06 - Team 7

At this point in time, the Third Great Ninja War has just broken out.

The catalyst was the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, after which Suna blamed Konoha and brazenly launched the war.

This round of the ninja world war came suddenly. Compared to the past, the interval between wars was shorter. The gap between the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars was over 12 years.

All five major ninja villages were caught off guard, not expecting the war to return so quickly.

Especially Konoha.

They had been overly optimistic about the prospect of peace, so when the new war erupted, they were completely unprepared. Now, they were forced into battle, with many missions coming at them in a rush.

For instance, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin had just received their task—to infiltrate the Land of Rain and assess Ame's stance in this conflict.

"Our mission is crucial. We can't afford any mistakes," Kakashi stated.

There he goes again, all about the mission, Obito thought, barely suppressing a scowl.

Konoha's previous misjudgment of the war situation showed in many ways, like when they made no effort to stop Tsunade from leaving three years ago after the last war, or when no one reacted when the White Fang committed suicide two years ago.

Moreover, in the 15-year period of peace, their control over small neighboring country had weakened to a dangerously low level. This directly led to Konoha, which had previously managed to fend off enemies at its borders during the Second Great Ninja War, being easily invaded into the Land of Fire at the onset of this war.

And now, the mission assigned to Team 7 was essentially to repay the debts of complacency accumulated over the past few years.

On the first day of receiving the mission, Kakashi had already noticed its difficulty.

"All the outposts that were marked on the map have been removed. The changes in this area of the Land of Rain over the past few years are drastic. Why does Konoha know so little about it? We reached this place in the last war."

In the previous ninja war, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had fought Hanzō of the Salamander in the Land of Rain and maintained a stalemate, which earned them the title of the 'Legendary Sannin' across the ninja world.

Though the Sannin couldn't defeat Hanzō, Konoha had held the strategic advantage throughout that conflict, leaving a deep scar on the Land of Rain. But who would have thought that, just a few years later, the situation here would completely slip out of Konoha's control?

"An outdated map that's lost its reference value, completely changed village layouts, and that new organization we heard about, Akatsuki... We are missing too much information about this place. We need to speed up the mission!"

Thinking about this gave Kakashi a headache.

He wanted to speed up the mission, but his teammates were still upset with him. Even without leaving his position in the tree, he could hear Obito below, loudly complaining.

"He always wears that deadpan expression on missions, and then he says the mission is more important than his comrades. He says failing a mission makes you worthless. Rin, doesn't that seem wrong to you?!"

Following beside Obito, Rin could only smile weakly and try to comfort him, "Obito, just let it go. You know what Kakashi went through two years ago. He's just having a hard time getting past it."

"But I still can't forgive his mindset! How can he talk about his comrades like that? To me, someone who abandons their comrades is worse than scum!" Obito said this with great conviction, partly to rebut Kakashi and partly to show off in front of Rin.

Unfortunately, some people can't keep their cool for long. The next moment, just as he finished speaking, he felt a sudden surge of intense wind pressure as something flew past him at high speed.

When he realized what was happening, he heard a low voice.

"Well said."

Turning around, he was shocked to find that Rin was gone!

Instinctively, he reached into his pouch for a kunai, but before he could act, pain shot through his abdomen. He had been sneak attacked, and the enemy kicked him hard, sending him flying.

This feels great, Shin thought, satisfaction coursing through him as he watched Obito tumble across the ground.

At that moment, he couldn't help but wonder if he was helping future Konan get her revenge.

After all, it's best to get to the big boss early.

"Now your comrade is in my hands."

Hearing his words, Obito was beyond furious. But unfortunately, at this point in time, he was still just a weakling.

"Damn it, give Rin back!"

The only praiseworthy thing about him was his strong will and his obsession with Rin.

However, this time, Shin had meticulously planned his move and didn't give him any chance. As soon as he captured Rin, he handed her over to Konan.

"Konan, restrain this girl."

Following Shin's orders, Konan immediately activated her paper jutsu, folding sheets of paper into chains and securely binding the captured girl.

Ever since they had completed the mission against Mashiro, she had been following his orders more often. Perhaps it was because his theories had gotten to her, or because his reliability had left a lasting impression.

In any case, Konan had become increasingly accustomed to following Shin's instructions.

