The Power of a Jonin, Kid!

"The reason I called everyone here is that I'm the main person in charge of this mission."

Once Namikaze Minato saw that everyone had arrived, he spoke.

"Your original squad's Jonin has been assigned to another mission, so the three of you will be temporarily placed under my command."

Namikaze Minato looked at Kiyohara, Kurenai Yuhi, and Genma Shiranui.

"Yes, Lord Minato."

Genma Shiranui nodded.

With Namikaze Minato acting as their squad leader, this mission might turn out to be unexpectedly easy.

Unlike the others, who looked as if they were heading out for a spring picnic, Kiyohara did not dare let his guard down.

In this lineup, only Namikaze Minato and Kakashi, who would soon become a Jonin, could be considered strong.

Everyone else was a Chunin.

Kiyohara was the only Genin.

In the past, he had wanted to delay taking on dangerous missions for as long as possible, so he had never participated in the Chunin Exams.

Now that Konoha was desperately short of manpower, forget a seasoned Genin like Kiyohara—even rookies who had just graduated from the Ninja Academy had to go to war.

This mission was supposedly reinforcements, but they would more likely be handling miscellaneous tasks—drawing the enemy's attention.

The main objective was to blow up the bridge. With enough people, they could confuse the enemy and buy precious time for whoever was carrying out the demolition.

"To better understand your abilities, I'd like to conduct a test."

Namikaze Minato spoke.

He knew his own students well, but he knew nothing about Kiyohara and the other two.

Being a Genin did not always mean one only possessed the strength of a Genin.

It was entirely possible they simply had not had time to take the exam.

"Obito, spar with Kiyohara first."

Namikaze Minato called out to Obito.

Kakashi was too overwhelmingly strong, while Nohara Rin was a medical ninja. That left only Obito.

"Hehe, perfect. Time to stretch my legs!"

Obito grinned as he pushed up his goggles, looking relaxed. He took great care of those precious eyes of his.

He did not think much of the guy before him, who was only a Genin.

After all, he was an Uchiha. Even though he had yet to awaken his Sharingan, the confidence of his bloodline still ran deep in his bones.

"Alright."

Kiyohara nodded and stepped forward.

Besides practicing ninjutsu, Renegade Kiyohara had also been teaching him one-on-one combat techniques these past few days.

After all, if a renegade ninja lacked fighting ability, he would have been killed long ago.

Thus, although Kiyohara had not learned much ninjutsu, he had picked up many combat techniques.

"Begin."

Namikaze Minato said.

Kiyohara readied himself for battle.

His chakra reserves had previously been close to a Chunin's, but he had simply never taken the Chunin Exams.

Now that he had merged with part of Renegade Kiyohara, he undeniably possessed more chakra than an ordinary Chunin.

So when it came to sparring with Obito, Kiyohara felt completely confident.

Obito's combat ability was actually quite good as well, but before awakening his Sharingan, he was not steady enough.

Renegade Kiyohara's spirit appeared behind him.

"Remember, Obito has the physical abilities of the Uchiha clan. You only need to seize his openings."

Kiyohara nodded faintly.

"Begin."

Namikaze Minato announced.

Obito moved first!

With a kick of his foot, dirt sprayed from the ground as he instantly closed the distance between them.

His Kunai tore through the air, shooting straight for Kiyohara's throat.

At that moment, Kiyohara drew his own Kunai as well.

With a clang of metal, a brilliant shower of sparks burst forth.

Kiyohara's Kunai blocked the attack, while he simultaneously took half a step back to dissipate the force.

"So fast..."

Obito had assumed Kiyohara was merely a Genin and had underestimated him.

But now, it seemed this guy was anything but simple.

Then he flipped his Kunai, slashing upward and chopping downward, launching a seamless chain of attacks.

Kiyohara's body moved almost on instinct.

"Your movement was wrong. You should block like this..."

