Obito's Intelligence-Gathering

"Obito, give it a try too!"

Minato lightly jumped down from the tree, then handed Obito a kunai.

"Keep trying. Every time you reach your limit, carve a mark into the tree. Break through your limits again and again! That way, you'll keep getting better."

"Back then, it only took me an hour to basically master it. I believe you can do it too, Obito. Keep it up!"

Minato Namikaze patted Obito's shoulder and encouraged him with a smile.

Obito nodded with a smile. "I will, Teacher Minato."

Obito then took a deep breath and gathered Chakra beneath his feet.

He slowly walked toward the tree. The instant his foot touched the trunk, Chakra swiftly adhered to it.

A hint of amusement flashed through both Obito Uchiha's and Minato Namikaze's eyes.

"As expected of a genius like me!"

"The Third Hokage was right. This Uchiha child is a genius."

Obito Uchiha took one step, then two, then three...

At last, he slowly climbed to the top, one step at a time!

"I did it, Teacher!"

Obito Uchiha stood on the tree trunk and turned back to look at Minato Namikaze.

A flash of amazement crossed Minato's eyes as well. "It seems this child has a natural talent for Chakra control!"

After that, Minato began teaching Obito step by step.

Along the way, they practiced walking on water, climbing cliffs, Chakra control, meditation...

Minato Namikaze trained Obito while figuring out what suited him, then formulated a training plan.

Perhaps Minato was naturally responsible, or perhaps it was his first time being a teacher. Either way, he was extremely generous in sharing all his past training experience and insights.

Late at night, Obito and Minato finally reached the border after training and traveling all the way.

"Let's rest for the night first."

Minato said this as he looked at the somewhat exhausted Obito.

Obito rubbed his eyes. After all, he was still only five years old. His mind could keep up, but his body could not.

Minato quickly built a fire in front of Obito. Then he suddenly vanished. The next second, he reappeared and placed a chicken over the fire to roast.

In the blink of an eye, Obito saw Minato appear before him carrying a plucked chicken.

Though he had no idea where the chicken had come from.

The two sat in the forest, gathered around the campfire, eating meat.

"Obito, why did you graduate so early instead of staying at the Ninja Academy to study for a while longer?"

The firelight illuminated Minato's face, leaving one half in the glow and the other in darkness.

Obito slowly ate his meat as he answered, "I didn't want to keep studying. Only my grandmother and I are left at home. Rather than learn things at school that I already know, I'd rather start doing missions early. I can train, build experience, and earn money."

Minato Namikaze glanced at Obito in surprise. This child truly was different from the others. He was far more mature for his age.

"Well, get some rest early. I'll stand guard nearby. Restore your energy."

Minato said with a smile.

Obito Uchiha nodded and leaned against a pile of straw, falling asleep.

The next day, the two had already arrived at the border of the Land of Rain.

Wearing hooded raincoats, they walked down the road through the heavy rain.

Under Hanzo of the Salamander's rule, the Land of Rain felt deeply oppressive. The two also did not dare use ninja running openly and expose their identities.

"It really is a country that never stops crying..."

Obito Uchiha muttered as he looked over the devastated Land of Rain.

"Konoha bears some responsibility for this country becoming what it is today."

"During the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha's main forces clashed with Hanzo of the Salamander. My teacher Jiraiya earned the Three Sannin's fame in that war as well."

"Caught between the great nations, the Land of Rain cannot even see its own future..."

Minato Namikaze spoke with a troubled expression.

Obito Uchiha listened quietly.

The two arrived at a cave.

Minato opened a scroll.

"Obito, according to intelligence, Akatsuki's hideout is in the town ahead."

"From here on, I'll protect you from the shadows. Unless necessary, I won't intervene."

Minato said slowly.

He might as well treat this mission as training for Obito.

"Understood, Teacher. I'll complete the mission perfectly!"

Obito Uchiha nodded.

"Then... disperse!"

Minato and Obito vanished.

Obito Uchiha, wearing a rain cape, slowly walked through the town.

"So where should I begin..."

Obito Uchiha lowered his gaze and swept his eyes over the town.

Soon, Obito spotted a steamed bun stall.

"Grandma, I'd like one steamed bun."

Obito handed money to the elderly woman at the stall.

"Thank you for your patronage. You're an unfamiliar face. Are you from out of town?"

The old woman looked at Obito with a wary expression.

Obito Uchiha smiled faintly. "You could say that. I'm a traveling writer."

"Oh? How are my steamed buns?"

The old woman asked.

Obito Uchiha ate the bun and smiled. "They're excellent! They definitely rank among the best steamed buns I've ever had!"

"Hahaha, you really know how to talk, child."

The old woman said with a laugh.

While eating, Obito looked around before saying, "This area looks very peaceful!"

The old woman hesitated before replying, "Yes, the war has disappeared from this place thanks to Lord Hanzo of the Salamander. That's why we've been spared from invasion!"

As she spoke, her eyes darted around, unsure where to look.

It was an obvious sign of a guilty conscience.

Obito Uchiha immediately saw what the old woman was worried about.

It was nothing more than a forbidden subject that could not be touched.

It seemed Hanzo of the Salamander had imposed severe speech restrictions throughout the Land of Rain.

"Thank you, thank you. Lord Hanzo..."

The old woman clasped her hands together as though she truly were grateful to Hanzo of the Salamander.

Obito Uchiha snickered inwardly. It seemed every country had its own pyramid scheme.

At least the Land of Fire's Will of Fire pyramid scheme was positive. The Land of Rain's version was just mindless.

"By the way, have you heard of an organization called Akatsuki?"

Obito Uchiha asked casually.

"Huh?"

The old woman frowned as if she did not understand.

"I mean, Aka—"

Obito suddenly felt countless eyes fixed on him. When he turned around, he saw several men who appeared to be plainclothes ninja glaring at him with unfriendly expressions.

"Huh? Sorry for bothering you..."

Obito Uchiha immediately hurried away.

As he left, Obito Uchiha thought rapidly. It seemed Akatsuki was not welcome under Hanzo of the Salamander's rule.

Thinking about it, that made sense. How could anyone allow another to sleep beside his bed?

Obito Uchiha looked back and was startled once again.

Those plainclothes ninja were rapidly following him!

Obito Uchiha frowned slightly. Just because he had mentioned Akatsuki, ninja would hunt him down?

Obito Uchiha walked faster and faster, turning a corner into an alley.

The plainclothes ninja quickly followed. At this point, they did not even bother pretending anymore, directly using ninja running to catch up to Obito!