Orochimaru decided to assign the mission of monitoring that Cloud ninja base to Shindai's group.
Jiraiya thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. We don't have any missions for Kakashi and the others right now anyway. This task can just go to them."
After Jiraiya and Orochimaru discussed how to completely wipe out those Cloud ninjas, Jiraiya left the tent and summoned Shindai, Kakashi, and the others.
Inside Jiraiya's tent…
Shindai curiously asked Obito beside him, "Obito, do you know why Jiraiya had us called here?"
Obito shrugged. "No idea either, but since they gathered all of us together, it must be some mission they're going to give us."
Shindai exclaimed in shock, "What? Just got back from a mission and we already have another one?"
"That's normal," Obito replied. "You didn't seriously think finishing a mission meant getting some time off, did you?"
Rin Nohara added, "Sometimes we can actually rest when there's no mission, but once there's work, there's zero time to relax—we jump straight into the next one. I remember doing three missions in a row one month without a single break."
Obito recalled, "Yeah, it was like two back-to-back investigations and a surveillance mission. Right after reporting the previous missions, we immediately received a new one. That was extremely exhausting."
Kakashi looked at Shindai with his usual lazy eye and said, "Shindai, there's no need for you to worry. I've told you before—most of our tasks barely involve actual combat. They're usually observation-based missions like investigations or surveillance."
Shindai sighed, "But what if we actually end up in a real fight?"
"Then that'll be great!" Obito clapped enthusiastically. "I've been dying for a fight! I'm practically bursting with excitement!"
Shindai and Kakashi both rolled their eyes at Obito simultaneously.
Shindai mocked, "You? Back when I was hiding in the bushes in the Land of Rivers—I saw everything. You were so scared you froze on the spot. It was Kakashi who saved you."
Obito's face instantly turned bright red. "W-What?! Scared? You're lying through your teeth! Kakashi got it all wrong! At that time, everything was totally under control, okay?"
Kakashi simply snorted coldly without speaking further.
However, that very snicker infuriated Obito. Slamming the table hard, he got right up in Kakashi's face and angrily shouted, "Kakashi! What are you laughing at?!"
Kakashi continued staring at Obito without uttering a word, yet the mockery clearly evident in his expression.
Rin Nohara rubbed her temples. Here we go again…
Rin Nohara had always been the mediator between Kakashi and Obito. She'd already broken up countless arguments between them, so she was pretty experienced at it.
Just as Rin was about to calm Kakashi and Obito down again, something unexpected happened this time.
"Woah! Kakashi, your expression is totally asking for a punch! Obito, if I were you, I wouldn't be able to hold back either—if it were me, I'd have punched him already!"
Shindai was all too eager to add fuel to the fire, loving every bit of the chaos.
Shindai meant no real harm—he just loved seeing things get this tense and couldn't resist adding more fuel to the fire.
Provoked by Shindai, Obito instantly clenched his fist.
Kakashi, however, tilted his chin up defiantly, as if daring him—"Go ahead, hit me if you've got the guts."
That smug look immediately infuriated Obito: "Damn it, I've got a short temper!"
Obito made a move to strike, but Rin, ever quick on her feet, seized his arm before he could swing. "Obito, don't do this!"
Struggling fiercely, Obito shouted, "Rin, let go! If I don't land at least one punch on Kakashi today, I'm not worth the name Uchiha!"
Shindai clapped with exaggerated enthusiasm: "Obito, you're such a manly guy now! You truly live up to being a genius among the Uchiha clan! I feel like I'm starting to admire you! If there were girls around, they would surely admire you too!"
Obito instinctively glanced at Rin.
So… Was Rin admiring him right now?
Rin snapped at Shindai, "Shindai, quit provoking them!"
Suddenly, Kakashi muttered, "Idiot!"
That single word fired Obito up like he'd received an adrenaline shot: "Kakashi! Today, I swear on the Uchiha name—I'm going all out against you!"
Helplessly, Rin said, "Kakashi, stop making things worse, will you?"
Just then, Jiraiya entered the tent. Seeing the scene before him, he exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, what's going on here? Seems lively enough."
Shindai rushed over to Jiraiya like a kiss-up—no, he basically *was* a kiss-up—and began tattling: "Lord Jiraiya, Obito and Kakashi are fighting again! I tried everything to talk them out of it, but nothing worked! To be honest, I hate watching teammates argue like this—it undermines unity!
Lord Jiraiya, I feel deeply pained witnessing such disharmony within the team. Therefore, I believe I'm unsuited to remain in such a disunited squad. I hereby apply to become Lord Jiraiya's personal guard—I will devote myself to keeping you safe!"
Obito, Kakashi, and Rin stared at Shindai with wide eyes, completely taken aback by his self-righteous act.
Wasn't *Shindai* the one who kept stoking the flames from the very beginning?
Shindai how could Shindai possibly say that he had tried everything to stop them?
Obito trembled as he pointed a shaking finger at Shindai, too stunned to speak.
Shindai said coldly, "Obito, I know you're ashamed, but I won't forgive you or Kakashi! I cannot tolerate working with a dysfunctional squad!"
"I'll come for you, you shameless bastard, for fuck's sake!"
Obito's already flushed face turned dark red with rage as he lunged toward Shindai, ready to throw a punch.
Rin, holding Obito back until now, intentionally let go—her intention was crystal clear without a word spoken.
Never before had Kakashi so fully supported Obito. He threw a powerful punch straight into Shindai's face, determined to see just how thick-skinned Shindai really was!
Shindai quickly ducked behind Jiraiya. "Lord Jiraiya, they're furious and want to bully me! Hurry, save me!"
Jiraiya twitched his lips slightly.
Actually, by now he'd figured out roughly what happened.
It was impossible to reason with this guy Shindai. From the expressions on Obito and the others' faces, there was a good chance that Shindai himself was the one who'd been adding fuel to the fire.
He'd stop at nothing to remain safely in Konoha's base camp.
Jiraiya grabbed the charging Obito. "Enough fighting. I don't need anyone protecting me. Now listen up—I have a mission for you."
After setting Obito down, Jiraiya continued gravely. "A surveillance mission. Minato's squad will depart immediately to monitor the Cloud shinobi's stationed location you previously investigated. Watch their every move. If they show any sign of movement, immediately report their activities back to us!"
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