The Test

"I understand!"

Namikaze Minato rose with a solemn expression, placed his hands at his sides, and bowed deeply to Sen Chisato. "For the next little while, I'll be entrusting Kakashi and the others to you. I'll do everything I can to help, too."

"There's no need for that." Sen Chisato still wore a stern expression, but sat up straight and placed his hands on his knees. "This is just my own idea. They might not be willing, and I've been presumptuous, too."

After all, Minato was the teacher of the three of them. If Chisato interfered so casually, an ordinary squad leader might not only fail to thank him, but blame him instead.

Ninja had a strong sense of hierarchy and subordination.

"I should be the one thanking you, and they'll agree!" Minato said with confidence.

Kakashi and the others weren't just his students; they were his subordinates as well. There was no way they would refuse his decision.

"In that case, I have no reason to turn you down." Sen Chisato nodded expressionlessly and accepted Minato's request.

That was the end of the conversation.

After Minato left to rest, Sen Chisato finally let himself crack a smile.

Good. He'd also earned Namikaze Minato's recognition and trust. It was time to begin the second phase of his plan for Team Minato.

As expected, topics like friendship, bonds, the village, and comrades were what most earned Namikaze Minato's approval.

"Next, it's time to strengthen Team Minato."

It wasn't that he'd been overcome with saintly compassion. He wouldn't do anything that offered him no benefit.

The main reason he wanted to help Team Minato grow stronger was that they were connected to far too many things.

Team Minato was connected to two generations of Hokage and a future major villain in the Shinobi World.

Uchiha Obito was connected not only to himself, but also to Uchiha Madara, one of the hidden masterminds of the Shinobi World. And Uchiha Madara, in turn, was connected to the Akatsuki...

You could say that as long as he got a handle on Team Minato and everything went according to plan, Sen Chisato's strength would reach the top in no time!

Wasn't that better than quietly building up his strength?

Based on the original story, Uchiha Obito had probably already caught Uchiha Madara's attention by this point. If Sen Chisato wanted to get involved, he couldn't let Uchiha Madara succeed too easily.

That made strengthening Team Minato essential. It would also increase his importance in their eyes.

That was crucial!

Sen Chisato couldn't stay with Team Minato forever, but he needed to know exactly when and where Uchiha Obito would "die."

As long as they remembered to alert him as soon as they faced danger they couldn't handle, and managed to hold out until he arrived, his plan would already be halfway to success.

Although getting involved with Uchiha Madara was extremely dangerous, Sen Chisato wasn't afraid to take the risk!

When the potential rewards were too great to ignore, a little danger was nothing.

"Now, I need to think about how to 'teach' Team Minato."

While on watch, Sen Chisato began preparing his training plan. "Oh, and a way to contact each other."

That would be easy enough.

He could just have Orochimaru teach him Summoning Jutsu.

Time flew by.

The next day.

Sen Chisato was still asleep when a loud, excitable voice disturbed his dreams.

"What? You want us to train under him?!"

Sen Chisato frowned and opened his eyes. Uchiha Obito was arguing with Namikaze Minato.

"Minato-sensei, what can that kid teach us? If anyone's going to teach us, it should be you, shouldn't it?"

Uchiha Obito folded his arms and stuck out his lower lip. He admitted that Sen Chisato had some skill, but he wasn't qualified to instruct the great Uchiha Obito. Even after Sen Chisato had beaten him yesterday, he still refused to accept it.

No, wait!

He hadn't been beaten at all. He'd just been caught off guard.

"Obito, don't underestimate anyone. A ninja's strength has never depended on their age. If you don't change that way of thinking, you'll pay dearly on the battlefield!" Minato's tone was unusually stern, far from his usual gentle self.

"Besides, Chisato is much stronger than you think."

"I understand." At the sight of Minato's expression, Uchiha Obito shrank his neck. Still, he looked thoroughly unwilling to accept Sen Chisato's instruction.

Seeing this, Namikaze Minato sighed and turned to Hatake Kakashi. "What about you, Kakashi?"

