Chapter 46. You Win!
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"Asuma, what are you doing?"
"Just wearing a hood!" Asuma replied. He had fashioned a hood from a square kraft paper bag, complete with holes for his eyes and nose, completely concealing his face. Scratching his nose helplessly, he sighed. "Ever since the Forest of Death incident, I figured something like this would happen, so I prepared in advance." Tilting his head back at a dramatic 45-degree angle, he gazed at the ceiling with melancholy. "As expected… there's no way to avoid it."
"…"
The surrounding group fell into a collective silence.
Even Shiranui Genma, who always had a senbon between his lips, removed it, holding it cautiously in his hand. He feared that in the heat of the chaos, he might accidentally prick his tongue.
He glanced at Kakashi, who was fully masked as usual. Startled, Genma frowned. "Wait, have you been prepared for a long time?"
No, I've always been like this. Kakashi glanced at him flatly, giving him a sideways look. It's just that the missions lately have been dangerous, so I switched to thicker fabrics.
This way, if he accidentally got some unknown substance on his face, it wouldn't be exposed and would remain safe.
Ever since working with Obito on missions, who knew how dangerous every time it can be?
Well...
It didn't matter, whether he is or not, since his superiors wouldn't let him change teams anyway.
Shiranui Genma, observing Kakashi's melancholic demeanor, suddenly remembered the chaotic events from the other day. His mouth twitched, and he nodded in understanding, as if it all made sense now.
But… at this moment, he was also a little confused. Hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Why has Obito become like this?"
He recalled their days as classmates.
Back then, Obito had been brash, careless, and eager for attention, but he was also kind-hearted, always helping the village's elderly without complaint.
How long had it been since graduation?
How… how had he fallen into this state?
Shiranui Genma sighed and glanced at Obito on stage, who was now battling a Kumo ninja. After another moment of hesitation, he asked, "What exactly did you guys go through after graduation?"
What had they gone through to turn a cheerful boy into this?
"…"
Kakashi was silent.
You're asking me? Who should I ask?
I guess even Obito's dad doesn't know!
"This is youth!" Might Guy declared with earnest enthusiasm as he watched the fight. "Obito has truly become stronger. I really want to—"
"Another challenge?" Asuma leaned in, still wearing his paper-bag mask. Scratching his nose, he pointed at the Kumo ninjas on stage, who were watching the Exams with their butts sticking out, their expressions a mix of shame and anger. "Does this scene look familiar to you?"
Indeed.
Obito had grown stronger.
His kunai skills had improved, he could now perform the Great Fireball Jutsu, and his observational abilities had heightened.
But…
He has changed.
He was no longer the same simple, straightforward Obito they had known in the past.
Asuma sighed, his tone filled with worldly weariness. "Perhaps this is what adults mean when they say you have to pay for what you gain. This is the kind of growth we all have to experience."
"…"
The others looked at Asuma in silence as he suddenly became emotional.
Really… There's a reason why Asuma failed the cultural course!
Even the straightforward and honest Might Guy… fell silent for a moment. Then, as if struck by a revelation, he shuddered and seriously exclaimed, "Youth is not only bright; it also hides darkness."
"So, you…" Asuma looked at Might Guy in shock, admiration in his gaze for - You are so brave.
But before Asuma could finish, Guy cut him off.
"Darkness is not scary!" Might Guy's whole body seemed to radiate passion. Clenching his fists and tensing his buttocks, it seemed as though flames erupted from him. "Just face the darkness directly! Don't turn your back on it!"
"…"
That… made sense.
The group, including Asuma, glanced at Guy with complicated expressions.
Even Guy had changed—he has become… smarter!
At that moment…
Just as everyone was wondering what Obito had experienced, a huge explosion echoed from the stage.
Everyone instinctively looked up, as did the shocked audience. They all saw the sight of massive, tangible chakra filling the arena, leaving them stunned.
The more experienced ninjas immediately recognized it.
No wonder the Kumogakure girl wasn't afraid of Obito, the "Konoha genius" who struck fear into all his opponents, and had chosen to face the challenge head-on. It was because…
"Tailed Beast Chakra?!"
