Chapter 147: Rin’s Gift

"What's wrong, Sensei Minato?" Nohara Rin asked.

Had Namikaze Minato come to assign a new mission?

As Rin had guessed, Minato glanced at the three of them, his expression unreadable. With a soft sigh, he said, "I have a mission for you."

"Another mission, huh?" Obito muttered, pouting.

He'd finally gotten to see Rin, and now she was being sent off on a mission again. By the time she returned, he might be off on his own task, and they'd miss each other entirely. If only he could be on the same team as Rin. Obito's mind wandered, lamenting his rotten luck.

"Obito, you're included," Minato added.

"Huh?!" Obito exclaimed, his face a mask of disbelief.

Minato sighed again. "Your team will be joining mine for this mission. The objective… is to destroy the Kannabi Bridge."

A few days ago, Konohagakure's leadership had issued an order for Minato to oversee two battlefronts simultaneously, using his subordinates as bait. Minato's heart recoiled at the idea, but he understood the stakes. If they could crush Iwagakure's frontline forces here and sever their supply lines, it could tip the scales decisively in Konoha's favor against Iwagakure. The balance of power among the great nations might shift, and this battle could even determine the outcome of the Third Shinobi World War.

Other fronts were locked in heated stalemates. Stirring the waters here could create a snowball effect, growing larger with every roll. The pressure weighed heavily on Minato, nearly suffocating him. But a shinobi's first duty was to obey orders.

Even in peacetime, Konoha harbored its share of dark secrets. The Anbu and Root handled such matters in the shadows.

At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass…

"You're actually on time for once. That's rare," Hatake Kakashi remarked, surprised to see Obito arriving early.

"Of course! I'm on a mission with Rin today!" Obito declared, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. With Rin around, he had to show off, prove his manliness. How could he not?

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "If a shinobi always worries about who their teammates are, how will you handle solo missions? Have you even read the Shinobi Rules?"

"Kakashi, are you picking a fight?!" Obito snapped.

"Alright, that's enough," Minato interjected, stepping in to mediate.

Obito and Kakashi always bickered—it seemed neither could break the habit.

"Sorry, am I late?" Shimizu Uchiha's voice came from behind as he approached slowly.

He'd been delayed dealing with Guren's matters. Her Crystal Release tended to harm her, so he'd asked Suzumebachi to keep an eye on her at the cave base.

"Not at all, Shimizu. You're right on time," Minato said, shaking his head. He glanced at Obito. "Obito's full of energy here, unlike when he's with my team. It's like this is where he truly belongs."

Sawada Yamachiyo, dressed in a Jonin's combat gear, approached with a chuckle. "You're exaggerating, Jonin Yamachiyo."

Minato smiled at Obito's team leader. "Alright, alright, let's not argue. We're all comrades on this mission, aren't we?" Nohara Rin said, stepping in as Kakashi and Obito's argument showed signs of escalating.

"Rin… you're always so soft on Obito," Kakashi remarked. "Today's important for me too."

Shimizu smirked faintly, his gaze fixed on Rin. "Kakashi's right. You're too kind to Obito. Or have you forgotten what today is for Kakashi?"

"Y-Yes, that's right," Rin stammered, forcing a smile.

"What's today?" Obito asked, utterly confused by their cryptic exchange.

Minato, after a brief conversation with Yamachiyo, approached them. "Today is the day Kakashi is promoted to Jonin. From now on, he's a Jonin, just like me."

Obito's teammates nodded in acknowledgment. Inuzuka Shii seemed to understand, likely having been briefed by Yamachiyo. Their team had lost a member recently—a dark-skinned, heavyset shinobi named Kuno Tetsuji. Now, it was just Yamachiyo, Obito, and Shii.

"Why Kakashi?" Obito muttered, still puzzled.

Minato's expression grew serious. "Konohagakure is facing an unprecedented shortage of manpower."

He explained the situation to the group, though a faint shadow lingered in his eyes. He looked at Kakashi, offering a smile that lacked its usual warmth. "By the way, this is my birthday gift to you—a special kunai. Bring it on this mission. It'll help me reach you quickly." He handed Kakashi a kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God seal.

Shimizu pulled a short blade from a sealing scroll. "This is my gift. The chakra metal in it is top-grade, excellent for conducting chakra."

Kakashi accepted both gifts, then turned to Rin and Obito. He could understand others not giving him anything—they weren't close. But Rin and Obito… surely they'd prepared something for his birthday?

"I… I got you this," Rin said, handing him a medical kit. "It's a custom-made medical pack. I improved it to be easier to use."

Shimizu watched quietly from the side. According to The Book of Formations, the medical pack Rin gave Kakashi was a crystallization of her affection. Did Rin still feel that way now?

Shimizu studied her closely, noticing the faint glimmer of tears in her eyes. A breeze swept through, and Rin quickly wiped her eyes. "The wind's strong here," she murmured.

"Mm," Kakashi agreed, his hair tousled by the gust. He turned to Obito expectantly.

"W-What? Don't look at me like that! I don't have anything for you!" Obito stammered.

Kakashi shook his head. "Hmph. Not like it'd be anything good anyway."

Obito's temper flared, and the two started bickering again. Once they'd calmed down, Minato called for silence. He pulled out a map from his pack and began briefing them on the mission.

"…Your objective is to infiltrate the enemy's rear, destroy the bridge they use for supply transport, and then retreat immediately. Kakashi is the team leader since he's a Jonin. I'll escort you to the border, then we'll split up."

"Understood!" the group responded in unison.

Shimizu's lips curved into a faint smile. So, it had come to this—the turning point for Rin, Kakashi, and Obito. He hadn't wanted to get involved, but Konoha's higher-ups had specifically ordered him to join Minato on the frontlines.

--

Support me & read more advance & fast update chapter on my patreon:

pat reon .com/yuuwand