Renegade Kiyohara's spirit continued explaining combat techniques to Kiyohara.

Listening to the experience of his future self, Kiyohara felt as though enlightenment had struck him.

Obito was not facing just one opponent. Kiyohara had an old master in Renegade Kiyohara!

The power of a Jonin, kid!

As time passed, Obito realized that Kiyohara's movements were becoming sharper and smoother, like a clumsy apprentice who had suddenly found his own rhythm.

He kept launching attacks from unbelievably tricky angles.

And Obito could feel that Kiyohara was improving bit by bit.

"His stance is unstable. His center of gravity is too far back. Attack from his left and force him to move..."

Renegade Kiyohara said.

Kiyohara flicked his wrist, changing his Kunai from a thrust into a slice as he attacked Obito's left side.

As expected, Obito became much more awkward, and a trace of stiffness appeared in his defensive movements.

As the two exchanged blows, Obito gradually fell into a disadvantage.

Obito's eyes widened. He was just a civilian, yet his improvement was this fast.

A few minutes ago, he could barely keep up with the pace. Now he was actually beginning to suppress Obito!

"How is that possible?!"

The longer Obito fought, the more alarmed he became, and the pressure on him surged.

Rin was watching. He did not want to embarrass himself in front of her.

"It's practically as if a famous master is standing right there, telling Kiyohara in real time how to attack and counterattack."

Watching Kiyohara improve so rapidly, Namikaze Minato could not help having that thought.

Then he could only smile.

There was no one here except them. Where could such a person possibly be?

"Why does Kiyohara seem so much stronger than before?"

Kurenai Yuhi's ruby-like eyes reflected Kiyohara's figure.

She and Kiyohara had been classmates for years. They practically knew each other inside and out.

Could the pressure of survival have brought out Kiyohara's potential?

No matter what the others guessed, Obito was now under mountain-like pressure, with none of his initial confidence remaining.

Damn it, Rin is right here!

Bearing the Uchiha name, I absolutely cannot lose!

Obito reached his left hand into his ninja tool pouch. When he pulled it out again, several Shuriken were clamped between his fingers.

Shurikenjutsu was one of the Uchiha clan's specialties!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three Shuriken flew from Obito's hand, sealing off Kiyohara's upper, middle, and lower routes. Their angles were tricky, showing that Obito had indeed put considerable effort into his throwing techniques.

"Don't forget the technique I taught you."

Renegade Kiyohara said.

Only Kiyohara could hear him.

To everyone else, he was a ghost as insubstantial as air.

Kiyohara nodded slightly, then took out only a single Shuriken.

Whoosh!

Kiyohara's Shuriken flew out, launched later yet arriving first. It carved an arc through the air and struck the tail of the first Shuriken Obito had thrown.

Clang!

After a crisp collision, the Shuriken Kiyohara had just thrown curved as if turning in midair and struck the remaining two Shuriken.

Clang! Clang!

With a series of clear rings, Obito's confident three-hit combo was completely broken by a single Shuriken, which sent them scattering crookedly across the ground.

"How is that possible!"

Obito's eyes went wide with disbelief.

He had not even learned how to make Shuriken curve, yet Kiyohara already knew it!

Caught off guard, Obito's defensive movement with his Kunai slowed for an instant.

How could Kiyohara possibly let such a fleeting opportunity slip away?

Obito only saw a blur. Just as he raised his Kunai to defend himself, Kiyohara's hand clamped around the wrist holding it like an iron vise, while his foot hooked Obito's leg.

"Ugh!"

Obito felt an irresistible force strike him. His center of gravity vanished completely, and the world spun around him.

Bang!

With a dull thud, Obito was slammed solidly onto the ground, kicking up a little dust.

The tip of Kiyohara's Kunai was already resting lightly before his throat.

The battle came to an abrupt end.

The field fell silent.

Even Kakashi's ever-lazy gaze flashed with a trace of surprise.