Mastermind of the Akatsuki

In stark contrast to Kakashi's quiet relief, Obito burned with indignation at being sidelined during the entire exchange.

Scrambling to his feet, he cast a disgruntled look towards the disappearing figures and grumbled, "Why didn't you do anything, Kakashi? Those two reeked of danger! They could be enemies of the village!"

From Obito's perspective, the boy and girl couldn't be much older than him. Even if they possessed a slight edge in strength over him and Rin, it couldn't be insurmountable.

If only Kakashi had been more willing to fight, the three of them together could have trounced those two and taught them a lesson.

More importantly, it would have been Obito's moment to shine in front of Rin, a chance to completely outshine Kakashi.

Kakashi, however, barely spared Obito a glance.

With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he launched a barrage of kunai. The throwing knives found their mark with pinpoint accuracy, detonating the hidden explosive tags scattered throughout the blind spots, sending shockwaves ripping through the forest.

Over the cacophony of explosions, Kakashi's voice cut through the air, laced with chilling indifference. "Obito, if you have a suicidal urge, feel free to go for it. But don't drag the rest of the team down with you in the process."

Obito's face contorted in fury. He planted his hands defiantly on his hips and shot back, "Don't get so cocky, Kakashi! Once I awaken my Sharingan, I'll surpass you for sure! You won't be looking down on me anymore then!"

Kakashi met his outburst with a bored sigh, his focus already shifting to dismantling the remaining traps littering the area.

Compared to Obito's childish tantrum, Kakashi's mind was fixated on the young pair they had just encountered.

Byakuya and Konan, despite their young age, held the potential to become formidable adversaries in the near future. Additionally, the mission assigned by their jounin leader still demanded his full attention.

Obito, fuming from being repeatedly disregarded, resembled a cornered, rabid dog, teeth bared and ready to snap. The simmering rage within him threatened to boil over.

Sensing the escalating tension, Rin felt compelled to intervene and placate Obito. Her brow furrowed in worry for their team's dynamic. Kakashi's chilling demeanor clashed with Obito's impulsive nature. Couldn't they find a way to work together more effectively?

As if summoned by the disharmony, a figure clad in a green jounin vest materialized beside Kakashi and the others with a gust of wind. It was Minato, their leader. With a firm grip, he physically restrained the bickering Obito and Kakashi.

"Enough! No more arguing." He directed his attention to Obito. "Obito, Kakashi's judgment was sound today. Kakashi," he turned to the silver-haired jounin, "could you elaborate for Obito? Explain why you didn't engage the enemy."

Under Minato's watchful gaze, Kakashi begrudgingly spoke. "Obito, I admit I underestimated the situation. The young man and woman we encountered possessed immense strength. Had we initiated a fight, it likely would have ended poorly for us."

"That strong, huh?" Obito fixated not on the apology, but on the rare admission of weakness from Kakashi.

Having graduated the Ninja Academy at a mere six years old and recently achieving jounin status, Kakashi was a prodigy even Obito, consumed by his desire to surpass him, acknowledged would take time to overcome. Byakuya, on the other hand, looked even younger...

A sudden realization dawned on Obito. He pivoted towards Minato. "Wait a minute, Sensei! Were you watching us the whole time? I thought..."

"Only a fool wouldn't recognize this as a test, Obito," Kakashi interjected with a disdainful snort, arms crossed defensively.

Minato, ever the mediator, sensed the tension rising again. "It was a test, yes, but I wouldn't have interfered unless you were in genuine danger. Remember, growth doesn't happen in comfort zones."

Thanks to Minato's intervention, the team's atmosphere improved.

After securing any spoils from their encounter, they began to move away from the border of the Land of Rain. As they departed, Minato cast a lingering gaze towards the spot where Byakuya and Konan had vanished.

Given their age and evident strength, Byakuya and Konan were undoubtedly products of Hanzo's elite training program.

Were they stationed at the border solely to thwart Iwa's invasion, or was there a deeper motive at play?

Minato pondered these questions, but answers remained elusive. Regardless of Hanzo's hidden agenda, Minato was prepared to face whatever challenges arose.