Kushina's expression shifted. She frowned, muttering in a low voice, "That's the chakra of the Two-Tails. Nine-Tails told me—Obito is in danger."
Hearing this, Fugaku's eyes widened in shock, but after a moment, he composed himself, pretending he hadn't heard anything, and continued watching calmly.
Yuto shrugged and kept his eyes on the match below. After a moment, as if recalling something, he glanced at Minato again. Hesitating briefly, he whispered again, "Seriously, listen to me. Just dye your hair next time!"
If Obito ended up using a certain move similar to Naruto's...
OMG, this time it's against a girl!
"..."
What does that mean?
Minato looked at Yuto in confusion, but seeing that Yuto offered no explanation, he didn't press further. Instead, he turned his gaze back to the battle below, his expression tinged with concern.
Initially, Minato had been worried that the Kumo girl ninja might get injured. But after realizing she was a Jinchuriki, like Kushina, and seemed capable of controlling her tailed beast chakra, his concerns shifted—now he was worried that Obito might get hurt.
Fixing his serious gaze on the scene, Minato prepared himself. If there was any sign of danger, he would act immediately. No matter how much Obito had changed, he was still Minato's student, after all!
However, when Minato saw Obito calmly pull out a kunai and tie an explosive tag to it, his eyes twitched. A corner of his mouth lifted in disbelief. "He's not planning to..."
Before Minato could finish, his expression changed drastically, and he dashed forward. The nearby Konoha ninjas, noticing what was happening, seemed to grasp the situation as well. Faces pale, they followed Minato at full speed.
This guy is really… WTF!
...
A Few Minutes Earlier.
On the stage, Obito stood facing the overwhelming presence of the tailed beast chakra, feeling a little panicked. Though inwardly nervous, his Sharingan burned with confidence—No enemy could defeat these eyes!
Taking a deep breath, he dodged the increasingly aggressive attacks from the Kumo ninja.
"You shameless, pervert, degenerate!" Nii Yugito, her body cloaked in a shimmering blue aura of chakra, glared at Obito. "I, Nii Yugito, will never lose to someone like you!"
With that, she charged forward.
Despite the terrifying chakra, Obito didn't back down. Activating his single-tomoe Sharingan, he smirked arrogantly. "When you face these eyes, you've already lost!"
Still, how could he deal with that almost tangible chakra?
Even his unfinished ninjutsu wouldn't penetrate her defense, and her chakra only seemed to grow stronger.
Finally, his hand brushed against the kunai on his belt. A flash of inspiration struck. Obito remembered a tactic he often relied on against tough opponents.
He grabbed a kunai and tied an explosive tag to it.
Seeing this, Yugito sneered disdainfully. "Explosive tags won't break through my defense!"
She mocked him as she dashed forward, her hand extended. Her chakra claws seemed to tear the air itself as she shouted, "Cat Claw!"
"Is that so?" Obito sidestepped her attack. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, full of confidence. Forming a hand sign, he declared, "I told you—once I use these eyes, you've already lost!"
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Three Uchiha Obitos rushed forward at once.
"Stop kidding around, you shameless guy!" Nii Yugito roared, shattering one of the clones with a swipe of her claws. "I'll never lose to a degenerate like you!"
Bang!
A clone vanished in a puff of smoke.
But Obito didn't seem to care. He cooperated with his remaining clone, taking advantage of an opening to grab one Obito and fling him into the air.
In an instant, Nii Yugito reappeared before the other clone, but the airborne Obito quickly created another shadow clone, landing directly behind her!
With his legs bent into a fighting stance and both hands gripping the kunai tightly, Obito declared lightly, "You've already lost!"
His words fell.
Yugito's eyes widened in horror. She didn't have time to turn around.
Obito took a deep breath, preparing to strike. Everyone held their breath, watching the fierce battle.
And then...
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, three figures appeared on the stage.
One grabbed Obito from behind, another snatched the kunai out of his hands, and the last—the masked Minato—landed between Obito and Nii Yugito, his eye twitching. Looking helplessly at the stunned Yugito, he said: "You win, Kumo ninja. Disperse your chakra."
His words fell.
"...Huh?"
The confused exclamations came simultaneously from both Yugito and Obito. The audience around the stage looked just as bewildered as they were.
What's happening?!