Journey to Rōran

The rooftops on Konoha's eastern side were still capped with snow, but the Geothermal Pipelines had already been turned up to full power.

There was no ice or snow to be seen on the streets, not even a puddle. Warm air slipped in through the cracks in the windows, coaxing fresh shoots from between the bluestone slabs.

Winter had arrived in Konoha, yet it could barely keep up appearances.

Inside the Hokage's Office, Minato Namikaze looked at the urgent scroll on his desk and raised a hand to rub his brow.

The scroll had come from the Rōran Ruins in the Land of Wind. It was an A-rank mission, and the pay was quite generous.

The mission requested that Konoha reinforce the Dragon Vein Seal, but who should he send?

"Go call everyone from Minato's Team."

Without even looking up, Minato sent out the order.

Ten minutes later, the office door was pushed open. Obito strode over the threshold with Rin's hand clasped in his, swaggering in with his chin raised even higher than Hokage Rock outside.

Rin's ears were a little red, but she did not pull her hand away.

Ye trailed along at the rear with his hands in his pockets, moving at an unhurried pace. Looking at Obito's smug expression as though he had stolen oil, Ye felt like skipping breakfast.

"Sensei!"

Obito's voice was loud enough to shatter glass.

"Do you have some earth-shattering mission for me?"

Kakashi drifted in behind him with a copy of Make-Out Paradise in hand, rolling his dead-fish eyes until only the whites were nearly visible.

"You should wipe that stupid grin off your face first."

Obito exploded on the spot, pointing at Kakashi's nose as he shouted.

"Single losers should quit acting so sour. You're just jealous that I'm living