Leaving

"I didn't expect him to really be one of Jiraiya's students. Well, I suppose Jiraiya will explain it to Lord Hokage."

After receiving Jiraiya's reply, Minato quickly signaled for Obito to gather any useful intelligence and withdraw.

Akatsuki, Pipeline Base

"Hey, Konan, where's Kenji?"

Yahiko looked around but failed to spot the familiar figure.

Konan frowned slightly and shook her head. "Maybe he hasn't woken up yet."

"Seriously, today's our organization's operation, and he's still sleeping in..."

Yahiko complained softly.

"Well, it's normal for a child to sleep in. I'll go wake him up."

Konan said.

The three of them went to Obito's room together.

Bang bang bang...

"Kenji! Wake up!"

After knocking several times with no response, the three exchanged looks.

Nagato activated his sensory ability, yet found nothing.

"There's no one inside!"

Nagato exclaimed.

Bang!

The three kicked open the door and found the room neat and tidy. There was also a note on the table.

They hurried over to inspect it.

Two words were written on the paper.

Don't worry!

Meanwhile, Obito and Minato were already on their way back to Konoha.

"What's wrong, Obito? You really seem to have grown attached to that organization."

Minato teased as he looked at the gloomy Obito.

Minato thought Obito had developed feelings for the organization during his time with them. After all, it was Obito's first mission, and he was still just a child. It was only natural for something like this to happen.

Obito scratched his head.

In truth, he was not upset about leaving. He was upset because his Sharingan had not awakened during this mission.

He had thought that killing someone would awaken his eyes, but he had never expected to feel absolutely nothing inside.

Still, Obito went along with Minato's assumption.

"Minato-sensei, I just feel like it wasn't right to leave without saying goodbye."

Obito said with a faint smile.

Minato smiled slightly. "It's fine. You've already helped that organization a great deal."

Obito nodded.

After returning to the village, he followed Minato to the Hokage Office to turn in the mission.

"Mm, Obito performed very well on this mission. He truly qualifies for an A-rank Mission!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a pipe in his mouth.

"Then Obito Uchiha! This mission shall be classified as A-rank!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced.

After receiving the mission reward, Minato and Obito happily left the Hokage Office.

"Obito, how about we go get barbecue together tonight?"

Minato suddenly suggested with a smile.

Obito was slightly taken aback. He had not expected Minato to invite him.

He nodded in agreement.

"Thank you, Minato-sensei. See you tonight."

After saying goodbye to Minato, Obito immediately returned to the Uchiha Clan.

The moment he got home, he discovered that his grandmother had been waiting for him.

Fugaku Uchiha was there as well.

When Fugaku Uchiha saw Obito return, he quickly stepped forward to inspect Obito's eyes.

Clearly, Fugaku Uchiha wanted to see whether Obito had awakened his Sharingan through the experiences of this mission.

However, Fugaku Uchiha was destined to be disappointed. Obito Uchiha had not awakened his Sharingan.

Fugaku Uchiha frowned slightly. Logically speaking, a genius like Obito Uchiha should have awakened his eyes easily.

Yet Obito Uchiha had not.

Obito's grandmother did not care whether he had awakened his eyes. In her eyes, it was enough that her grandson had returned alive and safe.

"Little Obito, you're finally back!"

Obito's grandmother happily stepped forward to greet him.

Seeing that Obito Uchiha had not awakened his Sharingan, Fugaku Uchiha put on his usual expressionless face.

"Obito Uchiha, awaken your eyes as soon as possible. The Uchiha Clan's greatest reliance is our eyes."

Fugaku Uchiha left after saying that.

Obito paid no attention to Fugaku Uchiha and instead went to his grandmother.

"I'm back, Grandma."

Obito hugged his grandmother. He knew in his heart that only his grandmother truly cared for and loved him.

Of course, Minato-sensei counted too, but not as purely as his grandmother did.

"It's good that you're back. It's good that you're back."

His grandmother stroked Obito's head, her eyes full of affection.

After chatting with his grandmother for a while, Obito told her that Minato-sensei had invited him to dinner that night, so she would not need to cook.

"Mm-hm, Minato is a good child. He was a genius back then too. You should maintain a good relationship with your teacher."

Obito's grandmother advised him kindly.

"I will!"

Obito nodded with a smile.

At the same time, word of Genin Obito completing an A-rank Mission quickly spread.

Everyone in the village knew that the Uchiha Clan had produced another genius!

Obito Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha were hailed together as the Uchiha Clan's geniuses!

A five-year-old Genin had completed an A-rank Mission!

It instantly became explosive news throughout Konoha!

And Obito had carried it out alone, without any teammates!

He had shattered all sorts of Genin records!

Obito became the village's publicly recognized genius of the new generation!

The teachers also loudly publicized Obito's accomplishment of completing an A-rank Mission alone at the Ninja Academy.

Kakashi and Rin, who were still at the Ninja Academy, were both greatly shocked when they heard the news!

Was this really the Obito from before?

The youngest Genin, completing an A-rank Mission alone!

Kakashi felt an unprecedented sense of urgency. The former dead last had surpassed him and was pulling farther and farther ahead. The gap between him and Obito was actually growing wider and wider!

Kakashi saw it and panicked inwardly!

He immediately applied to graduate early.

Barbecue Restaurant

The atmosphere at the dining table was awkward.

Obito sat helplessly in his chair, looking at Minato-sensei and Kushina-sensei across from him.

Kushina still wore her long red hair in a ponytail.

"Obito, let me introduce you. This is the woman I love, Kushina."

Minato introduced her to Obito.

"Hello, Kushina-sensei."

Obito Uchiha said obediently.

"So, Minato, this little brat is your student?"

Kushina said as she pinched Obito's cheek.

"Yes, Kushina. He's excellent."

Minato said gently as he looked at Kushina.

"Well, I know. Word about his extraordinary talent has long spread through the village. Just like you back then..."

Kushina said with a smile.

"Come on, Obito, eat more meat. You're still growing."

Kushina kept placing food onto Obito's plate.

"Thank you, Kushina-sensei."

Obito was flattered. It seemed Kushina was quite a gentle woman when they first met.

"Obito, if you run into any difficulties with Ninjutsu in the future, come find your teacher and Kushina-sensei. We'll guide you. Your Kushina-sensei is also a ninja skilled in Ninjutsu."

Minato said as he looked at Obito.

"Thank you, Minato-sensei and Kushina-sensei!"

Obito felt warm inside. Being Minato's only student was quite nice.

As his only student, Minato naturally devoted all his energy to him.

This was one-on-one instruction from a great teacher.

Just as they were eating, there was suddenly a poof.

Immediately afterward, a tall white-haired figure appeared.

Thud thud thud!

"You're eating without inviting me, the Frog Sage!?"