The next day, in the serene outskirts of Konoha, the members of Minato's team found themselves in a large farmland, carrying out their assigned mission. The bright morning sun bathed the field in golden light, but the picturesque setting did little to lift the spirits of one particular member.
"Ahhh, why do we have to carry out such a trivial task? It's so boring!" Obito groaned, throwing down the farming tool he'd been using. He turned to look at the expansive farmland behind him, where rows of tilled soil stretched seemingly without end. His frustration bubbled over as he waved his arms dramatically, shouting like a man on the brink of despair.
"Because we're newly graduated genin," Rin said with a soft chuckle, her voice carrying a mixture of amusement and patience. She glanced at Obito from a short distance away, wiping her hands free of dirt. "We can only carry out D-rank missions for now. Just be patient, Obito."
Obito puffed out his chest indignantly, placing a hand on his hip. "Patient? I'm the man who will inherit the title of Hokage! This kind of mission doesn't suit my status at all!" His voice was filled with mock outrage, and he pointed a finger at himself as if expecting Rin and Kakashi to be impressed.
Kakashi, who had been silently focused on his work, glanced over with an expression of thinly veiled annoyance. "Before you start thinking about becoming Hokage, maybe finish the work in front of you first," he said dryly. "It's been hours, and you've barely made any progress."
The farmland had been divided into four sections, one for each team member, but the disparity in progress was glaringly obvious. Kakashi had already completed nearly half of his section, working diligently and methodically. Rin wasn't far behind, her hands moving with quiet efficiency. Minato, unsurprisingly, had already finished his part. Obito, on the other hand, had barely scratched the surface of his area.
"Tsk, that's just because I don't want to do it," Obito retorted, jabbing a thumb at himself arrogantly. "If I really tried—"
Before he could finish, a cheerful voice cut him off. "I'm done!" Minato announced, reappearing atop a wooden house at the edge of the farmland in a flash of yellow light. His bright smile contrasted sharply with the sweat-covered faces of his students below.
Kakashi's hands moved faster at the sight of their sensei's effortless completion, as though he'd taken it as a personal challenge. Rin paused for a moment to admire Minato from afar, a soft smile spreading across her face. "Minato-sensei is so kind," she murmured, almost to herself. "Other jonin wouldn't bother to help with a task like this."
Obito, noticing the look on Rin's face, huffed and buried himself in his work without another word.
Minato perched on the roof, gazing out at the fields as a gentle breeze rustled through the trees. His azure eyes softened, his thoughts drifting as the wind brushed against his face. Ever since his trip to Rōran and the strange anomalies of space and time he'd encountered there, he'd often found himself reflecting on the concept of space itself.
The vastness of the unseen dimension that allowed objects to exist and move—it was fascinating and frustrating all at once. Despite his deep understanding of chakra and seals, the true nature of space-time ninjutsu remained elusive. His thoughts lingered on these mysteries as the morning gave way to noon.
Just as the sun reached its zenith, a familiar voice called out, breaking the rhythm of work. "Lunch is here!" Kushina Uzumaki appeared, carrying a bundle of food for the team. Her red hair swayed as she approached, a bright smile lighting up her face.
"Kushina-san!" Rin called out happily, running to help her with the bundle. Even Kakashi paused his work to give a small nod of acknowledgment, though Obito seemed less thrilled.
"How's it going?" Kushina asked, handing out the lunchboxes. Her sharp eyes scanned the field, taking note of the progress—or lack thereof—in each section.
"Great!" Obito declared quickly, puffing up his chest. "I've made tons of progress!"
Kushina's raised eyebrow and pointed glance at his barely tilled section made him falter. "Uh, I mean... I'm almost there!"
Minato chuckled softly from the roof, shaking his head at Obito's antics.
After lunch, Kakashi excused himself and retreated to the nearby woods for training, following a regimen taught to him by his father, Hatake Sakumo. Rin returned to her section, diligently finishing her part before moving to assist Obito. But before she could reach him, Minato called out to her.
"Rin, come here for a moment."
Rin hesitated, glancing between Obito and Minato. Obito waved her off, muttering something about being fine on his own, so she made her way to her sensei.
Minato smiled warmly as she approached. "I've been talking with Hokage-sama," he began, "and we've arranged for you to begin training with Lady Tsunade in medical ninjutsu. Your chakra control is already exceptional, but there's more you can learn before officially starting. I thought I'd help you prepare."
Rin's eyes widened in surprise and excitement. "Really? That's amazing! Thank you, Minato-sensei!"
Minato nodded, then began to explain the basics of chakra manipulation for medical purposes, delving into theoretical concepts and practical applications. Though Rin didn't have a background in advanced medical ninjutsu, she listened intently, eager to absorb everything her sensei taught.
Time passed quickly, and a year and a half flew by as Minato guided his team through various missions. The bond between the four of them grew stronger, and each member improved in leaps and bounds.
One evening, after returning from a mission escorting a merchant to the Land of Rain, Minato handed their report to Hiruzen Sarutobi. As he walked home, he was greeted by a heartwarming sight.
"Welcome back," Kushina said, standing at the doorway of their home with a baby in her arms. The child babbled excitedly at the sight of Minato, his chubby face lighting up with a toothless grin.
"Itachi," Minato greeted softly, tapping the baby's nose. The boy, barely half a year old, was Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku's firstborn. Mikoto appeared from the main hall, smiling warmly. "You're back," she said.
Minato nodded at her before turning his attention back to the baby. Itachi stretched out his tiny arms and legs, laughing gleefully as Minato lifted him slightly.
A few days later, Minato stood in the Hokage's office, listening as Hiruzen handed down his next instructions. "Nohara Rin will report to Tsunade tomorrow for a year of medical training," the Hokage began.
Minato nodded. "Understood, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen continued, "However, with her departure, your team will be short a member. Fortunately, I've already arranged for a temporary replacement. It's a special request from the Uchiha clan leader himself."
"Another Uchiha?" Minato asked, surprised. With Obito already on his team, adding another member of the clan was unusual.
Hiruzen handed Minato a dossier with a knowing smile. "I think you'll find this one interesting. His name is Uchiha Shisui."
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