Like now, when they stumbled upon a strange Konoha team on their way back, he suggested they attack, and she agreed without any questions. Throughout the battle, she followed his commands to the letter, doing exactly as instructed.

His plan to dismantle the core trio of Akatsuki was already starting to bear fruit.

Returning to the present battle, after entrusting the hostage to Konan, Shin turned his attention to the incoming streak of lightning from the treetops.

Kakashi was overwhelmed with regret and anxiety.

I should never have prioritized avoiding Obito over team safety, he berated himself as he charged towards Shin.

Now, Rin was in danger because of it. He was frustrated and angry.

The enemy seemed to know him well, exploiting his impatience with precision.

Shin threw a custom paper kunai embedded with explosive tags. He knew that, without the Sharingan, Kakashi could not control his chidori with precision.

And with the negative effects of his rage and impatience, Kakashi indeed ran straight into the incoming paper kunai.

Boom!

Kakashi, once gripping a blade of lightning, was left charred and disheveled, leaping backward from the smoke.

"Damn it!" he muttered under his breath.

How could I fall for such a simple trap? I'm better than this!

For someone often hailed as a genius, this was likely the first time he'd suffered such a major setback in the opening moments of a battle.

And worse yet, more torment was on its way.

Seeing that Kakashi had been driven back, Shin's smile widened in delight.

"I overheard some of your conversation earlier. If the mission really is your top priority, shouldn't you be abandoning your comrade and retreating right now to preserve the information you've gathered?" he spoke up.

As expected, his psychological attack hit the mark. Obito, who had just climbed to his feet, immediately exploded in anger.

"What?! Kakashi, if you plan on abandoning Rin, we're done! I'll never forgive you!!"

At that moment, Kakashi's eyes widened in shock, while Shin smiled even more gleefully.

"What's our next move?" Konan asked.

Shin's eyes never left the conflicted Kakashi as he replied, "Patience."

Rin, sensing the growing tension, tried to defuse the situation. "Please, don't fight!"

But her words fell on deaf ears as Obito, driven by desperation, charged recklessly at Shin.

Such raw emotion, so little technique. Is this really Konoha's future? Shin thought, easily sidestepping his clumsy punch.

As Obito stumbled past, Shin noticed a flash of silver from the corner of his eye. Kakashi, seeing an opportunity, had attempted to flank him.

So predictable. Shin smirked, already prepared for Kakashi's move.

He grabbed Obito by the collar, using him as a human shield against Kakashi's incoming attack.

"Choose," Shin called out. "Your mission or your comrade's life?"

"Kakashi, don't you dare!" Obito yelled, struggling against Shin's grip. "One day, I swear, I'm going to knock both of you down!"

What will you choose, Kakashi?

Actually, no matter what he chooses, Shin stands to gain.

If he insists on prioritizing the mission, then Shin will gain Rin without any losses, which would be akin to obtaining a key that could control the future big boss! On the other hand, if Kakashi wakes up in time, Shin still won't lose. Just forcing the opponent to acknowledge the importance of the hostage is enough to give him a huge advantage in the subsequent negotiations.

Either way, he's winning.

Not to mention, it's also very entertaining!

However, while seeking enjoyment, Shin wouldn't forget to add a layer of protection for himself.

This was all part of the plan!

"Banana," he said as he threw Obito towards Kakashi.

Obito, caught off guard by the sudden action, still managed to roll to absorb the impact and came up in a defensive stance beside Kakashi.

Konan's eyes widened in confusion for a split second before understanding dawned on her face.

She remembered him mentioning he would use 'banana' as a code word for extremely dangerous situations. Her body tensed, and her grip on Rin tightened instinctively.

Shin discreetly moved to a new position, distancing himself from the surrounding trees and obstacles.

"My companion can turn into paper at any moment, and she has no vital points. You can't take her down with a single strike, so don't think you can easily get your comrade back."

This was not just for Kakashi's ears but, more importantly, for Minato, who might be lurking nearby.

Kakashi looks to be around ten years old, and not yet a jonin, so he likely doesn't have the ability to lead a team independently. In other words, their teacher, Minato, is probably nearby.

But perhaps it was fate, and he was late once again.

Just as he finished speaking, a figure suddenly appeared behind Kakashi. The appearance was abrupt, without any warning. This made Shin's pupils shrink and his nerves tighten, fully alert.

