Rin jolted upright, one hand slapping against the floor.
Yin Release Perception flared to its limit.
Five meters underground, something was moving. Not a human—more like a sprawling network of plant roots—but it carried distinct chakra fluctuations.
"White Zetsu…?"
They really did have an underground activity network beneath Konoha. In the original records, White Zetsu monitored the entire shinobi world by traveling through the earth.
And now, they were watching him from below.
Rin didn't move, pretending he sensed nothing.
White Zetsu was a product of Yin–Yang Release, yet he could still barely make it out. He wanted to see what Zetsu was planning.
The movement beneath the ground continued for a few minutes, then slowly withdrew and vanished.
Rin lay back down and closed his eyes.
This time, however, he didn't truly fall asleep.
He was waiting.
Waiting for someone to show themselves.
---
Three in the morning.
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped.
Rin opened his eyes.
A figure stood at the foot of his bed.
No—not standing.
Floating.
Its lower body was fused with the floor, as if it had grown directly out of the ground. Its entire body was white, featureless, save for a pair of hollow, empty eyes.
White Zetsu.
"You're awake," White Zetsu said. "Your perception really is sharp, Uchiha Rin."
Rin sat up, silent.
"You don't look surprised to see me. Seems someone already let you know I exist."
White Zetsu tilted its head. "Relax. I'm just here to pass along a message."
"From who?"
"Someone who's paying attention to you," White Zetsu replied. "He says your growth is fast—but your direction is wrong."
"Direction?"
"You want to gain power by walking Uchiha Madara's path, don't you?" White Zetsu leaned closer. "But do you know what happened to him? That path leads nowhere. Madara failed, was killed by Senju Hashirama, and erased by history."
Rin let out a cold laugh. "Then what path do you suggest?"
"Join us," White Zetsu said softly. "We have a plan. One that can change the entire world."
"I'm not interested in your little schemes."
White Zetsu grinned. "Whether you're interested doesn't matter. Others are already interested in you."
Silence filled the room.
"So," Rin said calmly, "you're here to recruit me."
"Think it over." White Zetsu's body began sinking into the floor. "Lord Madara's will still exists. We need a new executor—and you have the potential."
"And if I refuse?"
"That would be a shame." Only half its head remained above the surface now.
"But it's fine. We have time. When you see the truth of this world, you'll change your mind."
With that, it vanished completely.
The room returned to normal. The chill faded.
Rin sat on the bed, staring at the spot where White Zetsu had disappeared.
So it had come to recruit him.
Unexpected—but logical.
Someone who could inherit Madara's will would make a perfect pawn.
But Rin had no intention of being a pawn.
He would be the one moving the pieces.
Rin stood and walked to the window. Outside, the night was deep and silent. Konoha slept.
---
Training Ground Three — The Next Morning
Rin and Sasuke arrived from opposite directions, reaching the center of the field almost at the same time.
They stopped a few steps apart, locking eyes.
The air grew tense.
"I thought you'd be late," Sasuke said first, his voice cool and sharp.
"Beating you doesn't require cheap tricks," Rin replied evenly.
Just as the pressure between them began to rise, a lazy voice drifted down from above.
"Oh my, oh my. Am I interrupting something?"
Kakashi squatted on a tree branch, holding his orange book, his visible eye curved in amusement.
Sasuke frowned. "Kakashi? What are you doing here?"
"Pure coincidence," Kakashi said lightly, hopping down.
"But since we've met… Rin, that little test I mentioned—having two of you won't be a problem."
His gaze lingered meaningfully on Rin.
Before Rin could speak, Sasuke snorted. "We're busy."
Rin nodded immediately. "Sure."
He turned to Sasuke.
"Since the timing overlaps, why not do both? A test from Kakashi-sensei isn't something you get every day."
Sasuke stared at him, then glanced at Kakashi, who clearly had no intention of leaving.
After a moment, Sasuke's lips curled into a sharp smile.
"Fine."
He lifted his chin, eyes burning.
"But let's change the rules. Kakashi-sensei, we'll challenge you. Whoever lands the first effective hit—or comes closer to defeating you—wins between us."
His gaze snapped back to Rin. "What do you say?"
Rin answered instantly. "Sounds fair."
Kakashi sighed and scratched his head. "Kids these days… no respect for their teacher at all. Being underestimated by two Genin—am I really that washed up?"
Despite the words, his eye sharpened.
"Alright. Let's see what gives you this much confidence."
The three formed a triangle.
"Begin," Kakashi said.
---
Sasuke moved first.
His one-tomoe Sharingan activated instantly as he burst forward, speed pushed to the limit, Kunai flashing toward Kakashi's throat.
