Kannabi Bridge

Just as Obito Uchiha was starting to feel smug...

He noticed that every strand of Kushina's red hair had risen behind him.

Red flames blazed through it...

Kushina Uzumaki raised her right hand and brought it down hard on Obito Uchiha's head.

Then she glared at him, cheeks puffed out. "Did you think I'd say that?"

"Idiot."

Obito Uchiha clutched his head with both hands and howled in pain...

Kushina Uzumaki went on scolding Obito Uchiha without pause.

Obito Uchiha stood perfectly still, not daring to move as he took her tirade.

Only after she had finished did Kushina gently call everyone over for lunch.

Even while eating, Obito Uchiha kept shooting Kakashi an annoyed look...

Kushina quietly watched the three children, her expression gradually softening.

In her heart, she made a wish: Obito, Kakashi, Rin Nohara, please stay like this forever.

That night, Kushina Uzumaki mended Minato's clothes.

Beside her, Minato Namikaze was mending another of his garments.

In the quiet, cozy living room, Kushina's soft voice drifted over. "Kakashi's getting more capable all the time, Minato."

She kept sewing as she spoke. "All three of them are growing into such fine Ninja. I can't wait to see what comes next, haha."

Minato Namikaze looked just as proud. "They really are working hard, Kushina."

But Kushina's thoughts returned to Obito that afternoon.

"That boy Obito is always rushing around," she said worriedly.

"And his Shuriken practice is a complete mess. Honestly."

Then Kushina learned that Minato and the others were leaving the next day on a mission to Kannabi Bridge.

She set down the clothes in her hands.

Slowly, she walked to the window, worry showing on her face.

It was still dark when morning came.

Minato and the others gathered at Konoha's gate.

Minato's Team was about to set out.

Before they left...

Kushina, standing at the gate, gave Minato's Team one last reminder.

Everyone needed to be careful.

She turned to Obito. "Especially you, Obito! Be extra careful."

Pointing a finger at him, she went on, "If you dare come back injured, I'll give you a good pounding myself!"

Warmth filled Obito's heart. He planted his hands on his hips and declared smugly, "I'm the man who's going to become Hokage! A little mission like this is nothing, haha!"

He clenched his fist and raised it toward Kushina. "I'll complete the mission."

"And I'll bring everyone back safe and sound."

Obito's promise delighted Kushina.

She bent down slowly and held out her fingers in a cross before him. "Then it's a promise."

Obito looked at her, and for a moment they held each other's gaze.

Then they both burst out laughing.

"Haha..."

And so Minato's Team said goodbye to Kushina and set off for the battlefield at Kannabi Bridge.

Kushina stayed at the village gate until they disappeared from sight. Only then did she turn away and murmur, "Obito, you know you're your teacher's wife's favorite."

Kushina had placed her own hopes in Obito for a reason.

She knew that one day she would have a child of her own.

She hoped her child would be as cheerful and openhearted as Obito,

and live true to his convictions.

Konoha.

Kushina watched scene after scene of her past play out on the screen.

She rested a hand on her belly and stroked it gently. "Naruto, you're going to be happy. When you grow up, you should learn from big brother Obito."

But in that moment, Kushina remembered her unborn child—and that other...

Naruto Uzumaki, who shared his name but not his surname, and would one day destroy the Shinobi World.

Kushina fell silent...

Minato Namikaze noticed her troubled expression and comforted her softly. "Don't dwell on it, Kushina. Trust our child."

"When our child grows up, he won't be like the Naruto Uzumaki in that video."

Kushina nodded gently. "Mm."

The scene on the screen changed.

It shifted to Kannabi Bridge.

Obito ran through the forest in a panic, muttering, "This is bad. If I keep this up, I'm going to get killed."

"Please let me make it in time."

In his haste and panic, Obito Uchiha failed to spot the trap ahead.

His right foot caught the tripwire, and he tumbled hard from the tree.

Kakashi and the others looked at Obito Uchiha, sprawled awkwardly on the ground.

"Late again, Obito Uchiha," Kakashi said with pointed sarcasm.

"Do you even know what time we were supposed to meet?"

"You're a Ninja who can handle missions on your own now. Keeping your promises and following the rules should be a given, shouldn't it?"

Obito Uchiha explained awkwardly, "It's not like that. On the way, an old lady carrying luggage stopped me to ask for directions."

"And then I got sand in my eye. That's why I was late."

Kakashi folded his arms, looking unimpressed. "Enough. Those are all just excuses, aren't they?"

From his seat atop a rock, Minato Namikaze spoke gently. "Don't be like that, Kakashi."

After chiding Kakashi, Minato Namikaze turned to Obito and offered an explanation. "You walked with the old lady, didn't you, Obito?"

"I carried her luggage, too," Obito Uchiha added proudly.

Kakashi turned to Minato Namikaze in frustration. "You're too trusting, Sensei."

"Someone who needs help can't happen to cross Obito's path every single time, can they?"

"A Ninja who doesn't follow rules or discipline is called a failure."

Kakashi fixed Minato Namikaze with a serious look. "Am I wrong, Sensei?"

Minato Namikaze scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh.

Still sitting on the ground and rubbing his eye, Obito looked at Kakashi. "Don't you have a shred of compassion?"

"All you ever talk about is rules and discipline. It's so annoying."

"What matters most is self-control, right?"

Seeing the argument heat up, Rin Nohara hurried to her feet and stepped between them.

"You spoil Obito too much, Rin," Kakashi shot back.

"Today is a really important day for me."

"Well... yes, it is," Rin Nohara replied cautiously.

Obito Uchiha stared at them in confusion. "What's special about today?"

Minato Namikaze answered from ahead. "Starting today, Kakashi is a Jonin, just like me."

"To make our missions more efficient, I've decided that Kakashi's Team and I will operate separately."

As he walked, Minato Namikaze explained to Obito behind him, "Konoha's fighting strength isn't what it used to be. We're seriously short on people."

Obito Uchiha frowned. "But if we split up, then..."

"Don't tell me Kakashi...?"

"That's right," Minato Namikaze replied calmly.

"Kakashi will lead a three-person team with you and Rin."

"I'll work alone."

Rin Nohara glanced at Obito as they walked. "Didn't we talk about this already, Obito?"

"We're giving Kakashi presents."

Obito turned his head away in annoyance and kept walking. "Sorry, I didn't hear about it."

Minato Namikaze stepped up to Kakashi and took out a specially made Kunai.

"I'll give you this, Kakashi. It's a Kunai I designed myself. It's a little heavy..."

"But once you get used to it, you'll find it really handy."

With that, Minato Namikaze tossed the special Kunai to Kakashi.

Kakashi caught it and gave it a few swings. He found that it suited him perfectly.

"Thank you, Sensei," Kakashi said, pleased.

Rin Nohara then opened her bag and took out the gift she had prepared.

She held it out to Kakashi and said softly, "I made this especially for you, Kakashi."