The Important Mission

Ryuu teleported with Jiraiya back to Konoha and immediately to the Hokage's office.

"So, you're finally back, eh?"

They nodded.

"Well then, tell me what you've found out."

Jiraiya spoke.

"For those two years Sunagakure had made no allies, they don't side with either Iwagakure or Konohagakure, they only defend their territory and so far haven't made plans to attack any of the lands, or at least, that's what they want it to look like."

Ryuu took out a scroll with Sunagakure's plans, he gave it to the Hokage and he skimmed through it.

"I was undercover as Rasa's apprentice, he's close to the Kazekage and so they gave me a lot of access.

They've shown no loyalties to any great nation but still despise us because the white fang killed Lady Chiyo's son and they might plan an attack." He nodded.

"Speaking of, Sasori of the red sand departed a year ago, leaving Sunagakure weaker, if we're lucky we can ally with them, they need it more than we do." He nodded.

"Good to see that you uncovered so much in 2 years, but I'll let you go now, I'm sure you've been eager to see your friends again." Ryuu nodded.

"And you should know, Kakashi is now a jonin."

He nodded then vanished in a blur of lines.

Ryuu teleported to where Kakashi was.

"Alright, one more try," Kakashi said to himself.

Kakashi was training and the training ground was in ruins, stones were shattered and the ground had patches.

He was panting and sweating.

'Is that-' Ryuu was shocked as he watched purple lightning build on Kakashi's hands.

"Purple lightning!"

Kakashi jumped and stabbed the stone.

"Boom!" It shattered into pieces and Kakashi was panting hard while sweating.

'Even when he's this young Kakashi is a genius, I gave him Chidori and told him its weaknesses and gave him a brief description of purple lightning, yet after a few years he has already made purple lightning.'

Kakashi fell to his knees and was panting.

"Hey, are you ok? You over-exhausted yourself."

Ryuu went to heal Kakashi and gave him Phoenix Flame to restore his chakra.

"I'm alright, I knew you were here and so I exhausted myself knowing that I have my chakra battery right here."

Ryuu's head dropped depressingly.

"I've been back for less than 10 minutes and someone has already degraded me to being a chakra battery."

Sigh

Kakashi smiled and was helped back up by Ryuu.

He walked with him to go get the others.

"So, how have you been?" Kakashi asked.

"You know, one mission here, next thing you know, I'm helping Jiraiya-sensei do his 'research'." Kakashi facepalmed.

"And here I was thinking, just cause you've grown a little taller, you've also become a little wiser, I guess I was wrong."

Ryuu's head dropped depressingly.

'He's always so depressed and somehow he's also the most enthusiastic person I know.' Kakashi said to himself as he patted Ryuu's back.

The two of them walked to Obito's house.

"So this is where Obito lives."

"Kakashi, you've never been here?"

He nodded.

"Why would I want to go to Obito's place?"

Sigh

"You two will need to sort yourselves out, I was gone for a few years and now you're all back to being enemies," Ryuu added.

Minato teleported in front of them.

"Big brother!" Ryuu hugged him.

"I haven't seen you in so long, you've grown quite a lot since I last saw you," Minato said.

"Anyway, I need you guys tomorrow morning by the border, we have an important mission."

Ryuu and Kakashi nodded.

"Let's get Obito," Kakashi said.

Minato teleported away.

Ryuu and Kakashi climbed through the window.

Obito was staring at a picture of Rin, he had covered Kakashi's face, and just before he kissed the photo,

Ryuu and Kakashi appeared in front of him.

"Come with us." They said.

"Hey!" He jumped back and dropped his photo.

"Since when did you come back?"

He asked as Ryuu helped him up.

"I haven't even been here for an hour and Kakashi called me a chakra battery."

Obito laughed.

"Anyway, what do you need me for?"

"Just come with us." Obito nodded.

The two of them nodded and followed Ryuu.

Ryuu led them to Ichiraku ramen.

"Ryuu? I haven't seen you in so long. Have you been on some important mission or something?" Teuchi asked.

"Yeah, I was on a mission with Jiraiya-sensei, I could've used some of your ramen, you know."

He smiled.

"Well, I'm glad to have you back."

Ryuu nodded.

"Aren't you two going to order something?"

They shook their head.

"I'm not hungry," Obito said.

Sigh.

"And what about you, Kakashi?"

"I'm not hungry either, anyway, let's talk at home, I'm glad you're back though."

He left.

And so did Obito.

Sigh.

"I'm guessing there's some tension between them," Ryuu said to himself. Teuchi brought his ramen.

"Thanks for the food." He said.

This time, he didn't sound excited at all.

After eating, he paid and walked home.

'Man, today has been so boring.

I thought they'd at least be happy I'm back; it seems they've gone back to being enemies since I left.'