So this is the speed of the Yellow Flash. Impressive.

Fortunately, his warning seemed to have worked—Minato chose to land behind Kakashi rather than launch an immediate attack to reclaim Rin. But it could have been different if Shin had had two hostages; this is why he had let go of Obito.

Konan, who has no vital points, did indeed somewhat counter Minato's one-hit-kill style.

Shin's positioning was also very deliberate—there were no obstacles within ten meters around him that Kakashi could use for cover. Minato would have no choice but to throw a kunai and close in forcefully if he wanted to attack.

Upon landing, Minato hesitated for a moment, wondering: Do these young Ame ninjas know about his abilities and are purposely guarding against him? Or is it just a coincidence?

Suppressing his doubts for the moment, he placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder and spoke softly:

"We do not intend to start a war. Our mission this time is simply to confirm your stance on the ongoing conflict. Along the way, we've harmed no one, so please, return our comrade to us."

Minato had already restrained himself as much as possible. Had he been dealing with ninjas from another small country, he wouldn't have been this polite.

But Shin was not about to accept this kindness, instead looking mockingly at Kakashi.

"Oh? You're revealing the details of your mission so easily? That doesn't quite match up with this little brat's mission-first principle."

Kakashi's fists clenched tightly.

Minato's hand on Kakashi's shoulder pressed down slightly, and his expression became more serious.

"Stop saying strange things to my student. We've shown good faith, so—"

To Minato's surprise, Shin suddenly sneered loudly, interrupting him.

"Good faith? Entering another country's borders without permission, and scouting with a map—Minato, is this what you call good faith?"

"You know who I am?"

At this point, the Third Great Ninja War had only just begun, and Minato's fame had not yet reached its peak. If they were in the northeastern battlefield, it wouldn't be surprising for others to recognize him, as he had already had multiple encounters with the A–B Combo from Kumo, gaining considerable renown there.

But this was the Land of Rain, on the western side of the ninja world. Since when did Ame ninjas have such strong intelligence-gathering abilities? Weren't they known as passive victims, barely surviving the crossfire of the major powers?

"Yes, I know you, the Yellow Flash of Konoha, the elite jonin most likely to become the Fourth Hokage: Minato."

Shin openly pointed out Minato's identity. This shocked Konan standing nearby.

They had simply intercepted a young Konoha squad entering the country, but now they were facing the jonin most likely to become the next Hokage?

Shin, do you always have to take things this far? Konan thought, her grip on Rin tightening again.

Shin continued questioning the future Fourth Hokage, making Konan even more nervous.

"The Land of Rain is an independent neutral country, and not a vassal of Konoha. You come here without notifying anyone, and you call that good faith? Your actions are arrogant, and your attitude is even more distasteful. Konoha has no respect for Ame!"

Knowing Minato's kind-hearted nature, Shin had deliberately taken the moral high ground, seizing the upper hand.

But all of this was just the prelude. Now, he was about to reveal his true purpose—

"Stop talking about good faith, Minato. Something that doesn't exist can't be used as a bargaining chip on the negotiation table. What are you willing to offer in exchange for your comrade?"

"She seems to be a medical ninja, a very valuable asset in the Land of Rain."

"Minato-sensei, you have to save Rin!" Obito shouted at that very moment.

How did a simple recon mission turn into this diplomatic nightmare? Minato felt a headache coming on.

If he wanted to use force, he was at a disadvantage since the opponent had already revealed they knew his identity. Both remained calm and composed, making it hard for him to gauge their true strength. If he tried to reason with them, their words were sharper, and they had already taken the moral high ground, leaving him at a loss.

Even if he wanted to negotiate, the initiative was entirely in the opponent's hands. Obito had already made it clear how much they valued the hostage.

They could have used Kakashi's stance to balance things out, but Shin's earlier words were so effective, they had left him confused and unreliable.

For the first time, Minato found himself struggling, feeling the frustration of dealing with kids.

"What do you want?" he finally asked, unwillingly.

Shin smiled. His gamble had paid off!

Challenging Minato was a risky bet, one that could have led to death, total failure. If he had lost, he would have had nothing left.

But he had won! That was a nice feeling. Now he knew why some people could get addicted to gambling.