Obito clung to my sleeve like a desperate NPC chasing a quest reward.
"Teacher Hanyū, please—please don't tell Teacher Iketani! I'll do anything!"
I let a small smile tug at my lips.
"That depends on your performance."
No promises. No guarantees.The uncertainty worked better than any punishment.
Beside him, Might Guy scratched his head, still wearing that innocent, earnest expression.
"Teacher… did I do something wrong?"
I looked at him.The future man who'd kick Madara Uchiha into the ground…Right now, he was just a kid in green tights, all willpower and no direction.
"Your scores in the theory exams have caused Teacher Iketani a lot of stress," I said.
Obito's shoulders drooped instantly.
"It's not that I don't study. It's just—those questions are too hard. Why do they make us count animals? Why are they always in groups? Why… why do they stare at me…"
His voice faded into complaint.
Guy nodded solemnly beside him.
"I don't understand history either. Too many words."
I pinched the bridge of my nose.
Being their teacher might actually be harder than fighting Danzo.
"History is decided by the Third Hokage," I said calmly. "If you want to change the curriculum, talk to him."
Their faces blanched.
"But continuing like this isn't good for you… or Teacher Iketani."
Obito swallowed and leaned forward.
"T-Teacher Hanyū… do you have any exam secrets? Like… like a forbidden technique?"
Guy's eyes sparkled like a curious puppy.
"Is it youth training?!"
I let the question settle for a moment.
"There is a secret," I finally said. "A true method for passing exams."
Obito and Guy held their breaths.
"Practice questions while reading."
Silence.
"…Huh?"
Both boys stared blankly, as if I'd just revealed the Sage of Six Paths' grocery list.
"Treat it like special combat training," I said. "And if you pass the exam next month… I'll reward you."
Obito leaned in.
"What kind of reward? A dumpling?"
"No."I let my voice drop, like revealing hidden loot."I'll teach you ninjutsu. Or taijutsu. Real training."
Their eyes exploded open.
"REALLY?!"
"But only if you pass," I reminded them. "A deal is a deal."
Guy clenched his fists.
"Is this… youth?! I'm burning up!"
Obito pumped his fist.
"I'll pass! This time I swear it!"
High-level hunters appear as prey. That's what crossed my mind as I watched their enthusiasm ignite.
Obito and Guy thought they were getting a miracle bargain.In truth?
I was getting two future powerhouses to voluntarily train under me.
Even if they failed the exam in the end, I could still give them "consolation rewards" and gain favorability. It cost me nothing.
And unlike Shisui, I couldn't trick these two into a disciple contract.Wrong backgrounds, wrong setup.But special training? That was perfect.
We returned to class.
Rin immediately rushed up.
"Obito, what did Teacher Hanyū talk to you about? You didn't get punished, did you?"
Obito straightened proudly.
"Of course not! Teacher Hanyū is amazing—he taught me exam secrets!"
"And I might even surpass you in the next exam," he added smugly.
Rin blinked.Then smiled.
"If you can do it, that would be wonderful."
Three minutes later, Rin watched Obito collapse face-down on his desk, fast asleep.
She sighed.
He's still Obito.
A piece of chalk arced through the air—perfect parabola—and struck Obito's forehead.
His eyes shot open, face flushing with shame as he remembered his bold claim from three minutes earlier.
The rest of the class went smoothly.
[Lecture Completed][Evaluation: A][Reward Granted: Konoha Cyclone]
A taijutsu skill this time.
Konoha Cyclone—Guy's future specialty.A simple kick in appearance, but the mechanics were a minefield of precision:body alignment, explosive force control, chakra timing.
Exactly what I needed to train Guy later.
When school ended, I slipped into the forest south of Konoha.
Away from the village.Away from eyes.Away from Root.
Danzo knew where I lived.If he discovered I'd taught Shisui fire-style ninjutsu without reporting it?
His suspicion alone could kill me.
Sensory ninjutsu can't stay active all day. Chakra isn't free.
Training Shisui outside the village would be safer.
Eventually, I found a small river deep in the woods—quiet, remote, perfect for practice.
I marked the location and returned home.
But the moment I stepped into my yard—
—I froze.
A figure in an animal mask stood waiting in the center of my courtyard.
Silent.Motionless.
Root.