"Pfft, only someone like me would even try this. I mean, with dry firewood meeting fierce flames, how long before the whole place goes up in smoke~?"
Shindai stared wide-eyed, practically popping out of his sockets. When he saw Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki preparing to move elsewhere, Shindai attempted to activate his Third Eye to follow them.
Suddenly, however, three fists simultaneously slammed into Shindai's head.
"Just watching them kiss is more than enough!"
"You actually wanted to peek into the room using your Third Eye?!"
"Do you even want to live?! If not, we can help you with that right away!"
Obito, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara shouted him down, forcibly ending Shindai's attempt to peek.
To keep Shindai from doing anything reckless after they left, Obito and the others spent the night at his place, watching him closely every second.
Muttering curses under his breath, Shindai grumbled about how much effort it took just to peek. What was the big deal anyway? It wasn't like anyone would get hurt.
The next day.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki stepped out through the door, laughing and chatting together.
Kushina Uzumaki affectionately linked arms with Minato Namikaze, continuously talking to him.
Minato Namikaze smiled patiently as he listened to Kushina Uzumaki speak.
"Sensei Minato, Lady Kushina~"
Obito, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara enthusiastically greeted Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki at the doorstep.
"You're up early too~ Hey, where's Shindai?"
"I'm right here. You two sure look refreshed and lovey-dovey~"
With dark circles under his eyes, Shindai leaned against his doorway lazily and yawned.
Kushina Uzumaki asked curiously, "What happened to you?"
Shindai glared angrily at Obito and the other two. "Ask these three. They did absolutely nothing all night except stare at me, keeping me from sleeping! Sister Kushina, you and Sensei Minato are probably going on a date today, right? Please, take these three with you!"
After exchanging confused looks, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki looked toward Obito and the others, wondering why they had been staring at Shindai all night.
"Sensei Minato, Lady Kushina, please go on your date already," said Kakashi. "Don't worry about him. Shindai always talks nonsense; you'll get used to it eventually."
Still a bit confused, Minato and Kushina headed off. Were they really being pushed into a date?
After Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki departed, Shindai told Obito and the others, "Don't come looking for me these days. I need to work on something, so don't try entering with keys—especially you, Obito! I've already blocked the keyhole with [Iron Sand Body]!"
With that, Shindai shut the door directly in their faces.
"Hmph, like I really want to see him anyway," grumbled Obito discontentedly.
Kakashi and Rin Nohara exchanged glances with Obito.
Isn't that exactly what you were thinking?
Obito's favorite thing was to hang out with Shindai whenever there was nothing better to do.
Rin Nohara asked, "Obito, Kakashi, what are you two going to do later?"
A cheeky grin crept across Obito's face. "Obviously we're going to watch Minato-sensei's date! How about you two—Kakashi, Rin?"
Rin replied, "Same as usual—I'm helping out at the ninja hospital."
Kakashi also responded, "I'm going to train. Like I told you last time, Minato-sensei's Rasengan gave me a lot of inspiration. The Rasengan isn't suitable for me, so I want to create my own jutsu. I think I'm close to finishing it."
Obito felt somewhat... no, extremely awkward.
Shindai was definitely messing around with some sort of research, Rin was going to help at the ninja hospital, and Kakashi was trying to create a new ninjutsu—all while he was just planning to spy on a date.
That made him look really unserious!
Obito cleared his throat. "You know, watching dates doesn't really seem all that interesting. During this rest time, maybe I should learn some Uchiha Fire Release techniques instead."
Everyone was busy with their own thing when...
At the Mountain Tomb,
Madara Uchiha, who had kept his eyes closed all along, suddenly opened them. His aged and weak voice sounded out: "Well then, have you brought Obito here yet?"
Black Zetsu rose up from the ground, bowing his head slightly. "...Not yet. There hasn't been an opportunity."
Sighing in disappointment, Madara said, "Useless indeed. You're supposed to be the embodiment of my will, yet you haven't inherited any of my strength. How about that Seal then?"
Black Zetsu lowered his head even deeper. "...Not found either."
Madara fixed him with a scrutinizing gaze. "Are you really the embodiment of my will?"
A chill ran through Black Zetsu. Could it be... that Madara had noticed?
Then Madara complained discontentedly, "The embodiment of my will turning out to be completely useless—were it possible to make another one, I'd destroy you myself. You're such a disgrace to Uchiha Madara!"
Black Zetsu relaxed a bit. So he hadn't noticed after all.
But immediately afterward, Black Zetsu grew furious. Just because someone was a pawn, did they really have to act like that!
Destroy me? Just try it.
Madara reminded Black Zetsu, "I don't have much time left. Hurry up and bring Obito to me. If you can't bring him back, I'll have to consider Plan B!"
"Right now, Obito is in Konoha. When he goes on missions next, I'll directly use [Mind-Body Convergence Technique] to control the enemy's consciousness and confront him personally. I will definitely bring him here!"
Black Zetsu clenched his resolve, determined to prove his worth by bringing Obito directly before Madara Uchiha.
Madara Uchiha glanced at Black Zetsu. "There's no need to explain your plan to me. I only care about results. Without results, even the most beautiful plan is useless."
Black Zetsu nearly exploded with anger. Was he really being looked down upon like this?
He really wanted to yank out Madara Uchiha's tubes!
Madara closed his eyes. "Go now. Don't disappoint me again. I hope to see a good outcome when I awaken next time."
Inside, Black Zetsu cursed Madara furiously, but outwardly remained obedient. He simply said "Understood" and sank underground.
Seven days passed.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had enjoyed seven blissful days together.
As Minato was still thinking about what their date tomorrow would be like, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly dispatched Anbu ninja to urgently summon him to the Hokage Building.
Minato's expression turned serious. If they were in such a hurry as to send Anbu directly, there must be an important emergency mission.
After bidding farewell to Kushina Uzumaki, Minato immediately headed toward the Hokage Building.
The first thing Hiruzen said was: "Minato, something major has happened. Several thousand Iwagakure ninja have already entered Grass Country, advancing toward the Land of Fire. We need you to fight!"
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