Early in the morning, Mugetsu headed to the mission hall in the Hokage Building to look for a suitable assignnt.
Obito's life mission progress had reached 19.2 percent, only 0.8 percent away from 20 percent and another reward. If the mission type matched, it could be pushed through in one clean run.
Of course, if the mission was not suitable, the gains would not be as good as staying in Konoha to train and sharpen his strength. That was why Mugetsu ca alone. If there was a good mission, he would take it. If not, he would simply train.
"B Rank Mission, investigate the minister Mukade of Rōran…"
Mugetsu's eyes narrowed the mont he saw the na Rōran, and he read the entire scroll carefully.
Rōran was a special place in the shinobi world, because the Dragon Vein beneath it held power that could travel space ti.
However, Mugetsu rembered very clearly that when Minato dealt with the Dragon Vein incident, Minato was already proficient with the Rasengan. This mission should not have happened at this point in ti.
Mugetsu carefully recalled the beginning and end of that storyline, then realized the mission in front of him was not the sa one Minato took. Minato's mission had been to protect Queen Sara. This B Rank mission, however, was issued by Sara's mother, and Sara was not even the queen yet.
After thinking for a mont, Mugetsu looked at the registration ninja.
"I'll take this mission."
Even if going now ant he might not see Naruto, this mission was still perfect for rushing mission progress. If Obito perford well, he could beco a small country's hero, just like what happened in the Land of Snow.
And even if it was not for Obito's life mission reward, Mugetsu still wanted to take this mission to see the Dragon Vein with his own eyes.
A power that could cross ti and space was not sothing you ignored and walked away from.
After accepting the mission, Mugetsu returned to the South Border Forest and explained the situation to his disciples.
"It's only a B Rank Mission, Mugetsu sensei. Why not take an A Rank Mission?" Obito scratched his head, confused.
He had already done many A Rank missions on the battlefield. Coming back to handle an ordinary B Rank mission felt like it lacked challenge.
Mugetsu replied with a gentle smile. "Aren't you fond of taking photos of scenery from different places? Rōran is a small country with a long history. Its architecture is unique. You will not find it anywhere else."
"Is that so?" Obito's eyes lit up instantly, as if he had been struck by inspiration. "Then this mission has to be done!"
"You change your mind fast," Kakashi muttered.
"What do you know?" Obito waved a hand, looking righteous. "I just didn't understand Mugetsu sensei's careful planning at first."
"I think it's mainly because you never seriously studied shinobi world geography," Kakashi replied, expressionless. "I bet you do not know more than ten countries."
Obito bristled. "How could that be? Kakashi, do not underestimate . Ten countries is nothing. I'll list them right now!"
He quickly recited the Five Great Nations, then continued, "Land of Snow, Land of Grass, Land of Rivers, Land of Hot Springs… Hot… Rōran!"
"And then?" Kakashi asked with a faint, irritating smile. "That's still only ten."
Obito's face flushed as his mind spun, desperately searching for anything else.
"And the Land of Rice Fields. Eleven!" Obito shouted, as if he had just won a war. "Kakashi, what do you have to say now?"
Clap. Clap.
Kakashi clapped lightly. "Obito is truly amazing to rember eleven countries, including the ones inside the Five Great Nations."
Obito's face sohow turned even redder. Kakashi was praising him, but it sounded like a knife wrapped in silk.
Kakashi casually continued, listing nas as if reading a shopping list. "Land of Rain, Land of the Moon, Land of Waves, Land of Waterfalls, Land of Birds, Land of Bears…"
Obito's eyes went a little blank. Were there really that many countries?
"Kakashi, do not bully Obito," Rin said with a helpless smile. "That's his weakest area."
Rin ant well.
Unfortunately, her words landed like a finishing blow.
"So in your heart, I'm an idiot…" Obito muttered, squatting down to draw circles in the dirt with his finger.
Mugetsu stepped forward at the right mont and cut the atmosphere cleanly.
"Alright. Prepare yourselves. We're departing."
Since it was a B Rank mission, Mugetsu did not bring Shisui and the others. He left behind a shadow clone to teach them, then set off for Loran with Obito, Kakashi, and Rin.
