Kannabi Bridge (1)

The next morning, Yami woke up early, the first light of dawn filtering through his window. He quickly got dressed, secured his gear, and double-checked everything one last time.

After eating a light breakfast, he sat on the bed, closed his eyes, and meditated for a while, mentally preparing himself for the mission.

Half an hour later, he opened his eyes, now calm without any wavering or hint of nervousness. Meditation always helped him focus and think more clearly. He had already run through a few scenarios for the upcoming mission. In the worst case, he would die; the second worst case was abandoning his teammates and returning to the village without them. However, if the mission came to that, there would be terrible consequences waiting for him upon his return. Abandoning his companions and failing the mission to destroy Kanabi Bridge might anger the Hokage and complicate matters. He might even be sent to the frontline as punishment. Yami didn't forget that his last stunt—blackmailing the Hokage—had worsened his image a little, but not enough to make Hiruzen hold a grudge against him.

He also had to consider how Minato would react once he found out Yami had abandoned his students. It wouldn't be a warm welcome, that was guaranteed. Despite being a nice person, Minato was still a Shinobi conditioned to eliminate Konoha's enemies. Yami didn't think Minato would just pat him on the shoulder and tell him it couldn't be helped. He would surely make things difficult for Yami, especially since Minato was set to become the Fourth Hokage.

Yami couldn't forget the fact that shortly after Obito's presumed death, Minato stopped an army of 1,000 Iwa Shinobi. Whether out of duty or vengeance, Minato killed at least dozens of them in the process.

"Well, if it comes to that, I'll either leave Konoha or save one of Minato's students. He might be grateful... Actually, that's a pretty good idea…"

If he managed to save one of his students, Minato would undoubtedly be grateful, and Yami could ask him to teach him some advanced Fuinjutsu—even Flying Thunder God wouldn't be impossible.

"This method needs more careful consideration on whether saving one of them wouldn't harm me in any way…"

After thinking about it for a while, Yami decided to wait and see how the mission would develop first.

Exiting his apartment, he made his way to the village gates. Unlike before, the streets weren't filled with merchants shouting; instead, everyone displayed their merchandise and patiently awaited customers. Even though they weren't sent to war, their worries were no less than those of the Ninjas.

When Yami arrived at the meeting point, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito were already there, waiting with their sensei, Minato.

Before he could greet them, Obito suddenly stepped forward, blocking his path. Yami looked at him curiously.

"Hm, do you need something?" Yami asked, noticing Obito's silence. He didn't understand what problem Obito might have with him.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think through what I said yesterday. I hope you can forgive me!" Obito apologized, bowing his head slightly.

"What happened?" Yami looked at Obito in confusion, then glanced at the others around him.

"Yesterday, I said those words without considering your feelings at all. I already know that I was wrong, so..." Obito sincerely admitted his mistake.

"Later, Kushina-san enlightened Obito," Rin briefly explained.

"The people who see their companions die with their own eyes are the ones who suffer the most. That's what Sister Kushina said. So, yesterday... I'm really sorry!" Obito bowed his head again.

"No…" Yami started, feeling somewhat thrown off by the unexpected apology. Could Uzumaki Kushina really have enlightened Obito in this way? It sounded reasonable, but Yami couldn't help feeling a bit skeptical. Obito's relationship with Kushina was quite good; who would have thought Rin's death would change him so much to the point of indirectly causing both Minato and Kushina's death.

"What surprises me is not that you apologized, but that you are not late today." Yami didn't want the mission journey to be awkward given that these would be his teammates, so he attempted to lighten the mood.

If he remembered correctly, Obito in the original story was supposed to be late today. Initially, this surprised Yami. Had the timeline already begun to change?

"I…" Obito scratched his head in a little embarrassment.

"It seems the rumors aren't credible, are they?" Yami smiled and extended his hand.

After a second of hesitation, Obito grasped Yami's hand. "The rumors are indeed unbelievable. How could I be late every time I go on a mission?"

Rin smiled at the exchange, understanding Yami's intention, as did the others.

After seeing Yami accept Obito's apology, Minato also greeted him sincerely. "Welcome, Yami."

Minato then gathered the team. "Since Konoha is seriously lacking in combat power and to improve the efficiency of completing the mission, we will now split into two groups. Rin, Obito, and Yami, the three of you will form a new action team with Kakashi as the captain, and I will operate alone."

"It's unbelievable that someone like Kakashi can become a Jonin..." Obito started to complain somewhat unhappily. Even after 3 months, he couldn't accept the fact that Kakashi had Jonin-level strength.

"I'm also surprised that you became a Chunin," Kakashi responded nonchalantly.

"I represent the elite Uchiha clan. Sooner or later, I will surpass you. When I open my Sharingan, you will know the difference!"

"Even without relying on the Sharingan, all members of the Uchiha clan are elites, right? On the contrary, even if a loser like you has the Sharingan, it probably won't be of much use."

"What did you say!?"

"Really? Stop arguing..." Rin quickly stepped between them, trying to defuse the situation.

Obito huffed but stayed quiet, glaring at Kakashi. Minato clapped his hands to get their attention.

"Alright, enough of that. We have a mission to focus on," Minato said firmly. "Let's move out."

With Minato leading the way, the team departed Konoha and headed toward the Land of Grass. The journey was quiet at first, each lost in their thoughts.

While they were still in the Land of Fire, Yami saw an opportunity to ask Minato some questions about Fuinjutsu. He quickened his pace to walk alongside their sensei.

"Minato-san," Yami began, "I've been studying your notes about Fuinjutsu, and I was hoping to get some advice from you. Could you share some insights or tips on improving my skills?"

Minato glanced at Yami with a smile. "Of course, Yami. What specific areas are you interested in?"

"I have managed to successfully create storage and explosive seals, and barrier seals, but I'm having a little trouble with the latter," Yami replied. "You see, after creating a barrier, I can't sustain it for long, and it becomes unstable and breaks down after a short while."

Minato nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging Yami's concern. "Maintaining stability in barrier seals can indeed be challenging, especially when you're starting out. Let's break down some key points that might help."

He paused briefly, considering the best approach to explain. "Firstly, when you create a barrier seal, it's crucial to ensure that the flow of chakra remains consistent throughout the entire structure. Any interruption or imbalance in the flow can weaken the barrier over time. Think of it like reinforcing a wall: if the foundation isn't strong, the whole structure becomes vulnerable."

Yami nodded, following Minato's analogy closely. "I see. So, it's about maintaining a steady flow of chakra through the entire seal."

"Exactly," Minato affirmed. "Secondly, pay attention to the environment where you place the barrier. External factors such as ambient chakra disturbances or physical obstructions can affect its stability. Before deploying a barrier, assess the surroundings and make adjustments as necessary."

Yami thought back to his recent attempts at barrier seals and realized he hadn't always considered external factors. "That makes sense. I'll be more mindful of the environment next time."

Minato smiled encouragingly. "Good. Lastly, practice is key. The more you work on creating and sustaining barrier seals, the better your understanding and control will become. Start with simpler barriers and gradually increase their complexity as you gain confidence."

"I will, Minato-san," Yami said. "Thank you for the advice. I'll focus on these points and keep practicing."

Yami was indeed grateful for everything Minato had done for him. Not many Ninjas would take their time to advise those with whom they had no close relationship.

Minato nodded approvingly. "You're welcome, Yami. Remember, mastering Fuinjutsu takes time and patience. Don't hesitate to ask if you have more questions along the way."

After chatting for a while, mainly with Yami asking questions and Minato answering, he thanked Minato again before falling back into step with the team, thinking about the new insights he had gained.

****

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