"Kakashi, aren't you graduating early?"
Obito leaned over beside him and asked with a grin, chuckling as he added, "Heh—don't tell me you can't bear to part with me, right? You're afraid that after graduation, without this great me as your rival, you'll get lonely…"
As he spoke, he lightly bumped Kakashi with his shoulder.
Others were still hesitating over how to start a conversation, but Obito had no such concerns.
Some people are simply drawn to each other by nature.
For example, Kakashi and Obito—one a cool, aloof little prodigy, the other a hot-blooded so-called dead last. At first glance, they didn't seem to share much in common…
Yet the compatibility between the two was remarkably good.
Strangely enough, Kakashi didn't find Obito's pestering annoying at all—even when the other followed him around to fish or watched him cook, displaying a somewhat loose sense of boundaries.
Kakashi could clearly feel that pure goodwill, and Obito's genuine desire for friendship with him.
He would often point out Obito hiding nearby and call him over to eat together.
Occasionally, Nohara Rin would also come along with Obito, quietly watching what Kakashi did in his daily life…
So even though they hadn't graduated yet, the bond between the three of them was already as tight as that of a fully formed three-man team.
"Hey, you really don't understand what the world outside the academy is like…"
Kakashi set down the blade-technique notes in his hands. The calm in his eyes shifted into a faint trace of melancholy as he spoke in a strangely mature tone: "If you graduate rashly without being prepared, you'll find that the outside is hell."
Huh?
The academy students who had gradually gathered around looked rather surprised.
Although the academy hadn't yet formally established elite advancement classes, objectively speaking, circles had already formed.
They were divided according to talent…
It wasn't that anyone looked down on students with poorer talent; rather, differing abilities meant a lack of shared topics.
Naturally, people with similar levels of ability would cluster together.
There were Shisui, Obito, Asuma, Might Guy, Yūhi Kurenai, and Nohara Rin…
As well as Yamashiro Aoba, Gekkō Hayate, Raidō Namiashi, Ebisu, Shiranui Genma, and others…
Among them, even Obito—often jokingly labeled a dead last—was mainly so because of his carelessness and his constant goofy behavior.
"Hell? Don't exaggerate, Kakashi…" Obito scratched his head. "You're actually really strong. I think you're stronger than most chūnin, right?"
"Even though I don't want to admit it, you're still a guy worth surpassing for me."
Kakashi's eyebrow twitched.
That might also be one of the reasons he was willing to stay with Obito…
In a sense, Obito was the number-one Kakashi fanboy in the academy…
Who could refuse a companion who would sneak a look at you while you were fishing, then blush as he praised you for being amazing?
"Most?" Kakashi said. "I don't know whether that guy counts as an ordinary chūnin…" In his mind, an image of a blond head surfaced instinctively, and a chill ran through his entire body. "He said he was only of average chūnin caliber, and that there were still plenty of people in Konoha stronger than him…"
The moment Kakashi thought about how he had been tailing the guy—thinking he was hiding it well—when in fact he had already been noticed for days…
And how his all-out sneak attack hadn't even managed to touch a single hair, how a curse mark had pinned him in place so he couldn't move for a moment, and how Father had had to step in to bail him out…
The face beneath Kakashi's mask grew hot.
"Huh, Kakashi—why does it feel like your face is a little red?" Obito, with sharp eyes, spotted it at once; Kakashi's complexion seemed to have changed slightly. "Who are you talking about? Is he really strong?"
Kakashi silently pulled his mask higher.
"His name is Namikaze Minato. He looks bright and easygoing…"
He paused. "But he actually is."
Kakashi suddenly remembered that his father and Minato seemed to have a friendship that bridged their age gap.
He had even said that if Kakashi graduated, he would apply to the Hokage-sama to have Minato be his jōnin instructor…
Better not to offend him.
If Kakashi badmouthed him and word got out, and then he really became Kakashi's sensei, something very terrifying might happen…
"Hokage-sama said he'll establish an advanced curriculum at the academy, and a batch of students will be selected. Namikaze Minato will serve as the instructor."
"When the time comes, you can try it yourself, Obito."
Guy cut in at that moment. "I will definitely make Minato-sensei acknowledge me! His youth is burning like a little sun!"
"Like the sun? Wouldn't that mean he's like Hokage-sama…" someone said.
"Hokage-sama's youth is a big sun!" Guy didn't care who had said it; brimming with enthusiasm, he used his hands to exaggerate a huge circle. "He shines upon everyone in the village! My father and I revere him beyond measure, ya know!"
Nearby, Asuma's mouth twitched out of habit.
Sure, the old man was amazing, but wasn't this a bit too exaggerated?
In the past, Asuma definitely would have clung on and tossed out a few sharp remarks—after all, he was the Hokage's son…
But when he thought about the pressure his old man carried, and how even as Hokage he still got up at four in the morning to train…
Asuma let it go.
"Hokage-sama really is great. My father often says the same," Kakashi added, then continued, "Namikaze Minato is a very good person. And if it's you, Obito, maybe you can even force him to go all out…"
"Everyone, train hard. When the time comes, we'll swarm him together and let him see how formidable our academy is!"
At this moment, a strange light flickered in Kakashi's eyes.
He had been drenched in the rain himself—how could he still let his classmates hold umbrellas?
Moreover, if they prepared thoroughly, it might not be impossible to make that blond guy suffer a setback!
Even though Father had said that the scheming blond might have a chance of possessing the Second Hokage's signature forbidden technique, that was only a possibility…
Could he really have mastered it?
Don't make me laugh.
Besides, even if there were a one-in-ten-thousand chance he had mastered it, would he really have the nerve to use the Second Hokage's forbidden technique on academy students?
Thus thought the scheming little silver-haired boy.
Either way, he wouldn't lose.
With one hand, his classmates would get drenched in the rain together with him; with the other, he would successfully strike back at Minato…
No matter how you looked at it, it was a win!
The only difference was whether it was a big win, a medium win, or a small win…
Shisui pondered silently.
Originally, he had also wanted to graduate early…
But after hearing what Kakashi said, he hesitated.
As a child, his thoughts went far beyond his age; he was always worrying about the future direction of the clan and the village.
If becoming a full-fledged ninja meant seeing more of the world, then perhaps he might meet someone wise who could offer him guidance.
But if leaving the academy meant failing to take first place, then it would be better to stay with everyone and solidify his foundations.
In truth, most ninjas understood that laying a solid foundation was beneficial for long-term development—even children understood this much.
It was just that reality often left people with no choice.
'If only I had a capable older brother…' Shisui sighed inwardly. 'Then I could share my thoughts with him…'
At times, he even felt that these worries were genuinely affecting his health.
If he had a considerate family member who understood him, perhaps things would be much better…
But he also knew that was impossible. Still, the Uchiha were like this—always wanting either an older brother or a younger brother.
Being a brocon was practically ancestral.
"Kakashi, your proposal is great!"
Asuma stepped into the center of the crowd and spoke passionately. "We can't lose to those adults!"
"We should help each other out, and let the adults see our fighting spirit…"
Guy raised both hands in wholehearted agreement. "Asuma's youth! Let me take part too!"
Everyone was eager to try.
Who didn't want to amaze the adults and let them recognize their excellence?
"Train together, advance together—our goal is to challenge Namikaze Minato!" Asuma declared.
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