The road leading toward the Land of Fire's border was unusually quiet, the canopy of leaves above shifting in the breeze, casting dappled sunlight along the dirt path. The air smelled of damp earth and distant rain, a telltale sign of the approaching storm season.
Minato, Kushina, and Nawaki moved steadily, their footsteps light against the undergrowth. Their mission was clear—scout the northern border, gather intelligence, and ensure Konoha's defenses remained secure.
Ahead, two figures stood near the rendezvous point, waiting.
Hyūga Hiroshi and Uchiha Kenshiro.
Even before a single word was spoken, the tension in the air was palpable.
Kushina leaned toward Minato, voice low and teasing. "Wanna bet they start fighting before we even reach the border?"
Minato sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Not taking that bet."
Nawaki smirked. "At least this'll be fun."
Old Rivalries, New Faces
Hiroshi stood with his arms crossed, his Byakugan pulsing faintly as he took in the approaching group. His posture was rigid, his white robes immaculately clean—a perfect representation of Hyūga discipline.
Kenshiro, by contrast, was the epitome of Uchiha arrogance. Dressed in dark navy, his Sharingan spun lazily, a smirk dancing at the corner of his lips. His stance was relaxed, casual—as if the very idea of tension amused him.
"So," Kenshiro drawled, eyes glinting, "we're really doing this, huh? Teaming up with the all-seeing Hyūga?"
Hiroshi didn't flinch. His voice was calm, measured—but there was steel beneath the words.
"At least I won't have to worry about my teammates choking the moment things get serious."
Kenshiro's smirk widened. "Oh? You mean choking like the Hyūga do whenever real battle comes into play?"
Minato rubbed his temples. Kushina groaned. "Here we go…"
Breaking the Ice—Or Not
Before the tension could ignite into something worse, Nawaki clapped his hands together, the sharp sound cutting through the air.
"Alright, enough. We've got a mission. If you two want to kill each other, do it after we're done."
The two glared at each other but remained silent.
Minato, ever the diplomat, stepped forward. His voice was steady, authoritative.
"We need to scout the northern border. There have been reports of enemy movement near the River Country. If we encounter hostiles, we engage together. No unnecessary fights, no distractions. Understood?"
Hiroshi and Kenshiro exchanged one last glance before nodding reluctantly.
Kushina muttered under her breath, "Yeah, this is gonna go great…"
Into the Wild
The group moved swiftly, their shadows flickering as they leapt through the trees.
Hiroshi's Byakugan pierced through the dense foliage, scanning far ahead for any sign of movement.
Kenshiro's Sharingan tracked every detail, analyzing even the most minute shifts in their surroundings.
Minato planned the most efficient route, mapping out their safest approach.
Kushina and Nawaki held the rear, ever ready for the unexpected.
For a brief moment, they moved as one.
Then, Hiroshi spoke.
A Hidden Threat
"There," he murmured, his gaze narrowing. "Two miles ahead—five shinobi. Not from the Land of Fire."
Kenshiro's Sharingan sharpened, scanning through the leaves. "They're armed. Looks like a scouting party. But why this deep in our territory?"
Minato's brow furrowed. "They could be testing our patrol routes."
Kushina cracked her knuckles, her chakra flaring. "Then let's show them they picked the wrong place to snoop around."
The First Strike
The team slipped into formation.
Minato and Hiroshi moved to flank.
Kenshiro took a high vantage point, ready to deploy Genjutsu.
Kushina and Nawaki took the direct approach.
The moment they closed in, the enemy shinobi reacted.
A hail of kunai sliced through the air.
Kushina's chakra chains lashed out, deflecting the blades before they could reach their targets.
Nawaki surged forward, earth chakra reinforcing his strike as he sent one of the enemy flying into a tree.
Minato vanished in a blur of motion, reappearing behind an opponent before they even realized what had happened—his kunai flashing.
Hiroshi faced a swordsman, dodging with precision, his movements so fluid it looked effortless. With a sharp, controlled strike, he sealed his opponent's tenketsu, rendering him useless.
And Kenshiro?
He stood still, watching. Calculating.
Then, when one enemy made a mistake—when he blinked at the wrong moment—
Kenshiro's Sharingan flared.
The man froze, his movements faltering. He swayed as unseen horrors consumed his mind.
It was over in moments.
An Unexpected Rivalry
Silence settled. The enemy lay defeated.
But before anyone could fully relax, Hiroshi turned toward Kenshiro, his Byakugan piercing.
"You didn't fight."
Kenshiro's smirk was unbothered. "Why waste energy when I can make them destroy themselves?"
Hiroshi stepped forward, tension crackling like lightning. "That kind of cowardice is why the Hyūga will always be superior to the Uchiha."
Kenshiro laughed, his Sharingan gleaming. "Superior? You mean your clan that locks away half its bloodline behind seals?"
Minato sighed. "Guys—"
Too late.
Hiroshi's Byakugan flared. "Let's settle it. Right now."
Kenshiro activated his Sharingan, a slow smirk creeping onto his face. "I thought you'd never ask."
Kushina blinked. "Wait, are they actually—"
Nawaki grinned, his voice full of amusement. "Oh, this is gonna be good."
Minato sighed. "Not again…"
To Be Continued…