He made a ball using Phoenix Flame and juggled it while walking.

"I'm home." He said.

He looked around, and nobody was home.

Ryuu went to sleep early.

The next morning arrived and Ryuu woke up early.

'Father still isn't here, I'm guessing he's on a mission.'

He got up from bed and went to wake Kakashi up.

"Yo Kakashi, get up. We have a mission, remember?" Kakashi slowly got up.

Ryuu went to make breakfast and left early to wake Obito up.

After doing that, he left and went to the borders of Konohagakure.

He was the first to arrive, so he sat down and crossed his legs, and started meditating.

20 minutes passed and Ryuu hadn't stopped meditating, he heard voices in the background.

"Minato-sensei, Ryuu has been back for only a day and he's already going on a mission again?" Minato nodded.

"Our mission is extremely important, and it would be significantly easier if Ryuu was there to help us do it." She nodded.

"Plus, we all know Ryuu has enough energy to go back-to-back missions for months." She smiled and nodded.

They found Ryuu meditating on the floor.

"It's about time you guys have reached here," Ryuu said.

"Well, I'm glad you're here this early."

Ryuu nodded.

"Where are the others?"

"Give them 10 minutes, Kakashi is nearby and Obito isn't that far back."

Minato nodded.

"Where's Tsunade-chan? I haven't sensed her in the village."

"She left along with Shizune and her sister." Ryuu nodded.

"So Ichika is still here?" He nodded.

A small smile appeared on Ryuu's face.

After Kakashi and Obito arrived, Ryuu stood up and stopped meditating.

"Follow me," Minato said.

Ryuu and the others nodded.

They followed Minato, Ryuu would warn them if there were enemies in their way.

"Getting late again, Obito?"

Obito shook his head.

"No way. I'm just always helping people as much as I can."

"Your job as a shinobi isn't to help old ladies cross the street, you're now a chunin in a war, act like it." Obito frowned.

Ryuu frowned as he heard Kakashi and Obito bickering.

"Both of you are acting immature, stop fighting amongst each other, our village depends on us finishing this mission."

Obito folded his arms and left.

"You and sensei are too soft on him, he's a fully fledged shinobi and should at least be able to keep time, shinobi who break the rules, are considered as scum. Have you forgotten what happened to dad?"

Ryuu frowned.

"How could you even think that?!"

Ryuu's chakra built up, causing the air to shift.

"Listen to me and listen well Kakashi, unless you've forgotten what I told you that day, it's true that shinobi who don't follow the rules are considered scum.

But those who would abandon even one of their friends are much worse than scum. That's the reason till this day I support our father's decision to save his comrades."

Sigh

"Here, I heard about today, it's a special day for you so I asked Rikuto to make this for you." Ryuu teleported and brought a sword using his Mangekyou.

"It's almost the same as mine, the only difference being yours doesn't use chakra or blood as a source but has my ash which cuts through things like paper."

Kakashi stared at the sword.

"Woah, thanks Ryuu." Ryuu smiled and nodded.

"What's so special about today, anyway?" Obito asked.

"As of today, Kakashi is a jonin just like Ryuu and me.

For this mission, Kakashi and I will break into two teams, which makes us more efficient, since Konoha and Kumo had an alliance, our military strength has doubled, but I suggested we do this ourselves to preserve strength."

They nodded as Minato spoke.

"Kakashi will lead you two as Ryuu and I make a distraction in the front lines."

Ryuu nodded.

"Obito, don't you remember? We were talking about this the other day?"

Rin asked.

"When we discussed getting Kakashi a gift." She added.

Obito frowned and looked away.

"Sorry, I wasn't listening."

Kakashi glared at him.

"Well, here's what I got for you.

A custom-made Kunai, it's a little heavy and unconventional, but you'll get used to it quickly." Minato tossed it to Kakashi, and he caught it.

"Yeah, thanks." Rin reached her hand into her bag and took out a med kit.

"This one's from me, I made adjustments to make it easier to use."

"Yeah, thanks." He said as he put it away.

He held his hand out to Obito.

"What are you holding your hand out for? If you're expecting a gift from me, you can forget it."

He retorted.

"That's fine, I doubt it would've been anything good anyway, better nothing at all than a useless burden."

Obito activated his Sharingan.

"What I don't understand is how a guy like you gets to become a Jonin."

He said as he pointed at Kakashi.

"That's amusing coming from you." Kakashi coldly replied.

"I am Obito Uchiha of the powerful Uchiha clan." Kakashi rolled his eyes.

"I get it, since you got your Sharingan, you believe you can beat me."

Obito folded his fist.

Ryuu stepped in and separated them.

"Be quiet!"

Ryuu turned on his three tomoe Sharingan and they gulped, seeing how serious he had become.

They calmed down.