"I don't mind." Kakashi leaned against a tree, his face expressionless. He paused, then added, "He's strong. Stronger than me!"

Remembering Sen Chisato's performance the day before, Kakashi had to admit it, no matter how proud he was—at least in Taijutsu, he couldn't match Sen Chisato.

"That's amazing!" Nohara Rin covered her mouth in surprise.

Kakashi was a genius. Minato-sensei had mentioned that Kakashi was close to becoming a Jonin.

She'd never imagined that Sen Chisato was even stronger than Kakashi—and Kakashi himself had admitted it.

Could Sen Chisato already be a Jonin?

A ten-year-old Jonin? That was incredible!

"Y-you're kidding, right?" Obito began to panic, and his attitude started to change.

If that kid really was so strong, then accepting his instruction didn't seem entirely out of the question.

But when Obito saw the admiring look in Nohara Rin's eyes, he grew annoyed again and stuck out his chin. "Tch, no matter how strong he is, he can't be stronger than Minato-sensei, can he?"

"Ah, well..." Minato wasn't sure how to respond.

He certainly didn't think he was weaker than Sen Chisato, but comparing himself with Chisato in the first place wouldn't be fair to Chisato.

Kakashi rolled his eyes, too. That dead-last was always making trouble.

Just then, a calm voice spoke up. "At least he's stronger than you."

"What did you say?!" Obito bristled and spun around, furious, only to find Sen Chisato looking at him with an amused smile.

Remembering what had happened the day before, his expression turned a little uneasy. Still, he stubbornly insisted, "Did I say anything wrong? Don't think you're amazing just because you beat me yesterday. I was just—just holding back!"

"Is that so? Then I..." Sen Chisato paused. His body, leaning against the tree, tensed instinctively, but he quickly relaxed. The corner of his mouth lifted as he continued, "Then I'll give you a chance to prove yourself."

"You said it! Just wait. I'll beat you today, for sure!" Obito excitedly rolled up his sleeves.

He'd make up for the embarrassment he'd suffered in front of Rin yesterday.

Already imagining himself punching Sen Chisato into the air and earning Rin's admiration, Obito lifted his chin and grinned foolishly.

"Sure, if you can manage it."

Sen Chisato slowly stood up, stretched lazily, and pointed ahead. "There's a group of Sand Ninja five kilometers into the forest. Five of them, including one Jonin. Go."

"Gah!"

The smile gradually vanished from Obito's face. He mechanically lowered his head, looking incredulous. "Y-you're not joking, are you?"

"Do you think I'd joke about something like this?" Sen Chisato asked.

Obito's face fell, and everyone else grew serious as well.

"They're only three kilometers away now, still heading in the same direction. Go," Sen Chisato said calmly, his arms folded.

Obito clenched his fists and pressed his lips together, not saying a word. Fear rose in his heart, and a fine sheen of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Ha. Coward."

That was Kakashi's verdict. He ignored the others and rushed into the forest alone.

"Kakashi!"

Nohara Rin reached out to stop him, but Kakashi was already far away.

"Minato-sensei..." She looked helplessly at Namikaze Minato, but her usually patient and gentle teacher remained silent.

At that moment, she understood.

This was a test, and the three of them—her, Obito, and Kakashi—were the ones being tested.

Taking a deep breath, she said seriously, "Obito, we need to catch up. Kakashi needs support!"

But Obito remained rooted to the spot, offering no response.

Seeing this, Nohara Rin stopped trying to persuade him and didn't wait. She ran after Kakashi.

Her reasoning was simple.

There were five Sand Ninja, including a Jonin. It was far too dangerous for her to let Kakashi face them alone.

At that moment, Obito's pupils contracted. He stared in shock and reached out as if to grab something, but caught nothing.

"Heh!" Sen Chisato let out a mocking laugh.

"Damn it, don't look down on me!" As Nohara Rin disappeared into the woods, Obito gritted his teeth and finally ran after her.