Starting in Naruto with a Daily Login System

[Daily Login Reward: Kurobane – A Lightweight Chakra-Infused Blade]

Now this was something useful.

A sleek black tanto materialized in my hands. The blade was sharp, gleaming with a subtle chakra-infused glow. It was light, perfectly balanced, and felt right in my grip.

I gave it a quick test swing, and the air practically whistled.

I exhaled. Finally, a reward that doesn't make me question my existence.

I secured the blade to my gear and got dressed. A new day, a new mission—hopefully one that didn't involve anything worse than Obito's constant whining.

Minato-sensei stood in front of us with his usual warm smile.

"Good morning, everyone! Today, we have another mission."

I tensed. "D-rank?"

Obito groaned. "Not again!"

Rin tilted her head. "Obito, you were just saying yesterday that our last mission was 'legendary.'"

Obito waved a hand. "Yeah, but today I want an A-rank! Something dangerous!"

Minato chuckled. "Well, good news for you then. Today's mission isn't a D-rank."

I exhaled in relief. Thank every deity in existence.

Obito fist-pumped. "Yes! A-rank, here we come!"

Minato smiled. "Actually, it's a C-rank."

Obito blinked. "Wait, what?"

"Still counts," I muttered.

Minato handed me the mission scroll. "There have been some reports of rogue bandits causing trouble near the outer roads. We've been assigned to track them down and ensure the area is safe for travelers."

I read over the details. "So, a basic patrol and bandit cleanup?"

Minato nodded. "That's right. Think of it as good training."

Obito groaned. "Ugh! Bandits are so boring! They're just like bad shinobi without chakra!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Didn't a bandit knock you flat on your face last month?"

Obito twitched. "T-that was a surprise attack!"

Rin giggled. "Sure it was."

Minato clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone, let's head out!"

The mission itself was… uneventful.

We walked along the path leading to the patrol area, keeping an eye out for trouble. The sun was bright, the air was crisp, and—most importantly—Obito was talking. A lot.

"I'm just saying," he huffed, kicking a rock down the dirt path, "we should be fighting enemy shinobi, not some random bandits! I bet Kakashi is so happy about this mission!"

I shrugged. "Well, it's not a war mission."

Obito gasped. "Aha! So you are happy!"

I frowned. "That's not what I—"

Obito grinned. "Kakashi the great genius prefers dealing with weaklings! Wow! I never thought I'd see the day!"

I sighed. "It's just practical. Would you rather be dodging kunai every second?"

"YES!"

Rin laughed. "Well, I think this is fine. At least we get to enjoy the scenery."

Minato nodded. "And missions like these are good for teamwork."

Obito crossed his arms. "Tch. Teamwork is for people who need it."

Rin gasped dramatically. "Wow! So you don't need us anymore? I guess we'll just leave you alone, then!"

Obito panicked. "Wait, no, I didn't mean it like that!"

I smirked. "So you do need us?"

Obito scowled. "Shut up, Kakashi."

Minato chuckled. "Alright, alright, let's focus. We should be approaching the problem area soon."

After walking a bit further, we finally encountered the fearsome enemy we had been sent to handle.

A group of seven bandits sat around a campfire, laughing loudly, completely unaware of us.

Obito squinted. "Wait… that's it?"

Rin tilted her head. "They don't even look armed."

One bandit took a sip of something from a wooden cup, then immediately spat it out. "Ugh! Who made this?!"

Another bandit threw up his hands. "We're bandits, not chefs, idiot!"

Obito deadpanned. "…This is just sad."

Minato smiled. "Still, we should do this properly."

I nodded. "Should be easy enough."

Obito stretched. "Alright, I'll take care of them. Just watch—"

Before he could finish, one of the bandits finally noticed us.

"Uh… hey, boss?" the bandit called nervously. "Shinobi."

The leader turned and took one look at us. His face paled.

"A-ANBU?! RUN!"

Obito blinked. "Wait, what—?"

Before any of us could even move, the entire group scattered, running into the trees like terrified deer.

We stood there in silence.

