However, worry was still unavoidable.
Although the ninja ranks were only divided into Genin, Chunin, Special Jonin, and Jonin, there was still a massive gap even among the Jonin. Specifically, they were divided into ordinary Jonin and Elite Jonin; the latter belonged to the most powerful group within the rank. So of them could even go toe-to-toe with the Kage of a village.
Mahiru was one of the top experts in the Hidden Stone Village. It was said he participated in the very battle that killed the Third Raikage. This information had already been relayed to everyone when they accepted the mission.
What worried Rin Nohara was: could they really execute this mission successfully? Kiyoshi was only a newly promoted Jonin, and so was Kakashi. She didn't know if Minato-sensei and Mikoto-senpai would be staying with them throughout.
"Kakashi should have been promoted to Jonin as well, right?"
Kiyoshi spoke up, looking at Kakashi. According to the plot of *Kakashi Gaiden*, Kakashi would beco a Jonin just a few days before the Battle of Kannabi Bridge. Minato Namikaze would give Kakashi a special kunai because of this.
That kunai was marked with a Flying Thunder God formula, which Minato eventually used to launch a surprise attack on the Stone ninjas. As for why he gave him *that* specific gift, and why Kakashi had never used such a kunai before despite his long history, it was quite thought-provoking.
"Yes," Rin Nohara nodded, turning to look at Kakashi.
"It is not a big deal, Kiyoshi," Kakashi said, crossing his arms with a short blade strapped to his back. To soone like him or Kiyoshi, who had excelled in their studies since childhood, becoming a Jonin was only a matter of ti.
Moreover, because it was warti, the requirents for becoming a Jonin were much more relaxed than during periods of peace.
"Eh? Eh?! Kiyoshi and Kakashi are both Jonin now?"
A boisterous voice ca from the distance. Obito Uchiha ran over out of breath, leaning down and clutching his knees as he gasped. He looked at Kiyoshi and Kakashi in shock.
Previously, he had taken the Chunin Exams with Kakashi. He had failed the written test the first ti and barely managed to get a spot as an alternate, only to lose to Might Guy in the second round and get kicked away. Kakashi, however, had beaten Might Guy and beco a Chunin. How long had it been? Kakashi was already a Jonin?
That would be one thing, but why was that guy Kiyoshi Uchiha also a Jonin? Obito was completely baffled. To let those two guys beco Jonin so quickly while soone as hardworking as himself was not—was there no justice in this world? The more Obito thought about it, the more depressed he beca.
"You are too late, Obito," Kakashi's voice drifted from behind his black mask. "What ti do you think the gathering was? It is only natural for a true ninja to follow the rules."
Kakashi glanced at Obito. Compared to an excellent teammate like Kiyoshi, Obito was practically a textbook example of what not to be.
"I t a hobbling old lady on the way who asked for directions, and then so sand got in my eyes..."
Obito took out so eye drops and squeezed a few drops into his precious eyes. He carried these things with him at all tis just to protect his eyes.
Hearing Obito's classic "helping an old lady" excuse, Kakashi imdiately retorted, "Hey, you are lying, aren't you?"
"Alright, let's leave it at that, Kakashi," Minato Namikaze stepped in to smooth things over, ntioning Obito's good points. However, a trace of gloom was hidden in the corners of his eyes. This mission was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.
"Obito, you are an Uchiha. A man should be more punctual," Mikoto said. She was wearing a green flak jacket, and her tight black pants showed the curve of her legs.
"...Ah, I understand, Mikoto-neesan," Obito nodded. Mikoto was a Jonin of the clan; he could not afford to be disrespectful to her.
"Kiyoshi, congratulations on becoming a Jonin as well," Mikoto said with a beaming smile.
"It is nothing, Mikoto-san," Kiyoshi shook his head. Just a Jonin. In the face of the Third Shinobi World War, even a Kage could die. What did a Jonin count for? Besides, there was soone even more terrifying than a Kage—Madara Uchiha—who would be watching this operation.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Minato Namikaze said to Mikoto, "Jonin Mikoto, everyone is here. We should head out."
"Very well, Jonin Minato," Mikoto nodded. Even though they knew each other through Kushina, they weren't overly familiar, so they used the formal honorific of Jonin for each other. This was common etiquette between Jonin.
Then, the eight-man team quickly marched toward the mission location.
...
After several days of travel, they approached the border of the Land of Fire. For a ninja's pace, crossing a country was not a difficult task. The two teams traveled together, with Minato leading the way. His sensory abilities were outstanding, so he took the front.
Mikoto walked nearly side-by-side with Kiyoshi, occasionally chatting with him to pass the ti. Even for Mikoto, the constant travel was tedious; that was only human nature.
"Kakashi, this is my gift to you for becoming a Jonin."
