My Kekkei Genkai Is Kinda Weird?!

Rin flicked her blade sharply, and the blood droplets flew in an arc, splattering onto the ground in a crimson trail.

She sheathed the knife and turned to see the others still stunned. Frowning, she snapped,

"What are you all spacing out for? We need to run—now!"

That snapped everyone out of their trance. Realizing they were still in danger, they quickly fled the scene.

With Ketsumei's Byakugan, they found a cave outside the town and stopped to rest for a while.

As soon as they entered the cave, Rin quietly found a corner to sit in, curling up and burying her head between her knees.

Kakashi's eyes lingered on her form in the shadows, a strange feeling rising in his chest.

He had never seen Rin like this before—those swift, ruthless attacks, that almost cold, calculated efficiency in battle—it was like watching a stranger, not the girl he remembered who always wore a gentle smile.

"Is this the influence of the Third Hokage's doctrine?" he thought, his mind flashing to his late father.

He clenched his fists… then slowly released them.

"No… now's not the time to think about that."

Nearby, Obito was hissing in pain as Nohara Rin bandaged his wound.

"Those Mist nin are so despicable! Attacking civilians like that—"

"Shut it, idiot." Kakashi cut in coldly.

"If you hadn't rushed in, we wouldn't have been exposed at all."

"I…" Obito flushed with shame but couldn't argue back.

From the corner, Rin suddenly looked up, her cheeks still slightly flushed. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the excitement bubbling inside her.

"So that's how it works… I underestimated Gutsuei Shunpo. Unlike Flying Thunder God, I don't need a kunai as a marker. As long as I can see the target, I can teleport to it—there's not even a cooldown! In theory, as long as I have chakra, I could keep teleporting endlessly!"

She felt the chakra coursing through her body,

"And Sange no Mai lets me draw chakra from marked targets…If I throw myself into a crowd...the more people, the more excitement."

Ketsumei silently activated her Byakugan and noticed a strange glint in Rin's eyes.

"Rin…" she hesitated before speaking,

"Are you okay?"

Rin snapped out of it, quickly replacing her expression with calm composure.

"I'm fine. What about you guys—any injuries?"

Nohara Rin looked at her with concern.

"Rin, just now… how did you take down those Mist ninja?"

"Just Body Flicker," Rin replied lightly, brushing it off and quickly changing the subject.

"We need to get moving. Don't forget, there may still be pursuers—today's commotion must've attracted attention."

Kakashi nodded.

"Ketsumei, can you scan the surroundings with Byakugan?"

Ketsumei closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the veins around them bulged.

"No chakra signatures in my current range… wait! I see something—movement to the west!"

"Damn it!" Obito jumped up, only to stagger from his injured leg.

"Must be more Mist ninja following us!"

Rin nodded and was just about to move when Ketsumei suddenly stood upright, eyes wide.

"They're fast—less than a kilometer away!"

Everyone tensed instantly.

Rin quickly assessed,

"That fast? Are you sure they're enemies?"

Ketsumei shook her head and relaxed slightly.

"No… that chakra—it's Minato-senpai!"

"Sensei?!" Obito called out in surprise and joy.

Sure enough, moments later, a golden flash appeared before them. Namikaze Minato looked uncharacteristically anxious.

"I finally found you."

Nohara Rin ran forward and hugged him.

"Sensei!"

Minato checked over each student.

"You're all okay? Clan Head Fugaku discovered that Mist ninja had circled around and were hunting you. When word came that Mist ninja were chasing some Konoha genin in town, I rushed over."

Rin gave a quick report, and Minato's face grew more serious.

"You made the right choice. Avoiding direct confrontation was smart."

He looked to the weakened Ketsumei.

"It's thanks to your Byakugan that they made it this far."

Ketsumei's tense body finally relaxed, and a tired smile crept onto her pale face.

"It was the least I could do…"

Minato stood.

"You're all returning to Konoha immediately. The mission had an accident, but you all did very well."

Obito scratched his head.

"But we didn't do anything…"

Minato shook his head solemnly.

"Getting back alive is the greatest achievement. Remember, a shinobi isn't a brute. Judging the situation and preserving strength is just as important."

The setting sun cast the forest in warm orange light. The five students' shadows stretched long over the path scattered with fallen leaves.

On a hillside at the Fire Country border, Minato finally stopped.

"You're safe now," he said, still warm but noticeably fatigued.

"The rest of the way, you go on your own. I can't leave the battlefield yet."

Obito limped forward.

"Sensei, you're not coming with us?"

Minato shook his head. Dust clung to the ends of his golden hair.

"The situation in Bear Country still needs wrapping up."

His gaze passed over the group and paused a moment longer on Rin.

"When you return, go straight to the Hokage's office and report exactly what I told you. Don't speak about any of this elsewhere."

Kakashi nodded, arms folded.

"Understood."

"Especially you, Obito."

Minato gave the Uchiha boy a serious look.

"What happened this time…"

"I got it already!" Obito interrupted, face flushed.

"I won't blab!"

Nohara Rin looked at Minato worriedly.

"Sensei, please be careful too."

Minato gave his signature warm smile and ruffled her hair.

"Don't worry. See you soon."

With that, he vanished, leaving behind only a swirl of falling leaves.

Rin stared in the direction he had disappeared, lost in thought.

Ketsumei leaned against a tree, Byakugan deactivated. Her face was still pale—her chakra hadn't recovered yet.

"Let's go," Kakashi took the lead.

"We need to reach the next post station before dark."

The five continued along the forest path. Obito hobbled slowly, supported patiently by Nohara Rin.

Rin walked at the rear, fingers absentmindedly tracing the hilt of her short blade.

"Hey, Rin."

Kakashi had fallen back to walk beside her.

"What are you thinking about?"

Rin's fingers froze.

"Nothing. Just those Mist ninja."

Not like I could say I was thinking about how to rationalize the mechanics of 'Sange no Mai' and 'Gutsuei Shunpo', right?

Kakashi's droopy eyes narrowed slightly.

"Minato-sensei is right. Don't dwell on it."

"I know."

Rin gave a half-smile.

"It's not about the ninjas… I just feel bad for the civilians who died without even knowing why."

From up ahead, Obito's voice rang out.

"It's all those damn Mist ninja's fault! Attacking civilians like that—"

"Obito, calm down," Nohara Rin said softly.

"Don't be so loud…"

"I'm fine!"

Obito swung his arm and winced from the pain.

"Tch—Anyway, Rin, you were amazing back there. Just a few moves and bam, those guys were done for!"

Ketsumei turned and looked at Rin. For reasons unknown, she asked,

"That movement technique… is that a new form of Body Flicker?"

Rin felt four pairs of eyes land on her. She gave Ketsumei a meaningful look.

"Something like that. I call it Gutsuei Shunpo."

"So cool!" Obito's eyes sparkled.

"It's as awesome as Minato-sensei's Flying Thunder God! Hey, hey—can you teach me?"

"Obito!" Nohara Rin scolded, glaring at him.

"You can't just ask someone to teach their jutsu like that—"

"You probably wouldn't be able to learn it anyway," Rin replied, her gaze subtly meeting Ketsumei's knowing look.

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