In Konoha, My Attributes Double Every Day

He had only said it casually, but now there really was a lump on Hankuang's head.

"Are you okay?" Rin asked with concern.

"I'm fine, fine. Just a fall." Hankuang waved a hand.

"But your clothes look a bit bulging."

"Do they? Must be swelling from the fall."

Hankuang didn't care at all about the injury.

This surprised Minato Namikaze.

Kakashi glanced at the lump on Hankuang's head, then turned away.

"Alright, since everyone's here, it's time for team coordination."

Minato cleared his throat and began announcing today's task.

"Your mission, the four of you, is to snatch the bell from my hand."

With that, a bell appeared in Minato's hand, and he shook it at them.

Then he tucked the bell into his belt.

"You can use any means!"

"As long as you grab the bell, you pass."

"If you don't, there'll be a punishment!"

Hearing this task, Kakashi was the first to react.

He completely ignored Hankuang and the others, charging straight at Minato alone.

"So impatient?"

Minato smiled, his feet shifting lightly as he dodged Kakashi's sneak attack.

Then.

The two began a tense exchange.

"Grabbing the bell requires team coordination. Kakashi's an idiot." Obito watched the fight, not missing a chance to badmouth his rival.

"This is your opportunity." Hankuang spoke calmly, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Huh? Opportunity? What opportunity?" Obito hurriedly leaned in to ask.

Even Nohara Rin pricked up her ears, wanting to hear Hankuang's idea.

"Think about it—the longer Kakashi tangles with the teacher, the more tired they both get. When the time's right, you rush in. Isn't your chance of grabbing the bell pretty high?"

"That makes a lot of sense." Obito's eyes lit up with realization.

"Isn't that a war of attrition? That doesn't seem right—didn't the teacher say team coordination?" Rin felt the idea was a bit underhanded.

The teacher had just said this test was about team coordination.

That meant the four of them should attack together and grab the bell to pass.

"Rin, do you see Kakashi consulting us?" Obito shifted the blame to Kakashi.

Then he added.

"Since he won't cooperate with us, we'll just have to cooperate as three."

With that, he patted Hankuang on the shoulder.

"Hankuang, you back me up later."

"How?" Hankuang smiled.

"Fall down again." Obito offered a plan.

Hankuang: ???

"You pretend to fall, I'll call the teacher over, and when he lets his guard down, heh heh, I'll quietly snatch the bell."

Obito chuckled, a confident look on his face.

He even turned to Rin, hoping to see admiration in her eyes.

Too bad.

"I don't agree with this." Rin spoke up.

"Me neither." Hankuang chimed in.

"Huh?" Obito looked bewildered.

He could understand Rin disagreeing—she had a kind heart.

But why was Hankuang against it too?

Weren't they good brothers?

To be honest, Hankuang was a bit exhausted.

He pulled Obito aside.

"Obito, I gave you such a perfect chance to shine, and you're just going to waste it?"

"You have to go for the bells alone—that's the only way to make Rin like you."

"Don't you see Kakashi's already ahead of you?"

Hankuang's words struck Obito like a thunderbolt.

"Good brother."

Obito shot him a grateful look, finally understanding.

Hankuang was giving him this opportunity. Whether he could seize it depended on his timing for entering the fray.

And so.

A tense scene unfolded at Training Ground 9.

On one side, Kakashi was going all out for Minato Namikaze's bells. On the other, Obito lurked nearby, poised to cut in at any moment.

As time passed.

The struggle shifted to the edge of the training ground, even spilling beyond it.

Obito followed, eyes locked on the battle.

That left Hankuang and Rin behind.

"Should we go too?" Rin asked, a little worried.

"And do what? Get in the way?" Hankuang replied with a smile.

With that, he picked a rock, crouched down, and pulled a lunchbox from his jacket.

Then a second lunchbox.

A third.

A fourth.

He opened them one by one, and the aroma wafted out, making mouths water.

When Nohara Rin saw this, her eyes went wide.

"No wonder his clothes looked a bit puffy—he was hiding lunchboxes in there. Gurgle~~"

Just as the thought crossed her mind, Rin's stomach betrayed her with a growl.

She couldn't help it.

They'd come so early she hadn't even eaten breakfast.

But while her teammates were fighting for the bells, Hankuang was sitting here eating. That didn't seem right, did it?

"What are you standing there for? Come eat!"

Tossing a pair of chopsticks to Rin, Hankuang urged her.

"Huh? I'll just have a tiny bit." Rin patted her stomach and ran over.

Chapter 4: The Core of Team 9, the Dead Last Hankuang!

9:04 AM.

Hankuang and Rin sat on a rock, soaking up the sun.

"Whew~~ I'm so full."

Rin patted her stomach, looking completely satisfied.

"You ate a lot." Hankuang glanced at her and packed away the lunchboxes.

"Ah... that..." Rin's face flushed with embarrassment.