His anticipation for A-Class Missions had also diminished.
Reality had made him realize that the enemies faced in A-Class Missions could easily take his life.
The battle ended in three minutes and twenty-one seconds, with seventeen enemies wiped out, including one Jonin and eleven Chunin.
Perhaps this was partly because Minato wanted to give Kakashi's team more practice, so he spent a bit more time.
However, it was really just Kakashi's solo performance—he single-handedly dealt with all the enemy Genin and six of the Chunin, and even after the fight, he still had enough stamina left to handle any ambush that might come next.
His combat experience was also quite impressive—using the least effort to kill enemies, planning his stamina and chakra so well that even some Jonin might not do it as efficiently as him.
This made Minato understand even better why the Third Hokage valued Kakashi so much.
Calling him a genius almost felt like downplaying his natural talent when it came to being a ninja.
Especially since Kakashi was always using his spare time to keep training, strengthening himself—never wasting a single moment.
Surpassing his father, Konoha White Fang, was only a matter of time.
"Kakashi, what was that jutsu you just used?"
Minato asked the question that concerned him most.
At the start of the fight, he'd seen Kakashi gathering tangible lightning in his palm, the chirping like hundreds of birds startled everyone there.
With Minato's sharp eyes, he could naturally tell it was an extremely advanced Lightning Style Jutsu.
"It's a Lightning Style Jutsu I created myself. It's called Chidori, but the technique isn't perfected yet—if it were, the power could be much higher."
Kakashi didn't hide anything, straightforwardly telling them both the name and source of the jutsu.
Lin looked at Kakashi with admiring eyes.
But because of that look, Obito got even more jealous.
"I see. If I'm right, once you perfect that jutsu, it'll probably be a high-level A-Class Ninja Technique."
Minato showed admiration on his face.
In terms solo ninjutsu, he realized there wasn't much he could teach Kakashi anymore.
Kakashi was already walking a path of his own. If he interfered too much, it might actually restrict Kakashi's growth and creativity.
All he needed to do was answer questions at the right time; he shouldn't interfere too much with Kakashi's thinking.
But...with Kakashi's level of understanding, even answering his questions seemed barely necessary.
Minato felt a little frustrated inside—teaching a genius really was a tough job.
For Kakashi to invent his own jutsu, Minato thought it was perfectly natural. Kakashi's talent was obvious—no matter what amazing move he pulled, it was only the reasonable result of his potential.
"It's just an A-Class Jutsu, right? I'll come up with one myself someday too! You just watch, Kakashi!"
Obito said, refusing to admit defeat.
Minato smiled and patted Obito's head, an encouraging gesture.
"Then you better quit getting Plot by all those lost grandmas. Only then will you have enough time to actually train. Anyway, do your best."
Kakashi wouldn't let go of Obito's weakness.
Lin stifled a giggle.
Even Minato couldn't help respective a chuckle.
"Lin, Minato-sensei, why are you laughing too? Is it weird to help grandmas?"
Only Obito was there, jumping up and down with frustration.
"No, Obito, just be yourself. Compared to ninjutsu, having a kind heart is truly the most precious quality. And you, Obito, have a heart even more valuable than any jutsu."
Minato stopped smiling. In Obito, he saw those rare and precious qualities.
No matter what happened, as long as he kept that love in his heart, Minato believed Obito would become an extraordinary, independent ninja someday.
Lin nodded too, encouraging Obito.
Kakashi looked at Obito with his trademark dead-fish eyes, hard to say what he meant by it.
After all, grandma was an irresistible lure for Obito.
Kakashi then casually shifted his gaze to a certain spot. Although it was a bit far, he knew for sure they were being quietly watched.
Even more of those surveilling guys now. Expose a bit of strength, hide something else, trick the enemy into thinking they have the whole picture, then hit them with a fatal strike. That's the kind of strategy, right? he thought inwardly.
He also wondered if maybe Obito would make good bait.
Still, protecting Obito was part of the mission too.
Naive, fantasy-loving types like him were a rare breed among the Uchiha Clan.
◎
"Are all Five Great Nations being watched?"
When Hakushi got this news, he immediately frowned.
A creature called White Zetsu, it turned out, wasn't just spying on Konoha. Even Hidden Cloud, Hidden Mist, Hidden Sand, and Hidden Rock—all four other villages were being watched.
He hadn't noticed before, only because Hakushi hadn't realized how strong the surveillance effort from that mysterious force was.
But that doesn't mean that's their main goal.
Maybe after their tracks got noticed, this was a smokescreen—deliberately misleading him to divert his attention and split up his own forces.
Still, on the other hand, Hakushi couldn't shake the suspicion that this was real.
Spying on the Five Great Nations was something this mysterious group had always been doing.
White Zetsu comes from the Divine Tree. The Divine Tree is the Ten-tails, and the Ten-tails is the fusion of the Nine Great Tailed Beasts.
Currently, apart from the Seven-tailed, which was assigned to Hidden Waterfall Village in the Land of the Waterfall, the other eight tailed beasts are all held by the ninja villages of the Five Great Nations.