Win or Lose

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Chiba watched the field, a faint bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

So that was why Kushina had not stopped it.

At the same time, Chiba looked at Hirohiko, who was walking back with a poker face and no expression at all, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Hirohiko was... completely disappointed! Come to think of it, it was rare for Hirohiko to accept a challenge so eagerly. He must have been looking forward to this fight... but...

"Ow, ow, ow..."

Uchiha Obito clutched his left hand and sat collapsed on the ground. Looking at Hirohiko's retreating back, he wore a faintly discouraged expression.

So this was the genius who awakened his Sharingan at seven? Could I... really surpass someone like that?

"Obito... are you okay?" Rin Nohara had already run over and begun checking Obito's injuries.

But Obito was completely immersed in his dejection and did not react.

There was no doubt that he had been utterly defeated in that fight. He had barely even seen his opponent before being knocked to the ground. By the time he reacted, his hand was already dislocated, so there was no need to continue the match.

"Idiot, you're an Uchiha Clan member too. Don't you know the gap between an Uchiha with the Sharingan awakened and one without it?" Kakashi covered his face with one hand as he stood before Obito, his tone full of helplessness.

After saying that, Kakashi froze. He saw the disappointment in Obito's eyes.

Kakashi sighed, stretched out a hand before Obito, and said, "Can you still stand?"

Hearing Kakashi's words and seeing his outstretched hand, Obito was stunned. Then he suddenly cried out in pain. With a crack, his dislocated arm was reset. Rin Nohara smiled apologetically beside him. "Sorry, Obito."

The jolt of pain swept away much of the disappointment and discouragement in Obito's heart. He looked at Kakashi, then at Rin Nohara, and suddenly smiled.

He reached out and took Kakashi's hand. Kakashi pulled him up, and the three gathered together.

Minato Namikaze watched his students from afar, a slight smile on his lips.

Obito, the outcome of a sparring match did not matter, but that feeling in your heart was the most precious thing! At that moment, Hirohiko walked straight up to Chiba, thinking, As expected, he is my only target! Seeing Hirohiko suddenly approach and stand before him, Chiba blinked and blurted out, "What is it, Hirohiko?"

Hirohiko looked at Chiba, his gaze flickering. "In the Chunin Exams, I won't lose again."

"I won't lose to you again either!" After Hirohiko spoke, Yukina stepped forward and said seriously.

Chiba looked at Hirohiko, then at Yukina.

They... were trying to catch up to me? Taking me as their goal?

Chiba found it somewhat unbelievable. He had defeated Hirohiko and Yukina in the Ninja Academy's Ninja Sparring, but he had never taken it to heart. And after spending time with them, his impression of Hirohiko and Yukina had been that they were "hardworking geniuses" and "as desperately hardworking as himself."

In fact, there were times when Chiba could not keep going, times when he wanted to slack off. But whenever he saw how hard those two worked, a feeling would rise in his heart: At the very least, I can't lose to them. That was what made him persist with his daily limit training.

He had never regarded the two as opponents he had defeated, and he had nearly forgotten all about the Ninja Academy sparring match.

But he had not expected that they had been chasing after him all along!

Was this... the kind of friendship built on rivalry that always appeared in anime?

"I won't lose either!" Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared on Chiba's lips, and the words slipped out.

Yet his heart was filled with warmth.

"Then, starting tomorrow... I'll train you separately. I won't go easy on you, so prepare yourselves!" Kushina Uzumaki said as she pressed one hand atop Chiba's head and the other atop Hirohiko's, leaning in toward the three of them. Seeing Kushina Uzumaki's smile, the three could not help but smile as well. Even Yukina and Hirohiko smiled brightly.

Chiba quietly glanced at Minato Squad, gathered nearby. Kakashi was sighing and shrugging nonstop, while Obito was arguing about something, his face slightly red. As for Rin Nohara, she simply watched them with a smile.

Did Obito propose this fight so Kakashi would not feel guilty over losing their Chunin qualifications?

That was right, this was the Naruto World! He turned his gaze toward Yukina, Hirohiko, and his teacher, Kushina Uzumaki.

Well, I should find a way to mooch another barbecue meal!

The smile on Chiba's face slowly widened, revealing his white teeth.

"Oh... Hirohiko, this is your Kunai." Then Chiba suddenly remembered something and handed the Kunai in his hand to Hirohiko.

Hirohiko nodded, accepted it, and placed it in the Ninja Tool Pouch at his waist.

"Alright, although you won the Chunin qualification sparring match, training still continues. Rest for an hour, then gather at our meeting spot!" Kushina Uzumaki said, glancing at Chiba.

"Yeah!" Chiba and the other two answered.

Then Kushina Squad disbanded on the spot.

Chiba and the other two left separately.

At the same time, Minato Namikaze also dismissed Minato Squad. Amid Obito's arguing, the three slowly departed as well. Hokoma went to report the match results to the Third Hokage. Even as he left, his face was full of disbelief. He probably still could not believe that Chiba had defeated Kakashi.

Once everyone had left and only Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki remained in the field, the two slowly walked toward each other.

When they drew close, Kushina Uzumaki suddenly held out a hand. "According to our agreement, you lost. Hand it over!"

Minato Namikaze looked at Kushina Uzumaki and took a Kunai from his Ninja Tool Pouch. Its head had three prongs, and a string of runes was engraved on the handle. It was none other than the Flying Thunder God Kunai of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage.

Kushina Uzumaki giggled. Before her lover, she finally revealed the sweetly innocent manner of a young girl as she took the Flying Thunder God Kunai from him.

Minato Namikaze only smiled, utterly unconcerned about losing their private wager.

As for that wager, Kushina Uzumaki had made it with him on the day the Chunin Exams qualification match had been decided.

If Chiba won, Minato Namikaze would give Kushina Uzumaki a Flying Thunder God Kunai.

"Minato, thank you." After accepting the Kunai, the smile on Kushina Uzumaki's face faded, and she suddenly thanked him very seriously.

"What are you thanking me for? I lost the bet, and besides, you taught an excellent student. No, not just Chiba—Hirohiko too," Minato Namikaze said.

Kushina Uzumaki shook her head and looked at the Kunai in her hand without speaking.

"It's almost time to eat. Let's go get dinner," Minato Namikaze suggested. "You've worked hard lately. What do you want to eat?"

Kushina Uzumaki composed herself and revealed a sweet smile. "Ichiraku Ramen."

"Alright, you really do love ramen." Minato Namikaze reached out and rubbed her head.

Then the two left together.