Very satisfied with the place, Yang Xing didn't notice the movement nearby. The sound of the wind stopped, and a faint voice suddenly rang out, nearly startling him.
"Yo, brat!"
The moment he heard it, Yang Xing reacted on instinct—his hand shot for a kunai. It was a reflexive action, and in the blink of an eye, he had spun around and hurled the kunai straight ahead.
The blade tore through the air, leaving everyone around utterly stunned.
"Ah! Lord Fourth!"
His bespectacled teacher's cry made Yang Xing glance up, where not far away stood the blond-haired Namikaze Minato, who had just leapt lightly backward, dodging his kunai with an effortlessly cool grace.
"Hahaha, this guy's interesting! The very first in Konoha Village—someone bold enough to throw a shuriken at the Fourth Hokage!"
Judging from the childish voice, the speaker was about his age. "Right, Kakashi? Hey, Kakashi, don't keep that stiff face! I don't like being on the same team with you either, but what can I do—it's the teacher's arrangement."
"Ah? Were you talking just now? Sorry, I was thinking about something. I didn't hear a word. Can you repeat it?"
"You bastard! Looking for a fight, huh? Fine, let's do it! I didn't get to finish the last one at school—who's afraid of you?!"
"Kakashi, Obito, we're teammates. Stop arguing. Lord Fourth is here too."
The noisy bickering between the three filled the air with commotion.
"Yosh, looks like everyone's here."
Landing gracefully, Minato smiled warmly at the group. "Even though this squad has four people, it works out pretty evenly—two on two."
His words carried well, but unfortunately, two of the kids had already launched into a fight. Their heated exchange completely ignored Minato's presence.
"Kakashi! I've had enough—I'm challenging you one-on-one!"
"You can't beat me."
"Argh! That smug attitude pisses me off! Today, I'll pound that face of yours flat!"
"We're all teammates! Don't fight! Please don't fight!"
The flustered little girl waved her hands helplessly as the two boys clashed. Well, it wasn't really a fight—more like one chasing while the other toyed with him. Kakashi, with his deadpan face, clearly didn't take Uchiha Obito seriously at all.
Meanwhile, Nohara Rin flailed at the side, powerless to stop them.
Yang Xing, on the other hand, simply watched with mild interest. He had no intention of interfering—especially when someone far more qualified was right there.
"Hey, you two…"
That calm voice cut through the noise as a figure instantly appeared between the brawling pair. With a hand on each boy's collar, Minato lifted them clean off the ground in one swift motion.
"Fighting isn't good."
The words dropped casually, yet the speed and execution of the action left no room for protest. It was over before anyone even registered the movement.
Yang Xing's heart gave a sharp thump. The words stuck in his throat, but there was no need to speak them aloud—
"So fast!"
The shock on Rin, Kakashi, and Obito's faces made it clear—they too were awestruck by Minato's strength. Even Kakashi, usually so stone-faced, couldn't fully hide the flicker of surprise across half his face.
"Alright, if you want to fight, there'll be chances later. But never with your comrades." Minato set the two down, dusted his hands lightly, and continued with his usual smile. "Now, listen carefully. If you don't, I'll just use that same move to toss you both up onto the treetops over there. Understood?"
That smile of his—warm yet terrifying. The idea of being hurled at rocket speed onto a treetop was definitely not a joke.
Fully aware of Minato's strength, both Obito and Kakashi nodded furiously, suddenly the picture of obedience.
"Good. Now, moving on—ah, you must be Yang Xing, right? Nice name. Come here a moment."
Having settled Obito and Kakashi, Minato turned to call Yang Xing over.
At this point, Yang Xing had no choice but to comply.
His makeshift teacher had already slipped away long before. Clearly, starting today, this man would be his instructor.
No wonder that glasses-wearing otaku of a teacher had said it in such a weird way that made his backside itch with nerves.
To think that the Fourth Hokage himself would be his mentor… Looking at it now, who else in the entire village would be so trusted as a special instructor?
Though reluctant, Yang Xing stepped forward, joining the other three.
Now four in total, they made for a peculiar and unbalanced group.
And with a pair of sworn enemies among them, the atmosphere quickly grew awkwardly silent. Not even a word of greeting passed between them.
"Well then, let's start with introductions. Whether you want to or not, from today, you'll all be undergoing over a year of training together. We'll go from the left."
"Hmph." Though unwilling, Obito managed to steady his expression. "Name's Uchiha Obito. Well, you can tell from the surname—no need for more."
"Uchiha clan, huh? Mm, alright. Next."
"Hatake Kakashi."
The ever-expressionless Kakashi said no more. Even a single extra word seemed extravagant for him.
"I-I'm Nohara Rin."
Her small face flushed pink as she stammered out her name.