"Sensei Iruka Umino, can't we get more combat training? We're training to become ninja, not to just run laps."
Many students grumbled.
Compared to the mundane physical conditioning, they preferred one-on-one duels. At least then, they could earn the cheers and recognition of their peers.
"Yo, Kakashi! It's time for my favorite part!"
Might Guy flashed his polished white teeth and gave a big thumbs-up.
"Up for a burning battle of youth?"
"..."
Kakashi, wrapped in his scarf, glanced at the bright green bodysuit Guy was wearing.
Watching Guy strike his usual weird poses, he just wanted to wash his eyes out.
He couldn't understand why his father, Sakumo Hatake, once told him that Might Guy would become a worthy rival. It all seemed absurd.
"If you don't start running, you're going to fall behind."
Kakashi took off.
"Kakashi, wait up!"
Might Guy immediately sprinted after him.
"Kakashi, you're as cool as ever!"
Many of the girls watched Kakashi as he ran, finding it much less exhausting to keep pace when they had him to look at.
Rin Nohara also snuck glances at him as she tried to match his speed.
"Can you keep up?" Kakashi asked flatly.
"I can," Rin nodded.
Obito trailed behind, watching Rin chat with Kakashi like no one else was there. Gritting his teeth, he sped up, overtaking them and blocking Rin's line of sight.
"Kakashi, you're running too slow."
Obito wore a relaxed expression.
"Idiot," Kakashi muttered.
It was foolish—Obito had just disrupted his own pace early into the run just to match someone else. He'd definitely burn out later.
Kakashi shook his head and kept running.
"Is that... Uchiha Keiji?"
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
While chatting with the others, he suddenly noticed that Keiji was already among the frontrunners.
Was it his imagination, or did Keiji look like he was running more and more effortlessly?
In the following laps, Kakashi kept observing him.
By the time they finished, Keiji barely broke a sweat.
While others gasped for breath and collapsed for rest, Keiji calmly pulled out a small booklet and started reading.
This drew the attention of their instructor, Iruka Umino.
Then it clicked—Keiji was from the Land of Lightning.
He recalled the famous Kumogakure ninja known for their mastery of taijutsu.
It made sense that Keiji's physical endurance was better than the others.
The Senju and Uzumaki clans might be powerful, but when it came to raw taijutsu, no one rivaled the ninja of the Land of Lightning.
"Aren't you tired?" Kakashi asked, walking over.
He was curious—how could someone with such a slim frame be so strong in long-distance running?
"Not really," Keiji replied, sipping water from a prepared bottle.
Thanks to chakra, ninja were much stronger than ordinary people, especially in endurance.
After taking a sip, Keiji looked at Kakashi.
This was the prodigy who developed the S-rank technique Chidori at just twelve.
Ironically, the Sharingan gifted to him by Obito had held back Kakashi's growth.
In the official novel Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Frozen Sky, Kakashi eventually developed a new Lightning Release technique after losing the Sharingan—one that didn't require hand seals or ocular powers.
That was Purple Electricity, the successor to Chidori.
"Kakashi, aren't you even more impressive though?"
Kakashi had top scores overall in their year and no weaknesses in physical ability.
"Keiji, I see you're a fellow warrior of youth!"
Might Guy ran up, his bowl-cut bobbing in the wind.
"No, I just want to improve my body," Keiji pointed to his skinny frame, pausing.
"When I become a ninja, this won't be enough."
"That's true," Guy nodded seriously.
Underneath that tight outfit, he had long since forged a solid physique.
Keiji definitely needed more training.
"You're really dedicated, Keiji," Rin said as she wiped the sweat from her brow and walked over.
A thin sheen of sweat glistened on Rin's pale skin, making her look slightly dewy.
"That was a cool move, right?"
Obito, who had disrupted his pace earlier just to block Kakashi, was now dragging himself through the last few laps.
Everyone else had finished—he was the only one still running.
Stumbling with tired legs, he finally completed the final lap.
Looking around, he searched for Rin.
If Rin could see how hard he'd pushed himself, a little exhaustion was worth it.
"Rin..."
He spotted her from the left and took a few steps to greet her—but then saw she wasn't alone.
He immediately ignored Might Guy.
There was Kakashi—his rival.
And that annoying transfer student from the Land of Lightning.
"Rin, could I trouble you again today to help me with some ninjutsu? I think I'm starting to get the hang of tree-climbing, and I want to learn an E-rank jutsu soon."
Kakashi looked over in confusion.
Yesterday his father had called him home early, so he had left before usual.
So Rin had helped that transfer student with chakra control yesterday?
Kakashi took note of it.
"Of course, that way you can adapt more quickly to the class, Keiji."
Rin smiled and nodded.
Naturally, she had to show her kind and gentle side when Kakashi was nearby.
Their conversation didn't go unheard by Obito.
"Him again?"
Obito stopped walking and clenched his fists.
He barely got any time alone with Rin—usually it was just the three of them: Kakashi, Rin, and himself.
Even yesterday, he had to awkwardly squeeze in just to avoid leaving Rin and Kakashi alone.
His grandma had told him that his parents had died in battle long ago.
And the Land of Lightning… back then, they were at war with the Land of Fire.
That guy—he was from the Land of Lightning.
And now he kept hovering around Rin.
Obito could endure anything—except this.
He respected Kakashi's strength, seeing him as both a rival and classmate.
But why did that newcomer have to steal Rin's attention too?
"What's wrong, Obito?"
Sarutobi Asuma walked over with a lollipop in his mouth, noticing Obito's troubled expression.
"Nothing," Obito waved him off.
Seeing this, Asuma didn't press further.
He and Obito weren't that close anyway.
Following Obito's gaze, Asuma figured it out.
"Ah, it's Rin."
Everyone in class could tell Obito always tried to impress Rin.
"Tch."
Asuma wasn't impressed by Obito's constant simping. Wasn't a man supposed to have some dignity?
He turned and walked in the opposite direction, smiling as he said:
"Kurenai, tired? I've got candy…"