### Chapter 4: The Power of a Jonin, Kid!
"The reason I called everyone here is that I am the main person in charge this time."
Minato Namikaze spoke once everyone had arrived.
"Your original team leader Jonin has gone to perform another mission, so your three-man squad is temporarily assigned to me."
Minato Namikaze looked at Kyouko, Kurenai Yuhi, and Genma Shiranui.
"Yes, Lord Minato."
Genma Shiranui nodded.
With Minato Namikaze as the team leader, this mission might surprisingly be easy.
Unlike the others who looked like they were going on a field trip, Kyouko didn't dare to be careless.
In this lineup, only Minato Namikaze and Kakashi, who was about to become a Jonin, were strong.
The rest were all Chunin.
The only Genin was Kyouko.
In the past, he wanted to delay executing dangerous missions as much as possible, so he had never participated in the Chunin Exams.
Now that Konoha was facing a shortage of manpower, let alone a veteran Genin like Kyouko, even fresh graduates from the Ninja Academy had to go to war.
This mission was called reinforcement, but it was more likely responsible for miscellaneous tasks, which meant attracting attention.
The main objective was to blow up the bridge. Having more people would serve to confuse the enemy, providing precious time for the people planting the explosives.
"To better understand your strength, I want to hold a test."
Minato Namikaze said.
He knew his own students' situations very well, but he didn't know much about Kyouko's trio.
Being a Genin sometimes doesn't mean one only has Genin-level strength.
It's very likely they just didn't have time to take the exam.
"Obito, you spar with Kyouko first."
Minato Namikaze called out Obito.
Kakashi was too overpowered, and Rin Nohara was a medical ninja, so the only one he could pick was Obito.
"Hehe, just the right time to show off my skills!"
Obito grinned and pushed up his goggles, looking relaxed. For the sake of his precious eyes, he took care of them in every possible way.
He didn't pay much attention to this guy who was just a Genin.
After all, he was an Uchiha. Even if he hadn't awakened his Sharingan, the confidence of that bloodline still flowed in his bones.
"Alright."
Kyouko nodded and stepped forward.
Besides practicing ninjutsu, the Missing-nin Kyouko had also been teaching him combat skills one-on-one these past few days.
After all, having become a Missing-nin, if his combat abilities weren't good, he would have been killed long ago.
So although Kyouko hadn't learned much ninjutsu, he had learned a lot of combat techniques.
"Let's begin."
Minato Namikaze said.
Kyouko prepared for battle.
His previous chakra volume was close to that of a Chunin; he just hadn't taken the exam.
Now, having merged with a part of the Missing-nin Kyouko, his chakra volume surely exceeded that of an ordinary Chunin.
So, sparring with Obito, Kyouko felt success was guaranteed.
Actually, Obito's combat ability wasn't bad, but before awakening the Sharingan, he wasn't steady enough.
The Missing-nin Kyouko's spirit appeared behind him.
"Remember, Obito has the physical fitness of the Uchiha clan. You just need to seize his openings."
Kyouko nodded slightly.
"Start."
Minato Namikaze announced.
Obito moved first!
Kicking off the ground, dirt flew as he instantly closed the distance between them.
His kunai cut through the air, aiming straight for Kyouko's throat.
Kyouko also drew his kunai at that moment.
The metal clashed with a clang, erupting into a brilliant series of sparks.
Kyouko's kunai blocked the opponent's attack, and he simultaneously took half a step back to disperse the force.
"So fast..."
Obito had thought Kyouko was just a Genin and had looked down on him slightly.
Now it seemed this guy wasn't simple.
Then he flipped his kunai, slashed upward, chopped downward—a continuous chain of attacks executed in one breath.
Kyouko's body moved almost instinctively.
"Your movement is wrong; you should parry like this..."
The Missing-nin Kyouko's spirit continued to explain combat techniques to Kyouko.
Listening to his future self's experience, Kyouko felt enlightened.
Obito wasn't just facing him; he also had "Grandpa" Missing-nin Kyouko!
The power of a Jonin, kid!
As time passed, Obito noticed Kyouko's movements becoming sharper and smoother, like a clumsy apprentice suddenly finding his own rhythm.
He could always launch attacks at unbelievably tricky angles.
And he could feel that Kyouko was improving bit by bit.
"His lower body is unstable, his center of gravity is too far back. Attack his left side, force him to move..."
The Missing-nin Kyouko said.
Kyouko flipped his wrist, changing his kunai from a stab to a slice, attacking Obito's left side.
Obito indeed appeared more awkward, and his parrying movement showed a hint of stagnation.
As the two exchanged blows, Obito gradually fell to a disadvantage.
Obito's eyes widened. Just a commoner, yet his improvement speed was so fast.
A few minutes ago, he could barely keep up with the rhythm, but now he was starting to actively suppress him!
"How is this possible?!"
Obito grew more alarmed as he fought, the pressure increasing steeply.
Rin was watching; he didn't want to lose face in front of her.
"It's almost like there's a famous master on the scene telling Kyouko how to attack and defend in real-time."
Watching the rapidly improving Kyouko, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but have this thought.
Then he could only smile.
Only they were here; where would anyone else come from?
"Why does it feel like Kyouko is much more powerful than before?"
Kurenai Yuhi's ruby-like eyes reflected Kyouko's figure.
She and Kyouko were old classmates, knowing almost everything about each other.
Could it be that under the pressure of survival, Kyouko's potential had been stimulated?
Regardless of what others guessed, Obito was under immense pressure, no longer possessing his initial confidence.
Dammit, Rin is right here!
Bearing the name of Uchiha, I absolutely cannot lose!
Obito's left hand reached into his ninja tool pouch, and when it came out again, several shuriken were clamped between his fingers.
Shurikenjutsu was an Uchiha specialty!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three shuriken were thrown from Obito's hand, locking down Kyouko's upper, middle, and lower paths. The angles were tricky; it was clear Obito had indeed worked hard on his throwing skills.
"Don't forget the technique I taught you."
The Missing-nin Kyouko said.
Only Kyouko could hear his words.
To everyone else, he was a ghost, just like air.
Kyouko nodded slightly, then took out only one shuriken.
Whoosh!
Kyouko's shuriken flew out. Though launched later, it arrived first, tracing an arc in the air and hitting the tail of the first shuriken Obito had thrown.
Cling!
After a crisp collision sound, the shuriken Kyouko had just thrown seemed to turn a corner, striking the remaining two shuriken.
Cling! Cling!
A series of crisp ringing sounds followed. Obito's confident triple attack was completely neutralized by a single shuriken, scattering crookedly onto the ground.
"How is that possible!"
Obito's eyes were round with disbelief.
Even he hadn't learned the curving shuriken technique yet, but Kyouko actually knew it!
In his shock, Obito's parrying movement slowed for a split second.
How could Kyouko let go of this fleeting opportunity?
Obito only saw a blur before his eyes. Just as he raised his kunai to defend, Kyouko's hand had already clamped onto his wrist like iron pliers, while simultaneously tripping his leg.
"Ugh!"
Obito felt an irresistible force, completely losing his center of gravity, and the world spun around him.
Thud!
With a muffled sound, Obito was slammed solidly onto the ground, kicking up a little dust.
And the tip of Kyouko's kunai was already gently pressed against his throat.
The battle came to an abrupt halt.
The training ground was silent.
Even a flash of surprise crossed Kakashi's perpetually lazy gaze.