Watching Obito and Kakashi fighting over the grilled meat at the dining table, Hitsugaya couldn't help but look at Rin with a helpless expression.
These two were not just fighting over the grilled meat; they were also vying for drinks, vegetables, and everything else on the table.
They frequently quarreled over trivial matters, disturbing everyone else's meal.
"Ha! Ha! Sorry to make you witness this, Senior Hitsugaya!"
Rin was equally frustrated. Ever since they met, these two had constantly bickered over small things.
Moreover, they also had some ideological differences, and...
"Speaking of which, Kakashi, inspired by your lightning techniques, I've developed a new jutsu. It's quite powerful. Here… catch!"
As Hitsugaya spoke, he took out a scroll from his pocket and tossed it to Kakashi. He gestured for Kakashi to take a look when he saw his puzzled expression.
The scroll detailed what would later become Kakashi's signature jutsu, 'Chidori'.
Having borrowed the idea from Kakashi, Hitsugaya felt it was only right to share this jutsu with him.
Without Chidori, Kakashi just didn't seem right.
Kakashi glanced at the scroll before putting it away, planning to examine it at home.
"What about me? What about me?"
Seeing this, Obito demanded his share from Hitsugaya.
"Hey! Didn't I give you yours a long time ago?"
"Oh, that one!"
Actually, when Obito had just become a genin, Hitsugaya had given him a scroll.
It contained a carefully selected jutsu that Hitsugaya felt was most suitable for Obito.
"But that jutsu wasn't powerful at all!"
"It can only create a clone to help old ladies with small tasks!"
The jutsu Hitsugaya gave Obito was the 'Shadow Clone Jutsu'. Hitsugaya thought Obito's constant tardiness due to helping old ladies was unbecoming of a ninja.
A simple shadow clone could solve all those problems.
"You see? It's a very practical jutsu. You can use it to probe dangers when necessary. It's quite useful!"
"Uh~"
"Hmph! This idiot's chakra control is poor. One time, while helping an old lady, the shadow clone disappeared. He ran there franticly afterward…"
"Since then, he hasn't dared to use the jutsu to help old ladies."
At this moment, Kakashi couldn't help but reveal Obito's embarrassing failures.
"Uh~"
"That's really…"
Even though Obito was now ten years old, his chakra control was still poor. He couldn't even master the shadow clone jutsu proficiently.
"Damn you, Kakashi! That's none of your business!"
"Once I awaken my Sharingan like Hitsugaya, forget a mere shadow clone, even becoming Hokage will be within my grasp. When that day comes, I'll carve my iconic goggles and Sharingan on the Hokage Rock!"
Hitsugaya couldn't help but look as Obito boasted with such confidence.
"Oh? Really?"
"Of course!"
"So will you carve the Sharingan inside or outside of your goggles?"
"Um…"
Obito suddenly stammered as he imagined carving the Sharingan on the rock with his goggles overlaid.
If the Sharingan was inside the goggles, it wouldn't be visible. It had to be outside.
But then...
Imagining this, Obito found it… absurd.
"That's none of your business! Anyway, I will definitely become Hokage!"
Unable to stand the mental image of his bulging eyes carved on the Hokage Rock, Obito snapped in annoyance.
"Alright then! When you officially become a chunin, I'll give you a fire jutsu as a gift!"
Seeing the argument was about to escalate, Hitsugaya promised to give Obito a, fire jutsu to stop the quarrel.
During the chunin exams, Obito was eliminated by Gai. Though Hitsugaya wasn't there to witness it, he imagined how comedic it must have been.
Once, Obito nearly choked on a candy during the match, and another time he got distracted by Rin. Each time Gai KO'd him easily.
"Thanks a lot, Hitsugaya! These three are my subordinates, but they've benefited greatly from your help."
Namikaze Minato spoke up. Being busy with tasks from the Hokage, he hadn't had much time to guide his disciples.
"You flatter me, Senior Minato. They're Obito's comrades and often help him, so as his clansman, it's only right that I show my gratitude!"
Namikaze Minato was indeed very busy, balancing his battlefield duties, his girlfriend, and his disciples.
His lack of time for his disciples resulted in Obito failing the chunin exams.
This had both good and bad aspects~
But even Minato couldn't predict that his negligence, driven by his dreams and desire to protect Konoha and his wife, would lead to such severe consequences...
(Chapter End)