Half an hour later, everyone gradually left the Hokage Building.
Shinji and the others followed Minato Namikaze to one of Konoha's training grounds.
Minato clapped his hands, gathering the six of them before him, and spoke in a steady tone, "In three days, we will head to the front lines to carry out our mission. Team coordination is crucial. I know my three students quite well."
He paused, shifting his gaze to Shinji, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi. "But I'm not yet familiar with the abilities of you three. So, I plan to arrange one-on-one sparring matches between you and Kakashi's group. This will help everyone get to know each other better."
As soon as he finished speaking, Asuma stepped forward first, clenching his right fist and slamming it into his left palm, his face full of fighting spirit.
"Perfect, this is a rare opportunity. I've been wanting to have a proper match with Kakashi for a long time."
He understood perfectly well—his old man had assigned him under Minato Namikaze for a clear reason.
It was simply to build a good relationship with Minato.
After all, this was Minato Namikaze, the "Yellow Flash." Following him on missions not only increased the success rate but also provided greater personal safety.
Hearing this, Minato showed his usual gentle smile. "So, Asuma wants to spar with Kakashi first?"
Faced with Asuma's challenge, Kakashi merely shrugged indifferently.
"Wait, wait!"
Obito suddenly jumped out, staring intently at Shinji. "Shinji, let's have our match first! I'll show you how amazing I am!"
After returning last night, the more he thought about it, the more something felt off. He couldn't shake the feeling that Shinji and Rin were hiding some secret he didn't know about, and the nameless anger in his heart burned hotter and hotter.
"I'll let Rin see my heroic prowess with her own eyes and crush Shinji under my feet!" Obito swore silently. "That way, Rin will definitely stay away from him and pay more attention to me!"
With that thought, he pulled down his goggles and put them on, flashing a confident grin, looking utterly sure of victory.
Kurenai Yuhi leaned close to Shinji and teased with a smile, "You and Obito really get along well, always ready to spar at the drop of a hat."
Shinji shot her a glare, thinking to himself, Who gets along well with him?
Kurenai covered her mouth, laughing, her eyes brimming with amusement.
"A showdown between Uchiha is not to be missed!"
Minato was also a bit surprised, not expecting Obito to be so proactive today.
He looked at Shinji, seeking his opinion. "Shinji, what do you think?"
Shinji nodded and replied straightforwardly, "No problem."
At the edge of the field, Nohara Rin watched Obito with a worried expression. "Obito!"
Obito thumped his chest, brimming with confidence. "Rin, just watch closely! Shinji is no match for me!"
But he didn't know that Rin was already aware Shinji had awakened the Sharingan. In her mind, Obito never stood a chance.
On the training ground, Shinji and Obito stood ten meters apart, each assuming a combat stance.
Rin's gaze shifted from Obito to Shinji. Sensing her look, Shinji gave a slight nod and mouthed reassuringly: Don't worry, I won't let him get hurt.
"What did you say?!" Obito exploded with rage, his hair practically standing on end. "You're just as detestable as Kakashi!"
In an instant, Shinji shot straight to second place on Obito's "Most Detestable People" list. The top spot would forever belong to Kakashi.
Minato remained on the field as the referee while everyone else retreated to the sidelines, quietly discussing how the match might unfold.
Although Obito was at the bottom of his class academically, it was only theory and fundamentals that held him back. His actual combat abilities weren't weak at all.
"Shinji will definitely win," Nohara Rin said softly, yet with absolute conviction.
Everyone's eyes turned to her at once.
Kurenai Yuhi looked skeptical. "Rin, how can you be so sure?"
"Because..."
Before Rin could finish, Minato's voice rang out:
"Begin!"
All discussion at the sidelines instantly ceased. Every gaze was locked intently on the two figures at the center of the training ground.
Obito moved immediately, his hands rapidly forming seals. Right from the start, he intended to unleash his most proficient technique—the Great Fireball Technique.
At that moment, Shinji's eyes suddenly sharpened. The crimson Sharingan instantly activated as he fixed a cold stare on Obito.
Obito's heart jolted in alarm. His hands, forming seals, abruptly paused, his knuckles stiffening slightly from the tension.
"What is this?"
Before the words fully left his mouth, he seemed to glimpse a distorted phantom in Shinji's eyes.
The next second, the scene of the training ground shattered violently, replaced by a world of crimson.
He was suspended in mid-air, three pitch-black chains tightly binding his limbs and torso, rendering him completely immobile.
Two massive iron spikes, one from the front and one from the back, brutally pierced through his chest and back.
"It's a Genjutsu!" "And the Sharingan!"
In reality, Obito stood frozen in place, his hands still holding the seal formation, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.
The heart-wrenching pain within the Genjutsu felt terrifyingly real. He was acutely aware he was trapped in an illusion, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break free.
Shinji approached with steady, measured steps, his eyes reflecting only an unruffled calm. Stopping before Obito, he raised a finger and gently tapped the center of Obito's forehead.
The Genjutsu dissolved instantly.
Obito staggered, dropping heavily to one knee on the ground. His body still trembled slightly as he gasped for breath, his forehead beaded with cold sweat.
"Shinji, you!"
He clenched his lips tightly, then slammed a fist into the ground. When he looked up, his eyes churned with intense frustration and shock.
Shinji chuckled inwardly.
Hah, even Orochimaru couldn't withstand that Genjutsu. Obito, losing to it is nothing to be ashamed of.
The Uchiha clan's strength truly wasn't without reason. No wonder the shinobi world had long circulated that saying.
In a one-on-one fight, an Uchiha with the Sharingan is unbeatable!
Of course, the opponent's strength had to be on a similar level. If he, as he was now, were to challenge Orochimaru alone, the outcome would likely be a three-seven split.
Shinji three, Orochimaru seven.
Shinji would be killed by Orochimaru seven times within three minutes.
...
At that moment, Minato, acting as referee, quickly stepped forward and announced clearly, "Shinji, wins!"
He then turned to Shinji, his eyes filled with astonishment. "Shinji, you've awakened the Sharingan?"
"Yes," Shinji said. "I awakened it by accident yesterday. I'm still not used to it."
Minato nodded, then turned to Obito with gentle encouragement. "Obito, it's okay. Losing this time doesn't matter. You're an Uchiha too. You'll have your own Sharingan someday."
Obito remained silent.
Shinji stepped forward and gently took Obito's arm, intending to help him to the side of the arena to rest.
"Obito, let me take you down. It's nothing serious. You'll feel better after a little rest."
His smile remained gentle.
Obito wanted to put on a brave face, but his whole body felt weak and sore. He could only let Shinji passively support him as they walked off the platform.
Minato watched their retreating figures and nodded in satisfaction, his favorable impression of Shinji growing a little more.
"I'd heard the Third Hokage mention occasionally that Shinji was a good kid. Now I see he really is a gentle person."
"He didn't let Obito get hurt, and he knows how to be considerate of his comrades. That's truly commendable."
Obito hung his head, not daring to look at Rin in the audience.
To be defeated in a single move... it was just too lame!