Chapter 68 Saving Obito/Kannabi Bridge (Part 3...)
Torrential rain poured down from the seemingly ruptured sky, the dense rain lashing every corner of Konoha Village.
The streets were deserted, and the usually bustling markets and training grounds were now shrouded in a white mist.
Every household had its doors and windows tightly shut, with only the clamor of raindrops hitting the roof and ground filling the air.
The thick, leaden-gray clouds hung low, seemingly within reach, bringing a suffocating sense of oppression.
Yan Sheng stood under the eaves of a narrow alley, the rain weaving a dense, impenetrable curtain in front of him.
He had just arrived in this world when the mission issued by the planetary consciousness of this world appeared in his mind: [Save Obito].
Upon seeing this mission, Yan Sheng felt a slight pang of regret.
In the first world, his attention was mainly focused on Uchiha Sasuke. Although he had some interaction with Uchiha Obito in that world, it was limited to physical confrontation and the execution of plans. He never had any in-depth conversations or learned about Obito's inner thoughts.
—The reason I talked to Itachi was because of his importance to Sasuke; in a way, he was also a mission objective.
The second world was very rushed; I only had contact with Uchiha Shisui...
He had made a mistake.
However, although I don't know much about Obito, I do know the general outline: Obito turned to the dark side and became the "Uchiha Madara" representative who was obsessed with the Eye of the Moon Plan after experiencing a huge change.
That upheaval... seemed to be related to a war in Iwagakure. Yan Sheng recalled fragmented pieces of information.
I remember the background is the Third Shinobi World War. As for the cause of the war? Yan Sheng had no interest in delving into it; it was nothing more than a cycle of resources, interests, territory, or hatred.
There is nothing new under the sun; the reasons for human conflict are always the same.
In conclusion, the key to saving Obito is to prevent the crucial event that led to his transformation from happening.
The tricky part is that he doesn't know the specific details of that "key event".
However, this was not an unsolvable situation. Yan Sheng quickly sorted out his thoughts.
The first priority is to find Obito Uchiha himself in this world and at this point in time. If we can find him, follow him, and intervene before his turning point arrives, there is a chance to turn things around.
***
The rain showed no signs of letting up.
Yan Sheng's gaze swept across the rain curtain, locking onto a dumpling shop that was still open. He lifted the noren curtain and went inside.
The shop was warm and quiet, a stark contrast to the raging storm outside. He chose a seat by the window and ordered the shop's signature dish: Three-Color Meatballs.
Since we've borrowed the space, we shouldn't just occupy it for nothing.
The dumplings were served quickly. He took a bite and found the sweetness to be just right, much better than the cloyingly sweet taste he remembered from the Uchiha clan's territory.
Not very sweet = edible.
While slowly eating the meatballs, he observed the street outside through the blurry glass window.
The layout of Konoha was still familiar, not much different from the two worlds he had visited before. At the same time, one could vaguely see the shadow of his original world, Konoha Village, with only slight differences in architectural details and shop signs.
To remain in this world, one needs a legitimate identity.
Yan Sheng pondered the next steps.
In the first world, he gained the status of "guardian" through direct contact with the then Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The second world was progressing too quickly and hadn't yet been "found."
If this third world is to remain there for an extended period and seek an opportunity to save Obito, it clearly needs to follow the example of the first world and make contact with the current Konoha leadership to obtain some form of "permission."
Otherwise, the prolonged stay of a stranger of unknown strength and origin will inevitably lead to unnecessary trouble.
Just as he was lost in thought, the door of the dumpling shop was pushed open again, bringing in a blast of damp, cold air.
Several ninjas wearing animal masks and uniform ANBU attire filed in. Their appearance carried an invisible aura of menace, causing the shopkeeper behind the counter to tense up and show fear on his face.
Compared to the anxious boss, Yan Sheng was much calmer. He put the last meatball into his mouth without even looking up at these uninvited guests; he already knew what was going on.
These people came for him.
As expected, the leader of the ANBU members walked straight to his table, his eyes sharp as a hawk's beneath his mask, and his voice, delivered through the mask, carried a formulaic coldness: "Sir, please come with us."
Yan Sheng put down the bamboo skewer, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and didn't bother to ask the other person's identity or the reason for asking him to come.
