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  Obito's eyes had that dreamy quality again. "Do you think Rin missed me?"

  Kakashi didn't look up from the path ahead. "No idea."

  Six months away changed people. Kakashi had noticed it in himself first—the way his movements had become sharper, more economical. The way he'd stopped wasting words. Their team hadn't done the usual parade of D-rank missions like normal genin. Instead, Minato had taken them straight to the Land of Lightning, where the border with the Hidden Cloud simmered with constant friction. Not quite war, but close enough that they'd seen real combat.

  Even Obito and Guy had grown from it.

  "I can feel the youth burning inside me!" Guy practically vibrated with excitement. "Hanekawa must be eager for a youthful battle with me!"

  He definitely isn't, Kakashi thought, but kept it to himself. Guy had been waking him up at random hours for the past six months with training challenges. Better to let Hanekawa deal with that particular problem.

  "She must have missed me," Obito continued, lost in his own world. "It's been so long."

  Kakashi said nothing. In his experience, emotions like that were distractions. The blade in your hand mattered more.

  Guy, meanwhile, had no such philosophical concerns. His mind was a simple, beautiful thing: youth, training, more youth.

  "Almost there!" Obito straightened his clothes, suddenly self-conscious.

  "Someone's fighting," Guy said, perking up.

  Kakashi paused, listening. "The sound stopped. Probably Hanekawa."

  "Why do you two care so much about him?" Obito asked, irritated. They were always going on about Hanekawa.

  "Let's go," Kakashi said simply.

  The three of them headed toward the open training ground outside Tsunade's house. Obito spotted figures in the distance and sped up, eager to see Rin.

  Then he stopped dead.

  Rin was crouched in front of Hanekawa, hands wrapped around his ankles, chakra glowing softly as she worked.

  "What are you—" Obito's voice cracked.

  "Obito?" Rin looked up, surprised. "Oh, I'm just helping with treatment."

  Hanekawa glanced at the newcomers. "Give her a moment. Almost done."

  Just treatment, Obito told himself, breathing easier. Rin was a medical ninja. This was normal. He was overthinking things.

  "How'd you get hurt?" Kakashi asked.

  "Teacher beat me," Hanekawa said with a shrug.

  Kakashi blinked. He understood what that meant—sparring with Tsunade—but the phrasing was... casual. When Kakashi had become Minato's student, he'd learned to speak about his teacher with proper respect. But every team had its own dynamic.

  "Done!" Rin wiped her forehead, breathing a little hard. Maintaining medical jutsu for long periods still exhausted her.

  "You worked hard, Rin!" Obito said quickly.

  "It's not hard," she said gently. "Come to me if you get hurt in the future."

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  "I will!" Obito looked touched. She cares about me.

  "Better not to get hurt at all," Rin added.

  "Right!"

  Obito sighed as Rin turned away. "It's a shame you're not on our team. We could use a medical ninja."

  His eyes flicked toward Hanekawa. He's the reason she's not with us.

  "Maybe we'll work together on missions sometime," Rin offered.

  "We did that at the border all the time," Obito said, brightening. "When we get back, we can—"

  "Are you coming to Itachi's hundred-day celebration?" Kurenai interrupted, walking over.

  "Yeah," Kakashi confirmed.

  "I'm Itachi's senior!" Obito announced proudly. "Of course I got an invitation!"

  "We did too," Rin said with a smile.

  "Great! I'll show you around the Uchiha compound!"

  "Let's all go together," Rin said softly.

  Obito's face fell slightly—he'd been hoping for alone time—but he nodded. "Sure."

  "Hanekawa!" Guy bounded over. "You healed up?"

  "Not quite," Hanekawa said, standing carefully. "Probably can't do anything strenuous today."

  "Aw, man. I wanted to spar with you."

  "I have someone better for you," Hanekawa said. "My teacher's interested in the Eight Gates."

  Guy's eyes went wide. "Lady Tsunade?!"

  "Yeah."

  Guy's whole body started trembling. His fists clenched. His eyes got wet.

  Oh no, Hanekawa thought.

  "Dad! Did you see?! Even Lady Tsunade recognizes my youth!" Guy's voice cracked with emotion. "This is the burning fire of springtime!"

  Kakashi and Obito exchanged a look and took two steps back in perfect sync.

  Hanekawa turned and walked into the house. A moment later, he returned with Tsunade.

  "Lady Tsunade!" Guy practically glowed. "Please teach me!"

  Tsunade stared at his tear-stained face and said nothing.

  "Even though I'm not your match yet, youth never dies!" Guy dropped into a stance. "Eight Gates! Open! Rest Gate! Life Gate!"

  Three gates opened in succession. Chakra exploded outward in a green aura that made the air shimmer.

  "How is that possible?" Obito whispered.

  Guy's power had jumped to a level Obito couldn't match—not even with his Sharingan at one tomoe.

  "Incredible," Kakashi breathed. He'd only ever seen Guy open the first gate before.

  Hanekawa watched thoughtfully. In the original timeline, Rock Lee had opened the fifth gate during the Chunin Exam at fourteen and suffered permanent damage. But Guy was younger, and the first three gates were safe. How many can he open now?

  "Not bad," Tsunade said, and launched herself forward.

  What followed was a one-sided beatdown.

  Tsunade didn't even look like she was trying. Every punch sent Guy flying. Every block sent him skidding backward. The gap in speed and strength was enormous.

  "That's enough," Tsunade said finally, stepping back.

  Guy collapsed, gasping, a crater in the ground beneath him.

  "You did well to hold it that long at your age," Tsunade said. I should mention to Hiruzen that Might Duy shouldn't still be a genin.

  "How did you beat me before?" Kurenai asked, confused.

  "He doesn't use the Gates when he fights you," Hanekawa explained. "Too dangerous."

  Kurenai nodded, understanding. Her water jutsu was fast, but not fast enough to handle someone moving at that speed. And her genjutsu wouldn't work on pure chakra currents.

  Obito's jaw tightened. He'd thought opening his Sharingan would make him the strongest. Instead, he was apparently the weakest on his team.

  Rin didn't seem bothered. The stronger her teammates, the safer they'd be.

  "Did you get a gift for Itachi?" Tsunade asked suddenly.

  "Already bought it," Hanekawa said.

  "Good. Let's head to the Uchiha compound."

  Hanekawa helped Guy to his feet. "You got a lot stronger."

  "Then tomorrow we can have a youthful—"

  "Save it for the Chunin Exams," Hanekawa interrupted.

  "Chunin Exam?" Guy's eyes widened.

  Kakashi and Obito straightened, suddenly alert.

  "Inside information from my teacher," Hanekawa said, nodding toward Tsunade. "After New Year's, Konoha's holding a Chunin Exam."

  The implications hung in the air. A Chunin Exam meant real stakes. Real danger. Real opportunities to prove themselves.

  Kakashi's expression didn't change, but his mind was already calculating. Obito's hands clenched into fists. Guy looked like he might explode from excitement.

  Hanekawa was already thinking about entries and rankings. First place. No negotiation.