"If you can't pay, I'm afraid you won't be allowed in."
The manager signaled with her eyes, and a few thugs approached, surrounding Obito with unfriendly expressions.
Observing the situation. To climb to the position of manager, the most important skill is reading the room.
It was clear that Shimizu had a great relationship with the boss, and the boss had no intention of charging him. Why would the manager dare to meddle?
As for the later arrival, a boy with goggles on his forehead, the boss's attitude was obviously much colder. That was a cue for her to follow the rules and handle things by the book.
"Could you make an exception? I'm from the Uchiha clan too."
"Oh, so am I."
One of the thugs, holding a long staff with his only remaining hand, narrowed his now blood-red eyes, a single tomoe spinning within his Sharingan.
Obito glanced at the thug's sturdy build. Despite missing a hand, which limited the use of many ninjutsu, it was clear that his taijutsu skills were not to be underestimated.
"So, Uncle, could you…"
"No money, no entry. Thinking you can freeload in a clan-owned restaurant? You're disgracing the Uchiha name."
The Uchiha thug waved him away, signaling for Obito to leave.
Obito opened his almost-empty wallet, realizing he couldn't afford the fee. Left with no choice, he squatted outside the restaurant, waiting for Rin Nohara and Shimizu Uchiha to come out.
Inside the private room, Rin sat stiffly, entirely unaware of Obito's presence outside.
"Rin Nohara, you come from an ordinary family, don't you?" Shimizu broke the silence first.
Without waiting for Rin's response, Shimizu continued, "Not only that, but you also wish to be assigned to the same team as Kakashi, don't you?"
"Huh??" Rin looked up, confused.
She did have a slight crush on Kakashi and indeed hoped to be placed on the same team as him. She had even worked hard toward that goal, aspiring to be with someone as talented as Kakashi.
"But Kakashi has applied for early graduation. I'm afraid you won't be placed on the same team as him, Rin."
Hearing this, Rin's eyes gradually dimmed. She had heard Kakashi mention his plans to graduate early, and it had saddened her before.
Typically, after graduating, ninja teams are assigned, and they often remain together for life unless teammates die or there are extreme compatibility issues requiring a reshuffle.
"So, Rin Nohara, would you like to catch up to Kakashi quickly? I can help train you."
"Really?"
Rin's face lit up as she spoke.
Unexpectedly, Shimizu seemed like such a good person, and her impression of him grew fonder.
"Of course, it's true. I can also teach you the basics of being a medical ninja."
Shimizu's eyes swept up and down Rin's figure.
Rin was still too young for him to make a move. However, laying the groundwork and taking some interest for the future wasn't out of the question.
"Why are you willing to help me, Shimizu?"
Rin was aware that there's no such thing as a free lunch. After her initial joy subsided, she asked the question that had been on her mind.
"We're classmates. Isn't it natural for classmates to help each other?"
After saying this, Shimizu outlined a series of agreements with Rin.
From the next day onward, they would meet once a week for guidance, with the sessions taking place at Shimizu's home.
"Alright, I'll be troubling you, Shimizu," Rin agreed without much thought, feeling only gratitude toward him.
The Uchiha settlement was conveniently close to her home, making Shimizu's house a suitable location for their sessions.
Her small house, a modest dwelling, might not even be spacious enough to accommodate Shimizu for training.
Her father bore old injuries from his time as a ninja and would gasp for breath after even light physical labor, leaving the family dependent on her mother's paper-flower crafting for income.
It wouldn't be appropriate to bring a boy back home; the space was simply too cramped.
"Then it's settled," Shimizu said with a mysterious smile. Since Rin had agreed, his first step in trapping her was complete.
With limited time, Shimizu had to resort to unconventional methods to win Rin over.
An hour later.
At the restaurant's entrance, Rin and Shimizu parted ways, and she happily walked home.
"Rin!"
Seeing the two had separated sufficiently, Obito sneaked up to her.
"Shimizu didn't do anything to you, did he?"
"What could Shimizu possibly do to me?"
Rin frowned slightly, her short hair blown by the wind obscuring her expression.
"Well, you know… like that."
Obito waved his arms around, mimicking some strange gestures.
After a while, Rin understood what Obito was implying.
"Pervert!"
Involuntarily, Rin compared Shimizu to Obito. Not mentioning her perfect image of Kakashi for now, Shimizu, another Uchiha, was entirely Obito's opposite.
Calm, mature, disciplined, gentle, and elegant—anyone who interacted with Shimizu would describe him that way.
Rin was no exception. If not for Kakashi, she might have admired Shimizu.
"Obito, stop saying things like that behind people's backs."
Rin's tone carried a hint of displeasure.
She saw Obito as an immature junior and often cared for him.
But his constant targeting of Shimizu, who had been kind enough to teach her medical knowledge, made her feel, for the first time, a negative emotion toward Obito. No one likes others badmouthing someone who has helped them—it's human nature to defend such people.
"Ah, no, Rin, let me explain—"
Obito, finally sensing something was off in Rin's tone, tried to stop her to explain.
But Rin dodged lightly and said, "I don't want to hear it right now. I'm going home."
With that, she turned and disappeared into the crowd without looking back.
Obito stared at the bustling crowd. Within seconds, Rin's figure was lost among them, leaving him frustrated and speechless.
"Why does Rin always defend Shimizu?"
Unable to make sense of it, Obito decided to wait until Rin calmed down before trying to explain again.
"Never mind. I'll just go home."
Later that evening, Shimizu left the steakhouse, bringing a bag of fruit to visit Uchiha Hazuki as a gesture of goodwill.
Hazuki was delighted by Shimizu's visit, engaging in a long chat. It wasn't until nearly 10 p.m. that Shimizu finally returned home.
Under the eaves of his house, Shimizu prepared to practice the Body Flicker Technique.
A few days ago, he had applied for a ninjutsu scroll.
The D-rank jutsu—Body Flicker Technique.
In this era, where most ninjas were like glass cannons, unless one's physical body could withstand the force of a complete Susanoo like an Otsutsuki, it was best to focus on evasion.
Even Kage-level ninjas could die if a kunai hit a vital spot.
Shimizu began refining his chakra, guiding it through his chakra pathways in accordance with the Body Flicker Technique's flow, and formed a hand seal.
"Body Flicker Technique!"
His figure darted from under the eaves to the courtyard in less than a second.
To an ordinary person's eyes, it looked like a shadow had flashed, and Shimizu had teleported to another spot.
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