A new test

"What kind of mission?" Obito asked curiously.

According to the usual procedure after graduates from the Ninja Academy were assigned to teams, weren't they supposed to take a test first, something like stealing bells?

Although stealing bells wasn't a fixed requirement, the test usually involved teamwork.

Minato looked over the three of them, then moved both hands to form hand seals.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

Poof!

White smoke burst outward, and an identical Minato appeared.

"The mission is very simple. The three of you must work together to defeat my shadow clone! Only then will you have officially passed your graduation test today!"

"My shadow clone can use every ninjutsu I'm skilled at, just like my original body! That includes my Flying Thunder God!"

A shadow clone would dissipate as soon as it was struck.

But a shadow clone's strength also depended on the strength of its original.

The stronger the original, the stronger the shadow clone.

And Minato was a Jōnin, after all, one skilled in an absurdly powerful Body Flicker Technique like Flying Thunder God.

Under normal circumstances, making three kids as young as Obito and the others challenge one of Minato's shadow clones was indeed extremely difficult.

Obito guessed that Minato had chosen this test mainly to emphasize the importance of teamwork.

He simply wanted them to learn that lesson through combat.

Rin's little face filled with surprise. "Huh? Sensei! You're kidding, right? You're a Jōnin! Even if it's only a shadow clone, there's no way we can defeat it that easily!"

Minato shook his head. "Rin! You're mistaken! Kakashi has already been promoted to Chunin! He's far from weak!"

"And according to my investigation, Obito once defeated a Special Jōnin from the Shimura Clan!"

"So your team is actually quite strong!"

Quite a few people had indeed witnessed Obito's fight with the three members of the Shimura Clan in the street.

But to prevent any negative repercussions, Danzo and the Third had worked together to suppress the incident.

Everyone who had watched the fight had been ordered to keep quiet and forbidden from talking about it.

Thus, although Rin knew that Obito had fought people in the street, she hadn't known that one of those three had been a Special Jōnin.

Kakashi had never cared about outside gossip in the first place, so naturally, he knew even less.

A flash of shock crossed Kakashi's impassive face, and he involuntarily turned to look at Obito.

He silently wondered, Was this guy... really that strong?

Rin's little face was also full of surprise, and a hint of reproach entered her voice as she asked, "Obito, is that true? How come I never knew?"

Obito knew Rin was concerned about him, afraid that someone might hurt him.

He gave an awkward smile. "Rin, it's true, but I'm fine. Don't worry."

Still wearing that indifferent expression, Kakashi pointed at Obito and remarked:

"Sensei! Is this guy really that strong? Then why was he stuck at the Ninja Academy without graduating?"

Obito's mouth twitched. Kakashi really had a sharp tongue as a kid.

He picked out the key point that fast? Was he trying to expose my past?

His question was indeed pointed and incisive.

This was also what had left Danzo, the Third, and the others somewhat suspicious of Obito's sudden increase in strength.

"Well, Kakashi! Want to have a match and see whether I'm really that strong?"

Obito turned his head stiffly to look at Kakashi as he asked.

As soon as he said it, Obito felt a little regret.

Why was I getting worked up over this guy? He'd only become so cold because his dad had killed himself.

Kakashi, however, nodded in complete seriousness. "Really? As it happens, I'd like to see what you can do."

For a moment, neither backed down, and sparks seemed to flicker between their locked gazes.

Seeing the tension mounting between them, Rin hurried forward and stepped between the two.

She waved her hands repeatedly. "Kakashi, Obito, let it go. Didn't Minato-sensei give us a mission? Finishing that comes first!"

Minato watched Rin's back, a smile of understanding flashing in his eyes.

So this was why the Third Hokage had assigned the young Rin Nohara to this team.

Rin Nohara was gentle yet resolute, while both Kakashi and Obito were highly competitive.

With Rin between them, she could help strengthen their teamwork.

Minato quickly chimed in. "That's right! Kakashi, Obito, finish my test first. Everything else can wait."

"Hmph!" Kakashi turned his head aside and said nothing more.

Obito nodded too, then moved close to Rin and whispered something in her ear.

The more Rin heard, the more surprise filled her little face.

Finally, she nodded firmly. "Yes, I understand."

Kakashi felt slightly annoyed, unsure what the two had said.

Still, none of that mattered to him. All he had to do was charge in and defeat Minato's clone.

Obito looked at Minato and chuckled. "Minato-sensei! We're ready!"

Minato nodded. "Good! I'll watch your fight from the sidelines, then give each of you a rating and score."

With that, Minato's figure flickered, and he appeared on the trunk of a large tree at the edge of the woods behind them.

"Begin!"

As Minato's words rang out.

Kakashi drew several kunai from his ninja tool pouch and hurled them at Minato's clone a short distance away.

The clang of clashing weapons rang out.

Minato's clone knocked the kunai to the ground one by one.

But Kakashi seized that opportunity to charge straight up to Minato's clone.

He pulled another kunai from his ninja tool pouch, spun it in a flourish, and thrust it toward the clone's abdomen.

Minato's clone reacted swiftly, reaching out to seize Kakashi's wrist.

Then the clone lifted a leg and swept it fiercely toward Kakashi's head.

Kakashi bent his knees and ducked beneath the sweeping kick.

He abruptly drew the short sword from his back and swept it through a dazzling flourish, slashing straight at Minato's clone.

Unfortunately, Minato was an Elite Jōnin, after all.

His reactions were too fast. Anticipating Kakashi's move, he crouched and delivered another sweeping kick, knocking Kakashi to the ground.

Then Minato's clone gripped the kunai he had taken from Kakashi and swung it straight toward Kakashi's face.

Watching the kunai grow larger in his vision, Kakashi was filled with shock and disappointment.

So this was Minato-sensei's strength. I really was still far behind him.

Just as Kakashi thought Minato's shadow clone was about to capture him, Obito's shout suddenly rang out.

"Rin! Now!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

At some point, Rin had moved into position several meters behind Kakashi.

She stood with her hands crossed in front of her, numerous kunai held between her fingers.

With a sweep of her hands, she sent the kunai flying toward Minato's shadow clone.