Naruto Dream Fulfillment Master!

Chapter 392 Kakashi and Obito's Little Secret

Minato's gaze lingered on Obito for a moment. Seeing that Obito's face was still somewhat pale, but he had finally calmed down, he did not delve into the unusual behavior he had just exhibited.

As an experienced Jonin and a reliable teacher, he knows when to give students the right space and how to convey confidence through his actions.

"Alright, since everything's fine, let's set off." Minato returned to his usual self.

He squinted, put away the map, turned around and walked ahead, explaining as he went: "We'll discuss the specific details of the mission as we walk, to save time."

As soon as he finished speaking, Minato took the lead and leaped into the air, followed immediately by the four team members.

On the forest path, several nimble figures darted past quickly, heading towards the Land of Grass.

Kakashi and Rin quickly adjusted their state, their expressions becoming focused and solemn, entering mission mode.

Obito kept telling himself to concentrate, but he couldn't relax his tense nerves and vigilantly scanned every detail on his way.

After traveling for a while, seeing that the disciples had all adjusted their state, Minato suddenly spoke up, saying meaningfully, "Actually, this mission has a somewhat special connection with us."

"Huh?" Lin hummed in confusion upon hearing this.

Kakashi also turned his head to look at the teacher, his eyes full of questions.

Obito stared intently at Minato's retreating figure: "What does this have to do with us?...What do you mean?"

Minato didn't keep them in suspense and readily explained, "The reason for this mission is actually because the Akatsuki's forward camp near the Tenchi Bridge has developed rapidly in recent years. The Akatsuki has also absorbed many exiled ninjas and local forces, and has become a force to be reckoned with in the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain."

"However, while this force has played a significant role in restraining Iwagakure and Sunagakure, it has also aroused serious concern in Iwagakure. According to intelligence, Iwagakure has recently reinforced its forces in the Land of Grass, the exact scale and intentions of which are unknown. This move may threaten the safety of the Tenchi Bridge camp and even disrupt the balance of the entire Land of Grass front."

Kakashi was taken aback upon hearing this, and couldn't help but sigh softly, "It's because of the Akatsuki?"

Obito almost blurted out a retort, but he swallowed the words back.

Seeing the surprised expressions on the disciples' faces, Minato turned around and looked directly at them, explaining, "So, our mission this time is to infiltrate the Iwagakure-controlled area to investigate the size and deployment of their newly added garrison, as well as their possible movements. In other words, this is a reconnaissance mission."

"Reconnaissance? Investigating the size of the garrison?" Obito frowned slightly upon hearing this, a strange feeling rising in his heart.

This is not like reality...

He clearly remembered that the mission that led everything to collapse in reality was to penetrate deep into the rear of the Grass Country's battle lines and destroy the Kannabi Bridge, a key bridge used by Iwagakure for resupply.

That was a high-risk sabotage mission that required direct confrontation with the enemy.

The Kannabi Bridge is a vital passage for transporting supplies in Iwagakure, and it is heavily guarded.

Now, however, the mission has become reconnaissance, with the primary objective being intelligence gathering, rather than combat and sabotage...

The danger level sounds like it's dropped a whole notch.

Could it be that this really isn't the same mission?

Obito's tense nerves relaxed slightly.

Minato noticed the subtle change in Obito's expression.

He had intended this for Obito to hear, so he looked at Obito and said casually, "So, Obito, you really don't need to be too nervous this time. Although the mission requires infiltrating behind enemy lines, our principle is to prioritize concealment. There's no need for combat unless absolutely necessary. The main thing is to observe and record, understand?"

Obito, who was lost in thought, was suddenly called out. He was slightly taken aback, then nodded subconsciously as if waking from a dream, and replied, "Yes, I understand."

However, just as Obito obediently agreed, he immediately heard someone's sarcastic mockery: "Did you hear that? Coward!"

Kakashi crossed his arms and deliberately drew out his mocking tone.

Clearly, Kakashi had memorized Obito's earlier frightened and desperate attempt to run away.

Obito's lips twitched violently, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.

That white-haired bastard!

They never miss an opportunity to tease me!

"Who are you calling a coward?!" he retorted irritably.

However, this rebuttal carried a long-lost vitality, and the voice was no longer as lifeless as before.

"Whoever answers first, that's who it is," Kakashi replied calmly and unhurriedly.

"You!" Obito was speechless with anger, unable to utter a word for a moment.

"Alright, alright, you two, focus on your tasks."

Minato chuckled helplessly, interrupting the two clowns' daily bickering, but a hint of relief still flashed in his eyes.

It's much better that Obito can regain some of his normal energy than he looked so dejected just now.

Lin was also standing next to her, pursing her lips and secretly smiling, which seemed to ease the tense atmosphere a little.

However, despite his verbal sparring with Kakashi, Obito remained vigilant in the slightest.

"Reconnaissance mission, no initiating combat..." He pondered this repeatedly in his mind.

Perhaps this time the situation is really different.

As long as we act cautiously, obtain intelligence, and retreat immediately without alerting any enemies, Lin... Lin will definitely be safe!