After all, the only place that can mobilize the secret service is one.
"Lead the way." He stood up, his tone flat and indifferent, as if he were merely accepting a routine invitation.
The members of the secret service seemed surprised by his cooperation, paused for a moment, and then made a "please" gesture.
Yan Sheng followed them into the rain. The cold rain seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier as it approached his body, and not a single drop fell on him.
This terrifying control over chakra made the eyes of the accompanying ANBU members behind their masks even more solemn.
The group silently walked through the rain-soaked streets and went straight to the Hokage Building. They skipped the lobby and went directly to the Hokage's office via an internal passageway.
Pushing open the door, the scene inside the office came into view.
An elderly man with gray hair, a kind face, but an undeniable air of authority sat behind a large desk. It was none other than the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He held a pipe in his hand and looked intently at Yan Sheng as he entered.
"Lord Hokage, the person has been brought here." After the leader of the Anbu reported, he and his companions retreated to the sides, forming a subtle encirclement, but maintaining a sufficient distance, showing vigilance rather than an immediate attack.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sized up Yan Sheng, his gaze lingering for a moment on Yan Sheng's understated yet sophisticated ancient attire, his unfamiliar yet strikingly familiar face, and his composed demeanor even amidst the encirclement.
He slowly exhaled a smoke ring:
“An unfamiliar face, powerful chakra…” The Third Hokage’s voice was gentle, yet scrutinizing. “Can you tell me your origins? And your purpose in coming to Konoha?”
Yan Sheng met the gaze of the three generations without flinching. He had anticipated this question and had prepared a contingency plan.
“My name is Yan Sheng,” he said. “I am not a ninja from any village. I came to Konoha at the request of an old friend to take care of a junior.”
Yan Shenghui used the excuse of an old friend because he was thinking of Madara. Come to think of it, Obito was indeed later saved by Madara, so there's nothing wrong with that.
"An old friend? A junior?" The third generation raised an eyebrow slightly, signaling him to continue.
“If I remember correctly, the junior’s name is Uchiha Obito.” Yan Sheng said, while carefully observing the Third Hokage’s reaction. He saw a hint of surprise flash in the Third Hokage’s eyes, but more than that, he was deep in thought.
“Obito Uchiha,” the Third Hokage said thoughtfully. “He was Minato’s student, a… very energetic boy. Who is this old friend you entrusted with this task?”
“A senior Uchiha who has long since retired from the world.” Yan Sheng gave a vague explanation. “He sensed that Obito might encounter a calamity in the future, but it was inconvenient for him to show up himself, so he entrusted me to come and lend a helping hand at a critical moment.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi silently puffed on his pipe, seemingly weighing the truth or falsehood of those words.
Yan Sheng showed no obvious hostility, and his unfathomable strength was undeniable. Such a powerful figure, if truly harboring malice, would have no need to resort to such a roundabout method.
"You suddenly appeared on the street," the Third Hokage asked, changing his approach. "How do you explain that?"
"The application of a space-time ninjutsu," Yan Sheng said without changing his expression. To increase the authenticity of his words, he released a slight fluctuation of chakra unique to the Rinnegan. This fluctuation was extremely weak, yet it made all the sensory ninjas present feel a chill.
"The details required for cultivation are too numerous to describe here, please understand."
Space-time ninjutsu is both unique and ununique. It's unique because it's rare, but not unique because one of the ninjutsu created by Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage of Konoha, is a space-time ninjutsu called Flying Thunder God Technique.
This ninjutsu is extremely difficult to learn, but once mastered, it is highly practical. Currently, only Minato in the village knows it.
A brief silence fell over the office, broken only by the sound of rain pattering outside the window and the faint crackling of tobacco burning in the third-generation pipe.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently at Yan Sheng, trying to find some flaw in Yan Sheng's calm and expressionless face.
After a long silence, he slowly spoke, "Konoha welcomes friends with good intentions, but they must also be responsible for the village's safety. I need time to verify your claims. In the meantime..."
“I can accept surveillance and abide by Konoha’s rules,” Yan Sheng said proactively, showing his cooperative attitude. “I will only contact Obito when necessary, and I will not interfere in Konoha’s internal affairs, nor will I provoke trouble. My purpose is simple: to ensure that the child… safely passes through his destined tribulation.”
