Chapter 53
"Guy, your lifelong rival Haneda is right here. Go challenge him! If you defeat him, it's like you've defeated me."
Kakashi, still trying to shake off Guy, said with a dark expression.
"No, no, no, Kakashi! Youth must be approached step by step!"
"Besides, I already promised Haneda that I would only challenge him after I truly defeat you!"
Upon hearing those words, which signaled the beginning of his nightmare, Kakashi glanced at Haneda, who was standing beside him.
At that moment, Haneda was pretending to read a ninjutsu scroll.
Noticing Kakashi's gaze lingering on him for too long, Haneda felt a bit awkward. After all, this was something he had instigated...
He had no choice but to help Kakashi out of the situation, saying, "Alright, Guy. Kakashi and I are about to surprise a poor kid, so how about next time?"
Guy looked at Haneda's serious expression, then glanced at Kakashi, who clearly wasn't thrilled. He reluctantly nodded. "Alright then, Kakashi. I'll come find you this afternoon."
Hearing this, the smile that had just appeared on Kakashi's face froze instantly.
"Ahem... let's go, Kakashi. Let's find somewhere to hide first," Haneda said, glancing around the meeting room, mentally noting any places they could hide.
Suddenly, Haneda remembered the special bond between Guy and Obito. He smiled and asked, "Would you like to join us, Guy?"
...
On the other side.
After helping an old lady, Obito was gasping for breath as he sprinted toward the meeting room where the graduation ceremony was being held.
Just as the white banner with the large letters began to fall, he finally made it. Rin was standing by the door, waiting for him.
Seeing his figure, Obito, overwhelmed with surprise, stumbled and fell to the ground.
"Incredible. You were late for both the entrance ceremony and the graduation ceremony," Rin said, leaning down with a hint of frustration in her voice.
At this point, Rin was practically speechless. "Well, it's over now. The graduation ceremony is finished."
Hearing Rin's remarks, Obito awkwardly muttered, "But I met an old lady on the way..."
Rin, already familiar with this excuse, crossed her arms and said with exasperation, "You sure run into a lot of old ladies! No wonder Haneda never walks to school with you."
Obito, embarrassed by Rin's words, muttered under his breath, "Yeah, I've been ambushed lately... it's like they're ganging up on me."
"And Haneda...!"
Mentioning Haneda, Obito's frustration flared. "I've slept in the same room with him so many times, and he never wakes me up!"
"You always blame others, even though you know it's your own fault." Rin sighed helplessly. She took Obito's dirty hand without hesitation and led him into the meeting room.
When they reached the podium, she finally stopped.
Obito scanned the empty room, but there was no sign of Haneda.
His eyes dimmed, and his mood dropped.
"That idiot Haneda ditched me again to hang out with that jerk Kakashi!"
Obito thought bitterly, tears welling up in his eyes.
Compared to a genius like Kakashi, someone like him was insignificant.
It made sense that Haneda valued Kakashi more. But for some reason, it hurt Obito deeply.
Even though he and Haneda had been friends since childhood, Haneda seemed to prefer Kakashi now.
Just as Obito was lost in thought, Rin pulled out a graduation certificate, smiling warmly.
"Here's your graduation certificate, Uchiha Obito."
"It certifies that you have successfully graduated from the Konoha Ninja Academy."
"No matter the weather, you've consistently trained and worked hard."
After reciting the words from the certificate, Rin flipped it over, showing the front to Obito.
"Here, congratulations on graduating!" she said, smiling as she handed the certificate to him.
Seeing this, Obito couldn't hold back his tears. He wiped his eyes with his sleeve and took the certificate.
"Thank you, Rin."
"Even though I didn't receive it from the Hokage himself, and Haneda and the others aren't here…"
"Who said we aren't here?"
Haneda's voice came from above Obito's head.
He jumped down, followed by Kakashi and Guy, who had been hiding as well.
"Congratulations on your graduation, Obito," Haneda said, handing Obito a small yellow flower he had picked from the garden near the meeting room as a small gesture.
"Well, well, even a loser like you has become a ninja. But still, congrats on graduating." Kakashi said with his usual deadpan expression.
"Alright! My dear Oboshi, congratulations on taking your first step into the world of youth!" Guy exclaimed with a thumbs-up and a big grin.
"Idiot Haneda, dumb Kakashi, and you, stupid watermelon head who can't even remember my name..."
"I can't believe you all were hiding!" Obito shouted, half angry, half laughing, with tears of emotion running down his face.
Despite all of this, he still felt annoyed with Haneda. He was sure Haneda had planned the whole thing!
Taking advantage of the moment when Haneda was handing him the flower, Obito punched him in the chest.
But to his surprise, Haneda didn't dodge this time, instead taking the hit directly.
"Why didn't you dodge, idiot Haneda?!" Obito asked, with a mix of reproach and regret in his voice.
"Consider it a chance to let you vent," Haneda said with a smile. Obito's punch wasn't that hard, just a little painful.
Haneda placed a hand on Obito's shoulder and smiled.
"We weren't late, were we, Obito?"
As Haneda said this, Kakashi and Guy also moved in closer on either side.
Looking at Haneda, then at Rin, Obito silently shook his head.
"Just having you here makes me happy."
"Even though I didn't get the certificate from the Hokage, and our teachers aren't here..."
"But having you all is more than enough!" Obito said, choking up.
"Haha, since when did you get so sentimental?" Haneda teased, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was almost noon, and he smiled, adding, "Let's go, Obito. It's almost lunchtime. Why don't we find somewhere to eat?"
"Where?" Obito asked instinctively.
"How about somewhere meaningful, like Yakiniku Q?"
Upon hearing "Yakiniku Q," Kakashi, Guy, and Rin had no objections. It was indeed a meaningful place for them.
For Kakashi, it was where his life had changed forever. When everyone criticized his father, Haneda and Obito had been the first to call his father a hero, and that was at Yakiniku Q.
For Guy, it was a place that carried memories of his youth. The night they had eaten there was one of the happiest moments of his life.
"Nah, not that boring place again! We've been there so many times, right, Rin?" Obito loudly protested.
But with three votes in favor and one abstention, his objection was overruled by Haneda.
So, the lunch destination was set: Yakiniku Q.
***
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