Chapter 22 — Chūnin Exam Team Battle
The clock had just passed three in the afternoon.
The first match—the team battle—was about to begin.
After the final pairings were announced, Rin, Kakashi, and Obito were set to face Might Guy, Ebisu, and Genma Shiranui.
As for the rules, no one bothered to explain them aloud. The Chūnin Exam was held only once a year, and every participant already knew them by heart.
Even Obuya, who had only been in Konoha for a year, understood clearly that promotion to Chūnin was not determined solely by victory or defeat. What truly mattered was performance—whether one displayed the composure, judgment, and teamwork expected of a Chūnin.
In other words, even a ninja with overwhelming individual strength could fail if they lacked coordination in a team battle.
On the other hand, someone with average combat ability but exceptional teamwork could still earn recognition and advance.
That was precisely why the team battles came first, with individual matches reserved for later.
"The team battle is about to start… and that idiot Obito still hasn't shown up. If the match begins, he'll lose his chance to participate."
Kakashi frowned, his voice carrying a rare hint of irritation as he complained about Obito's habitual lateness.
Rin, standing beside him, tried to reassure him.
"Maybe something delayed him at the last minute. He'll make it before the match begins. This is the Chūnin Exam—the chance he's been waiting for. No matter what, he wouldn't miss it."
Even as she spoke, however, her thoughts drifted back to earlier that morning.
To make sure Obito wouldn't be late, she had gone to his house at dawn.
But to her surprise—
He wasn't there.
That alone was enough to shake her confidence. For the first time, she realized that Obito's lateness might not simply be due to oversleeping.
"One minute left!"
A sense of tension spread through the waiting area.
Even Obuya, watching from the side, felt a trace of unease.
At that moment, a figure burst into view outside the arena, sprinting forward like a gust of wind, as if being chased by something unseen.
"Get over here! You're about to miss it!"
Kakashi shouted sharply.
Obito dashed across the boundary just as the final seconds ticked away.
"That was way too close…"
He bent slightly, breathing heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat. A piece of candy was still lodged in his mouth.
"What exactly were you doing? Showing up late on a day like this?"
Obuya stepped closer, lowering his voice as he questioned him.
No matter how he looked at it, Obito's behavior was difficult to understand.
"Ah…"
Obito let out a long sigh.
"I was worried about being late, so I left at dawn."
"What?" Obuya blinked, clearly surprised. "Then why are you only arriving now?"
"Remember that elderly woman I told you about before? The one who has trouble walking? I ran into her again this morning. She wanted to buy rainbow candy for her youngest grandson. Seeing how difficult it was for her to move around, I thought it wouldn't take long, so… I carried her there myself."
Obuya's expression shifted slightly. "And then?"
"Ah…"
Obito sighed again, this time with more exhaustion.
"She didn't even know where to buy it. She had just seen it somewhere before. I had no choice but to carry her around the entire Land of Fire, going from shop to shop until we finally found it…"
As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a few brightly colored candies, offering one to Obuya.
"She insisted I take these. They're actually pretty good—want one?"
Seeing the candies as proof, Obuya could only accept the explanation. Still, he shook his head.
"I'll pass. Not a fan of sweets."
Obito shrugged and turned to offer them to Rin instead, who accepted with a smile. When he looked toward Kakashi, however, he hesitated.
"Kakashi… you were just talking behind my back about me being late again, weren't you?"
"Late every time. Nothing new," Kakashi replied flatly. "You really live up to the name 'Obito.'"
Obito's expression darkened instantly.
"Alright, that's enough. Both of you stop it—it's almost our turn."
Rin quickly stepped between them, cutting off the argument before it could escalate.
"Next match: Team Seven versus Team Two!"
A Konoha jōnin serving as the examiner called out loudly.
"Haha! Finally, it's our turn!" Obito laughed, leaping down into the arena with renewed energy. "Today, everyone will witness the rise of Uchiha Obito!"
The two teams faced each other across a distance of roughly a hundred steps, the tension between them tightening as the battle approached.
From above, Obuya observed their opponents carefully.
Might Guy needed no introduction. His taijutsu alone was already at a master level. Even without support, he could push Kakashi into a fierce battle.
As for his teammates, Ebisu and Genma Shiranui were no ordinary ninja either. Though slightly below Kakashi and Guy, they were still strong enough to be considered future jōnin.
In comparison, Rin and Obito held no clear advantage against them.
Obito's overall ability was still considered below average, his recently awakened Sharingan being his only real trump card.
Rin, while highly talented in medical ninjutsu, lacked the offensive power needed for direct confrontation in an intense battle.
"Obito, don't get careless!"
Obuya called out.
He knew Obito's tendency toward recklessness. A single mistake could cost them everything.
"Don't worry, Obuya!" Obito shouted back, his voice filled with determination. "Today, I'll prove myself! Everyone who laughed at me will regret it!"
His frustration had transformed into motivation, his entire body surging with energy unlike before.
The battle erupted in the next instant.
Might Guy moved first.
With explosive speed, he launched forward, his body cutting through the air as he delivered a powerful kick.
Obito reacted immediately, stepping forward to shield Kakashi while forming hand seals at high speed.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball—"
But before the jutsu could be completed—
The candy in his mouth slipped down his throat.
"Cough—!"
His breath caught, his chest tightening as he choked.
Boom!!
Might Guy's attack arrived without hesitation.
Using a Konoha-style spinning kick, enhanced by his signature explosive movement, Guy struck Obito cleanly, sending him flying backward.
Obito crashed into the arena wall, leaving behind a visible dent.
"Ah!!"
A wave of shock spread through the crowd.
The match had barely begun, yet one member had already been eliminated.
In an instant, the 3v3 battle had become a 3v2.
Kakashi's expression darkened.
But there was no time to dwell on it—Guy was already pressing forward.
"That idiot…"
Watching from above, Minato Namikaze let out a helpless sigh.
Obuya's focus, however, had already shifted.
Obito was down.
That meant Rin, with her limited combat ability, was now directly facing both Ebisu and Genma.
Genma Shiranui moved first.
With a flick of his head, the senbon-like toothpicks in his mouth shot forward, transforming mid-flight into a dense barrage of needles.
"Thousand Needles!"
The attack spread outward, forming a wide, suppressive net that sealed off Rin's retreat, forcing her into a narrow space with no clear escape route.