Konoha.
After negotiating with Kumogakure and Iwagakure one after another and signing ceasefire agreements, Konoha had become the only shinobi village in the entire Shinobi World that stood apart from the rest.
Only a small force of shinobi remained at the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, still facing off against Kirigakure.
Ye Ning had finally enjoyed a rare stretch of peace and quiet.
But that peaceful time did not last long.
Konoha Training Ground.
Minato sat cross-legged on the grass in front of Kakashi and Rin, smiling helplessly.
"Obito's late again today!"
Though he said that, Minato didn't feel much resentment toward him.
After being their teacher for so long, he already knew exactly what his student was like.
Even though Obito had become much more diligent than before, he still hadn't shaken his habit of being late.
Kakashi sat there, feeling weak and limp. He said listlessly, "I bet his excuse will be that he got held up helping some old lady cross the street again, right?"
As he spoke, Kakashi rubbed his aching arm.
Kumogakure's Lightning Release Chakra Mode really wasn't something one could master easily.
Kakashi had been training for a while, but his muscles still ended up aching like this.
That didn't diminish his resolve to master it, though. If anything, it made him all the more determined.
Lately, Obito had been training as if possessed, and his strength had improved by leaps and bounds.
Kakashi didn't want to be surpassed by the self-proclaimed dead-last.
Noticing Kakashi's movement, Minato paused for a moment, then took a tube of ointment from his ninja pouch.
"Put this on when you get home. Your teacher's wife noticed you getting hurt during training and prepared it especially for you. It should also help ease the soreness."
At Minato's