Chapter 29 - New Target and Having Fun
The sun hung high in the sky, casting sharp shadows as the afternoon heat bore down on us. It was lunchtime, and after a grueling morning of training, the three of us—Kakashi, Guy, and I—decided to grab some ramen to refuel.
Afterward, we strolled through the village, enjoying the warm day. The bright sun made the sweat from Kakashi's mask and my own drip steadily onto the ground as we made our way to the general store.
"I'll grab some ice cream for everyone," I said, peeling off from the group. A few minutes later, I returned with four ice creams, handing one each to Kakashi and Guy, and splitting the last one with Rin, who had joined us along the way.
"Thanks, Ruki," they all chimed in unison, smiling as they took the ice creams.
A notification from the system flickered in my mind.
[Rin's Favorability increased to 35]
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from behind us, loud and energetic.
"Oi! Kakashi, Guy, Ruki!"
We turned to see Obito sprinting towards us, his hand waving wildly in the air. Before I could react, he snatched my ice cream and shoved it into his mouth.
"Hehe, I fooled you!" Obito laughed, his face lit up with mischief as he pulled down one eyelid and stuck his tongue out at me.
I sighed, rolling my eyes. "Yeah, you really did. Now, tell me, do you want a punch or a kick?" I said, raising my fist in mock anger.
Obito's eyes widened, but he didn't get far. I quickly caught him, trapping his head between my forearm and my side. Then, I playfully ruffled his hair and gently tapped my fist against his head.
"You brat," I said, pretending to be angry, though it was clear from my tone that I wasn't really mad.
The rest of the group chuckled, enjoying the light-hearted exchange. Obito's antics were always good for lifting everyone's spirits.
Once I let him go, I headed back to the store to buy another ice cream for myself. With treats in hand, we decided to head toward the playground, wanting to make the most of our time off.
The Third Ninja War was in a temporary lull, giving everyone some much-needed downtime. Sensei had recently been promoted from Special Jonin to a full Jonin, and with the break from the front lines, we all intended to use this time to recharge and bond.
As we walked through the streets, the atmosphere was peaceful, a stark contrast to the tension of war. Suddenly, Obito pointed ahead, his keen eyes picking out a few figures near the village gates.
"Hey, is that Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma?" Obito asked, squinting to get a better look.
Given his Uchiha heritage, even though his Sharingan hadn't awakened yet, Obito naturally had sharper vision than most. I activated my Eager Eyes, a recent development in my abilities, and saw them clearly.
"Yeah, that's Kurenai, Asuma, and Raidō Namiashi. Looks like their team leader isn't with them; maybe he went to report to the Hokage," I explained, my eyes glowing a sky-blue hue as I observed them.
The group turned to look at me, surprise etched on their faces.
"Ruki, your… eyes! What happened? How Did they turn blue?" Guy asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
I scratched my cheek through my mask, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I awakened a new eye technique," I said modestly. "I call them Eager Eyes. They can see over long distances, but they're nothing special like the Sharingan."
Rin smiled warmly, her eyes sparkling. "Those eyes… they're beautiful, Ruki."
[Rin's Favorability increased to 40]
"Is that so?" I asked, a bit embarrassed by the compliment.
"Yeah, but just wait—I'll become even cooler and stronger than you!" Obito said, his voice brimming with excitement and determination.
I grinned at his enthusiasm. "Well then, I'll be waiting for that day," I replied, but my tone grew more serious as I added, "But remember, awakening a Kekkei Genkai isn't always a pleasant experience."
Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Obito, before you awaken your Sharingan, you should train hard and be prepared for the responsibility that comes with it."
Guy, ever the passionate one, gave a thumbs up. "Yes, Obito! Before you ignite the flames of youth, you must prepare yourself for the challenges ahead!"
Obito looked a bit confused, but I could see the wheels turning in his head.
"He means you need to be ready before gaining great power because strength can be a double-edged sword. It can harm not just you, but those around you as well," I explained, exchanging a knowing look with Kakashi.
Obito nodded slowly, a determined expression settling on his face. "I'll remember that," he said firmly, his usual carefree attitude giving way to something more serious.
As we continued toward the playground, I noticed that Kurenai, Asuma, and Raidō had started walking in our direction. It seemed our paths were about to cross.