The meeting point was not far from the border of the Land of Grass, and since all four of them were agile ninjas, they traveled very quickly.

Soon after, they quietly infiltrated the Land of Grass.

The group crouched down at the edge of a dense forest, thick enough to conceal their figures, and through the gaps in the layers of branches and leaves, they could see the Kannabi Bridge not far away.

Under the afternoon sun, the stone bridge gleamed with a cold, hard luster. The piers were sturdy, and the bridge deck was wide enough for large numbers of people and goods to pass through quickly at the same time.

At this moment, several ninjas wearing Iwagakure headbands could be seen patrolling back and forth around the bridge, maintaining a high level of vigilance.

Obito's gaze was fixed on the bridge, unable to look away.

With just one glance, he felt as if he couldn't breathe properly.

Just then, Kakashi's calm voice rang out beside him.

He deliberately lowered his voice: "The density of personnel patrols has indeed increased significantly. At least two new sentry posts have been set up on both sides of the bridge. Compared to when we came last time, the guard force has increased several times over, and the alert level is very high."

Kakashi's nonchalant assessment, though seemingly casual, reached Minato's ears, allowing the experienced teacher to immediately grasp a crucial piece of information.

Minato turned his head slightly to look at Kakashi, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Kakashi, you just said... you've been here before? When was that?"

His voice remained gentle, but it had unconsciously taken on a stern tone.

"This is the front line between Iwagakure and Konoha right now, it's extremely dangerous. Approaching without permission is a violation of regulations."

Minato's question made Kakashi stiffen for a moment, realizing that he had let something slip.

He glanced subconsciously at Obito, who was still staring blankly at the bridge, and a look of annoyance flashed in his eyes.

On the other side, Rin immediately realized something upon hearing the teacher's question, and her gaze also fell on Obito, a look of sudden realization mixed with a helpless bitter smile appearing on her face.

Of course she remembered that back at the Tianchi Bridge camp, Kakashi and Obito would get together whenever they had free time, and then mysteriously disappear for most of the day.

When asked what they were going to do, they always gave vague and evasive answers.

It seems that these two troublesome guys actually sneaked off to such a dangerous front line.

At this moment, Obito, who was being simultaneously locked onto by two probing gazes, also snapped out of his daze. He was stunned for a moment, and then fragments of related memories surged into his mind.

correct!

In this dream, he did indeed bring Kakashi to this area, and...

They encountered Uchiha Madara, who was hiding in this world!

Upon realizing this, Obito felt a sudden panic, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He didn't dare meet Kakashi's questioning gaze and pretended not to see it.

Seeing that Obito was completely unreliable, Kakashi quickly coughed lightly, trying to cover his embarrassment. His gaze darted around as he mumbled an explanation: "It was... a long time ago. The situation here wasn't so tense back then. We were just... just curious, so we came over to take a look from afar."

He spoke vaguely, trying to make his tone sound relaxed and natural, but his shifty eyes had already betrayed his guilty conscience.

Who is Shuimen?

As the Yellow Flash of Konoha, how sharp is his mind!

Kakashi's deliberately nonchalant tone and his casual glances at Obito did not escape Minato's notice.

His gaze swept back and forth between Kakashi and Obito, his brows furrowing slightly.

It's probably another bad idea from Obito, right?

Although Kakashi sometimes has unconventional ideas, he always knows how to behave properly when acting alone.

Only when they're involved with Obito will these two do things that cause headaches.

Minato had already made his judgment.

Although Kakashi was clearly unwilling to elaborate, Minato didn't press the matter further.

As a teacher, he respects his students' privacy and will not interrogate them forcibly when carrying out tasks.

However, the reminders that need to be given should still be given.

Minato's voice turned serious, though still calm, it carried a stern warning: "The situation is completely different now. This is a high-risk war zone. You must never come to such a dangerous area on your own again, understand? This is not only for your own safety, but also for the safety of the entire Hidden Leaf Village."

As he said this, his gaze was undoubtedly fixed on Obito.

Clearly, in Minato's mind, the blame for Kakashi's unauthorized trip to the front lines had been firmly pinned on Obito.

After all, Obito's image as a rule-breaker is deeply ingrained in people's minds, while Kakashi has always been a model student in terms of discipline.

Minato naturally assumed that Obito must have instigated them, and Kakashi probably followed along reluctantly, which is why the two of them ended up in such a dangerous place.

When Kakashi saw Minato directing his criticism at Obito, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, but at the same time, a complex mix of emotions arose within him.

He nodded and calmly replied, "Yes, Mr. Minato, we understand, and we won't do it again."

Obito: "..."

[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +200!]

Obito opened his mouth, intending to say something in his own defense.

But when he saw Kakashi looking at him with a docile expression, as if the teacher was right to reprimand him, he swallowed back the words he was about to say.

Fine, I'll take the blame then. It's not like it's the first time...

Rather than worrying about that, the bridge and the task at hand were what concerned him more.

