Mission rewards for ninja barely cover the basics. If you don't pick up a few side gigs, how are you supposed to fatten your wallet?
As for getting a part-time job?
Kiyohara had only one answer: "I will never work a day job. Not in this life."
Many poorer shinobi would do civilian jobs on the side to make ends meet.But Kiyohara refused to waste his time like that.
After all, not long after the Third Great Ninja War ends, the Nine-Tails Incident would occur.
Whether or not Obito fell into darkness, Kiyohara figured Madara would still have a backup plan.Someone else to carry out the mission.
A crisis was inevitable.
"That makes sense," Genma nodded thoughtfully.He hadn't realized before how sharp Kiyohara really was.
While Genma and Kurenai were still processing this, Kiyohara had already packed most of the loot into his sealing scroll.
"Some of these are brand new. I can probably get a good price for them."
Kiyohara thought to himself.
"What should we do now?"Genma asked as he slipped two shuriken from a corpse into his tool pouch.
"Rest up, then hit the next outpost."
The plan was simple:Keep repeating this until they drew out an Iwagakure jōnin.
Then they could retreat.
A genin-led squad with two chūnin drawing out a jōnin?That's more than enough contribution.
"Glad we can rest a bit," said Kurenai with a nod.
After scavenging what they could, the group left the outpost.Iwa ninja sometimes doubled back—no need to risk a trap.
They disappeared into the bamboo forest and found a hidden spot to rest.
"I wonder how Kakashi's team is doing," Kiyohara murmured, rubbing his chin.
He figured there was no way Madara had placed all his hopes on Obito alone.
That massive boulder, after all, could have easily crushed Obito's head.
Too risky.Kiyohara didn't believe Madara would bet everything on one person.
More likely, Obito just happened to survive.
And now, Madara was probably observing the battlefield through White Zetsu.
"I remember there being a big clash between Kakashi and Obito," he muttered.
As a shinobi, Kakashi believed:Even if a comrade dies, the mission must be completed. That was the rule.
Letting the mission fail meant endless war—more deaths in the long run.
But Obito?He didn't care about that.With his heart full of love, Rin was all that mattered.
"Let's hope we finish soon," Kiyohara thought.
They were already more than halfway through the mission.
All that was left was to blow up the bridge.
Over the next couple of days, Kiyohara led Kurenai and Genma in non-stop guerrilla warfare.
If the enemy withdrew—they advanced.If the enemy advanced—they withdrew.If the enemy grew weary—they harassed.
A flawless textbook strategy, leaving Iwa shinobi utterly frustrated.
"Dammit! That squad definitely has a top-tier sensory ninja!"Iwagakure commander Suma-shi roared in anger.
This unexpected Konoha team was treating them like fools.
"But Captain, we don't have enough manpower left,"Sui Mizurei muttered.
If they had the numbers, they would've formed a net to surround and eliminate the enemy long ago.
"The frontlines are stretched thin… nothing we can do," Suma-shi frowned.
"No matter what, increase the guards on the bridge.I suspect they're just bait."
"Yes, Captain!"Sui Mizurei bowed and retreated.
Elsewhere…
Kakashi's team was engaged with Iwa forces.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Obito spewed a massive fireball, flames roaring forward—
But nothing hit.
His face darkened.
The enemy had invisibility techniques!
Shnk shnk shnk!Shuriken flew silently through the air.
Kakashi quickly deflected them all with his blade.
"This kid—he's coming with us."
Suma-shi, now hidden with Invisibility Jutsu, struck Rin from behind and knocked her out.
He glanced at fellow jōnin Hibikō, and the two vanished into the forest with their captive.
"Damn it!"Obito panicked, seeing Rin being taken.
He moved to rush after her.
"Wait—don't chase them, Obito!"
Kakashi hesitated but tried to stop him.
"Kiyohara's team is still drawing attention for us.We need to finish the mission."
"What about Rin?!"
Obito turned, shocked at Kakashi's coldness.
"The enemy wants intel. They won't kill her right away.But if the info gets out, they'll increase bridge security.We have to act now."
"Saving Rin is more important!You assume she'll be okay—that's wishful thinking!"
Tension erupted.
Obito pressed on:
"When either of us is hurt, Rin is the one who heals us!"
"That's just… her duty as a medic-nin."
Kakashi thought back to his father's tragedy.
Praised even above the Sannin, a man who could've become the Fourth Hokage…
Driven to suicide because he abandoned the mission to save his comrades.
The Third Hokage hadn't stopped the villagers' slander.
Which meant even the Konoha leadership believed Sakumo Hatake's failure brought disaster to the Fire Country.
"You really are awful!"
Obito now saw Kakashi as an even bigger bastard than Kiyohara.
"Anyone who doesn't value comrades…is worse than scum."
He stopped talking and took off running after the enemy.
Leaving Kakashi behind, torn and conflicted.
Deep beneath the earth…
In a dim cavern, White Zetsu slowly emerged from a wall.
"Lord Madara, the plan is underway. Obito is almost in position."
His voice echoed in the stone chamber.
An aged man opened his eyes.Though his face was wrinkled and weathered, his scarlet Sharingan burned with clarity.
"I see."
Uchiha Madara nodded.
"Oh, and Lord Madara—there's a young ninja named Kiyohara who's performed quite well.He might be a problem."
White Zetsu raised the concern.He sensed Kiyohara might interfere with the plan.
"Kiyohara?"
Madara had heard the name a few times.
Allegedly, the boy had exceptional sensory ability.
"Just a common-born shinobi."
Madara shook his head.
If Kiyohara were a true Uchiha, he might've been considered as a candidate.
But as it stood—only Obito mattered.
"Still, keep an eye on him.Don't let him disrupt the plan."
"Yes, Lord Madara."
White Zetsu slowly melted back into the wall.