Konoha Ninja Academy.
Founded by the Second Hokage and further expanded under the Third, the academy experienced rapid growth and increased enrollment in recent years, fueled by Konoha's accelerated development and reforms.
Now, in addition to its original classes, the academy had added a Preparatory Class, a Chunin Advancement Class, and a Jonin Training Program, making the number of both teachers and students increase dramatically.
The current principal of the ninja school was once the leader of Root—Orochimaru.
Actually, ever since Danzo Shimura returned to power, Orochimaru—who had spent most of his time in the laboratory immersed in experiments—was soon defeated in political struggles and stripped of his position by Danzo.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, also needed someone like Danzo to control Root and handle the village's dirty work behind the scenes.
As a form of consolation, Hiruzen decided to hand over the position of academy principal—once held by himself—to his most gifted student.
Time would show that the Third Hokage's decision was wise.
Orochimaru was an outstanding teacher. His ability to train students ranked among the very best across the entire ninja world.
In the original timeline, whether for exploitation or experimentation, Orochimaru always personalized his teaching methods based on each student's strengths, willingly investing all available resources and knowledge into them.
Sasuke, Kabuto Yakushi, and others from Otogakure are prime examples—all were top talents cultivated by Orochimaru.
Therefore, after being taken over by Orochimaru for some time, the ninja academy entered a new era of flourishing growth and vitality.
Obito gazed steadily at the school gate.
Soon, dismissal time arrived.
With noisy chatter, a group of five- or six-year-old Preparatory Class children came bouncing out of the school gates with backpacks on their backs.
Among them were Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, Shizune, Might Guy, Mizuki, and others, chatting happily about amusing things happening at school.
"Did you hear?" said Asuma loudly. "That dead last Obito failed again in the exam! The teacher kept him after class."
He openly mocked Obito, eagerly showing off his near-perfect score to his classmates at every opportunity.
As soon as he finished speaking, many of the children nodded enthusiastically in agreement and flattered him. After all, Asuma was the son of the Third Hokage—the top student at the academy—and even many teachers sought to win his favor.
In the distance, upon hearing this, Obito couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth, recalling the painful memories of his childhood as the dead last.
Pfft.
He gave a quiet grunt, unwilling to waste energy on these kids, and continued scanning the crowd with his eyes searching for a particular figure that lingered in his mind.
Suddenly—
"Asuma, please stop teasing Obito!"
A childish female voice rang out from behind Asuma Sarutobi.
She was a little girl with short brown hair, wearing a light purple jacket, a short skirt, and dark red thigh-high socks. Her most striking feature was the two purple markings on either side of her cheeks.
At this moment, she glared at Asuma with her large, dark brown eyes, clearly upset on behalf of her friend.
"Oh, it's Rin Nohara."
Asuma turned his head, impatiently digging his ear and arrogantly said, "I was just stating a fact. That guy Obito simply doesn't have the talent to become a ninja. If you're really his friend, you should advise him to quit early."
"No matter who you are—the son of the Third Hokage—you have no right to judge whether Obito can become a ninja! On the contrary, you should apologize for mocking your classmates in public!"
Facing Asuma and his group of followers, Rin Nohara bravely stood her ground without backing down.
"Apologize? Hmph, let that guy Obito come find me himself and see if I'll apologize to him."
Asuma snorted coldly with disdain, too bored to waste more time arguing with Rin and simply walked away.
This entire scene was witnessed from afar by Obito.
That's just how kind and gentle Rin is.
Obito would never forget how, when he was little, his classmates always mocked him, but she kept encouraging him, firmly believing he could one day become Hokage.
Thinking about this, Obito took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled before walking forward toward Rin with determined steps.
Just at that moment,
a commotion suddenly erupted at the school gate.
The source of the disturbance was a lone teenage boy walking out from the principal's office.
He had short white hair, wore a black half-face mask, a scarf around his neck, and dressed in a black ninja uniform—appearing cool and somewhat aloof.
With both hands in his pockets, the boy strode straight through the crowd of students without sparing them a glance.
"I almost forgot you were around, Kakashi."
Obito quietly stared at the silver-haired boy and muttered under his breath.
In Obito's memory, young Kakashi had always been arrogant, often mocking others. But Kakashi did have reason to be proud—he graduated from the ninja academy at age five, became a Jonin at twelve, breaking all previous records in Konoha.
Among his peers, Kakashi was undoubtedly a superstar. His arrival immediately drew admiration from the children, sparking excited whispers and chatter.
"Kakashi is only five years old, yet he's already skipped several grades and started fourth-year classes. How is that even possible?"
