Naruto: I'm Really Not an Evil Uchiha!

Several days later.

The day after receiving instructions from Minato Namikaze, Shimizu, along with Rin Nohara and Kakashi, prepared essential supplies and ninja tools before setting off to support the Land of Demons.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

The four moved swiftly through the forest, occasionally using tree branches for leverage as they leapt from one to another.

This was a travel method unique to ninjas, far faster than that of ordinary people.

"We're almost there. Let's rest here for the night," Minato announced, halting as the sky dimmed into twilight.

The area was perpetually cloudy, the sky blanketed by white clouds.

At night, without any moonlight, the surroundings became pitch black.

Traveling under such conditions would be dangerous, making it reasonable to stop and rest.

"Understood, Sensei," Rin agreed with a nod.

She was the only girl in the group and the weakest in terms of combat strength. The journey had taken a toll on her stamina, making a night's rest particularly welcome.

Kakashi, seeing this, began setting traps around their campsite as a precaution. Meanwhile, Minato retrieved folded compact tents from his bag to serve as temporary shelters.

"Sensei, did you buy these from somewhere else?" Rin asked curiously, noting the unfamiliar design of the tents compared to those issued in their village.

"Yes, I picked them up during a mission in a small country," Minato replied, handing a tent each to Rin and Shimizu.

"These tents are great—highly soundproof," he remarked while assembling the tent frame.

"That's dangerous, isn't it?" Rin questioned, puzzled as she examined the tent.

For a ninja, constant vigilance during field operations was a basic survival skill.

Minato, a seasoned Jonin who had undertaken countless missions, should have been cautious about this. After all, careless ninja rarely lived long enough to regret their mistakes.

"Soundproofing is more complex than it seems," Minato said mysteriously.

Kakashi returned after setting the traps and noticed that Minato had already assembled his tent. "Thanks, Sensei," he offered.

Minato smiled. "It's just setting up a tent."

Shimizu, touching the fabric, recalled encountering something similar before—produced by the Land of Snow.

"These tents are single-sided soundproofed, right? External sounds can enter, but internal sounds are suppressed by about 40%," Shimizu noted.

Minato, surprised by Shimizu's knowledge, remarked, "You really know your stuff, don't you?"

The product was rare due to its high cost and fragility, making it unsuitable for widespread military use.

"It's hard to compare with the resources of noble clans like the Uchiha," Minato mused.

The refinement and education of such clans were leagues beyond those of a civilian-born ninja like himself.

"We should set up our tents quickly; it's getting dark," Kakashi urged Rin and Shimizu. Minato had already completed two tent setups by himself.

"Got it," Rin nodded, while Shimizu also began assembling his tent.

Before long, four square tents dotted the forest floor. The night wind rustled their surfaces, creating a rhythmic sound.

As darkness settled, the group gathered to rest, eating their stored rations.

Rin maintained a deliberate distance from Shimizu, choosing instead to converse with Kakashi.

"Kakashi, this is my first mission outside the village," Rin said.

"Shimizu and I had completed many missions even before joining Sensei's squad," Kakashi responded indifferently.

"Want to try my homemade ration pills?" Rin offered.

"I prefer the ones Shimizu often eats. They're from a great brand," Kakashi countered.

Rin's cheeks puffed in frustration as her efforts to engage Kakashi only brought constant mentions of Shimizu.

"Haha, it's nice to see everyone getting along," Minato observed, smiling at the group's banter.

Minor bickering was normal among teammates and helped build camaraderie essential for missions.

"Yes, we get along great," Shimizu replied dryly, chewing on a ration pill.

Noticing Rin's deliberate distance, he wondered if it was time to give her a wake-up call.

After finishing their meal, the group retired to their respective tents for rest.

Midnight.

The forest was silent, even the night wind had stilled.

Minato, sensing movement near Shimizu and Rin's tents, instinctively turned his attention there. Though Shimizu hadn't activated any chakra, his steps were deliberate.

"Young people these days…" Minato chuckled and refocused on monitoring the surrounding forest.

Inside her tent, Rin's closed eyes snapped open as a warning instinct surged through her.

Just as she was about to alert the others, a pair of glowing Sharingan eyes lit up the darkness, casting a faint red glow.

"It's me," Shimizu's voice came as he stepped into the tent, closing the zipper behind him.

The tent, designed for a single occupant, forced the two into unavoidable proximity.

Rin hastily pulled her legs closer, curling defensively in a corner.

"What are you doing? Sensei and Kakashi are just outside," Rin warned coldly.

If Shimizu wanted to ruin his reputation, that was his choice—but if he compromised her honor, it would be unforgivable.

"Don't be so cold. I just wanted to check if you've been slacking lately," Shimizu teased, a smile forming on his face.

When expressionless, Shimizu's demeanor radiated a cold sharpness, but his smile softened that edge, projecting warmth instead.

Despite this, Rin felt nothing—her heart already belonged to someone else. No charm could mask Shimizu's disruptive presence between her and Kakashi.

"These are my recent findings," Rin said, pulling out a small scroll from her medical pouch.

"If you have no other business, please leave," she added frostily. Being forced awake in the dead of night and confined so closely made her deeply uncomfortable.

"Oh?"

Shimizu suddenly grasped her wrist with surprising force, causing Rin to frown in pain.

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