"I'm sorry, everyone..." Obito, wearing his goggles, clasped his hands together in apology. "I helped an old lady get home, so I was late."
"Obito... doing it once or twice is understandable, but it's starting to get annoying when it happens every time!" Kakashi, clearly irritated, frowned. "Ninjas need to follow certain rules, you know."
"I'm not lying, Kakashi!" Obito shot back, displeased. "And honestly... aren't you tired of bringing up rules every single day?"
As the two began to bicker, Minato intervened with a calm voice. "Alright, that's enough, you two. And Obito..." Minato smiled warmly. "I believe you."
"Thank you, Minato-sensei!" Obito beamed at his teacher's understanding, feeling a sense of relief.
Minato then turned to Kakashi and, with a small smile, pulled out a special kunai. "Today's a big day for you, Kakashi. This is for you." He tossed the kunai toward his student.
"Thank you, sensei," Kakashi replied, catching the kunai and giving a respectful nod.
Uchiha Yuma stepped forward with a grin, holding out a scroll. "And here's my gift for you, Kakashi. Ten thousand explosive tags. Consider it my way of congratulating you on your promotion to Jōnin!"
The news of Kakashi's promotion to Jōnin had been announced earlier in the Hokage's office, and Yuma had taken the opportunity to prepare a meaningful gift.
Kakashi accepted the scroll, his expression serious. "Thank you, Yuma. This is incredibly useful. But... this must have cost you a fortune."
"Don't mention it," Yuma replied with a laugh, playfully punching Kakashi on the shoulder. "What are friends for, anyway?"
Yuma had spent a significant amount of money to ensure Kakashi received a proper gift. Despite his entry system granting him incredible power, Yuma understood that forging connections with talented individuals like Kakashi was invaluable.
As Kakashi secured the scroll, Nohara Rin stepped forward, holding a small medical kit in her hands. "Kakashi, this is from me. If you ever get injured, this should come in handy."
"Thanks, Rin. This is really thoughtful," Kakashi said, taking the kit with a small smile.
Kakashi then turned to Obito, extending his hand expectantly.
"What do you want, Kakashi?" Obito asked, clearly annoyed.
"A gift, of course," Kakashi replied matter-of-factly. "You did prepare something for my promotion, didn't you?"
"Ha?! A gift? Don't even think about it!" Obito retorted, crossing his arms in defiance. The truth was, he hadn't prepared anything and felt embarrassed about it, especially with Rin watching.
"Yeah, I figured as much," Kakashi said, retracting his hand with an indifferent expression.
Minato, who had been silently watching his students' interactions, clapped his hands to get their attention. "Alright, everyone, enough chatting. It's time to discuss the mission."
He unfurled the scroll he'd received from the Third Hokage, spreading it out on the ground.
"As you know, due to the overwhelming pressure from thousands of Iwagakure ninjas on the front line, we've been tasked as an elite team to strike their rear supply lines," Minato began, his tone serious. "This is critical to turning the tide of the war."
Minato pointed to a specific location on the map. "This is Kannabi Bridge. It's Iwagakure's most vital supply line. If we destroy this bridge, it will cut off their supplies and leave their forces stranded. This is the key to our victory."
"We understand, Minato-sensei," Yuma said, raising an eyebrow. "But if you have additional plans, just say them outright. I'll handle whatever you need."
Minato smiled at Yuma's confident tone. He knew his student's capabilities were exceptional, even surpassing his own in certain aspects. The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, combined with Yuma's mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique, made him an incredibly formidable ninja.
"Alright," Minato said, exhaling softly. "Here's the full plan. We'll be splitting into two teams. I'll head to the front lines to hold off the Iwagakure army, while the rest of you will form a team to blow up the Kannabi Bridge."
Minato's gaze shifted to Yuma, his expression serious. "Yuma... you'll lead the team. You're the new captain for this mission."