My Kekkei Genkai Is Kinda Weird?!

The salty sea breeze carried sparks from the campfire. Rin crouched in front of it, carefully dividing hemostatic powder into small containers. Thirty steps away, the command tent was brightly lit under the moonlight. The Uchiha clan emblem cast a fierce shadow on the canvas wall.

"Hey! Isn't that little Rin?" A cheerful voice rang out behind her.

Obito approached, arms full of supplies, his goggles crooked on his forehead.

"Long time no see!"

Kakashi and Nohara Rin followed lazily behind, Kakashi's mask still dusted with sea salt crystals.

"Idiot, don't spill the supplies," he muttered as his eyes swept across the medicine bottles.

"You made this hemostatic powder?"

Rin nodded, just about to speak—when a thunderous roar exploded from the command tent:

"Since when does Uchiha take orders from outsiders?!"

All four of them fell silent instantly, turning their gazes toward the main tent.

Obito shrank back, and Kakashi's dull eyes narrowed slightly. Through the gaps in the canvas, Minato's tall silhouette could be seen, standing straight as an arrow, his blond hair tousled by the sea wind.

"The map of Bear Country's canyon is here," Minato's voice was calm but clear.

"There's an underground river discovered by today's scouts—it could cut two days off the route…"

Shinji's cold laugh cut through the tent wall:

"Easy for you to say! The jungle's poisonous miasma—"

Obito suddenly poked Rin's arm, proudly pulling out a seashell:

"Forget those old guys arguing—look at this! A Whirlpool Shell! If you hold it to your ear, you can hear—"

"Obito, shut up."

"Idiot, be quiet!"

"Don't talk…"

Clearly, no one was interested in Obito's shell. Everyone was trying to eavesdrop on the argument inside the tent.

Bang!

The loud slap of Fugaku's palm slamming down on the table made Obito jump. His shell flew out of his hands and was effortlessly caught mid-air by Kakashi.

Fugaku's voice came low and resolute:

"I'll lead the decoy unit at dawn. Shinji, take three squads and go through the jungle with Jonin Namikaze. That's final."

Rin noticed Kakashi's fingers tightening around the shell—he understood just how dangerous the jungle's toxic miasma was.

The tent flap suddenly lifted, and Minato stepped out.

"Thank you for the trust in my command."

Obito shot forward like a cannonball.

"Sensei! They said you're going into the jungle? I want to—"

Minato gently pressed a hand to Obito's forehead protector.

"Obito, this mission is full of dangers. You're needed in a safer position."

His voice was soft but firm, his eyes filled with deep care and expectation for his student.

Disappointment flickered in Obito's eyes but was quickly replaced by resolve.

"Minato-sensei, I understand how important this mission is. But I want to prove myself. I can help!"

Minato smiled slightly and patted his shoulder.

"I appreciate it. But everyone has their own battlefield. You, Kakashi, little Rin, and Rin-chan—you have an even more important task. Protecting yourselves is the greatest support you can give me."

Kakashi didn't say anything, but his brows were furrowed—clearly not fully convinced.

Nohara Rin tugged Obito's hand, signaling him to stop making a scene.

Rin watched the scene quietly. She knew there wouldn't be much left for her to do. Now that Fugaku himself had taken command, there was no way they'd let "Hokage's little spy" be involved in anything major.

With Fugaku's command, everyone sprang into action.

The decoy unit set off at dawn as scheduled, while Minato led Shinji and three squads into the jungle path toward Bear Country.

Obito, Kakashi, Rin and Nohara Rin stayed behind in the relatively safe area, assigned to support and evacuation duties.

Night fell deep and dark, the sea breeze carrying the heavy scent of fish and salt as it whipped against the tents.

Rin sat cross-legged inside the medical tent, pale green chakra glowing at her fingertips as she treated a Uchiha chunin's burn wounds.

It had been three hours since Fugaku's unit departed. Only the four of them and two injured ninja remained in camp—one of whom was a Hyūga genin.

Besides the mostly Uchiha main force, four Hyūga were assigned for scouting—one jonin, one chunin, and two genin—all from the branch family.

After finishing treatment, Rin didn't sleep.

Something felt off. A strong sense of unease gnawed at her chest, so she quietly climbed to higher ground, trying to locate the source of her anxiety.

"What are you looking at?"

Kakashi appeared behind her soundlessly.

"Mist's movements." Rin pointed at several black dots on the sea's horizon.

"Those fishing boats don't look like actual fishermen's boats."

Kakashi squinted, turning his eyes toward them. After a while, he called the Hyūga genin over.

"Ketsumei, check ahead—what do you see?"

Hyūga Ketsumei nodded calmly, made a hand seal, and activated her Byakugan. As her white eyes narrowed in focus, her expression changed sharply.

"Those aren't fishing boats. They're small, disguised warships. At least ten of them, approaching in a fan formation."

Rin and Kakashi exchanged looks, immediately jumping down from the hilltop.

They roused Obito and Nohara Rin from their rest—both instantly alert.

"Mist ambush!" Rin said quickly.

"Start evacuating the wounded!"

Even before her words finished, the first wave of shuriken rained down like a storm. Explosions followed. The tents ignited in blazing fire.

"Southeast—break through there!" Kakashi gave the order without hesitation.

"There are more rocks that way—good cover against pursuers!"

Obito hoisted the injured Uchiha onto his back, and everyone who could still run grabbed their weapons and fled the burning camp.

They had barely escaped when they saw over twenty Mist ninja landing onshore.

Leading them was a female Mist ninja, dual-wielding two long swords glowing faint blue.

"Mist shinobi!" Nohara Rin gasped.

"Careful—her swords are poisoned!"

Obito spat out a Fireball Jutsu to stall the enemies.

Hyūga Ketsumei nervously scanned the area with her Byakugan, trying to find a safe route. Her face changed again after just a glance.

"Bad news—they've split into three groups to flank us!"

"Earth Style: Earth Wall Formation!"

Kakashi raised several dog-faced earth walls to block their line of sight.

"Ketsumei, find a safe direction!"

"Right!" Ketsumei scanned the battlefield again.

"Northwest—only four enemies!"

"Go!" Kakashi turned to lead the group northwest—

But Rin didn't move.

Using the surrounding plants to enhance her sensory perception, she realized something: the northwest path had been deliberately left open. The enemy knew they had a Byakugan user. That path was a trap.

"No! They expected us to see that gap. We have to go the other way!"

Kakashi immediately understood, grabbing Obito—who was about to charge northwest—and pivoting southeast instead.

He didn't even ask how Rin knew.

Because he trusted her judgment.

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