His honesty and relatively reasonable explanations, coupled with his formidable strength, caused the scales in the Third Generation's mind to tip.
In the ninja world, it's not uncommon for reclusive powerhouses to possess strange lineages or abilities. If this person truly is here to protect the ninjas of Konoha, as he claims, then rashly expelling or becoming hostile is not the best course of action.
"Alright." The Third Hokage finally made his decision. "You can stay in Konoha for now. I will arrange a temporary identity and accommodation for you, but your actions will need to be reported, and the Anbu will be monitoring you at all times. I hope you truly came with good intentions, as you said."
"Thank you for your understanding, Hokage-sama." Yan Sheng nodded slightly.
......
The atmosphere in the Hokage's office did not immediately relax after Yan Sheng left.
The dark guerrilla leader, who had previously led the team to "invite" the person and was wearing a raccoon mask, stepped forward, a muffled voice emanating from beneath the mask:
“Third Hokage…” He was Hiruzen Sarutobi’s closest confidant and knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi, though seemingly gentle, was actually very shrewd. His silence at this moment must have been due to many considerations, but he still couldn’t help but remind him, “This person’s origins are unknown, and his strength is unfathomable, especially his time-space ninjutsu. Isn’t it too risky to keep him in the village?”
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, and through the swirling smoke, his eyes gradually deepened: "Precisely because of his strength and his mastery of space-time ninjutsu, we must not easily antagonize him. Right now, the war between our village and Iwagakure is intense, and it is really not advisable to create any more complications and provoke a troublesome enemy."
He paused, tapped the table lightly with his pipe, and continued his analysis: "Moreover, you saw his face... a typical Uchiha. He claimed to have been entrusted by an old friend to come for Obito. Obito's parents both died in battle shortly after his birth, and his parents were both orphans with no close relatives in the clan."
The Third Hokage's gaze fell on the still-pouring rain outside the window, as if recalling distant memories: "When the Uchiha clan moved to Konoha, not everyone did so willingly. Some clan members followed that person who left... Perhaps Obito's parents, or their closest friends, were among them. Now, many years later, it makes sense that descendants of the old friends sensed the blood ties, or deduced that Obito might be in danger, and sent people to look after him."
After giving his analysis, Hiruzen Sarutobi took another puff of his cigarette, his brows furrowing slightly as he muttered to himself with a hint of uncertainty, "And... for some reason, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before." The feeling was vague, as if he had glimpsed a similar outline in some distant fragment of memory, but upon closer examination, he couldn't quite place it.
This inexplicable sense of familiarity was one of the reasons why he ultimately decided to temporarily accept Yen Sheng.
***
Yan Sheng acted with extreme efficiency. After obtaining the Third Hokage's tacit approval and temporary residency permit, he immediately began searching for Obito Uchiha's residence.
It wasn't difficult; after asking around a bit, they found Obito's apartment.
—Like Naruto Uzumaki, he was an orphan. Perhaps this is the policy of Konoha Village, which provides orphans with a small apartment so that they don't have nowhere to go.
Of course, Obito was definitely an exception. After all, he was an Uchiha, and the Uchiha clan had its own territory. The Uchiha people lived in their own clan territory, and they would spontaneously adopt children from their own clans.
Obito was the only one who didn't live on clan lands, but in a village. He wasn't adopted by any Uchiha clan either.
...Quite coincidentally, there happened to be an empty house for rent next to the Obito family's house.
Yan Sheng rented the place without hesitation. He was very satisfied with the location: it was close enough so he could keep an eye on Obito's movements at any time, but not too close, so as to avoid interfering in Obito's life too early or too deeply and thus arousing his vigilance and resentment.
***
The sudden arrival of people in the house across the street, which had been vacant for months, piqued Obito's curiosity, as he lived alone.
He had peeked out the window several times, only ever seeing the back of a tall, aloof, black-haired man coming and going; he had never seen the man's face.
Of course, despite his curiosity, Obito didn't take it too seriously, simply treating it as a new neighbor.
That day, after completing a simple D-class mission, the Watergate Squad rested by a large tree next to the training ground.