They traveled west. The scenery shifted from forests to grasslands, then to arid plains, until it finally beca an endless desert.
Staring at the sea of gold, Obito could not resist pulling out his cara and snapping a few photos.
"Last ti, I didn't even get to look around before enemies showed up," Obito said with a grin. "This ti, I'm making up for it."
His first encounter with a desert had been miserable. He had barely seen sand before running into the Kumogakure A and B combination, and he had not even brought a cara.
"After a few days, you might start missing Konoha," Mugetsu said, activating his Byakugan to scan the surroundings.
The desert was magnificent at first, but once the novelty faded, it beca the sa horizon over and over. The environnt was harsh too.
The second part did not matter much to a ninja, but the first would absolutely crush Obito's excitent.
"Mugetsu sensei, you overestimate him," Kakashi said flatly. "He'll be saying Konoha is more comfortable by nightfall."
Obito glared at Kakashi and swore to himself that no matter how miserable he felt, he would not complain. Not once.
After indulging Obito's curiosity at the start, Mugetsu accelerated the journey and drove them straight toward Rōran.
When Rōran finally appeared ahead, Kakashi's brow furrowed.
"Why are there so many tall buildings here?"
The Rōran described in the records was not like this. Outdated information was normal, but this change was too extre.
Obito, still taking photos, heard him and spun around in delight. "So you didn't know either, Kakashi. I thought you were so great. Turns out you only knew the na."
Kakashi ignored him and observed carefully instead.
He could still see buildings that matched the records. Those towering structures in Rōran's style were likely newly built.
"Let's go," Mugetsu said, pulling three kunai from his pouch and handing one to each of them. "We'll et the client."
Kakashi's eyes sharpened.
They had not fought since leaving Konoha. Mugetsu was not worried about their supplies. That ant only one thing.
"Mugetsu sensei," Kakashi asked, "can you use Flying Thunder God too?"
Obito had still been confused about the kunai. Hearing Kakashi's question, he stared at Mugetsu as well.
"Yes," Mugetsu said with a nod and a calm smile. "As long as you keep the kunai on you, I can move to your side at any ti."
Obito's mouth fell open. "Mugetsu sensei… do you really not have a long lost twin brother?"
Minato looked like Mugetsu. Both were gentle. Both could use Flying Thunder God. Obito could not be blad for connecting dots that looked like they were screaming the sa answer.
Flying Thunder God was not a technique you saw everywhere. Obito had only ever seen Minato use it.
Not just Obito. Even Rin and Kakashi could not hide their curiosity. Mugetsu had denied it many tis, but the similarities were hard to ignore.
Tap.
Mugetsu tapped Obito's forehead with two fingers. "No. Stop guessing. Minato taught Flying Thunder God. I simply happened to learn it."
If not for Minato's explanation, Mugetsu would have needed an unreasonable amount of grinding to understand it. Saying Minato taught him was the honest version of events.
Obito rubbed his forehead and grinned. "Mugetsu sensei, I want to learn that too!"
As much as Obito did not want to fight Minato, he wanted Flying Thunder God even more. In his eyes, it was the most unfair technique in existence.
You could pour your whole soul into chasing Minato and still never touch his sleeve. But if you blinked at the wrong ti, Minato's kunai would be inside you.
"I'll teach you when you're capable of learning it," Mugetsu replied after a brief pause.
He did intend to teach Obito. Obito had talent for space ti ninjutsu. But not now.
Flying Thunder God consud enormous chakra. The current Obito simply could not handle it.
It was no different from refusing to teach a five year old Great Fire Destruction. Not because you did not want to teach, but because the child could not learn it.
"Yesss!" Obito cheered, then shot Kakashi a challenging look.
If he learned Flying Thunder God, Obito did not believe Kakashi could keep beating him.
Kakashi quietly stared at Mugetsu as well. Flying Thunder God was absurdly useful. He wanted it too.
"All of you can try to learn it," Mugetsu said. "But it has special requirents. If you can't grasp it, don't be discouraged."
Mugetsu wanted his disciples to learn Flying Thunder God because it boosted both combat power and survival. But realistically, not everyone could do it.
