But Rin didn't move.
Her hands, which had been poised for action, now hung limply by her sides. Her eyes stared blankly at Minato, and her body stood frozen like a statue.
"Rin, hurry up!" Kakashi's voice grew more anxious, his usual composure cracking under the pressure.
Still, Rin remained motionless, her expression vacant. Time seemed to slow as realization dawned on Kakashi and Obito. The hope that had surged within them moments ago was now slipping away.
Minato's gaze, which had appeared distant and unfocused as if under the effects of Rin's illusion, sharpened. A small, approving smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "It's a really good strategy," he said softly.
Then, with a sudden burst of strength, Minato tightened his grip on Kakashi and Obito's wrists. The force was overwhelming, sending a shockwave through their arms. Before they could react, he swung them effortlessly, their bodies hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
"I'm sorry, Rin," Minato said gently as he stepped toward her. His hand formed a quick seal, and he whispered, "Release!"
The dazed look in Rin's eyes flickered, and her consciousness returned. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she let out a soft groan, her knees giving way as she sank to the ground.
"Rin was caught in a genjutsu... but how?" Kakashi muttered, his voice filled with disbelief. He had seen Minato remove the illusion, yet it didn't make sense. Rin had never been close enough for Minato to cast a genjutsu on her. Moreover, Minato wasn't an Uchiha; he couldn't use the Sharingan to cast illusions without forming seals. And both of his hands had been restrained during the fight.
"It's not what you think," Minato explained, his tone calm and instructive. "She wasn't hit by my illusion—I simply reflected her own genjutsu back at her."
"Reflected it?" Kakashi's eyes widened as he recalled the sequence of events. "But when did you form the seals? Your hands were—"
"Ah, that's the trick," Minato interrupted with a chuckle. "It's true that my hands were occupied. But I don't need my hands to form seals."
"What?!" Obito, who was slowly pulling himself off the ground, gawked at Minato. "How's that even possible?"
Minato's smile deepened as he lifted one leg slightly. "I used my feet," he said simply. "It's not a traditional method, but with enough chakra control, it's entirely possible. Most illusions can be countered by disrupting the chakra flow within the body. And while I may not be an expert in genjutsu, countering a technique at Rin's level doesn't require much effort."
Kakashi's mind raced as he processed the explanation. Seals formed with the feet? It was an incredible display of precision and mastery over chakra, something he had only heard about in passing but never imagined seeing in action.
Minato glanced at Rin, who was slowly regaining her composure. "Your progress is impressive, Rin," he said, his voice kind. "The level of chakra control you've achieved since graduation is no small feat. You've come a long way."
Rin blinked up at him, still shaken but grateful for the praise. She hadn't expected her illusion to be turned against her so effortlessly.
Minato turned his attention back to the group, his expression softening. Despite their exhaustion and the clear disparity in skill, he felt a deep sense of pride watching his students. "It's still some time before evening," he said, addressing the three of them. "So, what do you plan to do next?"
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin exchanged weary glances. Their chakra reserves were nearly depleted, and their bodies were pushed to the brink. Kakashi had expended most of his energy coordinating the attack and using multiple ninjutsu. Obito's Fire Release had drained him almost completely, and Rin's spirit was frayed from the strain of her genjutsu being countered.
Kakashi finally pushed himself up, his breathing labored. "It's no use," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "There's no way we can win."
Obito clenched his fists, his face a mixture of anger and determination. "We're not giving up!" he shouted, staggering to his feet. He reached out to help Kakashi, who looked surprised but allowed himself to be pulled up.
"Hey, are you okay?" Obito asked, his tone gruff but laced with concern.
Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." He turned his gaze back to Minato, his expression hardening. "Sensei, it's not evening yet. We haven't failed!"
Rin, trembling but resolute, stepped forward. "I'm not going back to the Academy like this!" she declared, her small fists clenched tightly. "We can still fight!"
Minato watched them with a mix of admiration and amusement. Their determination was unwavering, even in the face of overwhelming odds. This was exactly the kind of spirit he had hoped to see.
He exhaled softly, his smile widening. "Very well," he said, his tone light yet firm.
In an instant, Minato vanished. Kakashi and Obito barely had time to react before they felt themselves being lifted off the ground. They blinked in confusion as they realized they were no longer falling—Minato had caught them mid-collapse and set them down gently.
"You've done an excellent job," Minato said, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "You've passed with full marks."
Obito's eyes widened in disbelief, and then he let out an excited cheer. "Yes! We did it!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air.
Kakashi, still stunned, looked at Minato skeptically. "But sensei... we didn't push you out of the circle."
Minato chuckled. "That's true. But considering your current abilities, the challenge was intentionally set beyond your reach. The real purpose of this test wasn't about winning."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "What I wanted to see was teamwork. Strength and skill are important, but they're not everything. The strength of a ninja team lies in their ability to work together. That's what truly makes Konoha strong—every individual contributing to the whole."
The three genin stared at him, his words slowly sinking in. Even Kakashi, who often prided himself on his solo capabilities, felt the weight of Minato's lesson.
Minato's gaze softened as he looked at them. "You've shown me that you have what it takes. Starting tomorrow, Team Minato will officially begin its missions."
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