The Land of Fire's summer air was thick with heat, the road home lined with endless green.
A small Konoha squad strolled along the path, their mission complete.
"Mission went smooth! And we'll make it back for Itachi's birthday!" chirped Shinko Inari, a cheerful girl with twin braids.
"No, there's no need " young Itachi Uchiha began, but Shinko cut him off.
"Itachi, you're too polite. We're teammates!" she said, patting his small shoulder with a bright smile.
"Hey, Tenma, what do you say?"
"Tch, it's just a birthday..."
The gray-green-haired Tenma Izumo pouted arrogantly.
Smack!
"It hurts!"
"Speak nicely! Is it really that hard to be honest?" Shinko scolded before looking up at the bearded jonin leading them.
"Yuki-sensei, you coming too?"
Yuki Minazuki gave a faint smile. "I still need to file the report, but if I have time..."
He stopped cold. His arm shot out, blocking his students as his gaze locked on the road ahead.
A lone figure had appeared without warning, wearing a black cloak and a mask, standing silently in their path.
"Well now… it's lively here," the man said, voice calm yet mocking. "Looks like I've interrupted you four."
"Who are you? What's your purpose for stopping us?" Yuki's tone sharpened. His fingers twitched a subtle signal, be ready.
The three genin tensed.
"Can't tell you who I am," the masked man replied with a faint smile.
"But my purpose… that I can say." His eyes glinted.
"If I told you I came to kill you… would you believe me?"
"Get ready!" Yuki barked.
He lunged forward, kunai flashing. The three genin scattered, throwing shuriken and kunai.
Obito moved like water, one sidestep, and the projectiles struck dirt. Yuki's kunai came for his neck...
Smack! Obito's hand closed around his wrist. One sharp pull, a knee to the gut
Bang! Yuki flew back, gasping.
Obito caught a kunai mid-air, spun it, and swatted away the next volley. The blade flicked
Thunk!
It sank into a tree trunk.
A startled cry came from above. Leaves fell as Shinko tumbled from the branches, a black kunai lodged in her shoulder.
"Shinko!"
"Run!" Yuki's voice roared
But before she could react, a shadow loomed over her, and an icy shiver shot down her spine.
You're not Sakura… no Naruto's gonna swoop in, and you sure as hell don't have any plot armor, Obito mused darkly then ended it.
Shhk!
Blood sprayed. Shinko's head rolled across the dirt, eyes still wide in shock.
"Shinko!!"
The scream tore through the clearing.
Flames suddenly roared toward Obito front, left, right
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Four more kunai came spinning from above.
"Uchiha shurikenjutsu… not bad."
Obito blurred. The flames crashed into the trees, toppling them before erupting into a blazing inferno.
"Did we get him?" Yuki's voice was tight as he glanced at Shinko's body. "Damn it!"
Shhk!
A black flash.
"Sensei!!"
Blood burst from Yuki's neck. His hands clawed at the wound, eyes wide with disbelief, before he collapsed into the red-soaked dirt.
"For a jonin, you were far too careless."
Obito's gaze dropped briefly to the black five-pointed star on Yuki's sleeve before shifting to the last two genin.
Itachi stood frozen, eyes wide.
Beside him, Tenma's body trembled. Sweat slid down his cheek as he tightened his grip on his kunai... then, with a sharp breath, he charged forward.
Another fool rushed in, driven only by concern for his comrades.
Obito eyed the boy, catching the mix of hatred and resolve in his gaze.
If this were an anime, people would be betting on him to pull off some miracle… but reality's not so kind to someone this insignificant.
It was over in an instant. Blood sprayed, and Tenma's body crumpled to the ground.
Obito's masked face turned to Itachi.
"Well, Itachi… do you feel the pain now?"
"Oh, and by the way...consider this a little birthday gift from me. Hope you enjoyed it."
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