In the original records, Minato even taught Flying Thunder God to his guards. Could Minato not have taught it to Kakashi? Most likely he tried. Kakashi simply did not learn it.
Mugetsu had learned Flying Thunder God before obtaining his spatial talent. He rembered the feeling clearly.
It was like staring at a wall of symbols that refused to beco aning.
Besides, in Mugetsu's view, Kakashi did not necessarily need Flying Thunder God in combat. If Kakashi could enter Transparent World before reaching a constant state, then once he perfected his breathing technique, his short distance burst would not be slower than Flying Thunder God.
After the brief discussion, Mugetsu led them to et the client, the current queen of Rōran.
The queen was a young woman, graceful and gentle. Perhaps because of her status and wealth, she maintained herself so well that Mugetsu could not tell, just by looking, that she was already a mother with a child over ten years old.
"The mission says we must investigate Mukade," Mugetsu said after they confird identities. "Are there specific points you want us to focus on?"
"Please investigate his past and his clandestine activities," the queen answered.
Kakashi frowned. "He's a minister of your country. How can you not know his past?"
Soone of unknown origin becoming the highest figure beneath the queen was not a small matter.
The queen's expression turned helpless. "At first, he spoke of his past. He beca a minister after achieving great rit. But I now suspect that past is a disguise. I believe he ca to Rōran with impure intentions."
No matter how much she suspected him, she could not deny what he had done for Rōran. Without Mukade, Rōran could not have built so many tall buildings, and its economy would have been far worse.
It was precisely because of his contributions that the queen did not dismiss and imprison him based solely on suspicion. Instead, she hired outsiders to investigate.
"Also," she continued, "be discreet. Do not expose your purpose. Do not let anyone know I commissioned you."
"Many people in Rōran support Mukade. If our intentions are exposed before evidence is found, it will cause dissatisfaction among both the populace and the officials."
This was also why she sought ninja from Konoha. In Rōran, too many eyes would notice too quickly.
At the sa ti, she understood why people supported him.
Mukade had changed Rōran.
Obito stared at her, quietly shocked. It was his first ti seeing a queen trapped in a position like this.
In the Land of Snow, once the target was confird, they arrested him directly. Here, even investigating felt like stepping on blades.
"No problem," Mugetsu said with a nod.
He could understand her caution. Though called a small country, this place was closer to a town in size, far smaller than the Land of Snow. It sat deep in the desert, remote and surrounded by instability. Life here was difficult.
In such conditions, soone who brought developnt would naturally gain supporters.
Still, the queen should be grateful she was cautious. If she acted rashly, she would be the one to die in the end. Mukade was not only a ninja, but a powerful one.
On the way out, Obito muttered, "Could he be another Doto, trying to take the country for himself?"
"It's aningless to guess before we investigate," Kakashi replied. "Even the queen doesn't know the truth yet."
They had not even t Mukade, so empty speculation only wasted ti.
Mugetsu found an ordinary inn first. Then he spoke quietly to the three of them.
"To investigate efficiently, we'll split up. I'll be one group. The three of you will be another. We'll exchange information back here tonight."
Mugetsu could already see the strange power beneath Rōran with his Byakugan, and he planned to investigate the Dragon Vein first.
His perception could not cover the entire shinobi world, but covering all of Rōran was no issue. As long as his disciples were in danger, he could use Flying Thunder God to support them.
To prevent accidents, Mugetsu also created a shadow clone to follow Kakashi's group as a second layer of protection.
With that, Mugetsu's figure flickered and vanished.
"Let's go," Kakashi said without wasting ti. "We'll observe Rōran first."
"Why do you act like you're the leader?" Obito snapped.
Kakashi turned, calm as ever. "Then what do you propose we do, and why should we do it?"
Obito's montum instantly collapsed. That question felt like a written exam.
With no further objections, the three began their investigation.
At the queen's request, Kakashi and his teammates put away their headbands and chunin vests, blending in as ordinary travelers.
Not long after, Obito's gaze locked onto a blond figure ahead, wandering around with an openly foolish expression.
"Kakashi, Rin," Obito said, lowering his voice, "I think I found soone suspicious."