Minato sighed. "Well… that was easy."

Obito looked personally offended. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?! We didn't even do anything!"

I patted his shoulder. "You were so intimidating, they ran in fear."

Obito grumbled. "That was sarcasm, wasn't it?"

Rin giggled. "I think they really thought we were ANBU."

Obito groaned. "Man, what a waste of a mission!"

Minato just smiled. "Well, at least we can report that the area is safe."

I exhaled. Another easy mission. Good.

Obito crossed his arms. "I swear, if our next mission isn't something cool, I'm gonna lose it."

–

The next morning, I woke up expecting another dull assignment—maybe another errand that a civilian could do, or some pointless grunt work.

Instead, fate had other plans. And by fate, I mean the Hokage.

[Daily Login Reward: Steelwire Coil – A High-Tensile Chakra-Conductive Wire]

I picked up the coil that materialized in my hand. Thin but sturdy, it felt lightweight yet durable. I gave it a small tug—surprisingly strong. With the right chakra control, this could be useful for traps or immobilizing enemies.

Not bad.

I clipped the coil to my gear, got dressed, and headed to the Hokage's office with the others.

The second we walked in, I knew something was off.

Hiruzen Sarutobi—the actual Hokage—was sitting behind his desk, looking over a scroll. Minato-sensei stood beside him. Both looked up when we entered.

"Good, you're here," the Hokage said. "I have a mission for you."

I froze.

We never got missions directly from the Hokage unless they were serious.

Obito, being Obito, fist-pumped. "Finally! A real mission!"

Minato gave us a calm smile, but I could tell he was keeping an eye on our reactions.

I swallowed. Why does this feel bad already?

Hiruzen set down the scroll. "We've received reports of enemy movements near the border. While we believe it's nothing too concerning, we need confirmation. Your task is to investigate and report back. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary."

I stiffened. Border? That meant possible enemy shinobi.

Obito grinned. "Yes! A mission with actual action!"

Rin, ever the peacekeeper, frowned slightly. "But Hokage-sama, if there's a risk of enemy shinobi, shouldn't a more experienced team handle this?"

Hiruzen nodded. "Normally, yes. However, this is a reconnaissance mission. You won't be alone—Minato will be with you. But as young shinobi, you must gain experience in these situations. This will be valuable training for you all."

I clenched my fist. Training.

I knew what that meant. They were preparing us for real combat.

I kept my face blank, but deep down, my stomach churned.

Obito practically vibrated with excitement. "Alright! Let's do this!"

Rin looked at me. "Kakashi, are you okay?"

I blinked. "Yeah."

Lie.

"Good," Minato said. "Then let's move out."

The journey to the border was mostly quiet. Too quiet.

Minato led the way, keeping a calm pace. Rin followed closely, and I stayed alert for any signs of movement.

Obito, as expected, filled the silence with complaints.

"So what if we do run into enemy shinobi? We just fight them, right?"

Minato glanced back. "Only if necessary. Remember, the mission is to observe."

Obito huffed. "Come on, Sensei, we can take 'em!"

I exhaled. "We can take them?"

Obito shot me a look. "Oh, shut up, Mr. Perfect. You act like you're not strong, but we all know you are."

I didn't answer.

Obito frowned. "See? You never talk about this stuff! Why?"

I kept walking. "Because talking about it won't change anything."

Obito groaned. "Ugh! You're so annoying!"

Rin tried to change the topic. "Maybe the enemy won't be there at all. We just have to check, right?"

Minato nodded. "That's the ideal outcome."

I hoped she was right.

Because deep down, I really didn't want to see what the alternative looked like.

We arrived at the border by midday. The air was tense, the kind that made my skin crawl. Even Obito, who had been running his mouth the entire trip, finally shut up.

Minato-sensei motioned for us to stop. We crouched behind a cluster of trees overlooking a narrow valley.

"This is the area the scouts reported," Minato whispered. "We'll observe for a while before making any decisions."

Obito peeked out. "So we're just gonna sit here and do nothing?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's called reconnaissance. Try it sometime."

