"Huh, why is Kakashi late today?"
The next morning, Obito who was rarely on time, immediately noticed that his so-called rival hadn't arrived yet.
That guy was actually late?
That was rare!
Obito immediately felt a little smug. "Even I wasn't late. Could it be that he was hit hard after losing to Seiryū yesterday?"
Rin, who was sitting in front, tilted her head cutely and said, "Hmm, I don't think so. Kakashi doesn't seem like the type to be easily discouraged."
Obito walked to his seat and sat down. He also had the Uchiha Clan's inherent stubbornness, once he believed something, it wouldn't change. "Why not? Don't let Kakashi's usual attitude fool you. He's even more arrogant than Seiryū, but his mental toughness definitely isn't strong!"
...
Rin smiled and didn't take the bait. Although Obito often badmouthed Kakashi, Seiryū, and others, it was mostly just sarcastic complaining.
Seiryū, sitting at the next desk, heard Obito's words and couldn't help but glance over, saying helplessly, "Say whatever you want, but why drag me into it? What did I ever do to you?"
When was he ever arrogant?
This was pure slander.
"Are you not arrogant?" Obito immediately retorted, completely unconcerned about being overheard. His skin was thick. "Don't think you're amazing just because you learned a few Ninjutsu. I'll surpass you sooner or later!"
Seiryū pouted. "Coming from someone ranked at the bottom, that doesn't sound very convincing."
"Damn it, when was I ever last place?" Obito exploded, being belittled in front of the girl he liked.
He wished he could fight Seiryū right now to prove himself!
Seiryū was too lazy to argue. "Yes, yes, you're not."
Actually, if it were purely based on overall grades, Obito wasn't really dead last. Seiryū also wondered how Obito had earned that reputation in the original story.
Could it be that his butterfly effect was already starting to show?
Then Obito should be thanking him.
Obito looked at Seiryū's indifferent expression and felt even angrier. "You still say you're not arrogant? That expression of yours is the most arrogant!"
Seiryū waved him off. "Ah, right, right, right."
Watching the exchange, Rin couldn't help but giggle. "Hehe..."
When both boys looked at her, Rin's face immediately flushed. She waved her hands nervously. "Th-that, um, I wasn't laughing at you…"
Obito looked at Rin's cute expression, his heart racing, and hurriedly said, "I know, Rin. You would never laugh at anyone!"
Seiryū looked at Obito's performance and couldn't help but mock him inwardly. So lame.
With this attitude, how are you ever supposed to win a girl over?
Nice guys finish behind dogs!
Let me show you the correct way.
Seiryū looked at Rin. The flustered girl was actually quite cute, so he smiled and said, "Rin, you look very pretty when you smile. You should smile more often."
Cute things deserved to be praised more.
He often praised Kurenai as well, so he didn't think much of it, and he was just telling the truth.
"Eh?" Rin froze for a moment, then her face turned even redder, like steam was about to come out. Her small head lowered as her heart raced. Wh-what?
Seiryū actually complimented her.
This, this, this… She hadn't expected that at all.
Rin gathered her courage, raised her head, and looked at Seiryū. Her face was still flushed, her voice as soft as a mosquito. "Th-thank you for the compliment…"
Seiryū smiled lightly. "You're welcome. I'm just stating the truth."
"Ugh…" Rin's head lowered again. The second straightforward compliment completely overwhelmed her.
Her heart was pounding so hard she could hear it herself.
"Y-you…" Obito stood frozen in place, as if turned to stone.
How could Seiryū do this?
He suddenly felt like an outsider.
He shouldn't be here. He should be under the desk.
Damn it, why didn't he think of that line? That sentence should have been his!
Realizing this, Obito hurriedly tried to make up for it, cursing himself for being slow, and said to Rin, "Rin, I also think you're very pretty!"
With Obito's follow-up, Rin didn't feel as shy anymore. Instead, she felt oddly relieved.
The third impact felt different from the first two.
The key difference was the person saying it.
Rin suppressed her embarrassment and softly replied, "Th-thank you…"
Obito froze again. "…"
No, it wasn't the same.
He could tell that Rin's two thank-yous were different.
He just couldn't explain how they were different. He only knew they were!
"Stare."
Kurenai, Seiryū's desk mate, narrowed her eyes and stared at him, feeling inexplicably displeased.
This Seiryū, after becoming Jiraiya-sama's disciple…
He had really learned some bad habits!
Feeling Kurenai's stare, Seiryū was confused. "Kurenai, what's wrong?"
Why was she looking at him like that? He didn't do anything wrong, did he?
Kurenai glared at him. "You've become bad."
Seiryū's head filled with question marks. "???"
Then, as if realizing something, Seiryū smiled meaningfully, leaned closer, and whispered, "You're jealous because I praised Rin? Don't worry. You'll always be my good little sister, the cutest person in my heart."
This girl was actually jealous?
Interesting.
"N-no way!" Kurenai argued, her face red. How could she be jealous? Absolutely not!
Seiryū habitually rubbed her head. Her hair was soft and felt nice. He nodded. "Mm, you're not. I believe you, alright?"
Kurenai slapped his hand away, opened her mouth, and bit at him. "Ahh, I'll bite you to death! No means no!"
Seiryū pressed her head down with his other hand. "Are you a dog? When did you learn to bite people?"
"You're the dog! I'll bite you to death!"
"Stop it, your drool is dirty!"
...
"Ugh…" Watching the siblings bicker, Rin felt inexplicably lost.
She actually wanted an older brother too, and if it were Seiryū, that would be even better. The kind without blood relations…
Someone else also felt lost.
"This guy…" Asuma had just entered the classroom and saw the scene, immediately getting a headache.
That annoying Seiryū was bullying Kurenai again.
But Kurenai clearly enjoyed it, so he had no place to interfere.
It was just siblings playing around. Why should an outsider step in?
He honestly asked himself, aside from family background, what was he better at than Seiryū?
He couldn't compare.
Sigh, how tragic.
Looks, strength, grades, talent. He was suppressed by Seiryū in every aspect. He was the Hokage's son. When had he ever been so overshadowed?
But he wouldn't give up. This would only fuel his fighting spirit.
He hadn't lost yet. He just needed to put in two hundred times the effort. Two hundred times!
(To be continued.)