"I noticed him before you said anything," Kakashi replied, frowning at the visible Konoha headband.
"He does look suspicious at first glance," Rin agreed.
"Be careful," Kakashi warned. "Be ready to fight."
In Kakashi's eyes, the figure ahead raised far too many questions. Only a headband, no chunin vest. That suggested genin. Why would a genin appear alone in Rōran?
"It might not be that bad," Obito muttered. "Maybe he's also from Konoha."
"Not everyone wearing a Konoha headband is Konoha ninja," Kakashi said evenly.
It was easy to counterfeit a headband. Even easier to use Transformation Technique.
Kakashi did not sense signs of Transformation Technique on this person, but that did not an it was impossible. A skilled ninja could hide it.
"We'll know if we ask."
Obito stepped forward. Kakashi and Rin shifted into positions behind him, ready to move.
"Are you a Konoha ninja?" Obito asked directly.
"Isn't that obvious?" the blond boy replied, pointing at his headband.
"Then please show us your ninja ID," Kakashi said, voice low. "It's warti. Understand."
All official Konoha ninja had identification, with basic info, mission records, and anti counterfeiting asures.
"Huh? What war?" the blond boy blinked, confused. "But I think I do have my ID."
He handed it over casually, as if this was perfectly normal.
For so reason, he felt the white haired masked boy in front of him looked familiar.
"Uzumaki Naruto," Kakashi read aloud. "Genin. Ninja ID 012607…"
Kakashi's eyelids twitched.
He would have to report Konoha's ID counterfeiting problem to Mugetsu sensei tonight.
In Kakashi's eyes, the ID Naruto handed him was a very real fake.
It looked real because it matched Konoha's IDs in every detail. The texture, the layout, the markings. Everything.
But the data inside was ridiculous.
Obito had graduated less than a year ago and was considered part of the newest wave. His ninja ID was 10886.
Even if Obito was at the very front of his class and Naruto was at the very end, there would still be over seventeen hundred people between them.
The academy could not possibly graduate that many ninja in a single year.
And Naruto did not look like a fresh graduate either. He looked at least fifteen or sixteen.
Even worse, the surna Uzumaki was suspicious. As far as Kakashi knew, Konoha currently had only one Uzumaki, Kushina.
A single ID created a pile of problems.
Kakashi did not return the card. He looked at Obito, and silently gathered chakra.
Mugetsu's shadow clone, hidden nearby, watched with interest.
This was getting entertaining.
"By the way," Naruto said cheerfully, "do you know where this is? Have you seen Mukade, Hundred Feet? I'm on a mission to capture him."
"This is Rōran," Kakashi replied. "You ca here without even knowing where you were going?"
Naruto's expression was so genuine that Kakashi could not tell if he was truly foolish or performing.
"Rōran? This is Rōran?" Naruto scratched his head and stared at the town around him. "I thought Rōran was a ruin."
Naruto did not even lower his voice. Pedestrians nearby turned to look.
Kakashi felt a headache coming on.
If this continued, they would expose themselves before they even began investigating. He grabbed the situation by the collar and guided Naruto toward a more secluded place.
On the way, Naruto suddenly asked, "By the way, your surna isn't Hatake, is it?"
Kakashi nodded. Revealing a surna was not a problem in this era.
"It really is!" Naruto exclaid, indignant. "Kakashi sensei is too much. He secretly had such a big kid and never told !"
Kakashi froze.
Rin held her mouth, shoulders shaking.
Obito's eyes widened, then he burst into laughter. "Kakashi, he called you sensei. Even though you're your own son!"
Naruto spun around, looking for soone. "Huh? Where's Kakashi sensei?"
Obito laughed even harder. "I can't take it anymore!"
Rin finally broke and laughed out loud too. Naruto's delivery was too convincing, too natural. It felt real.
Kakashi's face darkened. He was no longer amused.
He stared straight at Naruto. "Who are you? Stop pretending."
Naruto blinked. "Didn't I give you my ninja ID? I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
"You an the ninja ID full of holes?" Kakashi said coldly. "The forgery is impressive. The data is nonsense."
Kakashi slowly drew a kunai.