Obito casually mentioned this incident as a topic of conversation, telling it to Rin Nohara, who was standing next to him, and Kakashi Hatake, who was leaning against a tree trunk and pretending to doze off.
"New neighbors?" Nohara Rin tilted her head, revealing her signature gentle smile. "If they're neighbors, it's good to get along well. Obito, why don't you give them some handmade items as a welcome gift?"
"Huh? Handmade items?" Obito was taken aback, scratching the back of his head. Making him do handicrafts was no better than making him run a hundred laps.
Seeing Obito's troubled expression, Rin chuckled and thought of a better idea: "Hmm, how about this?" She turned to the white-haired boy beside her, who had his eyes closed and seemed indifferent to the conversation, "Kakashi, how about we go to Obito's house this weekend? Consider it a rare get-together just for the three of us. Then I'll make some cookies for Obito to give to his new neighbors. That way, we can express our goodwill without being too abrupt."
"W-What?! Rin, you're coming to my house?!" Obito jumped up instantly upon hearing this, his face turning bright red at a visible speed, steam practically rising from his head like a boiling kettle. He stammered, flustered, "Um... my house is a bit messy... I... I haven't tidied up yet..."
Kakashi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened one eye. He had no interest in this kind of "neighborhood gathering" and was about to refuse when his gaze swept over Obito, who was completely flustered and staring at Rin blankly because of her words. A mischievous thought suddenly welled up inside him.
He curled his lips into an almost imperceptible smile and said in a slightly lazy and provocative tone, "Okay."
At this moment, Obito was completely immersed in the immense joy and nervousness of "the goddess is coming to my house this weekend." He was so dizzy that he couldn't even think of objecting to Kakashi, whom he usually didn't get along with, agreeing to come along. He just felt his heart was pounding so hard it was about to jump out of his throat.
However—when he caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye that Rin's fair ears had quietly turned a faint pink after hearing Kakashi agree, he noticed that her ears were flushed.
This discovery was like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing Obito's excitement. He glared at the white-haired boy who had closed his eyes again, looking completely indifferent, and a surge of jealousy and anger welled up inside him. He shouted:
"Ugh, Kakashi! Who asked you to come here?!"
“Obito, don’t say that,” Rin quickly tried to smooth things over, her tone tinged with helplessness. “Kakashi didn’t do anything.”
"You don't understand, Rin!" Obito jumped up and down in anger, pointing at Kakashi, "It's his arrogant, nonchalant attitude that's so annoying!"
“Eh—” Rin deliberately dragged out her words, a sly smile in her eyes, “Obito, you always say that, but every time we go on a mission, you and Kakashi work together so well. Sometimes, watching you guys makes me feel like I’m being left behind.”
"What?! Who, who would team up well with that arrogant Kakashi?!" Obito, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, hurriedly denied it, but seeing the "disappointment" on Rin's face, he hastily explained, "No, Rin! We didn't abandon you! At least I didn't abandon you! It's Kakashi! He, he's a lone wolf! He likes to act alone! Don't be sad!"
Seeing Obito sweating profusely and stammering as he tried to explain, Rin finally couldn't help but burst out laughing: "What's wrong with you, Obito? You actually like Kakashi too, don't you? If you really disliked someone, you wouldn't be so eager to explain for them."
"Don't talk nonsense, Rin!" Obito's face instantly turned red, whether from anger or embarrassment, his voice rising even louder, "I don't like that bastard Kakashi at all!"
Kakashi, the instigator, remained leaning against the tree trunk with his eyes closed, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him.
The weekend arrived as scheduled.
Obito practically stayed awake the night before, his mind replaying the scene of his goddess coming to his house. A mix of nervousness, excitement, and worry kept him from closing his eyes much.
The next morning, with obvious dark circles under his eyes, he excitedly checked the already spotless little house again and again, making sure there was no dust even in the cracks of the windowsill, before he felt a little relieved.
At exactly nine o'clock in the morning, the knocking sounded on the door.
Obito's heart skipped a beat with excitement. He took a deep breath, patted his cheeks, trying to look natural, and then quickly walked to the door and opened it.
Outside the door, Nohara Rin, dressed in casual clothes, wore a gentle smile and carried a delicate little basket, from which wafted an enticing aroma of cookies.
