"I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help," Rin said apologetically, her voice tinged with guilt as she glanced at her teammates.
The three of them paused, sweat dripping from their foreheads. Obito was quick to speak up, shaking his head firmly.
"Rin, you are not in the wrong. There's no need to apologize," Obito said, his tone steady and reassuring. Then, his gaze shifted to Minato, full of determination. "Minato-sensei, I won't admit defeat!"
With a sudden burst of energy, Obito dashed forward again. His speed was impressive for a genin, but in front of Minato, it was like a child trying to match an experienced warrior. The clash was brief, and in an instant, Obito was thrown back effortlessly, skidding across the ground with a grunt.
"Obito!" Rin called out in alarm, but before she could react, her hands moved instinctively. She flung several shurikens at Minato, hoping to create an opening.
Minato spun gracefully, the kunai in his hand a blur as it deflected each shuriken with precision. The metallic clangs echoed through the training ground, and Rin saw her chance. She darted forward, her heart pounding with both fear and determination. Despite her small stature, she possessed agility and skill honed through rigorous training. Her movements were sharp and calculated, but as she closed in on Minato, he moved like a shadow.
With a swift motion, Minato caught her wrists, disarming her before she could land a hit. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently pushed her back, ensuring she wouldn't get hurt.
"Ah!" Rin stumbled, but Obito was there, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Rin, are you okay?" Obito asked anxiously, his brows furrowed in concern.
Rin nodded, brushing off the dirt on her sleeve. "I'm fine. But..." She glanced at Minato, who stood calmly within the circle they were supposed to push him out of, not even breaking a sweat. "He's... too strong."
Obito clenched his fists, anger and frustration bubbling to the surface. "Damn it! I can't give up now!"
Before he could charge recklessly again, Kakashi stepped in front of him, his expression as stoic as ever. "Don't waste your energy," Kakashi said coldly.
"Are you giving up already?" Obito snapped, glaring at him.
"Who said anything about giving up?" Kakashi shot back, his sharp gaze fixed on Minato. "Listen, based on our current level, it doesn't matter if it's the three of us or thirty of us—we're no match for him. He's on a completely different level."
Kakashi's words stung, but they were undeniably true. Even Obito and Rin, in their frustration, had to admit it. Minato's speed was almost incomprehensible, and every move they made seemed to be predicted before they even acted.
"So what do we do?" Rin asked, her voice tinged with desperation. Obito looked equally lost, his hot-headed determination unable to mask the uncertainty in his eyes. Both of them were fresh graduates from the Academy, and while they had potential, this was an entirely different battlefield. The only person they could rely on now was Kakashi.
Kakashi closed his eyes briefly, exhaling through his nose. When he opened them again, they gleamed with a sharp clarity. "Follow me," he instructed, already moving towards the nearby forest.
Obito hesitated, glancing back at Minato. "But—"
"Come on, Obito!" Rin urged, tugging at his sleeve. "Let's trust Kakashi."
Grudgingly, Obito relented, and the three of them disappeared into the dense trees.
Minato remained standing in the center of the training ground, watching their retreat with a small smile. "Kakashi... you're learning," he murmured to himself, his tone tinged with approval.
Deep within the forest, Kakashi finally stopped, scanning the surroundings. Satisfied, he turned to face his teammates.
"Alright, this should give us enough cover," Kakashi said, leaning against a tree.
"What exactly are we doing here?" Obito demanded, his impatience evident. "Running away won't solve anything!"
Kakashi ignored his outburst and addressed both of them. "Minato-sensei gave us a clue earlier," he began, his voice calm but firm. "He mentioned all three of us specifically. That means our best—and only—chance is to work together. We need to combine our strengths."
"Combine our strengths?" Rin repeated, her head tilting slightly as she considered the idea.
Kakashi nodded. "If we fight individually, we're doomed. But if we coordinate and use our abilities together, we might stand a chance. Now, I need both of you to tell me everything you can do—jutsu, weapons, tactics—everything."
Obito opened his mouth to protest but quickly shut it. As much as he hated to admit it, Kakashi's plan made sense. Reluctantly, he began describing his limited repertoire of fire-style techniques. Rin followed, explaining her medical ninjutsu and her basic proficiency with genjutsu. Kakashi listened intently, formulating a strategy in his mind.
"Alright," he finally said, "here's what we're going to do."
The sun blazed high in the sky as the three genin emerged from the forest. Their expressions were tense but determined. They stood in a triangular formation, surrounding Minato.
Minato's eyes lit up with approval. "Now this is more like it," he said, slipping into a ready stance.
Without warning, the three of them launched a barrage of shuriken and kunai from all directions. Minato moved fluidly, deflecting each projectile with practiced ease. But this time, the attacks were only a distraction.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Obito roared, unleashing a massive fireball.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" Rin followed, her wind technique amplifying the fireball into an inferno that roared toward Minato.
The heat was intense, and the flames quickly engulfed the area. Minato's vision was obscured, but he remained calm. "So they've moved on to ninjutsu," he mused, forming quick hand seals. "Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
His own fire technique collided with theirs, creating a fiery explosion that scorched the ground. Smoke and embers filled the air, and for a moment, everything was silent.
Then, out of the smoke, a figure emerged—Kakashi. He leaped into the air, his hands forming seals. "Lightning Release: Lightning Fang!" A crackling bolt of electricity erupted from his hands, illuminating the battlefield.
Minato shielded his eyes from the blinding light, momentarily disoriented. Taking advantage of the opening, Obito charged in from the side, kunai in hand.
Minato's senses sharpened, and he deflected Obito's strike with ease. But before he could counter, Kakashi landed behind him, aiming a punch at his back.
Minato caught Kakashi's fist, but his attention was momentarily split. That was when Rin struck.
"Naraku-ken no Jutsu!" Rin whispered, her hands forming the necessary seals. Minato's body froze for a fraction of a second as the illusion took hold. His movements faltered, and for the first time, Kakashi and Obito saw a glimmer of hope.
"Now!" Kakashi shouted, his voice cutting through the haze of battle.
The three of them moved in unison, their combined efforts finally creating an opportunity to force Minato out of the circle.
"Rin, push Minato-sensei out!" Kakashi's sharp voice rang out, echoing through the training ground.
At that moment, all of Kakashi and Obito's hopes were pinned on Rin. She stood directly in front of Minato, the faint shimmer of her genjutsu still lingering in the air. It was their one chance, the culmination of their combined efforts.
They had never expected that a simple illusion would keep their formidable sensei trapped for long, but it only needed to hold for a few seconds. Just long enough for Rin to push him out of the circle.
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