He glared at me. "I know that. I'm just saying, if there are enemies, shouldn't we deal with them now?"

Minato shook his head. "Our job is to confirm their presence, not start a fight. Patience is key, Obito."

Obito grumbled but didn't argue.

For the next hour, we watched.

Nothing.

Just wind rustling the trees, birds chirping, and the occasional deer wandering through the brush.

I was almost ready to believe this was a false alarm.

Then I saw it.

A brief flicker of movement—too fast, too deliberate to be an animal. A shadow darting between the trees on the opposite ridge.

I tensed. "Sensei. Two o'clock."

Minato followed my gaze. His expression didn't change, but I knew he saw it too.

Another shadow joined the first. Then a third.

Enemy shinobi.

Rin's breath hitched. Obito's hands curled into fists.

Minato's voice was calm, but firm. "We're pulling back. Now."

Obito stiffened. "What?! But—"

"Now," Minato repeated.

None of us argued after that.

Moving as quietly as possible, we slipped away from our position. I kept my senses on high alert, heart pounding in my chest.

The enemy was here. And we were leaving without them knowing.

At least, that's what I thought.

Until a kunai embedded itself in the tree beside me.

"Move!" Minato shouted.

The forest erupted into chaos.

The instant Minato-sensei yelled, I didn't waste a second. I launched myself backward just as another kunai sliced through the air where my head had been. The sharp thunk as it buried itself into the bark sent a clear message—I had almost died just now.

Great start to the morning.

"Ambush!" Rin gasped, drawing a kunai.

"Yeah, no kidding!" Obito yelled, already fumbling through his pouch. "Where'd they even come from?!"

Minato-sensei didn't answer—he was already gone. A yellow blur vanished from sight, reappearing behind the nearest enemy like a ghost. There was a flash of his kunai, a dull thud, and one shinobi dropped before he even realized he'd been attacked.

"Go! Now!" Minato ordered, his voice cutting through the chaos.

That was all I needed to hear.

I grabbed Rin's wrist and yanked her forward, Obito already scrambling behind us. We sprinted through the dense forest, zigzagging between trees to avoid any incoming kunai. I could hear enemy shinobi shouting behind us, giving chase.

Of course they were.

Of course a simple scouting mission just had to turn into a life-or-death sprint through the woods.

"This is exactly why I hate war!" Obito shouted as he ducked under a branch.

"Oh wow, I never would've guessed!" I shot back, narrowly dodging a shuriken aimed at my back. "Run faster!"

"I am running faster!"

Rin's breathing was ragged. "Where's Minato-sensei?!"

"Busy keeping us alive!" I gritted my teeth. We weren't fast enough. If we kept running like this, we were going to get cornered.

Think, Kakashi.

I scanned the terrain. Up ahead, the trees thinned out—there was a cliffside, which meant an opening. We could use it.

"Incoming!" Obito yelled.

I turned just in time to see an enemy leap from the treetops, a kunai aimed directly at Rin.

Time slowed.

No.

I moved before I could think, intercepting mid-air. My tanto met his kunai, metal screeching against metal. My momentum carried us both down, and I slammed my knee into his stomach before twisting away.

He hit the ground hard.

I didn't check to see if he got up. I was already running again.

"Kakashi!" Rin called, relief in her voice.

Obito reached into his pouch. "Alright, I'm so done with running! Eat this, losers!" He turned and hurled a handful of smoke bombs behind us.

The explosion of thick smoke blanketed the forest.

I nearly choked. "Warn us next time, idiot!"

"Shut up and keep moving!"

We burst through the clearing, finally reaching the cliff's edge. The ground dropped off into a rocky slope leading down to a river.

Perfect.

I didn't stop. "Jump!"

Rin's eyes widened. "Wha—?!"

I grabbed her arm again and leapt, dragging her with me. Obito screamed something about how this was a terrible idea, but he followed anyway.

The second we hit the water, the cold shocked my system. The current pulled at us, but I forced myself to stay above the surface.

I gasped for air, scanning for Rin and Obito.

"Rin?!"

