Training Ground Nine.
Obito hung upside down from a tree branch, performing difficult pull-ups.
"This year... this year, no matter what, I have to become a chūnin."
Wearing his goggles to prevent sweat from dripping into his eyes due to gravity, Obito's face was flushed red. Even though his muscles ached in protest, nothing could stop his determination to grow stronger.
"One hundred twenty-one, one hundred twenty-two, one hundred..." Suddenly, the branch sagged as if weighed down by something heavy.
The unexpected disturbance broke Obito's concentration, causing his chakra output to falter. He plummeted straight toward the ground.
"Ah, damn it!"
Obito let out a cry of alarm and squeezed his eyes shut. But the anticipated pain never came—instead, his body seemed wrapped in something soft.
Trembling, Obito opened his eyes to find a red toad beside him.
"Yo, kid, training here?"
On the branch above, Jiraiya sat cross-legged. Clearly, he was the heavy weight Obito had felt.
"You perverted old man, you nearly scared me to death!"
Angrily pushing away the toad, Obito pointed accusingly at Jiraiya, his face full of indignation.
"Sorry, sorry. I just got curious seeing you work so hard." Realizing he'd genuinely startled Obito, Jiraiya didn't argue back but apologized readily before jumping down from the branch.
"What's got you training so intensely all of a sudden? Did something happen?" Jiraiya studied Obito curiously, stroking his chin as he speculated: "Don't tell me the girl you like was stolen by someone else..."
"No!"
Obito hastily protested: "I just want to become stronger, that's all!"
"Oh, become stronger, huh? And then what?" This answer reminded Jiraiya of his younger self.
Back then, he'd also wondered why he trained, ultimately concluding it was to win Tsunade's heart after becoming stronger...
Well, Tsunade still ended up with Dan in the end...
"Hahaha..." Remembering his naive younger self, Jiraiya couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" This laughter further irritated Obito's already troubled mood, making him assume Jiraiya was mocking him.
Seeing Obito's misunderstanding, Jiraiya quickly explained: "Don't get the wrong idea. Seeing you reminded me of my childhood self."
"Your childhood self? Hmph, you were probably just a little peeping tom back then. What's that got to do with me? I don't peep." Hearing Jiraiya compare them, Obito's eyes filled with disdain.
Jiraiya's expression darkened, his face becoming indescribable: "You brat, you're really not cute at all. Have you been spending too much time with that Shimura kid?"
"Actually, I was just like you back then—the dead last of my team. But through my own efforts, I climbed step by step to where I am now." Jiraiya found a reasonably clean rock and sat down.
"Kid, if you want to become stronger, you need an unwavering goal. With a goal, you'll have the motivation to pursue it." Jiraiya's expression rarely became serious.
"I..."
Hearing Jiraiya's question, Obito fell into contemplation, various scenes flashing through his mind.
His first meeting with Feng Bai at age four.
Being late for the entrance ceremony and thinking he'd miss out on ninja school, only to have Feng Bai bring out his registration file.
Being late again at graduation but still receiving his forehead protector thanks to Feng Bai's help.
Those crucial moments in battle when Feng Bai had stepped in to help him defeat enemies...
Though he always talked about becoming Hokage and leading the Military Police Force, in the end, he'd always been the one being protected...
"I want to become stronger—not to be someone Feng Bai always has to protect, but so I can be the one protecting him!"
Obito clenched his fists, radiating unprecedented determination as he looked firmly at Jiraiya.
At that instant, Obito's originally black pupils turned crimson, a single tomoe spinning wildly within them before gradually slowing to a stop under Jiraiya's astonished gaze.
"This is..."
Jiraiya never expected that just a few words of conversation would awaken the kid's Sharingan.
"What's wrong?"
Completely unaware of the change in his eyes, Obito looked puzzled at Jiraiya's expression.
"See for yourself..."
Jiraiya pulled out a small mirror used for research and handed it to Obito.
"Sharingan? I have the Sharingan!"
Looking at his (self-proclaimed) handsome face in the mirror, Obito initially noticed nothing unusual. Only after Jiraiya's prompting did he discover he'd finally obtained the Sharingan he'd dreamed of.
"The old man was right—the village's new green leaves are indeed flourishing, even more brilliant than in our time..." Remembering Hiruzen's words, Jiraiya unconsciously smiled.
"In that case, let's make the village's green leaves even more radiant! Hey, kid, seeing how hard you're working, let the great Jiraiya—whose name alone can make children stop crying—teach you a few techniques!"
Jiraiya rolled up his sleeves, ready for serious training.
"I have the Sharingan! I have the Sharingan~!"
But Obito was too busy celebrating to hear Jiraiya's words.
"You brat!" Seeing himself completely ignored, Jiraiya delivered a punch to Obito's head.
...
"Come on, Feng Bai! Let's have an exhilarating duel!"
Having shamelessly followed Feng Bai to the training ground, Might Guy eagerly assumed a fighting stance.
"Since you're so dedicated, let's do it." Feng Bai, who happened to be planning taijutsu practice, didn't refuse and walked to face Might Guy.
Using Ice Release to create an ice spear, Feng Bai gripped it single-handedly and pointed the tip toward his opponent: "Come, Guy!"
"Yeah!"
Might Guy charged at Feng Bai, attacking while dodging the weapon in Feng Bai's hand.
Gripping his weapon firmly, Feng Bai remained stationary, using his observation skills to search for openings in Might Guy's movements.
After evading one of Guy's kicks, Feng Bai suddenly thrust the ice spear forward.
Sensing danger, Guy twisted desperately in midair, barely avoiding the attack.
Feng Bai gave him no respite. Retracting the ice spear, he swept it horizontally, targeting Guy's landing spot.
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