After all, including this dismantled base, he had already neutralized five of Iwa's outposts. Eradicating all Iwa bases within the Land of Grass could potentially bring an end to the conflict between Konohagakure and Iwagakure.

However, a nagging familiarity pricked at Minato's mind regarding the blue-haired kunoichi. It seemed Jiraiya-sensei had mentioned her before...

---

After a brisk jog that stretched for several dozen minutes, Byakuya finally conceded to exhaustion and sank down to rest, Konan following suit. Though he hadn't laid eyes on Minato Namikaze, his presence had been an undeniable weight during the encounter with Kakashi's team. That constant, scrutinizing sensation was unnerving, leaving Byakuya with a chilling premonition of his own mortality. An all-out confrontation with Minato would likely culminate in his swift demise at the hands of the Flying Thunder God Technique.

This formidable jutsu granted Minato instantaneous teleportation to pre-marked locations. It rendered him untouchable by opponents of his caliber, and escape for lesser skilled ninja was an impossibility. This very ability had earned him the moniker "Yellow Flash."

"Byakuya, what troubles you?" Konan inquired cautiously, her earlier obliviousness to his disquietude now replaced with concern.

Byakuya recomposed himself, summoning a strained smile. "A momentary lapse," he reassured her with a light chuckle. "Just the aftereffects of a near miss. We crossed paths with a jounin who wouldn't be out of place vying for the Hokage position."

Konan's brow furrowed in confusion. "A Hokage-caliber jounin? There's no way such a high-ranking individual was amongst them."

"Perhaps my senses were deceived," Byakuya hedged, feigning nonchalance. "While my perception surpasses that of most, it can be overly sensitive at times."

'So you do realize you're overly sensitive sometimes?'

Konan remained silent, a flicker of surprise flitting across her features.

Byakuya's casual admission of his occasional oversensitivity was unexpected, a stark contrast to his usual reserved demeanor.

Regaining his composure, Byakuya started to question his prior excessive caution.

Neither he nor Konan were Iwagakure ninja, and their Amegakure headbands were clearly visible. It was unlikely that Minato would risk escalating the situation to war by initiating an attack. After all, popular perception painted Minato as a kind and gentle soul.

But this idealistic image quickly dissolved in Byakuya's mind. Minato's warmth was reserved for Konohagakure shinobi, not strangers from other villages. To his enemies, Minato Namikaze was a merciless reaper, his reputation forged by countless lives claimed on the battlefield.

Byakuya clung to the belief that Minato had recognized Konan, perhaps due to some connection through Jiraiya. This connection, however tenuous, might explain their peaceful resolution. After all, Minato and Konan could be considered distant siblings, albeit not particularly close.

Ultimately, it boiled down to his own limitations. Within the confines of Amegakure, his strength was commendable, enough to neutralize even a special jounin.

However, on the grand stage of the ninja world, he was a fledgling. If his power had been significant enough to warrant caution from Minato, he could have exposed the Yellow Flash's presence without consequence.

Yet, could this be considered a successful encounter with Minato, emerging unscathed? Byakuya pondered this. "While a physical confrontation never materialized," he reasoned, "sensing Minato's presence and opting for diplomacy demonstrates a measure of strategic thinking and a strong survival instinct. In a sense, it's a minor victory."

His gaze drifted towards Konan, who continued to eye him with concern. With a reassuring smile, Byakuya spoke. "Don't fret, Konan-sepai. This experience has yielded valuable knowledge. We've come face-to-face with the reality of formidable opponents out there. We must push ourselves to become stronger, to safeguard ourselves and our village."

Konan offered a curt nod, a hint of confusion lingering in her eyes, but her trust in Byakuya remained unwavering. "Indeed," she concurred. "Continued training and growth are paramount."

Byakuya's voice resonated with determination. "We will be better prepared next time. We'll continue to evolve, reaching a point where even the most powerful hesitate before crossing our path."

Fueled by this newfound resolve, Byakuya and Konan paused for a short reprieve before continuing their journey. Their hearts burned with an unwavering determination to push their limits, to hone their skills, and face the challenges that lay ahead in the vast and unforgiving ninja world.