Itachi looked at his younger brother’s messages, his emotions complicated.
He said nothing.
After all, he had long since grown accustomed to being hated.
The video continued.
An entire afternoon passed.
Obito collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.
Rin knelt nearby, panting just as heavily.
Only Kakashi managed to remain standing.
Supporting himself with one hand on his knee, he slowly straightened up and opened his other hand.
A single bell rested in his palm.
Minato smiled with satisfaction as he looked at his three students.
“All of you pass.”
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll officially begin taking missions.”
“Awesome!”
Obito pumped his fist into the air.
“I’ll prove how strong I am in real missions!”
[Naruto Uzumaki]: “Huh?!
They got the bell just like that?!”
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage)]: “Damn!
Kakashi’s an incredible kid!”
[Chiyo]: “From where I’m standing, he’s just a bastard.
Serves him right for growing up without a father…”
[Mei Terumī]: “Tsk, tsk, Chiyo.
Weren’t your son and daughter-in-law killed by his father?
What’s wrong?
Can’t stand seeing someone else’s child doing well?”
Seeing Chiyo’s message, Mei was delighted to seize the opportunity to fire back.
After all, relations between Sunagakure and Kirigakure had been tense recently.
[Chiyo]: “Hmph.
Kirigakure may be mediocre in strength, but your people certainly know how to talk.”
The video continued.
“That said…”
Minato looked at Obito with an amused smile.
“At first, your assignments will all be basic village missions.”
“Things like finding lost pets or locating missing items.”
Obito blinked.
“Isn’t that just a bunch of odd jobs?”
“Even simple tasks are still missions.”
Minato explained patiently.
“If you perform well, you’ll gradually be entrusted with more important assignments.”
He glanced toward Kakashi, who was still standing despite his obvious exhaustion.
“Kakashi has already seen real combat, so these missions may seem boring to him.
Even so, they deserve to be taken seriously.”
“Fine then!”
Obito pointed confidently at Kakashi.
“Let’s make it a competition!
Starting tomorrow, we’ll see who completes more missions!”
“Boring.”
Kakashi replied indifferently.
“I’m not interested.”
“What?
Afraid you’ll lose?”
Obito challenged.
Kakashi’s expression immediately turned cold.
“What did you say?”
The two boys locked eyes, the atmosphere instantly becoming tense.
[Izuna Uchiha]: “That boy named Obito…
he’s nothing like a typical Uchiha.”
[Gengetsu Hōzuki (Second Mizukage)]: “So the Uchiha Clan was wiped out.
None of you have anything to say about it?”
[Uchiha Tekka]: “Just thinking about it makes me furious!
Danzō!
Hiruzen!
The two of you are monsters!”
[Uchiha Tekka]: “Damn you all!!!”
[Uchiha Shisui]: “I wasn’t planning to bring this up…
but I can’t stay silent anymore.
Danzō stole my eye.
Lord Hokage, I ask that justice be done.”
[Tobirama Senju]: “Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Monkey, explain yourself!
What exactly is going on here?!”
[Hiruzen Sarutobi]: “Master…
I didn’t know about any of this.
It was all Danzō’s doing…”
[Uchiha Tajima]: “Damn it!
You’re the Hokage!
You couldn’t even control Root?!”
[Hiruzen Sarutobi]: “…”
[Butsuma Senju]: “The Uchiha are gone?
Wonderful!
That’s the most satisfying thing I’ve heard all day!”
[Iruka Umino]: “Ahem.
Everyone, there are still children in this chat.
Please mind your language…”
The video shifted to another scene.
Team Minato was frantically searching for a missing kitten.
Rin and Kakashi happened to meet in a narrow alley.
“Kakashi, have you found the kitten yet?”
Rin asked curiously.
“Not yet.”
He shook his head.
“If we can’t even handle something this simple, how can we expect to complete more important missions?”
After a brief pause, he added,
“Speaking of which…
where’s Obito?”
“He insisted on completing this mission by himself.”
Rin smiled helplessly.
“I have no idea where he ran off to.”
Kakashi lowered his head thoughtfully.
“So…
he really wants to surpass me…”
The scene changed again.
Obito was patiently asking elderly residents throughout the village for information.
Everyone greeted him warmly.
“Little Obito, I saw that kitten sunbathing on the rooftop just ahead.”
“…”
“Little Obito, the item you’re looking for is actually on a bench in the park.”
“Oh, and I made some snacks.
Come have some before you go!”
Thanks to everyone’s help…
Obito not only found the kitten but also returned carrying an armful of gifts from the elderly villagers.
[Tobirama Senju]: “Looking at Obito…
I can almost see Kagami’s shadow in him.
”
[Hiruzen Sarutobi]: “This child truly embodies the Will of Fire.
He’s an excellent prospect.”
[Mei Terumī]: “And what did that get him?
He still died in the end.”
[A (Fourth Raikage)]: “Konoha is always like this.
They preach the Will of Fire, yet in the end countless people are sacrificed while only those at the top survive.”
[Ōnoki]: “‘Will of Fire?’ Sounds more like brainwashing to me.”
[Raidō Namiashi]: “Let’s just keep watching…”
The video continued.
“Thanks to all the grandpas and grandmas who helped me, I finished finding the kitten and all the missing items!”
Obito beamed with pride.
“And they even gave me lots of snacks!”
Rin looked at him in surprise.
“Amazing…
Obito is so popular with all the elderly people.”
“I guess all the kindness he’s shown them every day really paid off.”
Looking at the smiling boy in his orange goggles, Minato felt warmth well up inside him.
“What goes around comes around.”
“This time, Obito, your everyday kindness has been rewarded.”
Obito grinned before turning toward Kakashi with a teasing wink.
“So…
what do you think, Kakashi?”
A bead of sweat rolled down Kakashi’s forehead.
Embarrassed, he turned his face away.
This time…
He had truly lost.
[Kakashi Hatake]: “That’s just the kind of person Obito was…
kind to everyone.”
[Kurotsuchi]: “He’s such a warm-hearted boy.
No wonder Rin fell for him.
”
[Rin Nohara]: “W-What are you talking about…?
”
[Naruto Uzumaki]: “Watching Big Brother Obito…
I don’t know why, but it makes me feel all warm inside.
”
[Minato Namikaze]: “That’s probably just your imagination.
Hahaha.
”
[Naruto Uzumaki (Future)]: “Let’s keep watching the video…”
(Future participants are forbidden from revealing future events or answering quiz questions.)