At this moment, Kakashi had regained his composure and was focused on recording the patrol routes and sentry posts of the Iwagakure ninja in the distance.

His profile, framed by the shadows of the trees, was sharply defined, and his expression was exceptionally serious.

Rin also took out her notebook and portable binoculars, and together with Kakashi, they observed and recorded the observations.

Only Obito, while forcing himself to focus his attention back on the enemy situation, still cautiously scanned every inch of his surroundings for any potential dangers out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing that his disciples were all focused, Minato nodded in satisfaction and quickly gave instructions: "The three of you continue to stay hidden here, keeping a close eye on the bridge and the patrol patterns on both sides, recording shift changes and the number of personnel. I'll go to a higher vantage point to check on the camp on the other side of the river and confirm their general layout. Be careful to stay hidden, and if anything happens, immediately use the signal to contact them."

"Yes, teacher!" Kakashi, Rin, and Obito replied in unison in low voices.

Minato's figure blended into the forest like a gentle breeze, disappearing into the dense canopy in just a few silent moments, his presence completely concealed.

After the teacher left, the atmosphere among the three remaining members immediately relaxed.

Lin's curiosity was immediately piqued.

She quietly moved closer to Kakashi and Obito, lowered her voice, and looked them up and down with bright eyes: "Hey, Kakashi, Obito, now that the teacher's not here, can you tell me now? What were you two doing sneaking around here? You were being so secretive..."

When Kakashi heard the question, he didn't answer immediately, but subconsciously turned to look at Obito next to him.

He remembered that Rin actually wanted to come with Obito at first, but Obito reacted with unusual nervousness and resistance, making up a lot of reasons to stop Rin.

Although Kakashi didn't understand why Obito wouldn't let Rin know the inside story, since Obito insisted, he respected Obito's wishes and didn't reveal the specifics to Rin.

Now that Rin has brought up the old matter again, he naturally wants to see Obito's attitude first.

When Rin asked him that question, Obito's heart skipped a beat, especially when he met Kakashi's questioning gaze, he felt even more guilty.

He absolutely did not want Rin to get involved in any trouble related to Uchiha Madara!

"Huh? N-nothing!" Obito quickly waved his hands, forcing a guilty laugh in an attempt to bluff his way out. "Like Kakashi said... we're just curious, we just came to take a look!"

Kakashi noticed that Obito looked flustered and trying to cover up his actions.

Although he personally felt there was nothing wrong with saying it, in his view, Uchiha Madara was just a strange old man who lived in seclusion here.

But since Obito insisted on keeping it a secret, he had no choice but to nod and agree, saying, "Yeah, that's true. Nothing special, just came to take a look around."

However, the way the two of them were acting in unison, coupled with Obito's obviously unnatural reaction, only made Rin more suspicious.

She puffed out her cheeks slightly, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of them, revealing a strong sense of envy.

"Hmph!" Lin snorted softly, pouting, and said sourly, "You two have quite a few secrets! You can't even tell me? Don't you consider me a friend?"

After saying that, she deliberately turned her head away, pretending to be angry and ignore them, but her little ears were quietly perked up, clearly still waiting for their explanation.

"No, Rin! Please don't think that way!" Obito hurriedly waved his hands, trying to explain, but he couldn't bring himself to say the truth. His explanation sounded incredibly weak. "We just... we just..."

He struggled for a long time but couldn't come up with a coherent explanation. He was so anxious that he was sweating profusely, and his expression was both awkward and embarrassed.

[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +800!]

He certainly regarded Lin as his most important companion, and even more than that.

However, it was precisely for this reason that he was extremely reluctant to let Lin come into contact with any possible danger or darkness.

It's important to know that the name Uchiha Madara itself signifies endless trouble and misfortune.

Lin should never know about this, and stay as far away from that person as possible.

However, he couldn't explain this predicament to Lin.

Fortunately, just as Obito was about to break out in a cold sweat, a gentle breeze blew by, and Minato appeared silently beside them like a ghost, just in time to save Obito from the predicament.

Minato returned quickly, but his brows were slightly furrowed, and his expression was noticeably more serious than when he left.

He bowed slightly, gesturing for his three disciples to come closer, and said in a low voice, "The situation is more complicated than we expected. The enemy camp is much larger than the intelligence indicated, with many new tents and fortifications, and the number of patrols and sentries far exceeds our expectations. Conservatively speaking, their garrison is at least 30% larger than the intelligence we had before we set out, and they all appear to be elite troops."

Minato paused for a moment, glanced at the three disciples in front of him, and then decisively ordered, "We should split up and conduct a more in-depth investigation from two directions. This will be more efficient and allow us to obtain more comprehensive information."

Kakashi immediately understood his teacher's intention and nodded solemnly: "Understood. This way, we can figure out the enemy's overall strategy more quickly."

Lin had no objection; it was standard practice to collect intelligence in a dispersed manner during reconnaissance missions.

However, when the words "separate operations" reached Obito's ears, his heart sank.

Split up?!

[Ding! Emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Obito have been detected! Emotional value +500!]