"That's nothing compared to what I've heard. I heard that Kakashi is highly favored by the Third Hokage himself. Just a few days ago, the Third visited the ninja academy and personally sparred with Kakashi to help train him."
"..."
The kids chatted excitedly, their eyes filled with envy and awe as they watched Kakashi walk by.
Among them was also Rin Nohara.
She gazed at Kakashi with obvious admiration shining in her eyes.
Obito felt a surge of jealousy rise in his chest.
Truthfully, he always knew that Rin's kindness and care toward him came naturally from her gentle personality. Her feelings for him were purely those of friendship.
The one Rin truly had feelings for was Kakashi.
After all, what girl wouldn't like Kakashi?
He was born into the Hatake clan, the son of the Legend of the White Fang. Handsome and gifted—any girl with eyes would choose him over Obito, who was just a "dead last."
"Kakashi!"
As Obito halted his steps and sank into gloom, a sharp shout suddenly echoed through the crowd.
It turned out to be Asuma Sarutobi, who had rushed forward to block Kakashi's path.
"What do you want?"
Kakashi asked casually, glancing at Asuma.
"I challenge you! Come on, Kakashi, let's settle this once and for all!"
Fueled by determination, Asuma declared his challenge while drawing a kunai, its sharp edge pointing straight at Kakashi.
His motivation was simple—defeat Kakashi publicly and prove to their teacher, classmates, especially his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi, that he was the true genius.
However—
"I'm not interested."
Kakashi said coolly, hands still in his pockets, strolling right past Asuma like he wasn't even there.
"Stop!"
Being totally brushed off by Kakashi in front of everyone made Asuma's face go bright red on the spot. As he shouted furiously, he charged forward with the kunai, aiming for Kakashi's back.
"Kakashi, look out!"
Rin couldn't help but cry out in alarm when she saw this.
Without even turning his head, Kakashi flickered and vanished from sight.
[Shifting Body Technique!]
The next second,
Kakashi reappeared like a ghost behind Asuma and ruthlessly kicked him hard in the butt.
"Ahh!"
Asuma cried out in pain, throwing himself forward and falling flat on his face like a total fool.
Instant victory.
The outcome was decided.
"Asuma, are you okay?"
Kurenai Yuhi came running from afar, looking anxious as she tried to help Asuma up.
"Kurenai, don't bother with me!"
With grief and rage mixed together, Asuma shouted fiercely. He clenched his fists, slammed them against the ground, then stood up. Tears streaming down his face, he turned and ran away from the crowd.
He had challenged Kakashi publicly, only to be defeated in a single move, and already became nothing more than a laughingstock. He no longer had the courage to stay here.
Bang!
As Asuma ran out without watching his step, he collided headfirst with a stranger.
"I'm sorry..."
On reflex, he raised his head to apologize—but suddenly froze.
Because he saw a bizarre figure wearing a black cloak and an orange vortex-patterned mask. Moreover, from the eye behind that person's mask, he felt a chilling and dangerous aura.
Under that gaze, Asuma instantly felt like being plunged into icy cold water, his body stiffened and unable to move even slightly.
Luckily,
The mysterious figure didn't even glance at Asuma, brushing past him and stepping deeper into the crowd.
The next moment,
Clank!
From the stranger's hand came a sudden flick, releasing a black chain which flew like lightning toward Kakashi not far away.
Obito's sudden attack stirred another wave of shocked cries among the crowd gathered at the school gate.
However, when Asuma challenged Kakashi, it was just a silly little brawl between kids. That's why many of the ninja academy teachers simply stood aside and watched without any intention of stopping them.
But this time, the situation was clearly different.
"Hm?"
Kakashi frowned slightly as he saw the incoming chain flying toward him. Instead of dodging, he actually used the Body Flicker Technique once again, rushing straight forward.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Kakashi kept his cool and darted through rapid direction changes, avoiding every strike from the chain with astonishing speed and agility.
This was truly something to behold.
Soon enough, he closed in on Obito, holding a kunai in hand, aiming straight for his opponent's abdomen.
He hit his target.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Kakashi's lips. He didn't care who it was—only that it was an enemy. Killing it was all that mattered.
However...
Kakashi immediately sensed something was wrong.
Even though his kunai had clearly struck the mask beast before him, there wasn't even the slightest resistance, as if he had stabbed into thin air.
His attack had simply passed right through the mask beast's body.
How could that be possible?
Just as Kakashi was lost in confusion and doubt, a sudden tightness wrapped around his neck. Looking down, he saw a black chain, coiling like a serpent, now tightening around his throat.
The other end of the chain was held firmly in the mask beast's grasp.
"Hehe."
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