Naruto: I'm Really Not an Evil Uchiha!

Kakashi glanced sideways and noticed that Rin Nohara's face looked slightly pale.

Is it too cold today? Kakashi wondered silently.

"Yeah, you're right, Kakashi," Rin forced a smile, pretending to be cheerful.

But inside, her heart was wailing in despair.

She had thought she had escaped Shimizu's grasp and only needed to report research results to him monthly.

Now it seemed they would be working side by side daily. She didn't even want to imagine what shameless things Shimizu might do.

Yet being on the same team as Kakashi was a rare opportunity.

If Minato-sensei found out about her conflict with Shimizu, he might reassign their team.

Whether she could still stay on the same team as Kakashi would be uncertain.

Between her and Shimizu, one of them would likely have to leave for the sake of team harmony.

Both Kakashi and Shimizu were elite ninjas, so chances were she would be the one reassigned.

While Rin's mind was spinning with such worries, the two of them arrived at Shimizu's house.

When they knocked, the sound of footsteps echoed inside.

Each step seemed to resonate in Rin's chest, sinking her heart further.

But when Kakashi looked over, all he saw was her usual calm expression, even with a faint smile.

"Rin, Kakashi," Shimizu Uchiha opened the door. Seeing who it was, a hint of expectation flickered in his eyes.

So, Rin and Kakashi ended up being assigned to his team after all.

What could Hiruzen Sarutobi be thinking, putting two medical ninjas on the same team? Shimizu shook his head internally. The decisions of higher-ups must have their reasons.

He suspected that pairing him with Kakashi might be an experiment to observe both of them.

After all, Kakashi was the son of the legendary White Fang.

And the circumstances surrounding White Fang's death were... complicated, to say the least.

Who could say what thoughts lingered in the heart of a child who had witnessed his father's demise?

As for Shimizu himself, he was an Uchiha—seemingly kind-hearted and reminiscent of Kagami Uchiha—but he hid certain strengths that needed further evaluation.

"Minato-sensei called us over," Kakashi said.

"Understood."

Shimizu nodded, glancing meaningfully at Rin, who lowered her head slightly. Smiling faintly, he closed the door and stepped outside.

At the Hokage's office, Mitokado Homura frowned as he looked over the team list signed off by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"You grouped two medical ninjas together, and on top of that, paired an Uchiha with White Fang's son. What exactly are you thinking, Hiruzen?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi stamped a document with a red seal and looked up at Homura.

"Kakashi... that child's eyes harbor a shadow. Assigning him to Minato might help dispel it."

"And what about the Uchiha?!"

Homura slapped the desk. Was Hiruzen losing his mind in middle age?

The Uchiha should be kept at the periphery. Did he forget his mentor's beliefs?

"Don't you think he resembles Kagami Uchiha?" Hiruzen asked.

His decision to pair Shimizu with Kakashi had been well-considered.

"Hmph! If every Uchiha were like Kagami, the clan wouldn't be drifting further from the village. Aren't you afraid of misjudging him?"

Homura's tone was blunt.

It was clear he wasn't as extreme as Danzo, but he didn't harbor goodwill toward the Uchiha either.

"We don't have much time left. Things have been unstable recently," Hiruzen sighed.

Homura understood his concern. The border conflicts involving the Land of Fire were growing more frequent.

"Do you think war is coming?"

"Perhaps. The major villages are restless. We must prepare. In these troubled times, we need the Uchiha's strength to weather the storm," Hiruzen said firmly.

Homura scowled but left after receiving his answer.

When the three reached the designated training ground, Minato Namikaze was already waiting for them.

After brief self-introductions, Minato explained the purpose of today's exercise.

"Let's start with a drill to test your teamwork," he said, pulling out two silver bells tied with red string.

"To pass this exercise, you'll need to take these bells from me."

Seeing the dangling bells, Kakashi quickly realized the trial's rules.

"There are only two bells..."

"Which means one of us will be eliminated, correct, Minato-sensei?" Shimizu finished Kakashi's sentence.

Minato nodded. "Exactly. Now, let's begin."

With that, he stood still, waiting for them to make their move.

Kakashi and Shimizu exchanged glances before dashing forward.

Rin hesitated for a moment before joining the attack.

Watching their disorganized attempts, Minato shook his head slightly.

Their lack of coordination was glaring.

He dodged Kakashi's whip kick and sidestepped Shimizu's punch. But as Shimizu's foot ignited in flames, his speed doubled, catching Minato's attention.

Though Minato had seen this move before during the Chunin Exams, he was ready for it.

Whoosh.

The punch missed. Rin's kunai followed but were easily dodged.

Minato stepped back several times to widen the distance, then vanished behind Shimizu with a Body Flicker.

"You three need to focus on teamwork," Minato advised.

"I don't think that's necessary, Minato-sensei," Shimizu's voice echoed suddenly.

"Hmm?"

Minato's eyes widened as Shimizu dissolved into a puff of smoke.

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