Beside her, Kakashi Hatake remained as languid as ever, wearing a dark turtleneck top, one hand in his pocket, his eyes half-closed, as if he hadn't woken up yet.
"Good morning, Obito!" Rin's voice was like a spring breeze.
"Good morning, Rin! And Kakashi too!" Obito tried to make his voice sound less tense as he stepped aside. "Please come in!"
Although the hut was small, Obito kept it in perfect order.
Lin looked around the simple space with curiosity, while Kakashi unceremoniously found the most comfortable-looking chair, sat down, and yawned.
"Obito, your house is very clean," Rin praised sincerely.
"It's...it's alright!" Obito scratched his head sheepishly, his face flushed, and he couldn't help but glance at Rin.
The atmosphere was somewhat awkward, mainly due to Obito's excessive tension.
To liven things up, Lin placed the small basket she had brought on the table and opened it, revealing golden-brown, crispy, and adorably shaped cookies inside.
"Look, these are cookies I just baked this morning. Obito, shall we go and give them to your new neighbor now?" Rin picked up a small packet of cookies wrapped in clean gauze and handed it to Obito, her eyes full of encouragement. "This is a good opportunity for you to get to know each other."
"Now?" Obito looked at the bag of cookies, then at the door, his heart, which had just calmed down a little, racing again.
Do I have to deal with that neighbor who seems unapproachable?
“Of course!” Rin smiled and nudged his shoulder. “Sending it over early shows more sincerity, right, Kakashi? You agree, don’t you?”
Kakashi, who was suddenly called out, lifted his eyelids and lazily hummed in response. Obito was so annoyed by his attitude that he couldn't show it in front of Rin.
Under Rin's encouraging gaze and Kakashi's amused look, Obito gritted his teeth, took the still-warm bag of cookies, and walked towards the next room with his whole body tense as if he were going to war.
Kakashi and Rin stood by the window, craning their necks to see what was happening on Obito's side.
Obito stood outside his neighbor's door, hesitating for a while before finally raising his hand and knocking.
A few seconds later, the door was pulled open from the inside.
Obito had only caught a glimpse of this new neighbor from afar before, but now that they were standing face to face, he realized with absolute clarity just how tall the other person was—he himself was not short for a boy of that age, but in front of his neighbor, he had to crane his neck to see the other person's jawline.
He felt that the angle of his neck tilting back was almost at its limit, and a sore sensation came over him.
Yan Sheng looked down at the black-haired boy in front of him, who was holding cookies, looking up with a somewhat dazed expression. His gaze then swept over the bag of sweet-smelling snacks in the boy's hand, and finally settled on the boy's face, which had dark circles under his eyes and could not hide his nervousness and unease.
"What is it?" Yan Sheng's voice was low and steady, revealing no emotion.
Obito was startled by the simple question and quickly held up the cookies in his hand, his voice trembling with nervousness: "Um... hello! I'm Uchiha Obito from next door! These... these are cookies my friend made! They're for you! You're welcome to move in as my neighbor!"
He blurted out everything in one breath, then held his breath, waiting for the other person's reaction. His heart pounded in his chest; he wondered how this seemingly cold neighbor would respond. Would he accept it? Or would he simply slam the door shut?
Yan Sheng reached out and took the biscuit: "Thank you for your kindness." Then he stepped aside to make way, "Would you like to come in and sit down? It's a bit messy since we just moved in."
Obito's eyes widened in surprise, and he instinctively turned to look at his window. Rin gave him an encouraging gesture, while Kakashi thoughtfully observed Yan Sheng.
"Then... I'll have to bother you!" Obito mustered his courage and stepped through the door.
The sight inside left him stunned. It wasn't so much "somewhat messy" as it was as astonishingly empty. Aside from the essential furniture, there was almost no sign of life, as if a ghost lived there.
Yan Sheng placed the cookies on the table and, turning around, casually asked, "Are those two your friends?"
"We're teammates too!" Obito puffed out his chest, his tone proud. "We're in Minato's team! Our teacher is Minato Namikaze, he's super awesome!"
Minato Namikaze?
