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The speed of the ox cart was excruciatingly slow, barely faster than a person walking.
Starting from Konoha, the four members of Team Minato (Class Nine) were scattered around the ox cart, protecting Minako in a square formation.
Of course, this formation wasn't static.
Just like now, one corner of the formation had been missing for a long time.
"Miss Minako, you seem worried. Is there anything else you haven't told us?"
"Huh? Miss Minako?"
Rin tried to communicate with Minako, but she remained completely silent.
The first attempt to gather information failed.
Noon.
Taking advantage of the short break, Team Minato gathered for a meal.
"Rin, keep trying to talk to Minako this afternoon."
"Don't ask directly. You can try talking about other things first," Akira Tsubaki suggested casually.
"Okay," Rin nodded.
"How about I give it a try?" Obito swallowed his dumpling and chimed in.
As expected, no one paid him any attention.
After a simple lunch, the team continued on their journey.
Throughout the afternoon, Rin tried again and again to communicate with Minako, but failed.
Minako on the ox cart seemed to have no intention of speaking at all, simply staring blankly at the passing woods along the way.
Night fell.
Around the campfire.
The team of four gathered for their daily mission debriefing.
Kakashi was the first to speak, spreading out the map and marking a red dot on the route.
"At our current pace, it will take us five days to leave the Land of Fire and enter the Land of Hot Water."
The speed of the ox cart simply couldn't be increased.
Rin was the second to speak.
"Although Minako still didn't talk this afternoon, I can tell that she is definitely hiding something from us," Rin said solemnly, sensing that Minako was troubled.
Akira Tsubaki had guessed this before they even set off, which was why he had asked Rin to gather information in the first place.
Next, it was Obito's turn.
"I have nothing to report. By the way, Akira Tsubaki, can you lend me two Kunai? I forgot to bring mine." Obito casually rifled through his ninja pouch, making a shocking admission.
"I didn't bring any either."
Akira Tsubaki's head was covered in black lines.
"You didn't bring any either?" Obito didn't believe it.
"What good are they to me?"
"Oh."
Obito scratched his head, thinking Akira Tsubaki had a point.
After all, the guy's Kunai accuracy was so bad that carrying them was pointless.
Kakashi was disappointed to see Akira Tsubaki and Obito successfully derail the mission briefing with their absurd excuses.
This must be the world of the Dead Lasts.
"Alright, the night watch will be divided into two shifts: Rin and I are on tonight, and Akira Tsubaki and Obito are on tomorrow night."
As the interim captain, Kakashi assigned the watch teams.
But his assignment was destined to fail.
"Why are you teaming up with Rin? I don't agree!"
Obito immediately yelled out.
The sound was so loud that even Minako on the ox cart turned her head to look.
"Then how do you think it should be divided?" Kakashi said quietly, staring at Obito.
"Obviously, I should be with Rin," Obito held his head high.
"Heh~~" Kakashi sneered.
You and Rin? Are you going to be on watch, or on a date?
"We are comrades, please don't argue," Rin whispered, trying to mediate.
Unfortunately, it was no use.
Kakashi stared coldly at Obito, and the two glared back and forth.
It seemed like a fight was about to break out.
In desperation, Rin turned to Akira Tsubaki for help.
But she was surprised to find that Akira Tsubaki was staring intently at Minako!
"Hey, Akira Tsubaki! They're about to fight! Do you still have the heart to stare at Minako?"
After tugging on Akira Tsubaki's sleeve, Rin felt exhausted.
"Oh? Good fight!"
Akira Tsubaki couldn't tear his eyes away, continuing to stare affectionately at Minako on the ox cart.
He desperately wished Kakashi and Obito would actually fight.
Ideally, Obito gets seriously hurt.
That way, he'd have a legitimate reason to return to the village with the injured Obito.
Pity.
The two blustered for a long time, but neither made a move.
"Obito, you're weak. If I were you, I'd give him a couple of solid smacks!"
Akira Tsubaki patted his good brother on the shoulder, comforting him sincerely.
"But what if Kakashi hits back?" Obito rolled his eyes.
"Then give him a couple of solid smacks back!"
"But I can't beat him."
Finally.
After a chaotic team vote, Kakashi was forced to change the team configuration.
The final pairing was: Kakashi and Obito in one team, and Akira Tsubaki and Rin in the other.
As Obito explained his reasoning: What I can't have, Kakashi can't have either.
The second day.
The weather was overcast with a light breeze.
Stretching, Akira Tsubaki first checked his properties panel.
Name:Akira Tsubaki
Age:12 years old
Strength:13
Physique:36-Chūnin Level
Agility:88 (44*2)-Jōnin Level
Spirit:20
Chakra Amount:157
Skills:None
Ninjutsu:None
Comprehensive Strength:Trainee Genin
"Agility doubled to Jōnin Level?"
Seeing his Agility attribute double, Akira Tsubaki was ecstatic.
He had been worried about his safety, but now, that was no longer an issue.
With Jōnin-level speed, he was guaranteed to be the first one to escape the team. Even Kakashi wasn't as fast as him now.
"I was just about to call you."
Obito yawned, jumping down from a tree.
He had been on watch during the second half of the night and was clearly sleepy.
"Where is Minako?" Akira Tsubaki looked at the empty ox cart and turned to ask.
"Huh? I didn't notice," Obito rubbed his eyes, looking confused.
Wait, why is she gone?
"Is this how vigilant you are? The client is gone, and this is what you call vigilance."
Rin and Kakashi were woken up by Akira Tsubaki's furious scolding.
Obito looked aggrieved but had no defense.
He clearly remembered that Minako was still in the ox cart when he took over.
But right before dawn, he got too sleepy and secretly took a short nap.
Who would have thought that Minako would vanish right after dawn?
"Spread out and search!"
The four ninjas ran off in four different directions to search.
In the woods.
Akira Tsubaki didn't actually expect to find Minako.
His direction was wrong.
He had guessed that Minako would most likely head east, the direction of the Land of Hot Water.
And Akira Tsubaki was deliberately looking north.
Pushing aside a cluster of thick grass, Akira Tsubaki froze.
At the same time.
Minako, who was squatting behind the grass, also froze.
Um.
If Akira Tsubaki wasn't mistaken, Minako seems to be... relieving herself?
"Do you need some paper?"