Three days later.
Shinji carried the combat backpack he had prepared long ago, which was stuffed with bandages, Military Ration Pills, Explosive Tags, and simple Antidotes—almost everything one could think of for frontline supplies.
He held a standard Ninja Sword, checked his equipment, and set off alone to the designated assembly point.
Around nine o'clock, Minato and the others arrived one after another. They briefly adjusted their attire, waiting only for the last person.
Time gradually approached the agreed hour. Kurenai stood beside Shinji, frowned, and asked, "Why hasn't Obito arrived yet?"
Shinji crossed his arms, gazing toward the village entrance. "Probably helping someone on the road again."
Sure enough, about half an hour later, a panting figure rushed over in a panic.
"Sorry, sorry everyone! I'm late! I met an old lady crossing the road earlier, so... I got delayed a bit!"
Obito bent over, breathing heavily, explaining with a guilty expression.
Everyone was speechless.
"Too slow!"
"Absolutely unchanged."
"Idiot Obito."
Only Rin spoke softly. "Obito is still so kind-hearted."
Shinji raised an eyebrow, thinking inwardly, "Exactly as expected."
This guy Obito—does he have a natural talent for attracting old ladies?
With this talent, he also attracted the old man Madara Uchiha?
Obito scratched his head, apologized repeatedly, quickly walked over to stand beside Rin, secretly glanced at her, and grinned foolishly.
He silently encouraged himself.
"I don't want to be the younger brother in Rin's eyes. Rin, wait and see, I'll definitely shine in this mission and impress you!"
Seeing everyone finally assembled, Minato showed his usual gentle smile and lightly waved his hand.
"Alright, everyone's here, let's depart. We must complete the mission quickly to relieve pressure on the frontline."
With that, the group stopped talking, leaped out of the Konoha Barrier, and sped toward the Land of Fire border, heading toward Kannabi Bridge.
After days of travel and several brief rests, they finally entered the Land of Grass. Further inward was their final destination—Kannabi Bridge.
By now, the Land of Grass had already been breached by the Iwagakure army. Along the way, Iwa-nin outposts and patrols were everywhere, forcing Shinji's group to lower their posture and slow down, moving stealthily.
"Try not to linger. If we encounter enemies, eliminate them all. We absolutely cannot let information leak."
Minato's tone was solemn, his aura suddenly sharp, completely different from his usual gentle demeanor.
Everyone's expressions tightened, responding together, "Yes!"
After stealthily advancing several more kilometers and reaching the edge of a dense forest, the team abruptly halted.
"There are enemies!"
Kakashi's figure hid behind a tree trunk, his voice low but exceptionally clear.
Shinji crouched in the bushes, scanning the surrounding surges of Chakra, then immediately turned. "We're surrounded."
Minato frowned slightly, lightly pressed one hand on the ground. Chakra instantly spread out, expanding his sensing range. He then stood up and spoke:
"Eight enemy Chunin, over twenty Genin remaining."
"I'll handle the rear, ensure no one escapes. Group combat!"
Before his words finished, a dense rain of Shuriken suddenly attacked from overhead, followed by over thirty dark figures leaping down from the treetops, killing intent rushing toward them.
"Kill them all!"
"It's Konohagakure brats!"
"Let them see Iwagakure's power!"
Obito couldn't hold back, leaped out, battle spirit high. "Let's go!"
Hand seals rapidly formed, scorching heat surged from his throat:
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball rolled out, its high temperature instantly melting half of the incoming Shuriken.
Asuma pressed his palms together, Chakra surged and exhaled:
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
A fierce airflow swept out, blowing away and twisting all remaining hidden weapons.
Minato's eyes flashed with approval. "Well done, Obito, Asuma."
Before his words ended, he gripped a Kunai and charged straight into the enemy ranks, his movements ghostly fast.
Shinji took a deep breath, slowly drew a short sword from his back. In his pupils, a Two Tomoe Sharingan slowly opened.