As they were about to reach the border of the Land of Grass, Minato suddenly slowed his pace and gave Kakashi a specially made kunai. It looked like a short-handled trident, with the handle covered in black formulas.
"It is a bit heavy, but you will find it handy once you get used to it. Take it with you for this mission."
This mission was vital to the situation on the front lines and could very well sway the course of the war. Before they left, the high-ranking officials of the Hidden Leaf Village had entrusted this task to Minato.
Minato's first instinct was to refuse, but a ninja must prioritize orders. He was a kind person, but he knew when to be kind and when... This was all for the village.
Minato Namikaze sighed, feeling the weight of his conscience. Kiyoshi's ticulous observation caught this, but his expression remained unchanged. The original story always called Minato a "little sun." Unfortunately, when all was said and done, Minato was a ninja. And a ninja would do anything for the village.
Don't forget that in the first episode, he sealed half of the Nine-Tails into his own son, knowing full well the fate of a Jinchuriki. The so-called [Will of Fire] is more like [Leaf First]—aning parents, relatives, brothers, and friends all co second to the village.
Hashirama once said sothing similar to Madara: "No matter if they are a friend, brother, or my own child, I will never forgive anyone who becos an enemy of the village."
Madara believed Hashirama had changed, becoming soone who put the cart before the horse, and that this would eventually beco the darkness of the village. This was the extremity of the [Will of Fire]. A ninja organization born under such a system would naturally be full of various flaws.
"Thank you," Kakashi took the special kunai. He didn't notice that Minato's sunny smile was slightly more unnatural than usual.
"Wh... What is that supposed to an? Don't hold your hand out like that, I don't have anything to give you!" Obito shouted as Kakashi suddenly reached out toward him.
"Hmph... forget it. It wouldn't be anything good anyway. Giving useless junk would just be a burden."
"I still can't figure out why you and Kiyoshi beca Jonin!" Obito pointed at Kakashi. "I am Obito Uchiha of the Uchiha clan! I will surpass you sooner or later, as soon as my Sharingan awakens!" Obito pulled out the Sharingan excuse once again.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing," Rin Nohara stepped in to diate.
Once things had cald down, Minato took out a map from his bag, spread it on the ground, and motioned for everyone to take a look.
"Kiyoshi, this is my gift to you," Mikoto saw that others had given Kakashi gifts for his promotion, so she took out a kunai to give to Kiyoshi.
"I didn't prepare sothing in advance, sorry, Kiyoshi," Mikoto said with a slight apology.
"No matter what Mikoto-san gives , I will treasure it," Kiyoshi said, accepting the kunai with a look of being moved.
Tekka and Inabi also followed suit and gave him so small things; Tekka gave him so Food Pills, and Inabi gave him so Explosive Tags. Being on a mission, they only had these supplies on them.
"Kiyoshi, you have a flying ninjutsu. You are the fastest ninja here besides ," Minato said. Everyone looked at Kiyoshi. The fact that Kiyoshi had created a flying ninjutsu was known to all.
"I need to confirm your flight speed and how you handle carrying soone while flying," Minato continued. These details would decide so specifics of the mission.
"I can do that," Kiyoshi nodded.
"Try carrying Rin first," Minato looked around the group and his gaze finally landed on Rin Nohara. Here, only Rin was a pure dical ninja, and her strength was weaker than the others, so she needed more consideration.
"No problem."
Kiyoshi stepped forward and picked up Rin, carrying her in a princess carry.
"Eh? Eh?!" Rin didn't have ti to react before she was hanging onto Kiyoshi.
In the next mont, lightning erupted around Kiyoshi's body, and he soared into the sky with Rin. Rin was so startled she grabbed onto Kiyoshi's neck, feeling the wind howling in her ears. When she opened her eyes again, Minato and the others below had beco small dark spots. The lightning around Kiyoshi had vanished, replaced by light, swirling air currents.
"Why is it Rin?!" Obito's eyes widened below. He wished he could go up there and kick Kiyoshi away so he could be the one holding Rin. Dammit! He had never even held Rin!
"Kiyoshi's speed has increased again," Kakashi frowned. It looked like Kiyoshi had mastered a type of Lightning Style ninjutsu that allowed him to cover his body in lightning chakra.
Fortunately, his own understanding of Lightning Style was also deep. The technique he had been trying to develop was now taking shape and could be perford—its na was [Chidori]!
"The Cloud Village's [Lightning Style Chakra Mode]..." Minato had fought against the A-B duo before and had seen A's [Lightning Style Chakra Mode]. However, the lightning on Kiyoshi was thicker, with a hint of purple-black.
"If it is a technique from the Cloud, why does Kiyoshi know it?" Kakashi asked curiously, overhearing Minato's murmur.
"That is the most basic ability of our Uchiha clan: Copying!" Tekka said proudly. It had been several months since the death of the Third Raikage.
***
Read 30 Chapters early on P-atreon/Redestro666
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