Konoha Training Ground
Hui quietly observed Team Minato's training session from the edge of the training ground. Beside him stood Minato Namikaze, arms crossed with a gentle smile as he watched his three students spar and bicker. From time to time, he exchanged insights with Hui on their development, analyzing their coordination, chakra control, and potential. Eventually, their conversation drifted from team analysis to their personal cultivation.
"By the way, Hui," Minato began, tilting his head thoughtfully, "what have you been working on lately? I haven't seen you around in almost a year—and even in the last few days, you've been missing."
Having completed multiple missions together, including joint operations in the Land of Thunder, Minato and Hui had grown familiar with each other. Though Hui was known for his aloof nature, Minato respected his strength and insight. Recently, however, Hui's movements had been peculiar—no reports, no sightings. Minato's curiosity was genuine.
"Ah, it's something I've been developing over the past year," Hui replied with a faint smile. "I finally completed the prototype two days ago."
He briefly explained the first version of his new creation: the Battle Armor Mode—Version 1.0. As Hui described its chakra-enhancing and defensive properties, Minato's expression grew more intrigued. The technique bore resemblance to the Lightning Release Chakra Mode developed in Kumogakure, yet with structural and versatility differences. The complexity and ingenuity required to construct such a mode independently reaffirmed Hui's reputation.
"Impressive," Minato nodded. "To replicate something akin to the Raikage's technique alone… It's no wonder you disappeared for so long."
Their chat was short-lived as a loud, dramatic cry pierced the clearing.
"Ahhh! Kakashi, you bastard!"
Minato and Hui turned their gazes just in time to see Obito Uchiha gripping his rear end in agony, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. The culprit, unsurprisingly, was Kakashi, who coolly adjusted his stance and sheathed his hand—clearly having used the infamous "Thousand Years of Death" technique.
Hui chuckled. "Millennium Kill... So it's already being passed down? No wonder Kakashi was so... precise in the future. Someone's been practicing."
He recalled witnessing Sakumo Hatake—White Fang himself—perform the technique with expert control. Hui wasn't sure whether Sakumo invented it or inherited it from earlier generations of the Hatake Clan, but seeing Kakashi use it now stirred a nostalgic smirk on his face.
"Minato-sensei!" Obito shouted after spotting his teacher among the trees, then paused awkwardly when his eyes landed on Hui. "Uh, who's that?"
Kakashi and Rin immediately straightened and approached.
"Minato-sensei!" they called in unison, bowing respectfully.
"Hello, everyone." Minato smiled. "This is Hui—also a young but exceptionally skilled jōnin. He's been doing some impressive work behind the scenes."
Kakashi's gaze flicked toward Hui. Though they'd crossed paths since Kakashi was a toddler, their interactions were sparse. Hui used to praise him with an amused tone back then, and had ties with Sakumo, Kakashi's father. But recent events had matured Kakashi. His usual confidence was subdued, and his response was reserved.
Still, formalities couldn't be ignored.
"Hello, Senior Hui," the trio said politely.
"Hello," Hui returned with a friendly nod, glancing at them one by one. "Kakashi, don't tell me you've forgotten me? You were already stirring up the pot when you were three."
Obito blinked and looked at Kakashi with exaggerated shock, as if seeing him in a new light. "Wait, so you've been making soy sauce since age three?!"
Kakashi, ever the stoic, said nothing. Hui then turned to Obito with a glint of amusement.
"And you... Uchiha Obito, the once-in-a-century genius from the Uchiha clan," he said with mock reverence.
Obito's chest puffed up. "Really? I always said—!"
"But," Hui added with a smirk, "you've consistently held the prestigious title of class dunce."
Obito froze, face flushed, fists clenched in silent protest. But given Hui's rank, all he could do was glare like a scolded cat.
"Tsk, it's hard to believe this guy becomes that Obito in the future," Hui mused silently. While the older Obito maintained a certain dramatic flair, this younger version was painfully goofy.
Then his eyes turned to Rin.
"And you, little girl," Hui said, eyes narrowing in analysis. "I've been watching you. You have promise."
Rin looked surprised and turned to Minato for confirmation. Minato gave her a gentle nod.
Obito, sensing danger, clenched his fists. "You—! You better not be trying to steal Rin away!"
Without warning, he launched a fist at Hui.
"Obito!" Minato called in alarm, more out of concern for Obito than Hui.
Hui didn't move. Obito's punch landed—on an afterimage.
The real Hui appeared at Obito's side.
Thunk! Knee to the gut.
Obito folded, dropped to the ground, and howled in pain.
"Who gave you the courage to attack a jōnin?" Hui asked, shaking his head.
His strike was carefully measured. Though painful, it inflicted no internal damage. Obito, though, whimpered on the ground, clutching his stomach.
Seeing the poor boy writhing, Hui casually nodded toward Rin.
Minato noticed and understood at once. Hui had noticed Rin's potential—perhaps as a medical ninja. The timing made sense.
"Me?" Rin asked softly, placing a hand on her chest. "You really think... I have talent?"
She'd always considered herself the weakest link in the team—an orphan from a civilian background, surrounded by an elite Uchiha and a prodigy like Kakashi. She worked tirelessly to keep up.
Hui nodded. "Your chakra control is exceptional. That's the foundation for medical ninjutsu. Would you be interested in learning it from me?"
Rin gasped. "Yes! I—yes, I would!"
Obito, meanwhile, had recovered enough to join in.
"What?! Medical ninjutsu? That's not combat stuff!" He grimaced. "Though I guess… Rin's gentle, so maybe it fits…"
Hui's eye twitched. "You still don't get it."
Without warning, he appeared next to Obito again and drove a fist into his gut. Obito flew backward.
Then Hui flickered behind him and kicked him forward—right back where he started. In an instant, he formed seals, three wind blades swirled around him, and green chakra flared from his palm: Mystic Palm Technique.
Minato frowned but relaxed once he saw the green light this wasn't retaliation. It was a demonstration.
Wind blades danced around Obito, slashing shallow cuts into his limbs. Hui healed them instantly with his glowing palm but not without adding pain to the experience.
Every dodge Obito attempted was read like an open book. Each attempt to fight back ended in deeper wounds—wounds that Hui deliberately healed mid-combat, making Obito yelp at the dual pain of damage and forced healing.
"This is medical ninjutsu," Hui said calmly. "A trained medical ninja can restore damage mid-fight, increasing their endurance and battlefield utility. Even someone like Obito here can spar with a jōnin"
Everyone twitched at the bold claim.
"well, 'spar' might be a generous term."
Kakashi's eye twitched. Rin stifled a laugh. Even Minato looked like he might break into a chuckle.
Obito, collapsed in a heap, groaned.
"Why...does this...count as a 'spar'...?"
He rolled over and whimpered, "I...just wanted to protect Rin…"