Obito's face was full of anger as he stared at Kakashi, who looked utterly innocent. Only then did Obito recall that, when he had stumbled and tried to grab onto something in a hurry, Kakashi had instinctively shifted his body slightly, just enough to avoid Obito's desperate grasp.
"Damn it! How did this happen? I wasn't even the first one to fall, but now it looks like I'm the one to blame!" Obito quickly realized the misunderstanding and cast a look of frustration toward Yun Kong.
This isn't how things were supposed to play out! I was the one pulled down, so how did I end up as the culprit?
Just as Obito was about to accuse Yun Kong, he saw Yun Kong flash a smile. Yun Kong quickly whispered to Obito, urging him to line up. "Let's listen to the Third Hokage's instructions for now. Once it's over, we can discuss who's really at fault."
Obito thought about it and realized now wasn't the right time to argue, so he obediently stood in line, continuing to listen to the Third Hokage's speech.
However, he didn't notice Yun Kong's sly smile after he turned around. "Obito's still so innocent. Does he really think he'll get the chance to argue about it later?"
As expected, seeing Obito line up obediently, several others assumed he felt guilty. One after another, they shot reproachful looks in his direction. If looks could kill, Obito would have been skewered a thousand times over. Fortunately, they were all lined up behind him, and Yun Kong's presence shielded him from most of those accusing glares.
This minor incident did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the Third Hokage's speech.
It went on and on, seemingly without end. Yun Kong wasn't sure how others felt, but for him, it was a seemingly endless ordeal.
Finally, after more than an hour, the Third Hokage finished his speech!
Yun Kong let out a heavy sigh of relief; he had been standing still for over two hours, and his legs had gone numb. "Aren't you supposed to be busy, Third Hokage? How do you have this much time to drone on and on?" he thought.
As the Third Hokage wrapped up, applause erupted from the students, teachers, and parents around the field. Yun Kong clapped extra vigorously. "Finally, freedom!" he thought.
But Yun Kong was completely mistaken. After the Third Hokage, the two village advisors and Orochimaru also took the stage to give speeches of varying lengths. Among them, Yun Kong found Orochimaru's speech the most satisfying.
"Live well." Skipping the needless formalities, he distilled Orochimaru's message into a single theme: survival.
Next, the school's teachers announced the class assignments. Yun Kong was relieved to find himself in the same class as Obito. As for the others, he didn't pay them any mind. His boss was right by his side, so he just needed to stay close to the big boss. The rest? They could fend for themselves.
Time dragged on, but eventually, the class assignments concluded, and they were finally dismissed. Yun Kong's face nearly turned green from standing for so long—he could barely feel his legs.
The moment the teacher announced the dismissal, Obito spun around and pointed accusingly at Yun Kong.
Obito glared angrily at Kakashi, who was looking back with a completely innocent expression. Only now did Obito recall that, when he had stumbled forward earlier, his hands had instinctively reached out to grab onto something. Although Kakashi hadn't known what was happening, he had still, out of reflex, moved his body slightly to dodge Obito's desperate grasp.
"Damn it, how did this happen? I wasn't the first to fall, but now it looks like I'm the one at fault," Obito thought, his face etched with frustration as he glanced at Yun Kong.
This wasn't how things were supposed to play out. He had clearly been pulled down, so why did it look like he was to blame now?
Just as Obito was about to confront Yun Kong, Yun Kong suddenly flashed him a smile. Gently, Yun Kong turned him back in line and whispered, "For now, let's listen to what Lord Third Hokage has to say. We can settle who was in the wrong afterward."
Hearing Yun Kong's words, Obito reconsidered. It wasn't the right time to argue about blame, so he obediently took his place, listening attentively to the Third Hokage's speech.
What Obito couldn't see was the sly smile on Yun Kong's face after he turned around. "Obito is still so naïve," Yun Kong mused. "Does he really think we'll get a chance to hash this out later?"
Sure enough, as Obito dutifully fell back into line, others began to give him judgmental looks, believing he was acting guilty. Many cast resentful glances at Obito's back.
If looks could kill, Obito would have been sliced into a thousand pieces by the glares from the boys behind him. Fortunately, all of them were in line, and their resentful gazes were blocked by Yun Kong's form.
The Third Hokage's enthusiasm for his speech didn't falter in the slightest, despite the small incident.
His speech was long and continuous, to the point that Yun Kong found it almost unbearable.
After what seemed like an eternity, the Third Hokage finally concluded his address, and Yun Kong let out a sigh of relief. Standing motionless for over two hours had left his legs numb. "Isn't the Third Hokage supposed to be busy? How did he find the time to go on and on like that?"
When the Hokage finally finished, the crowd erupted in applause—students, teachers, and even the parents waiting outside the training grounds. Yun Kong clapped particularly hard. "Finally, we're free!" he thought.
"Well then, you need to apologize to me and clarify things with everyone! Or else, I'll challenge you to a duel!"
Obito had considered all of Yun Kong's possible reactions—denial, storming off, maybe even an exchange of insults. But he hadn't anticipated that Yun Kong would shamelessly admit to everything and then turn the tables.
With a casual arm around Obito's shoulder, Yun Kong didn't bother hiding his smugness. "Oh, come on, it's no big deal. What's wrong with taking a little blame on my behalf? Don't be so stingy!"
Yun Kong leaned his weight onto Obito, slowly shifting his feet to restore circulation to his legs, which were still numb.
"Good thing Obito is here," Yun Kong thought. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have known how to shake the stiffness out of my legs."
Obito's slightly embarrassed voice sounded next to him, "But if you make me look bad in front of Lord Hokage, it'll leave a bad impression on him! I'm going to be the future Hokage, and I don't want him to think poorly of me…"
Yun Kong couldn't help but feel he had underestimated Obito. This kid wasn't as clueless as he'd thought; he even understood the importance of reputation. "Impressive," Yun Kong thought. "Not bad for someone destined to become a major boss."
"Don't worry about it," Yun Kong said, sincerely. "Lord Hokage is wise. He could see my little prank for what it was. He knows you weren't at fault."
"Oh, really? Then... I'm sorry for how I acted earlier," Obito stammered, genuinely apologetic.
"There's no need to apologize; you did nothing wrong!" Yun Kong replied, a bit confused.
"It's just... as the man who will be Hokage one day, I should be more generous and not as nitpicky as I was," Obito said in a quiet voice.
Alright, Yun Kong thought to himself. He now felt like an evil older man, corrupting an innocent young boy. Obito was so foolishly adorable right now. How much of a shock must he have experienced to one day become that crazed big boss?
"Forget it. It's fine, I forgive you," Yun Kong said. Saying these words made him feel a little self-contemptuous. Just how shameless did one have to be to say such a thing?
Fortunately, Yun Kong was still himself, only briefly despising his own words.
"Really?" Obito's eyes lit up. It was as if his face was about to break into a big "You're such a good person" grin.
Yun Kong had no choice but to turn his head away, not wanting to look at Obito's. He was afraid that if he kept this up, he might unintentionally end up slapping himself, trying to preserve the purity of the Hokage world.
"Since I've already forgiven you, you should treat me to a meal. Consider it your way of making amends," Yun Kong said.
"Okay, but I don't have any money," Obito replied without hesitation, then quickly added, "But you know, I'll pay you back someday!"
Kid, you really have potential to be a villain, knowing how to shamelessly beg for favors at such a young age, Yun Kong thought to himself. He didn't really mind, though, and instead responded, "Then it's on me! I'll treat you."
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