Mission Failure

"You punk, if you hadn't suddenly jumped next to me back then, how would I have gotten involved with those guys?"

Kazashiro actively denied any connection to Obito.

If only I'd known this person was being targeted by Madara. What if that old fox heard I was close with Obito and decided to make me a Three-Tails Jinchuriki?

He was still young and didn't want to become another casualty under Kakashi's Raikiri.

Speaking of which, if I really did become that kind of character, wouldn't I become a tearful Kamui memory when Obito is mentioned in the future, with my face filling his eyes?

What, I want to create a world with Kazashiro in it, then just AFK in the Pure Land, waiting for Obito to be persuaded by Naruto's Talk no Jutsu, and at the critical moment, appear as a soul to take a blow for Naruto and Sasuke...

Thinking about it, this plot doesn't seem too bad--

What a load of crap!

I'm supposed to inherit the old man's fortune and live to see Boruto: Naruto Next Generations as a wealthy gentleman.

How can I just fall like this and have a bromance with them.

"I'm not taking it anyway," Kakashi said shamelessly, tucking his application form under his arm and quickly leaving the scene.

"This guy..." Kazashiro's forehead was covered in black lines. He picked up his own application, hesitated for a long time, and finally took Obito's as well.

"This is bad, this is bad, this is really bad!"

After escorting an old man home, Obito, running with all his might towards the Ninja Academy, was in a panic.

Just as he saw the roof of the Ninja Academy, Obito saw a scene that filled him with despair before he could even breathe a sigh of relief:

Several teachers were cooperating to take down a banner hanging on the school gate, and familiar and unfamiliar faces were walking out of the school, chatting and laughing.

It's over...

I'm probably going to be the first student expelled from the Ninja Academy for being late to the entrance ceremony...

I'm sorry, Grandma, I promised I'd become a ninja everyone admired...

"Hmph, dead last," Kakashi said mockingly, closing his eyes as he looked at Obito, who was standing in the middle of the road, lost in his own sorrow.

If it were any other time, Obito would have argued with him, but he was in no mood for it now.

"Isn't that Obito? I was wondering why I hadn't seen you earlier. You're late again, huh?" Asuma, who was chatting with Kurenai, noticed Obito and said with a smile.

Obito remained silent.

"I say, Obito looks pretty bad, doesn't he?" Kurenai said with some concern.

"He really does. To think that guy would show that kind of expression," Asuma scratched his head, also noticing something was wrong with Obito.

"You punk, when are you ever going to stop being late?"

Kazashiro, who was chatting with Anko at the back, noticed them. Not seeing Obito's expression, he handed over the application form that belonged to Obito with one hand.

"What's this?" Obito's vacant eyes finally showed a flicker of light when he saw Kazashiro.

"It's your application form, bro. Hurry up and take it. Can't you see I'm holding my hand out? It's tiring." Seeing Obito still dazed, Kazashiro's tone became a little impatient.

"Thank you, Kazashiro. That's right, bro, you're my best bro!" Obito's spirit instantly revived. He clasped his hands together and thanked his friend.

Huh?

Bro, no...

Kazashiro was a little stunned. He had just said it casually out of habit from his past life, and now he was his best bro?

Don't these ninjas know what politeness is?

Should I explain?

Before Kazashiro could speak, Obito snatched the application form from him, pushed Anko aside, and threw an arm around Kazashiro:

"Don't worry, Kazashiro. If you're in danger in the future, I'll be the first one there!"

Kakashi mercilessly poured cold water on them from the side: "With your habit of being late, by the time you get there, Kazashiro will probably already be beaten to death."

"You'll be the one beaten to death, Kakashi!" Kazashiro rolled his eyes and started a verbal spat with Kakashi.

"Yeah, Kakashi, Kazashiro is very strong." Obito completely sided with Kazashiro.

"As I thought, I knew Obito was spoiled by you," Kakashi said with a "just as I expected" expression, seeing the two of them colluding together.

"You bastard, you're the one spoiling him! And you, Obito, get away from me!" Kazashiro retorted frantically. It was Obito who had taken the initiative to get close from the beginning, but now it seemed like he was the one actively seducing the other.

Damn it, Madara, please open your Sharingan and see clearly. It's Obito who unilaterally came closer. He still loves Rin the most. If you want to mess with someone, go mess with Rin!

Kazashiro prayed frantically in his heart.

Rin: Are you being polite?

Hokage Building.

Hiruzen, who had always treated his subordinates with a kind attitude, showed an unpleasant expression to his subordinates for the first time.

He had thought that with Hatake Sakumo personally handling it, this mission personally assigned by the Daimyo should have been completed smoothly. He never expected Sakumo to give up the mission to save his teammate.

This way, Konoha will face the Daimyo's wrath directly, and the subsidies that had already been agreed upon will vanish like smoke.

"Lord Third, this mission's failure is entirely my fault. I am willing to accept any punishment."

Sakumo, who also knew the importance of this mission, knelt on one knee, completely disregarding the wounds on his body that had yet to be properly treated.

Watching blood seep from Sakumo's wounds as he moved, Hiruzen's thoughts finally turned into a sigh.

"Sigh..."

Hearing Hiruzen's sigh, Sakumo's body tensed sharply, and he lowered his head even deeper.

"Lord Third, I..." The ninja named Imin Rujin, who had been saved by Sakumo, saw Hiruzen wear such an expression for the first time and became nervous, hurriedly preparing to speak.

He desperately wanted Hiruzen to know that he was prepared to sacrifice himself for the village, and that the failure of this mission was entirely Sakumo's fault.

But Hiruzen didn't give Imin Rujin a chance to speak, raising his hand to interrupt him: "Alright, you've both worked hard. Go get your wounds treated first."

Then, Hiruzen summoned an Anbu member and directly instructed them: "Go call Danzo here."

"Yes." The Anbu responded and disappeared in a flash.

Danzo? That leader of the hardliners?!

Imin Rujin was greatly alarmed.

If the Third Hokage called that guy here, it must be to resolve the mess his group had caused. If that person were to handle it, wouldn't that mean...

Imin Rujin wasn't afraid of death, but he was afraid of dying meaninglessly.

If he died on a mission, even if the mission failed, his children could still enjoy the village's compensation, and they would be honored as descendants of heroes, receiving the village's care.

But if he were executed for mission failure, his children would never be able to hold their heads up again.

Even if he survived, his future in the village would be...

Damn Konoha's White Fang, if it weren't for you...

Believing that Danzo would surely punish his group severely, Imin Rujin looked at Sakumo's retreating back, his eyes filled with malice.