In a forest near the coastline of the Land of Fire.
Cold, damp mist spread in every direction. Thick gray-white fog swirled around everything, and the smell of earth mingled with blood made even the air feel heavy.
Obito Uchiha leaned against a tree trunk in the mist, covered in dust and small scrapes. Yet there was not a trace of exhaustion in his eyes, only anticipation.
Because!
Today was the day Rin Nohara and the others arrived at this battlefield!
"Great! I'll get to see Rin soon! Hehehe, if she finds out I've awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan, will she... hehehe."
As a burst of idiotic laughter escaped Obito Uchiha's throat, it instantly broke the oppressive atmosphere around him.
"Idiot."
Just as Obito Uchiha lost himself in endless fantasies and had even settled on names for their children, an irritating, familiar voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
"!!!!"
"Y-y-you! How did you get here?! Where's Rin?!"
Obito Uchiha immediately darted aside, pointing in shock at the little white-haired boy who had appeared behind him.
"She's still back with the main force. I'm the jō~nin~ leading the team, so I need to check the route ahead for safety and verify your rendezvous point. That's why I came first. Who knew I'd find you grinning like an idiot the moment I arrived? Hah, you really are an idiot."
Watching Obito Uchiha leap aside, a flicker of surprise passed through Kakashi Hatake's eyes. Then he rolled his eyes and spoke quietly.
Obito had moved very fast just now.
"J-Jonin?!"
Ignoring the contempt in Kakashi Hatake's words, Obito Uchiha could think of nothing but the word "Jonin."
"I lost again."
For a moment, Obito Uchiha felt as though his world had collapsed.
He had thought that carrying out an A-rank mission would let him