Kakashi sidestepped casually, parrying with a Kunai—still without activating his Sharingan.
Then—
"Duck!"
Rin's voice cut in sharply.
Sasuke reacted on pure instinct, dropping his body low.
A shrill whistle sliced past his hair.
A shuriken—thrown by Kakashi's free hand mid-parry.
"Tch!"
Sasuke rolled away, anger flaring.
He didn't need reminders.
Before he could counter, Kakashi closed in like a phantom, a kick snapping toward his ribs.
Too fast.
"Half-step right—block above his ankle!"
Rin's voice came again, precise and urgent.
"Don't order me around!" Sasuke snapped.
But his body obeyed anyway.
Clang!
His Kunai barely caught the kick. The impact numbed his arm—but Rin had been right. That spot was exactly where Kakashi's force pivoted.
A trace of surprise flickered through Kakashi's eye as he flipped back.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Rin surged forward, flames bursting to block Kakashi's retreat.
"Don't stop! Great Fireball—aim for the tree on his right!"
"Shut up!"
Sasuke cursed—but his hand seals flowed smoothly.
A massive fireball slammed into the tree trunk instead of Kakashi.
Boom!
Flames and shockwaves distorted the air, cutting off Kakashi's escape route.
Forced into a tighter space, Kakashi finally activated his Sharingan—three tomoe spinning as he slipped through the fire like a shadow, now visibly more cautious.
From there, the fight fell into a rhythm.
Rin always appeared where support was needed most, forcing openings with perfectly timed techniques while issuing rapid, minimal instructions.
"He's moving left—predict the ground ahead!"
"He'll grab your wrist—counter low!"
Each time, Sasuke bristled, snapping back in irritation—
—but his body executed flawlessly.
The contradiction made his attacks fiercer, as if venting his frustration directly into the fight.
Taijutsu. Shurikenjutsu. Fire Release.
Under Rin's coordination, Sasuke unleashed everything.
Kakashi grew increasingly wary.
Individually, they were still immature.
But together—no, under Rin's almost prophetic battlefield judgment and Sasuke's instinctive execution—their pressure skyrocketed.
One plus one was far more than two.
Finally, Rin used Yin Release Mist combined with Shadow Clones, creating a large-scale illusion.
At the same instant, Sasuke launched a high-speed Taijutsu combo, his strike grazing dangerously close to Kakashi's clothing.
Kakashi vanished.
Body Flicker Technique.
In an instant, he seemed to exist in two places at once—deflecting Sasuke's strike while flicking Rin's real Kunai aside with the pommel of his own.
Rin's weapon spun into the air.
Sasuke stumbled back.
Silence fell.
Both boys panted heavily.
"That's enough," Kakashi said.
Sasuke clenched his fists, frustration etched on his face—yet something else lingered beneath it.
"It's over," Kakashi continued calmly.
He looked at both of them, then lingered on Rin.
"With your current level, this performance exceeded my expectations. Sasuke, your Taijutsu and Fire Release under pressure were impressive."
Then he stepped closer to Rin.
"And you—your battlefield control, tactical sense, and guidance… those aren't things a twelve-year-old Genin should possess."
"Too calm. Too efficient."
The training ground was silent.
Sasuke also stared at Rin, expression complicated.
Rin met Kakashi's gaze evenly.
After a moment, he spoke calmly, "Kakashi-sensei… are you praising our teamwork, or questioning something else?"
Kakashi studied him, then suddenly ruffled Rin's hair hard and patted Sasuke's shoulder.
"Let's call it praise."
He turned away, voice lazy again.
"Draw for today. But keep working together like that—you might really surprise people."
He vanished into the thinning morning mist.
Only Rin and Sasuke remained.
Sasuke rubbed his wrist and stepped closer.
"You had chances to attack yourself," he said quietly. "Why did you keep covering instead?"
Rin picked up his Kunai and wiped it clean.
"You set the rule. Who got closer to beating him wins. On my own, I couldn't force him seriously. Your speed and aggression were necessary."
Sasuke froze.
Thinking back, every opening Rin created had led to his attacks.
…Was Rin clearing the path for him?
After a long silence, Sasuke turned away.
"Next time," he said stiffly, "I won't follow your instructions. I'll beat both you and Kakashi my own way."
Rin sheathed his Kunai .
"I'll be waiting."
The morning bell echoed in the distance.
A new day had begun.
As Rin left the training ground, he noticed a black flower resting on a tree stump by the road.
This time, beneath it lay not a note, but a strip of white, bark-like material.
Words were carved into it:
"Others saw the test. Be careful."