What kind of ridiculous fighting pose was this supposed to be?
Every pair of eyes turned blankly toward Rin Nohara and Uchiha Seiji, silence stretching as everyone stared without shame.
From the outside, the scene looked less like a spar and more like a long-separated wife throwing herself into her husband's arms—Rin ran at him with all the grace of a little bird returning to its nest, diving straight into Seiji's chest.
Even Might Guy's classmate, Ebisu, blinked like he'd been caught in a genjutsu.
Kakashi Hatake stood frozen, short blade in hand. After a moment he frowned and muttered under his breath, "A single-hand seal illusion? No… impossible."
He remembered the hand sign Seiji had formed just before opening his arms.
"No, it wasn't genjutsu… Sharingan, maybe?" The thought was absurd, but still, Kakashi found nothing unusual in Seiji's eyes—no tomoe, no glow. Just annoyingly handsome, and that was about it.
The spectators gawked. Kakashi analyzed. Shisui grinned like an aunt watching her niece's wedding. And Seiji? He simply held Rin in his arms.
But there was one person in the training field who could no longer take it.
"You—you—you!!"
"Uchiha Seiji, you useless dead-last! Let go of Rin right now!!"
Obito's heart collapsed as he watched the girl he couldn't even approach without stuttering bury herself against Seiji's chest. For a brief second, he wondered if Rin had slipped, if it was an accident—but then the sight of her staying there, willingly, lit a firestorm inside him. Rage devoured him whole.
His hand shot toward his tool pouch.
"Don't move."
Kakashi blurred in front of him, blade at his throat, voice colder than steel. "The match isn't over. Interfere, and as examiner, I'll deal with you myself."
"Kakashi, you bastard! Rin's in his arms, how am I supposed to—how can I just stand here?!" Obito's voice cracked with fury, but the icy blade at his neck told him Kakashi wasn't joking.
"Shut up," Kakashi said flatly. "If you can't manage basic discipline, then leave the field."
Obito's eyes burned hotter.
Meanwhile, Rin—still caught in Seiji's grasp—felt the awkwardness seep in. She could feel the warmth of his chest, his strength, and that realization flustered her. Still, she reached slowly for her tool pouch, playing innocent as her eyes met Seiji's. "I-I…"
Seiji only smiled. With one finger, he lifted her chin. Moisture gathered at her throat as his middle finger hummed with Water Release chakra, the invisible blade pressing just enough to sting.
"Rin, you're a sharp kunoichi. Even in this position, you're still trying to win."
He clasped her hand and guided it over her tool pouch.
"Isn't this a fun match?"
His eyes gleamed, dark irises glowing as if laced with bloodlight. The technique masked within them spun slowly, his gaze drawing her in as much as his chakra did.
Rin flushed scarlet. The warmth of his hand, the tickle of his finger under her chin, the danger at her throat—gentle, mysterious, powerful, and beautiful. Her pulse raced until finally she whispered, almost inaudible:
"Seiji-kun… thank you. I surrender."
"Thank me? Didn't I just say this was a fun match?"
He released her, then offered an apologetic smile. Green healing chakra bloomed at his fingertip as he brushed it lightly across her throat.
Rin blinked. She'd surrendered—so why was he still—? But strangely, she didn't step back. She let him work, her wide eyes filled with quiet confusion.
"Sorry, Rin. Couldn't fully control the Water Blade—it cut your skin. Let me treat it. After all, I caused the wound."
"You… you're interested in medical ninjutsu too, Seiji-kun?" Her eyes lit up. Feeling the soothing warmth of his chakra, she couldn't help whispering in awe, "You're amazing. Truly amazing, Seiji-kun!"
Seiji chuckled helplessly. "I'm four years older than you, Rin. I've just had more practice, that's all. But I believe you'll surpass me one day. If you'd like, you're welcome at my home anytime. My grandfather left behind some scrolls on chakra control—they might help you."
"Really?! Thank you, Seiji-kun!" Rin's face brightened with excitement. As a child from a civilian family, she lacked access to rare knowledge. For her, this offer was priceless.
"Ahem. Uchiha Seiji, ready for your next match?"
Ebisu coughed theatrically, trying to hide his grin. Even he, a seasoned chūnin, found himself smiling at the youthful scene—it reminded him of his own springtime days.
The other students looked on with complicated expressions. Most of the boys stared with reluctant admiration, while the girls showed a touch of envy.
Rin might have lost the spar… but she walked away with something far greater: a medical ninjutsu mentor, maybe even more.
A budding romance with a low-key Uchiha prodigy?
Kakashi's gaze flicked toward Seiji, unreadable, before lowering his blade from Obito's neck. His voice was cool, warning: "No next time. A ninja's discipline always comes first."
Obito's chest heaved, ignoring the words entirely.
Rin returned then, cheeks still pink, her eyes locked on Seiji's figure. She didn't even spare Kakashi or Obito a glance.
"Rin! Are you alright? That bastard—he—!" Obito forced out a stiff smile, trying to comfort her through his fury.
"Don't speak nonsense, Obito. Seiji-kun is kind… and strong." Rin's sharp glare shut him down instantly.
Obito's breath quickened. A blood-red haze filled his vision. His Sharingan tomoe spun violently.
And in that moment, a crisp voice echoed in Seiji's mind:
[Detected: Uchiha Obito has developed intense jealousy and hatred toward the Host. Target locked for rivalry!]