"You bastard, if you hadn't suddenly jumped next to me back then, how could I have possibly gotten involved with those guys?"
Feng Bai actively denied any relationship with Obito.
This is someone Madara has his eye on—what if that old schemer hears somewhere that I'm close to Obito and decides to make me the Three-Tails jinchūriki?
I'm still young; I don't want to become another soul claimed by Kakashi's Chidori.
Speaking of which, if I really ended up in that kind of role, wouldn't mentioning Obito in the future become all about "Kamui can't hide the tears, eyes full of nothing but Feng Bai"?
What's this about "I want to create a world with Feng Bai in it," then hanging around in the Pure Land, waiting for Obito to be talk-no-jutsu'd by Naruto, only to appear as a soul at the crucial moment to help Naruto and Sasuke block attacks...
Actually, that plotline sounds pretty decent—
Like hell it does!
I'm supposed to inherit the old man's fortune and live as a wealthy lord all the way to Boruto's era.
How can I just fall here, acting out some bromantic drama with them?
"I'm not taking it anyway." Kakashi shamelessly tucked his own file folder under his arm and quickly fled the scene.
"This guy..." Feng Bai was exasperated. After picking up his own file, he hesitated for a long time before finally taking Obito's as well.
...
"Not good, not good, not good!"
Having escorted an elderly man home, Obito ran toward the Ninja Academy with all his might, panic-stricken.
Just as he caught sight of the academy's rooftop and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Obito witnessed a scene that filled him with despair:
Several teachers were working together to take down the banner hanging at the school gate, and familiar and unfamiliar faces were emerging from the school, chatting and laughing.
It's over...
I'm probably going to be the first student expelled from the Ninja Academy for being late to the entrance ceremony...
I'm sorry, Grandma. Even though I promised to become a respected ninja...
"Hmph, dead last." Seeing Obito standing in the middle of the road, lost in melancholy, Kakashi closed his eyes and delivered his mockery.
If this were any other time, Obito would have immediately started arguing with him, but right now he simply didn't have the mood.
"Isn't that Obito? I was wondering why I didn't see you earlier—you're late again." Asuma, who had been chatting and laughing with Kurenai, noticed Obito and said with a smile.
Obito remained silent.
"I think Obito looks really troubled." Kurenai Yūhi was somewhat worried.
"You're right—that guy actually has that kind of expression." Asuma scratched his head, also noticing Obito's unusual state.
"When are you ever going to stop being late?"
Feng Bai, who had been chatting with Anko at the back, noticed the situation here. Without paying attention to Obito's expression, he casually handed over Obito's file folder.
"What's this?" Obito's lifeless eyes finally gained a glimmer of light when he saw Feng Bai.
"Your file folder, bro. Take it quickly—can't you see I'm holding my hand out? It's getting tired." Seeing Obito still in a daze, Feng Bai's tone became somewhat impatient.
"Thank you, Feng Bai! That's right, bro—you're my best friend!" Obito instantly perked up, pressing his hands together in gratitude to his friend.
Huh?
Bro, no...
Feng Bai was somewhat stunned. He had just casually said "bro" out of habit from his previous life—how did that make him Obito's best friend?
Don't you ninjas understand what small talk is?
Should I explain?
Before Feng Bai could speak, Obito stepped forward to take the file folder Feng Bai was offering, then pushed Anko aside and threw an arm around Feng Bai:
"Don't worry, Feng Bai—if you're ever in danger, I'll definitely be the first to rush over!"
Kakashi mercilessly poured cold water on the moment: "With your habit of always being late, by the time you arrive, Feng Bai will probably already be beaten to death."
"You're the one who'll get beaten to death, Kakashi!" Feng Bai rolled his eyes and started trading barbs with Kakashi.
"Exactly, Kakashi—Feng Bai is really strong." Obito completely aligned himself with Feng Bai.
"See? I told you Obito turned out this way because you spoiled him." Seeing the two of them conspiring together, Kakashi wore an "I knew it" expression.
"Bastard, you're the one spoiling him! And you, Obito, get away from me!" Feng Bai quickly protested. It was clearly Obito who had been approaching him on his own initiative from the beginning, but now it looked like he was the one actively pursuing Obito.
Damn it, Madara-sama, please sharpen your Sharingan and see clearly—it's Obito who's being clingy on his own! His favorite is still Rin! If you want to scheme, go after Rin!
Feng Bai prayed frantically in his heart.
Rin: Are you being polite?
...
Hokage Building.
Hiruzen, who had always treated his subordinates with kindness, showed an ugly expression to his subordinates for the first time.
He had thought that with Sakumo Hatake personally handling this mission assigned directly by the Daimyo, it should have been completed smoothly. He never expected Sakumo to actively abandon the mission to save his teammates.
This way, Konoha would face the Daimyo's wrath directly, and the subsidies that had already been negotiated would turn to nothing.
"Third Hokage, the failure of this mission is entirely my responsibility. I am willing to accept any punishment."
Sakumo, who also understood the importance of this mission, knelt on one knee, completely ignoring that his wounds hadn't been properly treated yet.
Watching Sakumo's wounds begin to seep blood as he moved, Hiruzen's thoughts finally turned into a sigh.
"Sigh..."
Hearing Hiruzen's sigh, Sakumo's body tensed suddenly, then he lowered his head even further.
"Third Hokage, I..." Ib Rujin, the ninja who had been saved by Sakumo, was seeing Hiruzen show this kind of expression for the first time. Somewhat nervous, he hurriedly prepared to speak.
He really wanted Hiruzen to know that he had been prepared to sacrifice himself for the village, and that the failure of this mission was entirely Sakumo's fault.
But Hiruzen didn't give Ib Rujin a chance to speak, raising his hand to interrupt: "Enough. You've all worked hard—go treat your wounds first."
Then, Hiruzen called over an ANBU member and directly instructed: "Go call Danzō."
"Yes." The ANBU member responded and disappeared using the Body Flicker Technique.
D-Danzō? That hawk faction leader?!
Ib Rujin was terrified.
If the Third Hokage is calling that guy, it must be to deal with the trouble we've caused. If that person handles it, doesn't that mean...
Ib Rujin wasn't afraid of death, but he feared dying meaninglessly.
If he had died during the mission, even if the mission failed, his children would still enjoy the village's compensation and be honored as heroes' descendants, receiving the village's care.
But if he were executed for mission failure, his children would never be able to hold their heads up again.
Even if he didn't die, his future in the village would be...
Damn White Fang of Konoha—if it weren't for you...
Believing that Danzō would definitely punish them severely, Ib Rujin stared at Sakumo's back, his eyes full of malice.
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