Trial

"I understand!"

Namikaze Minato rose with a solemn expression, hands placed at his sides, and bowed respectfully to Sen Chisato. "For the next while, I'll be entrusting Kakashi and the others to you. I will also cooperate fully."

"There's no need for that." Sen Chisato kept his stern face but sat up straighter, hands on his knees. "This is just my personal idea. They might not even agree, and it was rude of me."

After all, Minato was their teacher. If he casually interfered, most team leaders wouldn't be grateful; they'd likely be annoyed.

Ninja had strong concepts of hierarchy and subordination.

"I should be thanking you, and they will agree!" Minato said with conviction.

Kakashi and the others were not just his disciples; they were his subordinates. They couldn't refuse his decisions.

"If that's the case, I have no reason to refuse," Sen Chisato nodded expressionlessly and accepted Minato's request.

The topic ended there.

After Minato left to rest, Sen Chisato could no longer maintain his composure, a smile finally appearing on his lips.

Good. He had established a sense of recognition and trust with Namikaze Minato. The second phase of his plan for Team Minato could begin.

Indeed, friendship, bonds, village, comrades—these topics were the most effective in gaining Namikaze Minato's approval.

"Next is the strengthening of Team Minato."

He wasn't being a saint; he wouldn't do anything without benefit.

The reason he wanted to help Team Minato improve their strength was primarily because they were involved in too many things.

Team Minato alone involved two Hokage and a major villain of the ninja world in later years.

Uchiha Obito, besides himself, also involved Uchiha Madara, one of the shadowy manipulators of the ninja world. Uchiha Madara, in turn, was connected to the Akatsuki...

It could be said that if he could grasp the thread of Team Minato and execute his plan perfectly, Sen Chisato's strength would immediately reach its peak!

Wasn't this better than silently accumulating strength?

Based on the original plot, at this point, Uchiha Obito was likely already being targeted by Uchiha Madara. If Sen Chisato wanted to intervene, he couldn't let Uchiha Madara succeed easily.

Therefore, enhancing Team Minato's strength became very necessary, and it would also increase his importance in their hearts.

This was crucial!

Sen Chisato couldn't stay with Team Minato forever, but he needed to accurately know the exact time and place of Uchiha Obito's "death."

As long as they could remember to notify him the moment they encountered danger they couldn't handle, and hold on until he arrived, his plan would be half successful.

Although it involved Uchiha Madara and carried great risk, Sen Chisato was not afraid to take the gamble!

When the potential gains were so immense that they couldn't be ignored, a little danger was simply not worth mentioning.

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

Taking advantage of the night watch, Sen Chisato began preparing his enhancement plan. "Hmm, and communication methods."

That was simple enough.

He could have Orochimaru teach him a summoning jutsu later.

Time passed quickly.

The next day.

Sen Chisato was still asleep when his peaceful slumber was disturbed by a boisterous voice.

"What? We have to train with him?!"

Sen Chisato opened his eyes with a frown and saw Uchiha Obito arguing with Namikaze Minato about something.

"Minato-sensei, what can that brat teach us? If anyone should be teaching us, it should be you, right?"

Uchiha Obito crossed his arms, his mouth pouting. He admitted Sen Chisato had some skill, but he wasn't qualified to guide the great Uchiha like himself. Even though he was defeated by Sen Chisato yesterday, he still wasn't convinced.

No!

He wasn't defeated at all; he was ambushed.

"Obito, never underestimate anyone. A ninja's strength is never determined by age. If you don't change this, you'll suffer greatly on the battlefield!" Minato's tone was unusually serious, a departure from his usual gentleness.

"Moreover, Chisato's strength is not as simple as you think."

"I understand." Seeing Minato's expression, Uchiha Obito flinched. However, he was still full of reluctance about Sen Chisato's guidance.

Namikaze Minato sighed at this and looked at Hatake Kakashi. "Kakashi, what about you?"

"I don't mind," Kakashi said expressionlessly, leaning against a tree. After a pause, he added, "That guy is strong. Stronger than me!"

Recalling Sen Chisato's performance yesterday, even with his pride, he had to admit it—at least in terms of taijutsu, he was no match for Sen Chisato.

"So strong!" Nohara Rin covered her mouth in surprise.

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

She hadn't expected Sen Chisato to be even stronger than Kakashi, and Kakashi himself admitted it.

Could it be that Sen Chisato was already a Jonin?

A Jonin at ten years old, truly amazing!

"No, no way." Obito panicked, his attitude beginning to shift.

If that brat was really that strong, accepting his tutelage didn't seem so unacceptable.

But when he saw Nohara Rin's adoring gaze, he felt annoyed again, and stubbornly said, "Tch, no matter how amazing he is, can he be more amazing than Teacher Minato?"

"Ah, that..." Minato didn't know how to respond.

He naturally didn't think he was inferior to Sen Chisato, but comparing him to Sen Chisato was unfair to Sen Chisato from the start.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. That dead last only knew how to argue nonsensically.

Just then, a calm voice sounded, "At least stronger than you."

"What did you say?!" Obito exploded, turning around aggressively, only to find Sen Chisato looking at him with a half-smile.

Recalling the scene of him being dealt with yesterday, his face turned a little unnatural, but he still stubbornly said, "Did I say something wrong? Don't think you're so great just because you beat me yesterday. I was just... just letting you win!"

"Is that so? Then I..." Sen Chisato paused, his body leaning against the tree tensing subconsciously. He relaxed immediately, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips, and continued, "Then I'll give you a chance to prove yourself."

"You said it, just you wait, I'll definitely beat you back today!" Obito excitedly rolled up his sleeves.

He was determined to regain the face he lost in front of Rin yesterday.

He was already imagining himself punching Sen Chisato away with one blow, and then being admired by Rin. Obito tilted his head back and grinned lewdly.

"No problem, as long as you can do it."

Sen Chisato slowly stood up, stretched lazily, and pointed forward, "Five kilometers into the forest ahead, there's a squad of Sand Ninja, five in total, one Jonin. Go."

"Gasp!"

The smile on Obito's face gradually disappeared. He mechanically lowered his head, his face full of disbelief. "You, you're not joking, are you?"

"Do you think I would joke about something like this?" Sen Chisato retorted.

Obito's face fell, and the expressions of the others also turned serious.

"Now it's only three kilometers away, the direction hasn't changed. Go." Sen Chisato crossed his arms and urged calmly.

Obito clenched his fists, his lips pressed tightly together, saying nothing. Fear rose in his heart, and a fine layer of sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Heh, coward."

Kakashi commented, and without paying attention to the others, he rushed alone towards the forest ahead.

"Kakashi!"

Nohara Rin reached out, wanting to stop him, but Kakashi had already gone far.

"Teacher Minato..." she looked helplessly at Namikaze Minato, but the usually patient and gentle teacher was silent this time.

At this moment, she understood something.

This was a test, and the participants included the three of them: Obito, Rin, and Kakashi.

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

But Obito remained rooted to the spot, showing no reaction.

Seeing this, Nohara Rin stopped trying to persuade him and waiting. She chased after Kakashi.

Her thoughts were simple.

Five Sand Ninja, and one of them a Jonin. She couldn't possibly let Kakashi face such a dangerous situation alone.

At this moment, Obito's pupils contracted, his face full of shock. He reached out as if to grab something, but grasped nothing.

"Heh!" Sen Chisato's mocking laughter rang out.

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