"Then I'll join the battle too."
His gaze locked onto a Chunin Iwa-nin ahead who seemed to be the leader, and his figure suddenly charged forward.
Holding the sword in his right hand, his feet stepped continuously, his figure seemingly exploded into existence on the spot. Not simply disappearing, but transforming into five phantom images, each carrying genuine Chakra fluctuations, each clear enough to be convincingly real.
The five figures scattered outward, some charging forward, some shifting sideways, some leaping backward, their trajectories crisscrossing like weaving, directly crashing into the midst of seven or eight enemies.
The Iwa-nin swung their swords wildly, blade lights slicing through one phantom after another, but only cutting through empty air currents, touching only Chakra echoes, not even half a solid entity.
"What, what kind of Ninjutsu is this?!"
The leading Chunin's face drastically changed, mixed with shock and anger.
Every "Shinji" seemed like a solid entity, capable of attacking, but when his blade struck, there was only a void-like, empty sensation.
"Quick reinforcements!"
Several instantly lost their footing, frantically calling for comrades to assist.
Shinji alone attracted most of the enemies' attention. His figure repeatedly switched between illusion and reality, using the Sharingan's extreme insight and prediction. His short sword shuttled like flowing light, each unsheathing precisely harvesting lives.
His stunningly brilliant Body Flicker Technique instantly became the battlefield's focal point.
Kakashi and the others' pressure greatly reduced. Unconsciously, they glanced sideways.
"That's Shinji?!"
"He's gotten stronger again these days."
"This technique looks somewhat familiar."
Obito suddenly widened his eyes, exclaimed aloud:
"This is Shisui's Body Flicker Technique!"
Kakashi had just sliced an Iwa-nin's throat with one blade. Hearing this, he raised his eyes, pupils slightly contracting:
"Uchiha Shisui?"
...
The entire battle lasted less than fifteen minutes.
Looking at the densely fallen Iwa-nin corpses on the ground, Shinji slowly relaxed. His internal Chakra was mostly depleted, but his face showed no trace of fatigue. Instead, it revealed a sense of exhilarating satisfaction, his whole body relaxed.
"Now, dealing with myself before the System would be utterly crushing."
He inwardly sighed.
Then, Minato walked slowly to his side, lightly patted his shoulder, approvingly said, "Well done, Shinji. Your strength gave me a great surprise."
This mission was inherently dangerous. He had confidence in protecting the juniors with the Flying Thunder God at full power, but Shinji's performance just now genuinely relieved immense pressure for him.
"I dare not claim it, Minato-sama." Shinji slightly lowered his head. "Thanks to you holding the rear, I could act without hesitation."
Minato chuckled and shook his head. "This is all your own strength."
He increasingly found this youth pleasing—strong, neither arrogant nor impatient, and understanding propriety.No wonder the Third Hokage mentioned him multiple times, a promising seedling worth focused nurturing.
Clean up the battlefield, we'll find a hidden place to rest temporarily."
The order given, Asuma, Kurenai, Kakashi, and Obito immediately gathered around.
Kurenai Yuhi scrutinized Shinji up and down, as if meeting him for the first time. "Shinji, what secret medicine did you take? Your strength improved too fast!"
Beside him, Asuma's expression was slightly complex, carrying a bit of awkwardness.
Previously in the squad, he had always been the strongest. But Shinji's phantom Body Flicker just now was truly dazzling, faintly giving a sense of dejection from being surpassed.
Shinji shrugged nonchalantly, suddenly gave a thumbs up, pointing at Obito beside him. "After awakening, the Uchiha Clan's strength naturally surges a level.Don't believe it, you ask Obito."
Obito's face instantly darkened.
He just hadn't awakened yet, especially noticing Kakashi glancing at him with a 'dead last' look. He flew into a rage on the spot, flew into a rage on the spot: "Kakashi, what kind of look is that!""
Kakashi "..."