Yan Sheng collected his thoughts and subtly steered the conversation: "Judging from your age, you should be taking the Chunin Exams soon?"
"Next year will be fine!" Obito said excitedly, then became somewhat discouraged. "But... I'm afraid I won't pass. Sigh, Kakashi is already a Chunin at such a young age, and I'm only just preparing for the Chunin Exams. If I don't pass this time, it'll be so pathetic! He'll definitely look down on me."
I don't think so.
Hearing his neighbor's calm yet firm rebuttal, Obito was taken aback for a moment, then lowered his head somewhat embarrassed, a bitter and helpless smile on his face.
"Uh... I know you're just trying to comfort me, Mr. Neighbor." He assumed Yan Sheng was only offering words of encouragement out of kindness. After all, he knew his own skill level best. Compared to a genius like Kakashi, he was indeed far inferior.
However, when he looked up again and met his neighbor's deep, calm black eyes, he was stunned.
There was no perfunctory or polite expression on the man's face; his gaze was focused and serious, as if he were stating an undeniable fact, like "the sun rises in the east and sets in the west."
There was not the slightest wavering in his eyes; he trusted Obito even more than Obito himself.
Huh? Is my neighbor serious? Does he really think I can pass?
This realization stirred a strange feeling within Obito. The slight fear he had felt due to the other's tall and aloof appearance dissipated considerably at that moment.
The person who earnestly encourages someone who is "at the bottom of the class" doesn't seem like a bad person at all.
My neighbor... is surprisingly a good person.
Obito silently gave Yan Sheng a "good guy" card in his mind.
However, while it may be touching, reality is harsh.
Obito sighed, his tone dejected, "To be honest, I know my own strength. Although I hate Kakashi's arrogant attitude, I have to admit that he is indeed a genius. He learns everything quickly and is very strong. Compared to me... I am really far behind."
He lowered his head, looking at his toes, his voice gradually fading, revealing a deep-seated inferiority complex that he had always been reluctant to show to others.
Yan Sheng listened quietly until Obito's voice had completely faded before speaking again: "Don't underestimate yourself."
These five words clearly reached Obito's ears, causing him to involuntarily raise his head again.
Yan Sheng stared at him, his eyes, which seemed to see right through people, making Obito feel that his inner self-doubt was being seen through.
Yan Sheng continued, his tone calm yet each word carrying immense weight, "You need to understand one thing."
He paused slightly, making sure Obito heard every word that followed: "Anyone can abandon you, but you yourself cannot abandon yourself."
Obito's heart skipped a beat.
"Obito, you are actually very strong."
***
Thirty minutes later, Obito returned from his neighbor's house. Rin Nohara immediately greeted him with concern and asked curiously, "Obito, how was it? Did you get along well with your neighbor?"
Upon hearing this, Obito recalled Yan Sheng's calm and profound eyes, as well as the words "You are the only one you cannot give up on," and his cheeks unconsciously flushed with embarrassment.
He scratched the back of his head, his eyes unfocused, and said in a muffled tone, "It's...it's alright! The neighbor is a nice guy! Yeah, a nice guy!"
He clearly didn't want to talk about this anymore, and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Alright, let's not talk about him anymore! What should we do next?"
Kakashi, who was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, seemingly lost in thought, suddenly spoke up, his gaze sweeping over Obito with a scrutinizing look: "Is that neighbor also one of your Uchiha?"
Obito, carefree and without much thought, replied directly, "Huh? I don't know. He didn't say, and I didn't ask." He shrugged, looking completely matter-of-fact, "You know, I'm not familiar with those people in the clan."
Kakashi fell silent upon hearing this. He recalled the differences between Obito and the other members of the Uchiha clan—typical Uchiha, such as Shisui, whom he had only glimpsed briefly in his memory, or several other Uchiha he had occasionally met, mostly possessed a reserved temperament, carrying a kind of pride and aloofness that emanated from their very bones.
Obito... with his eccentric, enthusiastic, and boisterous personality, was far removed from the image of a "typical Uchiha." Perhaps for this reason, the Uchiha clan's attitude towards Obito, this "outsider," was always lukewarm: not exactly repulsive, but certainly not close either.
Since it wasn't the familiar Uchiha, then this man who suddenly appeared... Kakashi's thoughts had just reached this point when he pressed the button again.