"I'm here!" she coughed, already swimming towards the riverbank.

Obito surfaced seconds later, hacking up water. "I hate this mission!"

I couldn't even argue.

We clawed our way to the shore, collapsing onto the wet grass. I rolled onto my back, panting.

Obito groaned. "Are they still after us?"

I flicked my gaze back toward the cliff. No movement. No signs of pursuit.

I exhaled. "I think we lost them."

For now.

We lay there for a moment, just breathing. My lungs burned from the sprint, my arms ached from fighting, and my clothes were soaked. So, you know—just another normal day in the Third Shinobi War.

Obito groaned, rolling onto his stomach. "This. Sucks."

I snorted. "That's what happens when people try to kill you, genius."

He turned his head to glare at me. "I knew this mission was gonna be terrible!" He flopped back onto the ground. "Why couldn't we have gotten another D-rank?! I'd rather be chasing chickens or babysitting brats than almost dying!"

Rin sat up, wringing water from her sleeves. "Are you okay, Kakashi? That enemy almost got you back there."

I shrugged. "I handled it."

Which, to be fair, I did. But my heart was still beating faster than it should've been. Not from exhaustion. Not even from the adrenaline.

Just fear.

It was always there—this gnawing feeling in my chest whenever a mission wasn't just running errands or chasing brats.

I was thirteen. And I knew, deep down, that war didn't care about that.

I sat up, trying to shake the thought off.

"Sensei's probably waiting for us," I said, standing up. "We should go."

"Ughhh," Obito whined. "Just five more minutes—"

"No."

"Two?"

"Obito, get up."

Rin smiled, offering him a hand. "Come on, let's go before Minato-sensei comes looking for us."

Obito grumbled but took her hand, letting her pull him up. "Fine, fine. But if we get attacked again, I'm blaming Kakashi."

"Why me?"

"Because bad luck follows you!"

I sighed. "You're an idiot."

We trudged along the riverbank, finally getting our bearings. The wet clothes were annoying, but at least we weren't dead. Yet.

"Hey, wait," Obito said, suddenly looking around. "Where is Minato-sensei?"

As if on cue, a yellow blur whooshed in front of us, kicking up dirt.

"Ah, there you are!" Minato-sensei said, completely unharmed. And completely dry.

I stared at him. "Are you serious."

Obito flailed his arms. "Sensei! We almost died! We got chased through the forest! I threw smoke bombs! Kakashi made us jump off a cliff!"

Minato tilted his head. "Hmm. Sounds eventful!"

Obito made a strangled noise. "That's all you have to say?!"

Minato smiled sheepishly. "Well, I did say to run, didn't I?"

I clenched my fist. "You could've teleported us!"

"Ah, but then you wouldn't have learned anything," Minato said, nodding like he was being wise instead of infuriating. "And look! You made it out just fine."

Obito nearly had a stroke.

Rin giggled. "Sensei, you really do have a lot of faith in us."

"I do!" Minato beamed. "And you all did great. Now let's get back to Konoha before anything else happens."

Obito sulked the entire way back.

By the time we reached the gates of Konoha, I was done.

I had almost died, been called unlucky, jumped off a cliff, and now I had to listen to Obito rant about how "Minato-sensei totally abandoned us!" for the past hour.

The moment we passed through the gates, Obito groaned. "I swear, I'm getting ramen. Right now. Anyone else coming?"

Rin smiled. "Sure, I could eat."

I sighed. "You nearly died and your first thought is ramen?"

Obito pointed at me dramatically. "I faced death and survived! That means I deserve a reward! It's basic logic, Kakashi!"

I rolled my eyes. "I think you just want an excuse to spend money."

"Okay, mister cheapskate, what are you gonna do?"

"Shower."

Obito made a face. "Ugh. Boring."

Minato clapped his hands. "Alright, alright, team dismissed. Get some rest—you earned it!"

As we split up, I exhaled.

At least we were home. At least, for now, the war was far away.

And tomorrow?

Tomorrow, I'd wake up, check my system, and hope the next mission didn't try to kill me again.

----

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