That Makes Sense

By early the next morning, before nine o'clock, the Hokage Building was already bustling with Ninja registering for missions and reporting their completion.

Nara Tsukimi, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi arrived early. Dressed in neat Ninja gear, they waited for Orochimaru in a corner of the mission hall.

"Our first real Ninja mission is coming up," Asuma said, brimming with anticipation. "I wonder what rank it'll be?"

Two years of training under Tsukimi had made Asuma somewhat steadier, but he was still excited about this first mission.

Good. That's the spirit. Let's get to thirty-five million as soon as possible!

Kurenai glanced at Tsukimi before saying seriously, "It'd be best if we completed our first mission perfectly. I hope it isn't too dangerous."

Tsukimi kept his hands in his pockets, looking as laid-back as ever. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Don't worry, Asuma. We probably won't get the lowest-ranked missions. I'm sure you'll be satisfied."

Tsukimi knew Orochimaru's temperament. He had neither the time nor the patience to accompany three Genin on D-Rank Missions. They would probably start with a C-Rank Mission.

That would certainly satisfy Asuma.

As the three chatted, a familiar argument sounded outside the mission hall.

"Damn it, Kakashi! I only slipped up yesterday. What are you so smug about?"

"I'm stating a fact. Because of that 'slip-up,' we nearly failed the assessment!"

The voices grew louder. Tsukimi and the others turned to see four figures appear at the entrance to the mission hall.

Obito and Kakashi led the way. Obito, goggles on his head and fury on his face, glared at the little white-haired brat beside him. Rin Nohara followed with a smile. Bringing up the rear was Minato Namikaze, whose short blond hair and sunny air made him impossible to miss.

It was the four members of Minato Team.

Tch. Just look at that aura. No wonder Konoha's Ninja would choose this little sun. How could that shady snake possibly compete?

As they crossed the mission hall, Obito kept arguing. "I wasn't bad either! I almost landed a hit on Teacher Minato. What gives you the right to mock me?"

"Luck, that's all." Kakashi barely lifted his dead-fish eyes. His flat tone struck straight at Obito's heart. "For most people, luck is only part of their strength. For you, it's all of it."

"You!"

Obito bristled and immediately rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight Kakashi on the spot.

The little white-haired brat really is the second weapon against Obito!

Rin hurriedly caught Obito by the arm and coaxed him gently. "Come on, Obito. Kakashi often says things that sound harsh. Don't get angry again. We're in the mission hall, and lots of people are watching."

And here comes the first!

Rin's gentle words instantly soothed Obito's anger. He still looked aggrieved, but he lowered his hands, gave a huff, and turned away from Kakashi.

Minato, walking behind them, smiled helplessly. He had clearly gotten to know their personalities.

It was as if they couldn't stand going a day without arguing several times.

"Hey, Obito! Weren't you going to knock Kakashi flat? Why haven't you started?" Asuma called out, happy to stir things up.

Obito turned and spotted the three of them in the corner. Asuma, who had called out, was watching him with a teasing grin.

"Oh, Tsukimi, Asuma, Kurenai! It's you guys. Here to pick up a mission too?"

Obito brightened and headed straight over. Kakashi and Rin followed quickly. When Obito reached them, he punched Asuma on the shoulder.

"Hey, you're making fun of me too? If you've got a problem with me, we'll fight after our mission!"

After training together for two years, the two had unexpectedly hit it off and often hung out together.

Once everyone had exchanged greetings, Kurenai and Rin moved aside to whisper to each other.

Kakashi fixed Tsukimi with an intense stare, his dead-fish eyes full of fighting spirit. "Fight me again after our mission!"

Tsukimi wasn't surprised. These days, the little white-haired brat probably dreamed of beating him. He nodded. "Sure. Come find me when you're done."

Then he turned to Obito, a mischievous smile on his face. "Obito, you haven't slacked off while we weren't training together these past two days, have you?"

Obito shuddered, as though reminded of something terrifying. A moment ago, he had been boasting animatedly to Asuma. Now his whole face sagged. He gave a dry laugh and forced a smile.

"Haha... How... how could I? I haven't slacked off. I've trained hard these past two days."

His voice grew quieter with every word. Tsukimi didn't press him, though. He had only wanted to tease him.

When Tsukimi asked no more questions, Obito finally breathed a sigh of relief and turned back to boast to Asuma.

Done teasing Obito, Tsukimi looked toward Minato behind the other three.

Minato was studying the black-haired boy with keen interest too. He had been only a year or two apart from the current Ino-Shika-Cho trio in school, and they were fairly close, so he knew quite a bit about Nara Tsukimi.

Tsukimi was Konoha's most talked-about genius of the past two years, even outshining Kakashi. Minato had heard that the Third Hokage had personally assigned Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, as his supervising Jonin.

"You're Orochimaru's team, aren't you?" Minato spoke first, his voice warm and gentle as a spring breeze.

Tsukimi smiled and bowed slightly. "Yes, Minato. I've heard a great deal about you."

"Heh, I'm just an ordinary Jonin. You, Tsukimi, are Konoha's brightest young talent." Minato waved off the praise modestly, then offered plenty of his own.

That's right. None other than yours truly!

Outwardly, Tsukimi remained composed and modest, insisting that Minato was too kind.

Just as the two teams were getting along cheerfully, a raspy voice came from behind them.

"It seems you're getting along well."

Orochimaru, dressed in white, had appeared without anyone noticing. His golden, serpentine eyes swept over the group, and the corner fell silent at once.

Sniff... No smell of rotting medicine. Looks like he didn't come from the laboratory.

Minato bowed slightly. "Orochimaru."

Orochimaru nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to Tsukimi and the others. "Come with me to get a mission," he said coolly.

He turned and headed toward the office upstairs. The four members of Minato Team followed quickly; they were going to see the Hokage today too.

The Hokage's office door was open. After knocking to announce themselves, they filed in. Orochimaru walked to the desk and faced the Third Hokage.

"Teacher Sarutobi, find us a C-Rank Mission."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and asked with a smile, "Oh? Straight to a C-Rank Mission?"

"Yes. After yesterday's assessment, those dull D-Rank Missions wouldn't suit them."

"I see. Let me look... Ah, here it is."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled a scroll from a pile on the corner of his desk and handed it to Orochimaru. "This is a C-Rank escort mission. You'll escort a merchant from the Land of Rivers back home. The difficulty should be just right."

Orochimaru nodded and took the scroll. He was about to leave with Tsukimi and the others when Obito, standing nearby, stared in disbelief.

His eyes wide and his face full of indignation, Obito demanded, "Why do Tsukimi and his team get a C-Rank Mission right away while we can only do D-Rank Missions? That's not fair!"

Before Obito could say another word, Minato placed his right hand on his head. "Obito, quiet down," he said gently.

"The two teams aren't at the same level, so naturally they're treated differently."

That silenced Obito at once.

He did the math in his head. He was only a tiny bit worse than Asuma, Kurenai and Rin were about even, and Tsukimi was much stronger than Kakashi... Looked at that way, it made sense.

At that thought, Obito rounded on Kakashi indignantly. So you're the one dragging us down!

Kakashi had no idea why Obito was looking at him like that. He decided Obito was acting up again and shot back, "People who aren't strong enough hold their teams back. We have to follow the rules. That makes sense."

Obito's composure cracked, and he rolled up his sleeves.

Hey, you! I haven't even blamed you for dragging me down, and now you're blaming me?

Rin caught Obito again with a helpless sigh.

Orochimaru ignored Minato Team's squabbling and walked out. Tsukimi and the others said goodbye to them, then hurried after him.