Kakuzu glared at the two chatting beside him, wishing he could strangle them on the spot.
“Damn it!
Can’t you two learn to read the room?!”
He looked as though he were on the verge of tears.
How did I end up stuck with these two idiots?
How is any of this my fault?!
[Hashirama Senju]: “Kakuzu, why don’t I remember you?”
[Madara Uchiha]: “Kakuzu.
Stop hiding.
Come out and take your beating.”
[Kakuzu]: “…”
[Deidara]: “Lord Kakuzu, don’t hold back this time!!!”
[Hidan]: “Exactly!
Lord Kakuzu, you’re way stronger than those two!”
[Kakuzu]: “Shut up!
Just watch the video!!!”
The video continued.
Team 7 officially began its first mission outside the village.
Everything proceeded smoothly as the three Genin raced through the forest.
“All right!”
Obito shouted excitedly as he ran ahead.
“I’m going to shine on this mission and become Hokage in one go!”
“You make becoming Hokage sound way too easy.”
Rin sighed helplessly.
“Obito, weren’t you listening to what Minato-sensei said earlier?”
Kakashi looked at him as if he were an idiot.
“There won’t even be a chance for us to fight.”
“With Minato-sensei here, we’d only get in his way.”
“Is Sensei really that strong?”
Obito asked curiously.
“You’ve never heard of Konoha’s Yellow Flash?”
Kakashi looked genuinely surprised.
“I’ve heard of him.”
Rin answered softly.
“He’s an incredibly famous shinobi.
Even the other villages know his name.”
[Naruto Uzumaki]: “Is the Yellow Flash really that strong?”
[Minato Namikaze]: “Of course.
You don’t earn a title like that for nothing.”
[Naruto Uzumaki]: “I really like the Obito in this video.”
[Hashirama Senju]: “Maybe little Obito even held you when you were a baby.
”
[Tobirama Senju]: “Brother, are you serious?
They already explained earlier that this Obito ‘died’ before Naruto was born.”
[Hashirama Senju]: “Oh…
right.
Sorry about that.
”
[Obito Uchiha]: “…”
The video continued.
“…Something’s wrong.”
Minato carefully observed the surroundings, his expression turning serious.
“We’re surrounded.”
“And there are far more enemies than expected.”
“This mission’s danger level clearly exceeds its assigned rank…”
He frowned in thought.
It was obvious.
Someone had deliberately turned this mission into a trap.
This was never a mission suitable for newly graduated Genin.
But who…
Who would dare set such a trap so close to Konoha?
[Mei Terumī]: “No need to guess.
Danzō did it.”
[A (Fourth Raikage)]: “.
I think it was Danzō too.”
[Danzō Shimura]: “Damn it!
So whenever something bad happens, I automatically take the blame?!”
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage)]: “Exactly.
Glad you understand.”
The video continued.
“If I don’t hold them here…”
“We’ll end up surrounded by even more enemies.”
“I shouldn’t have brought the three of them…”
Minato looked toward his students.
His gaze settled on Kakashi.
The only one capable of helping is…
Kakashi.
He should be able to handle his side alone.
As for the other…
I’ll protect him myself.
Having made his decision, Minato disappeared in a flash.
“Listen carefully!”
He instantly appeared beside his students.
“What happened, Sensei?”
Obito asked.
“Enemies are approaching from behind.”
Minato spoke gravely.
“Really?!”
“We’re finally going to fight?!”
The moment Obito heard the word “enemy,” excitement spread across his face.
“Obito.”
“This isn’t a game.”
Minato’s expression hardened.
“…Right.”
Obito lowered his head.
“There are too many enemies.”
“Obito, you’re coming with me to draw away the pursuers.”
“Kakashi and Rin, continue with the mission.”
“Your highest priority is to stay alive.”
“Understood!”
“Obito, let’s go!”
“Yes, Sensei!”
Obito hurried after him.
“He picked me instead of Kakashi…”
Obito grinned to himself.
“I knew Minato-sensei trusted me more.”
“Obito!”
Minato warned.
“Don’t fight them head-on!”
“Our job is to act as decoys and divert their attention!”
“Got it!”
At that moment—
Several weapons sliced through the air.
Obito rapidly formed hand seals.
His cheeks puffed out before he exhaled.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!
A blazing fireball erupted from his mouth.
The incoming kunai were instantly scorched black before clattering harmlessly onto the ground.
As the flames faded…
Minato smiled.
“Well done!”
[Uchiha Tekka]: “Not bad.
This Obito doesn’t look like a dead-last student at all.”
[Uchiha Inabi]: “Yeah.
I don’t know why, but watching him gives me a strangely familiar feeling.”
[Uchiha Kagami]: “Maybe he helped you before.”
[Kirigakure Genin]: “Wait…
this is what you people call the dead last?!”
[Kirigakure Chūnin]: “He can already use the Great Fireball Jutsu this easily.
How is that considered weak?”
[Iwagakure Chūnin]: “What the hell?!
Are all Konoha Genin this strong?”
The video continued.
“All my training wasn’t for nothing!”
Obito’s eyes lit up after receiving Minato’s praise.
“I’ll wipe them all out!”
Without another thought, he charged straight toward the enemy.
“Obito!”
“Don’t rush in!”
“Don’t engage them head-on!”
Minato shouted anxiously.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of weapons colliding echoed through the forest.
Sparks flew as steel struck steel.
Obito gritted his teeth while desperately blocking the enemy’s attacks.
He was clearly struggling.
“Obito!”
Minato dashed forward to rescue him—
Only to have three enemy shinobi block his path.
“Move!”
Driven by urgency, Minato struck with astonishing speed.
In the blink of an eye…
All three enemies were defeated.
[Kirigakure ANBU]: “What the—?!
That was so fast I couldn’t even see him move!!!”
[A (Fourth Raikage)]: “As expected of the Yellow Flash.”
[Boruto Uzumaki (Future)]: “So that’s the Fourth Hokage’s strength…
He’s incredible.”
[Minato Namikaze]: “Hello, the person above me…
You look strangely familiar.”
[Boruto Uzumaki (Future)]: “Let’s keep watching.
You’ll learn who I am soon enough.”