Mission: Destroy Kannabi Bridge

While the Mist Battlefield was embroiled in fierce combat, Kakashi stood in the Konoha cemetery, holding two bouquets of flowers before a pair of adjacent graves.

Kakashi stared at the tombstones in silence for a long time before slowly placing the flowers upon them.

"Father, Shisui, I have now become a newly promoted Jonin and even created my own A-rank jutsu, the Chidori. Today is my twelfth birthday, and I also wish you a happy birthday, Shisui..."

Just as Kakashi was sharing his recent achievements, Namikaze Minato stood quietly behind him, only speaking once Kakashi had finished:

"Kakashi, there is a new mission. Say your goodbyes to them."

After bidding farewell to his father and his dear friend Shisui, Kakashi quickly caught up to Namikaze Minato in the distance.

Led by Namikaze Minato, Team 7 walked slowly along the path toward the Kannabi Bridge battlefield.

"Kakashi, before we head to the front lines, congratulations on becoming a Jonin and happy birthday. This is a specially crafted kunai; although the design is a bit unique, it's quite handy once you get used to it!"

Namikaze Minato smiled slightly, pulling a kunai from his ninja tool pouch and handing it to Kakashi.

"Thank you."

Kakashi looked at the peculiar kunai in his hand and nodded.

"Hey, Kakashi, this is a medical kit I made myself. It's an improved version, very convenient to use!"

Rin Nohara took out an exquisite medical kit and handed it to Kakashi with a sweet smile.

"Thanks."

After stowing away Rin Nohara's gift, Kakashi turned his dead-fish eyes toward Uchiha Obito, holding out his hand expectantly: "Well?"

"What is that hand supposed to mean?" Obito scratched the back of his head awkwardly, grumbling with annoyance.

Seeing this, Rin Nohara quickly pulled Obito aside and scolded him: "Obito, didn't I tell you to prepare a gift today?"

Obito lowered his head slightly, looked away, and muttered, "Sorry, I didn't hear you."

Hearing this, Kakashi slowly withdrew his hand and continued on his way.

The atmosphere of the squad seemed to grow heavy. When they reached a large tree, Namikaze Minato tossed a scroll to Kakashi and said:

"Kakashi, you are now a ninja capable of standing on your own. I need to go to the front lines to support Jiraiya, helping him hold off the Iwa Ninja. We will split into two groups; you lead the team to destroy the Kannabi Bridge. Can I trust you with this?"

Kakashi took the scroll, looked at the two people behind him, and said coldly:

"Understood. The mission will be completed. After all, the mission takes precedence over teammates, so don't you two drag me down."

"Kakashi! You jerk, what are you so smug about? Rin and I won't drag you down!"

Obito looked furious, raising his fist in indignation.

"Forget it, Obito. Kakashi wouldn't really do that."

Rin Nohara quickly grabbed Obito, whispering to Uchiha Obito.

After Namikaze Minato departed, Kakashi led the squad through the jungle at high speed until they reached a swamp filled with bamboo.

"Watch out!"

Seeing several sharp bamboo stalks flying toward them, Kakashi shouted a warning. Before his voice had even faded, Obito quickly formed hand seals.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

As the flames rose, the bamboo stalks used in the ambush fell limply to the ground.

"Taiseki, go capture that medical ninja!"

Taiseki's expression sharpened. He nodded without hesitation and responded steadily:

"Understood!"

He quickly formed hand seals with both hands and whispered: "Ninja Art: Camouflage Jutsu."

In an instant, a strange transformation occurred. His body became like a nimble chameleon, the color and texture of his skin blending perfectly with the surrounding environment at a speed visible to the naked eye.

In the blink of an eye, Taiseki vanished without a trace. Even if one stared intently, it was difficult to catch a glimpse of him.

Hidden from sight, Taiseki moved like an invisible wind, rapidly closing in on Rin Nohara.

His footsteps were light and agile, each step taken with extreme caution to avoid making a sound that might alert his target.

The moment he reached Rin Nohara, he burst forth from his concealment, raised his arm high, and delivered a swift, precise hand chop toward the back of her neck.

Rin Nohara didn't even have time to react before her eyes closed and she collapsed limply.

Taiseki caught her body steadily, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and immediately deactivated his jutsu.

His form reappeared clearly before everyone. With a smug smile on his face, he looked at Kakashi and Uchiha Obito, who were still focused on dealing with the bamboo, and shouted:

"We'll be taking this girl with us."

Seeing Rin Nohara captured, Obito shouted in a panic: "Let her go! You bastard!"

"Let's go, Taiseki!"

An Iwa Ninja with a blade strapped to his palm jumped down, tossed a smoke bomb onto the ground, and spoke.

When the smoke cleared, Kakashi and Obito could no longer see anyone.

"Kakashi, let's go! We have to save Rin!"

"No, we continue the mission."

"But, but Rin! What about Rin!?"

"We'll talk about Rin later. Even if it means sacrificing a comrade, completing the mission is the priority."

After Kakashi finished speaking, Obito raised his fist and slammed it hard into Kakashi's face.

Caught off guard by the surprise attack, Kakashi stumbled back and fell to the ground, clutching his swollen cheek as he looked at Obito in confusion.

"Yeah, those who break the rules of the ninja are called trash, but those who don't cherish their comrades are worse than trash!"

Upon hearing these words from Obito, Kakashi stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.

He looked at Obito in disbelief, his lips trembling slightly, unable to speak for a long time.

The rules that were once unshakable in his heart began to crumble under Obito's deafening question.

Outside a cave, Obito stood alone on a tree branch. After searching for a long time, he finally found the place where Rin was being held.

Whoosh! The sound of a kunai slicing through the air reached Obito's ears, but he had no time to block it.

Splat! After Kakashi wielded the White Fang to cut down the Iwa Ninja who had launched the sneak attack, he pulled Obito out of the way.

"Kakashi? You... why did you come here?"

"I couldn't just leave a crybaby to act on his own."

Facing Obito's question, he replied casually while remaining vigilant of his surroundings. The next moment, an accident occurred; a line of blood sprayed from Kakashi's cheek.

"Ah! My eye!"

Kakashi fell to the ground injured, and Obito panicked immediately; he hadn't detected the presence of any enemies at all.

"Kakashi! Are you alright?"

Obito looked around, asking with concern.

"Die!"

Seeing that Obito dared to turn his back on him, Taiseki rushed forward, wielding a kunai to stab at Obito.

Splat! Accompanied by the sound of the kunai piercing flesh, Obito's gaze turned sharp, and the Two-Tomoe Sharingan manifested in his eyes.

"Nani! How... how did you discover me?"

Taiseki spat out blood and fell down, unwilling to accept his fate.

Inside the cave, just as the two of them had rescued Rin and were planning to leave, the cave began to collapse.

"Hurry, go!"

No sooner had Obito finished speaking than a rock smashed into Kakashi's shoulder. Kakashi fell to his knees, and as the next rock was about to crush him, Obito lunged forward and shoved Kakashi out of the way.