Mission Failure

"You bastard, if you hadn't suddenly jumped in next to me back then, how could I have gotten involved with that bunch?"

Kazashiro vehemently denied having any connection with Obito.

He had known this was someone Madara had his eye on. What if that old schemer heard somewhere that he and Obito were close and arranged for him to become the Three-Tails' Jinchuriki?

He was still young. He had no desire to become a victim of Kakashi's Lightning Blade.

Come to think of it, if he really became that kind of character, wouldn't people mention Obito in the future and say, "Kamui could not hide its tears, for his eyes were filled with Kazashiro"?

What nonsense about creating a world with Kazashiro in it, then going AFK in the Pure Land until Obito got talked around by Naruto, before striking at the critical moment in soul form and pulling the two of them in front of Naruto and Sasuke to take the blow...

Looking at it that way, the plot actually seemed pretty good—

Like hell it did!

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

How could he just fall like this and act out some passionate bromance with them?

"Either way, I'm not taking it." Kakashi simply acted shamelessly, tucked his file bag under his arm, and swiftly left the scene.

"This guy..." Kazashiro's face darkened as he picked up his own file. After hesitating for a long while, he ultimately took Obito's as well.

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

After escorting an old man home, Obito sprinted toward the Ninja Academy with all his might, utterly frantic.

Just as he caught sight of the Ninja Academy's rooftop and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Obito saw a scene that filled him with despair:

Several teachers worked together to take down the banner hanging over the school gate, while familiar and unfamiliar faces alike walked out of the academy, chatting and laughing.

It was over...

He was probably going to become the first student expelled from the Ninja Academy for being late to the entrance ceremony...

Sorry, Grandma. I clearly promised that I would become a ninja admired by everyone...

"Hmph, dead last." Seeing Obito standing in the middle of the road, wallowing in sorrow, Kakashi closed his eyes and mocked him.

Under normal circumstances, Obito would have already started arguing with him. But right now, he had absolutely no mood for that.

"Isn't this Obito? I was wondering why I didn't see you earlier. So you were late again." Asuma, who had been chatting and laughing with Kurenai nearby, noticed Obito and spoke with a grin.

Obito remained silent.

"I'd say, Obito doesn't look so good, does he?" Kurenai Yuhi asked worriedly.

"You're right. That guy can actually make an expression like that?" Asuma scratched his head, also noticing that something was off about Obito.

"When are you ever going to stop being late?"

Kazashiro, who was walking at the back and chatting with Anko, noticed them. Not seeing Obito's expression, he casually handed over the other boy's file bag with one hand.

"What's this?" Only when Obito saw Kazashiro did a faint glimmer finally return to his lifeless eyes.

"Your file bag, brother. Hurry up and take it. Can't you see I'm holding it out? My arm's getting tired." Seeing Obito still standing there in a daze, Kazashiro's tone grew impatient.

"Thank you, Kazashiro! That's right, brother, you're my best brother!" Obito instantly perked up and pressed his palms together in gratitude toward his friend.

Huh?

Brother, no...

Kazashiro froze. He had merely said it out of habit from his previous life. How had that made him Obito's best brother?

Did these ninja not know what polite pleasantries were?

Should he explain?

Before Kazashiro could speak, Obito snatched the file bag from his hand, shoved Anko aside, and threw an arm around Kazashiro's shoulders.

"Don't worry, Kazashiro. If you're ever in danger in the future, I'll definitely be the first one to rush over!"

Kakashi mercilessly poured cold water on him from the side. "With how much you love being late, Kazashiro will probably already be beaten to death by the time you arrive."

"You're the one who'll get beaten to death, Kakashi!" Kazashiro rolled his eyes and began trading barbs with Kakashi.

"Exactly! Kakashi, Kazashiro is really strong." Obito had thoroughly joined Kazashiro's side.

"See? I told you, Obito turned out like this because you spoiled him." Seeing the two of them colluding together, Kakashi wore an expression that said, "Just as I thought."

"Bastard, you're the one who spoiled him! And you, Obito, stay away from me!" Kazashiro hurriedly retorted. Obito had been the one to come over on his own from the very beginning, yet now it somehow looked like Kazashiro had taken the initiative to befriend him.

Damn it, Madara, sir, wipe your Sharingan clean and look carefully! Obito was the one shamelessly coming over on his own. The one he loved most was still Rin. If you're going to do anything, go after Rin!

Kazashiro prayed frantically in his heart.

Rin: How rude.

Hokage Building.

Hiruzen, who had always treated his subordinates with kindness, showed an ugly expression to one of them for the first time.

He had thought that with Hatake Sakumo personally leading the mission, the task directly assigned by the daimyo would surely be completed smoothly. Yet Sakumo had unexpectedly chosen to abandon the mission in order to save his teammates.

As a result, Konoha would have to face the daimyo's wrath head-on, and the subsidy they had already negotiated would vanish into thin air.

"Third Hokage-sama, this mission failed entirely because of me. I am willing to accept any punishment."

Sakumo, who likewise understood the importance of this mission, knelt on one knee without any regard for the wounds on his body, which had yet to be properly treated.

Seeing blood begin to seep from Sakumo's wounds with his movement, Hiruzen's thoughts ultimately became a sigh.

"Haah..."

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

"Third Hokage-sama, I..." Imin Rujin, the ninja saved by Sakumo, had never seen Hiruzen reveal such an expression before. He grew nervous and hurriedly tried to speak.

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

But Hiruzen gave Imin Rujin no chance to speak. He raised a hand to cut him off. "Enough. You've all worked hard. Go and have your wounds treated first."

Then Hiruzen summoned an Anbu and directly instructed him, "Go bring Danzo here."

"Yes." The Anbu acknowledged the order and vanished in a Body Flicker.

Danzo? That leader of the hawks?!

Imin Rujin was horrified.

The Third Hokage had summoned that man to deal with the trouble their group had caused. If that person handled it, then wouldn't that mean...

Imin Rujin was not afraid of death, but he feared dying without meaning.

If he died during a mission, then even if the mission failed, his children could still receive compensation from the village. They would also bear the title of descendants of a hero and receive the village's care.

But if he was executed for failing the mission, his children would never be able to hold their heads high for the rest of their lives.

Even if he did not die, he would still be unable to remain in the village afterward...

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

Certain that Danzo would severely punish all of them, Imin Rujin stared at Sakumo's back, his eyes brimming with malice.