina announced, Obito's heart hammered.
If he wasn't mistaken, he'd just been deducted one point!
In contrast, Kakashi remained expressionless. A points deduction? Impossible.
Rin was a little nervous, secretly cheering herself on.
Only Akira Tsubaki was secretly overjoyed.
Washed out of the ninja program after deductions? There's such a good thing?
Thinking this, Akira Tsubaki stepped forward. "Don't fight me for it, I'm aiming for zero."
"Kushina-Senpai, actually Obito didn't break formation. It was the three of us who did."
"Why?"
Obito was slightly taken aback, a wave of warmth rushing through him. As expected of my good brother, he stepped up at the crucial moment.
"Ah, I see."
Kushina smiled, picked up her pen, and added a point under Akira Tsubaki's name.
Akira Tsubaki: "???"
Obito was dumbfounded: "Why did he get a bonus point?"
Kakashi pondered: "Showing the bravery to take responsibility for others' mistakes—that's why he got a bonus point?"
Rin couldn't believe it: "That can earn points?"
Akira Tsubaki hadn't expected it either.
This way, I can still get a bonus point? What are the rules for this system?
Next, the hellish mission Kushina mentioned began.
After learning the mission's content, Team Minato fell silent.
It was a C-rank mission. This was the task Kushina had secured for the squad. The genin's scores would be increased or decreased based on their contribution.
"For this mission, Kakashi will serve as the temporary captain!"
"All scheduling and command on this task will be based on Kakashi's orders."
Kushina swept her gaze over the genin and appointed the interim captain.
But as soon as she finished speaking, Obito immediately objected.
"Kushina-Senpai! The captain of our team should be Akira Tsubaki!" Obito was insistent.
"Huh?" Kushina frowned.
"Minato-sensei said before, whoever contributes the most in the D-rank mission will be the captain!"
This sentence had indeed been spoken by Minato Namikaze, and the entire squad had witnessed it.
"Is that so?"
Nodding, Kushina pulled out the notebook again.
Then, Obito's score was reduced by another 1 point.
To be honest, Akira Tsubaki also felt like stepping forward to protest.
But after a moment of thought, he held back.
If I step up and become the temporary captain, won't I just cheat myself out of getting kicked out of the program?
Konoha Village Gate.
Team Minato, having restocked their ninja gear, assembled.
A single ox cart was parked at the village entrance, with a girl of seventeen or eighteen sitting in it.
This was the person they were tasked with escorting: Minako, the proprietor of the Happy Hot Springs.
She was the daughter of the owner of the largest bathhouse in the Land of Hot Water and had come to Konoha a year ago to open a branch. The reason for hiring ninjas now was to ensure a safer journey back to the Land of Steam.
After all, she was worth a fortune.
With the mission details understood, Team Minato prepared to set off.
"I thought Kushina-Senpai would be here too. So, she's not coming?" Obito complained to Akira Tsubaki as they started walking.
"Since Kushina-Senpai isn't participating in the mission, why are you wearing a combat uniform?" Rin was also confused.
Akira Tsubaki ignored both of their doubts.
From time to time, his eyes glanced thoughtfully at Minako in the ox cart.
After a moment.
Kakashi leaned over.
"Did you find something?"
Kakashi had a certain understanding of Akira Tsubaki's observation skills, so he came directly to ask.
"Three concerns," Akira Tsubaki whispered.
"First, from the moment we left until now, this Minako hasn't said a word and looks deeply preoccupied."
"Second, she's supposedly worth a fortune. How could she only hire a simple ox cart, without even a protective awning?"
"Finally, we need to be extremely cautious once we enter the Land of Hot Water."
After hearing Akira Tsubaki's analysis, Kakashi paused to think.
"How do you determine that the Land of Hot Water is unsafe?"
Kakashi had noticed the first two points. But the third point?
Why is the Land of Hot Water not safe? Where did Akira Tsubaki draw that conclusion?
Faced with Kakashi's doubt, Akira Tsubaki didn't explain.
His reasoning was based on the historical context of the Original Timeline—the Third Great Ninja War was approaching fast.
The Land of Hot Water was a neutral country sandwiched between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
What did that mean?
It meant that the current Land of Hot Water was highly likely to be infiltrated by Kumogakure (Hidden Cloud Village).
This was not something he could explain to Kakashi.
"Let Rin try to talk to her and get some information," Akira Tsubaki suggested, changing the subject.
Daimyō's Manor, Land of Hot Water.
Rebel Leader Kawashiro sat high on the central seat.
At his feet lay the dead body of the Daimyō (Feudal Lord).
Beside Kawashiro stood two extremely powerful Lightning Style ninjas.
The fate of the Land of Hot Water had violently changed!