Forget it, he can live peacefully in the village, so his identity and background must have been checked by the Hokage. Doesn't the Hokage know better than him whether he's in danger?
Thinking of the Hokage, Kakashi suppressed his doubts and stopped investigating.
***
Since that brief conversation, Obito had a very good impression of Mikasa.
In his simple worldview, anyone who was willing to earnestly encourage him and say those words to him must be a really good person! Although the neighbor still seemed a bit aloof and didn't talk much, Obito had already automatically categorized Michikatsu as a "friendly elder he could get close to."
That day, Minato's team returned successfully after completing a Class C escort mission. After handing over the mission and giving a report, Minato Namikaze did not immediately disband the team. Instead, as usual, he chatted gently with the three students, inquiring about their recent situation and thoughts.
This is a tradition of Minato's team and also Minato Namikaze's unique leadership style. He always believed that understanding the students' inner world is just as important as improving their skills.
As they chatted, Obito couldn't help but mention his new neighbor, his tone unconsciously filled with admiration: "Minato-sensei, let me tell you, a new neighbor moved in next door..."
Looking into Obito's sparkling eyes, Minato Namikaze smiled gently on his handsome face. He raised an eyebrow and said, following Obito's words, "Oh? From what you've said, your neighbor is indeed a very nice person."
He remained outwardly calm, but he took note of the information.
***
To ensure the successful completion of the mission to "save Obito," Yan Sheng did not stop paying attention to Obito even after renting the house next door to him.
During this time, he inevitably saw Minato Namikaze many times—the man known as the "Yellow Flash," who would be the next Hokage and Naruto Uzumaki's father.
Unfortunately, despite her brilliant talent, she faded away like a cherry blossom, and ironically, she died at the hands of her own student.
Looking at Minato Namikaze's dazzling blond hair and the infectious, gentle smile that often graced his face, Yan Sheng could vaguely see a bit of Naruto's shadow in him.
After all, they are father and son connected by blood.
However, compared to Naruto's straightforward and blunt personality, Minato Namikaze's mind was much more meticulous and profound. If Naruto's blue eyes were the clear surface of the sea, then Minato's blue eyes were the turbulent depths of the ocean.
It's likely that Naruto's simple-minded and impulsive personality was inherited from his mother.
It is worth mentioning that Yan Sheng and Minato Namikaze had a very brief conversation that could not even be considered a pleasantry.
It was evening. Minato Namikaze had just finished a private tutoring session at Obito's house and came out with a pleased smile on his face. Kokusatsu happened to be leaving at that time to take out his trash at the designated collection point.
The two met unexpectedly on the street in front of the Obito family's house and exchanged glances.
When Minato Namikaze saw Yan Sheng, his gentle smile remained unchanged, but rather became even more relaxed. He nodded to Yan Sheng and said in a friendly tone, "Hello, neighbor. My student lives next door and often hears him talk about you."
His voice, like his smile, carries a warmth that makes people feel as if they are bathed in a spring breeze.
Minato Namikaze is also very handsome, but his handsomeness is different from that of Yan Sheng, which is more refined, aloof, and has a classical charm.
His handsomeness is sunny and refreshing, like the warm autumn sun high in the sky—bright but not dazzling. It's a kind of handsomeness that's very low-aggressive and makes people like him easily. Unlike the Uchiha clan members, who are often beautiful to the point of being flamboyant, and whose aloofness and inherent sense of distance make them seem "unapproachable," Minato Namikaze's first impression is always that he's "very approachable," "easy to talk to," and "a gentle person."
However, Yan Sheng, who had long been insightful about human nature and had an amazing ability to observe, knew very well that this future Fourth Hokage was not as harmless and guileless as he appeared on the surface.
If the Uchiha clan is described as "cold on the outside but warm on the inside," appearing aloof and distant but harboring intense emotions, then Minato Namikaze is "warm on the outside but cold on the inside." His ever-present gentle smile is, to some extent, a perfect social mask and defensive barrier. His true feelings and thoughts are far more complex and profound than they appear, and very few can truly understand them.
Faced with Minato Namikaze's friendly gesture, Yan Sheng merely nodded slightly and responded with two words in his usual flat tone, devoid of any discernible emotion:
"Hello."
