As the sun set over Konoha, a small figure stood alone in the training field, drenched in sweat.
"Shadow Clone!"
Poof!
A puff of white smoke—
Nothing.
"Ah! Failed again!"
Obito scratched his head in frustration and shouted at the sky.
Why could Sensei Kazuki's clone technique feel so real?
Why could Kakashi's Shadow Clone be so flawless?
Why couldn't he even succeed once?
Kazuki's words from earlier that day echoed in his mind.
You lack talent.If others train five hours, you train ten.If they train ten, you train twenty.
Obito used to dream.
He dreamed of becoming a genius overnight.
Of shocking the village.
Of becoming Hokage and standing proudly at the top of the world.
But reality hit harder than any punch.
He wasn't talented.
He wasn't special.
He wasn't even average.
And today—
For the first time—
He couldn't lie to himself anymore.
From a distance, members of the Uchiha clan whispered.
"That's Obito."
"Training hard again."
"Poor kid. Lost his parents young."
"No proper guidance at home."
"I heard he came back crying today."
"Probably failed."
"Wouldn't be surprised if he gets sent back to the Academy."
The glances weren't cruel.
But they weren't kind either.
Obito's shoulders trembled.
"I'm not trash!"
He shouted into the empty field.
Obito's Home
His grandmother greeted him warmly.
"Obito, you're back. Dinner's ready."
"I'm not eating!"
He slammed his door shut.
Then dropped to the floor.
Push-ups.
"...One hundred ninety-seven… one hundred ninety-eight… one hundred ninety-nine… two hundred!"
His arms shook violently.
Sweat dripped onto the floor, soaking the tatami.
He collapsed.
But Kazuki's voice rang again in his head.
You'll drag your teammates down.You'll disgrace your family.
Obito clenched his teeth.
Got back up.
And kept going.
Nohara Household
Rin sat at the dinner table with her parents.
"So you're officially a shinobi now?" her mother asked with a smile.
"Yes! And Sensei Kazuki is actually pretty good."
"Kazuki? We haven't heard of him."
Rin rested her chin in her hands, thinking of his relaxed smile.
"Kakashi said he's really strong."
"Well then," her father chuckled, "make sure you learn as much as you can from him."
Rin nodded obediently.
"Okay."
Hatake Household
Kakashi sat alone, eating instant noodles.
His father wasn't home.
Probably on a mission again.
He replayed Kazuki's words in his mind.
Teamwork.
Weakness.
Battlefield reality.
Kakashi frowned slightly.
Is Sensei Kazuki unreliable…
Or just honest?
Even someone like Obito managed to pass the Academy.
That alone made Kakashi skeptical of the system.
Uzumaki Residence – Dinner
Kazuki sat at the table with Uzumaki Mito, Kushina—
And Tsunade.
The moment she sat down, Tsunade started complaining.
"The hospital's a mess. I barely slept."
Then she shifted topics.
"There's chaos in Kirigakure."
Kazuki immediately focused.
The Hidden Mist.
Tsunade continued.
"There's been internal unrest. A lot of low-ranking ninja were killed or seriously injured."
"Konoha's undercover operatives stationed there were forced to flee."
"Most didn't make it back."
"Those who did are barely alive."
"That's why I've been swamped."
Kazuki listened carefully.
Kirigakure.
The Blood Mist.
But why was it called that?
Was it just internal slaughter?
Tsunade answered indirectly.
"Kirigakure used to function like Konoha. Equal opportunities."
"But after the Third Mizukage took power, policies changed."
"The founding noble clans and high-ranking shinobi families became the ruling class."
"Smaller clans. Bloodline families absorbed into the village. Commoners."
"They became expendable."
"Given the most dangerous missions."
"Disposable tools."
"Not even treated like people."
Kazuki's eyes narrowed.
Tsunade continued.
"The 'Blood Mist' name comes from their Genin graduation exam."
"To pass, you have to kill your own classmate."
"Of course, that only applies to commoners."
"Noble-born students are exempt."
Rage simmered in her tone.
"The civilians finally rebelled."
"The leadership responded by sending the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to crush the uprising."
"Now the whole village is drowning in blood."
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Kazuki finally recognized something familiar.
Though these names were from the older generation—
Zabuza wasn't among them yet.
Tsunade added casually,
"The Hokage is planning to send several squads near Kirigakure."
"Jiraiya will probably lead."
Kazuki blinked.
"Isn't Jiraiya the Academy principal? Why send him?"
Tsunade looked at him like he'd asked a dumb question.
"The Academy exists to train ninja for war."
"Sending the principal to command a mission is perfectly normal."
Kazuki paused.
"Wait. Don't tell me they're sending Academy graduates too?"
Tsunade shrugged.
"That's the rumor."
"There aren't enough shinobi."
"Border disputes are heating up."
"Most active units are already deployed."
"When necessary—"
She looked at him directly.
"Even fresh Genin will be sent to the battlefield."
The room fell quiet.
Kazuki understood.
The Third Great Ninja War wasn't approaching.
It had already begun.
And Team Seven—
Was standing right at its edge.