The Land of Rain, an unremarkable small town.
Deep in the alleyways, a low-slung ramen shop stood with a sliding door covered by a worn noren curtain. Pulling it open released the thick, mellow aroma of tonkotsu broth.
Jiraiya generously treated everyone to ramen.
Though not as fragrant as Ichiraku Ramen, being able to eat a bowl of hot ramen in a place with constant drizzle like the Land of Rain was undoubtedly a form of happiness.
Inside the shop were only a few log bar stools. The smooth, polished wooden counter was set with soy sauce dishes, chili oil jars, and pickled ginger slices.
A bowl of ramen was handed over, its steam carrying warmth, sealing away the slight chill and noise of the alley outside.
Taking this opportunity, Rin checked Obito's newly transplanted eye—a two-tomoe Sharingan.
After returning to the Uchiha Clan, Obito had gone to the Police Force to apply for a Sharingan. Seeing as Obito had achieved such great merit, it was impossible for the Police Force to show no appreciation.
Furthermore, Obito was now a Jonin, the youngest Jonin in Konoha second only to Kakashi.
Coupled with Obito's special Wood Release, even if he leaned toward the Hokage faction, they had to win him over.
Mikoto took charge, giving Obito a Sharingan without a formal meeting and even handing him a scroll for Sharingan cultivation.
Obito should have stayed home to properly adapt to the Sharingan, but he insisted on following Minato to the dangerous Land of Rain for this mission.
For him, the warmest place in Konoha was by Rin's side.
After finishing the check-up, Rin said, "Obito, this isn't your original eye. Don't overuse it; you need at least a month or two to adjust."
"I know, Rin!"
Obito looked at the gentle Rin, his face full of a silly grin.
Kakashi, reading a book nearby, said, "Obito, you clearly didn't have to come. We just rescued you from Uchiha Madara's hands and you're already jumping into this mess. Do you think you have too many lives?"
Obito turned to look at Kakashi, his expression changing in a second. "Kakashi, why are you being so naggy? I'm the one most familiar with Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Ryou."
"Minato-sensei already said it, I'm stronger than you now."
Kakashi gave a light snort. "Your Sharingan can't even cast Genjutsu, your Wood Release only makes a vine or two, and that White Zetsu artificial body is at risk of collapsing at any time."
Although they had reunited, Kakashi and Obito's personalities still didn't mesh well; this bickering style was actually more harmonious for them.
If they were being overly polite, their interactions would feel as awkward as constipation.
Seeing Kakashi and Obito about to go at it in the ramen shop regardless of the people around them, Rin quickly stopped them.
"Alright, Obito, Kakashi, stop arguing."
"Obito finally returned with great difficulty; Kakashi, you should be more yielding to him."
Kakashi nodded.
Obito smirked foolishly; he felt Rin's words were a sign of her caring for him.
Rin then said to Obito, "Obito, Kakashi is right. Your power is still very unstable. Don't try to be a hero this time."
Obito nodded vigorously.
Rin then took out a carefully prepared package. "Obito, this is the Jonin advancement gift I prepared for you!"
"Sorry, Hokage-sama's decision yesterday was sudden, so I only managed to prepare your Jonin gift today."
"No!"
Obito quickly comforted her, "Rin, as long as it's a gift from you, I'll love it no matter how long I have to wait."
Obito took the package from Rin. If she weren't there, he would definitely be hugging this carefully made package and inhaling its scent.
Because as long as it belonged to Rin, it was fragrant.
In the original work, Obito was ready to passionately kiss Rin's photo.
If Kakashi hadn't ruined his fun, he might have even gone further.
Obito opened the package and found it was a forehead protector—a Konoha Ninja forehead protector.
Rin smiled at Obito. "Obito, your old forehead protector was lost, and you don't have one right now. I went to the Logistics Department to apply for this for you."
What kind of gift was this? Wasn't this something Obito should already have?
To Obito, however, this was the most precious gift, because until now, he hadn't even noticed he wasn't wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
He seemed to have forgotten that he was still a Ninja of Konoha.
Furthermore, the strap of the protector was hand-sewn by Rin. Using a dark blue thick-woven cotton strap as the base, it featured three extremely fine light purple patterns, just like the markings on Rin's face.
On it was also a line of small words hand-sewn by Rin: Obito, Ganbatte!
Obito looked at this forehead protector as if it were a rare treasure, his eyes welling up with tears of emotion.
"Rin, thank you!"
"Come here, Obito, let me put it on for you!"
Rin tied the forehead protector onto Obito.
Obito was so excited his body trembled; he swore to protect everything about Rin with his life.
"Kakashi, what about you? I gave you my Sharingan back then; shouldn't you give me a million or something?"
"How about I just call you 'Dad' instead?"
"Hmm, Uchiha Kakashi? That wouldn't be bad!"
Kakashi eventually gave Obito his own Chidori cultivation notes.
If he had known yesterday that Obito wanted Chidori, Kakashi would have given it to him first thing; there was no need to waste a precious Ninjutsu slot.
"Obito, I'll teach you Chidori. If there's anything you don't understand, just come find me."
"Good!"
Obito happily took Kakashi's Ninjutsu notes. He had looked at the Chidori scroll after returning, and he was greatly shocked.
Because he couldn't understand it at all; he absolutely needed Kakashi's personal guidance.
Minato, Jiraiya, and the members of the reconnaissance team couldn't help but smile as they watched the bond between Rin, Obito, and the others.
Jiraiya was the most melancholy; seeing Obito was like seeing his own shadow.
He was looking into a mirror named 'the past'; looking at the future was far less clear than looking at the past.
Because the way Rin looked at Kakashi from time to time seemed like it could pull heartstrings.
He could see it: Obito liked Rin, Rin liked Kakashi, but Kakashi didn't like Rin.
That kid Kakashi had taken the adult novels Jiraiya wrote yesterday to read; he clearly liked the mature and sexy type.
Jiraiya saw his own shadow in Obito, a shadow destined for tragedy.
He liked Tsunade, but Tsunade didn't like him; Tsunade liked Ryou.
"Have you heard? Ryou-sama and Lady Tsunade are getting married today!"
Two traveling merchants in the ramen shop were chatting while eating their ramen.
Jiraiya and the others pricked up their ears and began to gather intelligence.
The Land of Rain was a small country, and the Hidden Rain Village wasn't just a village, but a large metropolis.
Therefore, events in Amegakure could quickly spread throughout the entire Land of Rain.
"Ryou-sama? Who's that?"
"Stupid, he's the new leader of the Rain. Lord Hanzo was killed by Konoha Ninjas, so Ryou-sama became the new leader."
"By the way, Ryou-sama was previously regarded as a confidant by Lord Hanzo and was bestowed with the title 'Yakuganra'."
"So it's Lord Yakuganra. I've heard of him. I heard he has superb Medical Ninjutsu and has cured many people with terminal illnesses without charging a single cent."
"A true saint!"
"Yes, now that Ryou-sama has become our leader and is about to marry Lady Tsunade of Konoha, our Land of Rain is going to rise."
"It's said that even the Daimyo is attending the wedding. I really want to go to Amegakure to see such a grand scene."
As the two spoke, they settled their bill and left the ramen shop.
Jiraiya didn't say a word after hearing this and silently walked out.
The mission the Third Hokage gave them was to scout the situation in Amegakure and the Land of Rain; they were absolutely not to clash with Madara or Ryou.
Between the mission and the woman he secretly loved, Jiraiya didn't know how to choose.