Yan Sheng made no response to Obito mentioning him, clearly not intending to continue the conversation on this topic. After saying those two words, he brushed past Minato Namikaze and headed straight for the garbage collection point, leaving behind a cold and upright figure.
Minato Namikaze stood still, looking in the direction where Yan Sheng had left. His smile remained gentle, but a barely perceptible hint of contemplation flickered deep within his azure eyes.
......
The friction between Konoha and Iwagakure was like a boiler being pressurized, with the conflict escalating day by day. Small-scale skirmishes gradually evolved into fierce local confrontations, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder. Finally, the situation reached a point of no return, and the Konoha leadership decided to take more proactive military action: to cut off Iwagakure's vital supply lines.
Minato Namikaze, an elite Jonin who distinguished himself on the battlefield with his Flying Thunder God Technique and was known as the "Yellow Flash," was naturally entrusted with an important task.
He received orders to lead his three subordinates, Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara, to a key location on the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Earth—the Kannabi Bridge—to carry out a demolition mission and destroy this main supply route relied upon by the Iwa ninja.
After the mission was assigned, the entire Watergate squad entered a state of intense preparation.
The day before his departure, Obito Uchiha was packing his gear in his apartment, feeling both excited and nervous. He carefully wiped his kunai and shuriken, counted the number of explosive tags, and neatly categorized his bandages and ration pills... Every action revealed the excitement and unease of participating in such an important mission for the first time.
Just as he was busy tidying up, there was a gentle knock on the door.
Obito put down his ninja tool bag with a puzzled look, walked to the door, and opened it. Standing outside was his tall, aloof neighbor.
Yan Sheng's gaze first seemed to casually sweep over Obito's slightly tense face, then naturally landed on the open backpack filled with various ninja tools on the table behind him. A perfectly timed questioning look appeared on his face, his tone carrying a hint of concern:
"The atmosphere in the village has changed lately, and I'm a little worried about you. Judging from your appearance... are you planning to go out?"
Upon seeing Kokushiro, Obito's tense mood inexplicably relaxed. He raised a hand to scratch his cheek, his expression a mixture of youthful pride and trepidation, and nodded vigorously: "Yes! Neighbor, I'm going to the battlefield!"
As he spoke, he puffed out his chest, trying to appear more reliable, and raised his voice a notch, with the fearlessness of a newborn calf: "Kakashi, Rin, and I are going with Minato-sensei on a very important mission! I will definitely beat those guys from Iwagakure to a pulp, and then return victorious to participate in the Chunin Exams!"
Yan Sheng looked at the light shining in Obito's eyes, a light unique to young people who were naive and had not yet truly witnessed the cruelty of war.
He didn't say anything to discourage him, nor did he offer much encouragement. He simply took a small step forward, closing the distance between himself and Obito.
His actions startled Obito for a moment.
Immediately, Yan Sheng reached out and quickly and lightly tapped Obito's forehead with his index finger. The movement was so fast that Obito didn't react in time, only feeling a very faint, cool touch brush against his forehead. The touch was fleeting, like an illusion.
Obito stared blankly at Yan Sheng, not understanding the meaning of this action.
Yan Sheng withdrew his hand, his expression still calm, as if he hadn't done anything. He looked at Obito and said in a low voice, "Remember, no matter what happens, preserving your own life is the most important thing. Come back alive."
After saying that, Yan Sheng said no more, nodded slightly to Obito who was still somewhat dazed, and then turned and left.
Obito stood there, touching his forehead, where a faint chill still lingered. He pondered Yan Sheng's last words, and the excitement and tension that had surged within him at the prospect of stepping onto the battlefield strangely subsided, replaced by a sense of calm.
My neighbor... is worried about me.
He clenched his fist and said in a low but firm voice that only he could hear, "Yes! I will definitely come back alive!"
—This is what Obito was thinking before he was trapped in a desperate situation, his teacher's rescue was delayed, and he was hit by a boulder while trying to save Kakashi, leaving him on the verge of death.
-----------------------
Author's Note: Tu: Didn't you promise to come and save me?!
Brother: I'm not going to die, what's the rush?
[Cat head]
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