"If you won't tell the truth, then we'll communicate the ninja way."
Naruto scratched his head, genuinely confused. "I seriously don't understand what you're thinking."
Obito moved imdiately, backing Kakashi without hesitation.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Obito gathered chakra in his throat and exhaled a massive fireball at Naruto.
"Hey, hey," Naruto said, dodging easily, "if you attack like that, even if you're related to Kakashi sensei, I'll still make you cry."
"So fast," Kakashi thought, eyes sharpening. "He's not simple."
Kakashi pushed his breathing technique to the extre and drew his White Fang short blade, slashing toward Naruto.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Naruto's chakra surged, and in an instant, he created over eighty shadow clones.
Bang, bang, bang!
White smoke burst across the area, and Kakashi and Obito were surrounded from every direction.
At first Kakashi assud they were tricks.
The mont steel t flesh, he realized they were all solid.
"Such terrifying chakra," Kakashi thought grimly.
Naruto, who had created that many clones, still looked perfectly fine.
Kakashi forced away distractions and fought his way through the wave.
Obito, beside him, was stunned. He had never seen the Shadow Clone Technique used like this. Most ninja used clones for scouting, or in small numbers for deception.
This was a human wave.
Rin's mouth fell open. She had not expected a random ninja on the street to be this strong.
"Fire Release: Orochi Nagi!"
Obito concentrated his breathing, gathered chakra into his palm, and with Fla Breathing's enhancent, converted it into fire chakra in an instant.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Fierce flas swept out, engulfing most of the clones around him. The ground was scorched black.
"Flash: Double Strike!"
Blue lightning crackled around Kakashi's feet. With lightning chakra enhancing his body, he burst forward and cut down a large number of clones as well.
Their performance surprised Naruto. He was not taking the fight seriously, but for kids who looked around Konohamaru's age, they were strong.
"You're pretty capable," Naruto said, twisting his wrist with a mischievous grin.
Then his eyes sharpened with playful malice.
He muttered under his breath, "Bla your father."
Naruto's chakra erupted again. Hundreds more clones appeared, and his main body charged forward with them.
Kakashi's scalp prickled.
They might not be able to win.
"I need to make a bigger commotion so Mugetsu sensei notices," Kakashi thought quickly.
They had Mugetsu's Flying Thunder God kunai. If Mugetsu realized they were in danger, he could arrive instantly.
Naruto was strong, but Kakashi did not believe Naruto could defeat Mugetsu.
Because of Naruto's pressure and his overwhelming numbers, Kakashi entered Transparent World.
Everything around him turned clear and transparent. His perception and control rose sharply.
But two fists could not beat four hands, and Kakashi was dealing with far more than four.
Even though he could read angles and movents, Naruto's clones were too many, and too solid, and Naruto's main body added chaos at the worst monts.
Kakashi took a punch to the face.
Rin tried to assist with Water Release, but Naruto's Rasengan slamd through it, dispersing her technique instantly.
Obito saw Kakashi struggling and stopped caring about chakra consumption. He entered Fla Breathing Chakra Mode.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Fla Bullet!"
Orochi Nagi was powerful, but its range was limited. Obito chose a wider technique.
As chakra drained from his body, orange red flas poured from his mouth in a continuous stream, forming a small sea of fire that incinerated a huge number of clones.
Then Obito guided the blaze, sweeping it outward to strike at the clones from three directions.
Because they were real shadow clones, even his Sharingan could not simply see through them and pick out Naruto's main body.
Kakashi finally had a mont to breathe.
Compared to Kakashi's lightning, Obito's fire was louder, brighter, and impossible to ignore. If it lasted even briefly, it would draw attention.
Then, a new technique cut in like a blade of cold water.
"Water Release: Water Wave Hand!"
A violent torrent surged in like a tidal wave and extinguished Obito's flas in an instant.
Kakashi's breath caught.
So Naruto was not alone.
He snapped his gaze to the source and saw a ninja in black combat attire, wearing a Konoha chunin vest and a Konoha headband, walking toward them at a steady pace.
A chill crept through Kakashi's mind.
They might have stumbled into sothing far bigger than a random encounter.
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