Ignoring

"Speaking of which, why are Sora and Obito together?"

The weather was turning cooler, but for a ninja's physique, this chill wasn't cold, but rather refreshing.

Kurenai Yuhi narrowed her eyes, her gaze shifting between Sora Uchiha and Obito.

Obito shivered. Kurenai's stare made him feel like a street punk trying to abduct a good, honest young man.

He felt offended again and, with a hmph, declared, "Why can't Sora and I be together? Kurenai, I seriously suspect you have a problem with me."

"Oh, no, not at all~" Kurenai Yuhi retracted her gaze and waved her hand. "I just feel... well, Obito, you're so boisterous, and it doesn't quite match Sora's natural, distant aura."

"Heh, then who do you think Sora does match with?" Obito sneered.

"Of course, it's me! I'm fiery and lively, and Sora is cool and aloof. We're the best match."

"That's biased! Do you like Sora?!" Obito shouted, finding Kurenai's theory flawed.

He thought this statement would make Kurenai back down, but to his surprise, The latter proudly puffed out her chest. The young girl's chest was just beginning to show its curves. An eleven or twelve-year-old girl's mind wasn't that complicated.

"Yes, I like Sora. It's not just me; Rin does too. Unlike some people who like someone but don't dare to say it."

Obito was startled, like a startled cat. He quickly looked towards Rin, only to see her slightly tilt her head, her face flushing. She tugged on Kurenai's sleeve. "Kurenai!"

Crack--

A certain boy's heart quietly shattered like glass.

"Kurenai Yuhi--!!!"

Sora Uchiha coughed lightly and grabbed Obito.

If he didn't step in now, Obito would probably start fighting Kurenai right here.

"Calm down. People are watching," he said in a low voice.

Obito glanced around. As expected, many people were subtly looking their way.

His expression was grim. He felt an itch in his nose and turned his head away, unwilling to speak further, looking like a reclusive teenager.

"Kurenai, you stop talking too." Sora Uchiha flicked his fingers. Seeing that Kurenai seemed about to add more, he quickly flicked her.

Kurenai Yuhi hugged her head and glared fiercely at Sora Uchiha, clearly unhappy that Sora was helping Obito.

Anko Mitarashi watched the group intently from the side, swallowing hard.

Fierce! So fierce!

When did Kurenai become so formidable?

Kurenai Yuhi's image suddenly grew in her mind.

"Right, why are you guys out shopping together?" Sora Uchiha quickly changed the subject, wanting to diffuse the awkward atmosphere.

Kurenai Yuhi crossed her arms, turned her head, her face clearly conveying "Don't talk to me."

Sora Uchiha rubbed his nose and turned his gaze to Rin. Fortunately, Rin wasn't as hot-tempered as Kurenai. She said softly:

"The front lines are tense. Those of us who just passed the exam as genin will be going to the battlefield soon. Kurenai brought us out shopping to help us relax."

Sora Uchiha suddenly understood. So that's why Kurenai Yuhi's temper was so explosive today; it was due to the negative emotions from the impending deployment.

He thought for a moment, then reached out and gently rubbed Kurenai Yuhi's head.

"Don't worry, everything will be fine," he said, his gaze subconsciously drifting to the girls with painted faces.

"Everyone will be fine." His voice was soft but incredibly firm.

Sora Uchiha's voice seemed to possess a magical quality, soothing the genin.

Kurenai Yuhi felt the warmth on her head, a blush creeping to her earlobes. She softly hummed in acknowledgment.

"Speaking of which, where are you planning to go next?"

After everyone's emotions had mostly stabilized, Sora Uchiha asked.

"We're planning to go to the training grounds," Kurenai Yuhi said, her voice carrying a hint of gentleness. She seemed hesitant to meet Sora Uchiha's gaze at that moment.

"The training grounds? What are you going there for?" Sora Uchiha asked, confused.

Rin shot him a look. Her personality seemed to have completely changed from Kurenai's, becoming much livelier... or rather, returning to her original self.

When Sora Uchiha had told them everything would be fine, his gaze had momentarily focused entirely on her. She had felt it and was very happy.

"Because Teacher Minato will be at the training grounds later to teach everyone about the war."

"Teacher Minato?" Sora Uchiha paused for a moment, then realized, "Minato Namikaze! He's actually in the village at this time."

He knew that Minato Namikaze was the leader of Rin's Team 7, and in a way, Minato was also his teacher.

However, with the start of the war, Minato Namikaze was often active on various battlefields under the title "Yellow Flash," and his visits back to the village were few and far between.

I didn't expect to be back in the village today.

It's just...

He looked at everyone with some confusion, "How did you all know Minato would be at the training grounds today?"

The few exchanged glances, their expressions a little strange. Finally, Kurenai Yuhi stood up.

"The security team specifically notified the ninjas taking the Chunin Exams."

Sora Uchiha let out a hum, his expression unchanged, as if he had just asked casually.

Interesting, so interesting. Everyone else received a notification, but he, the top ranker of the Chunin Exams, got nothing.

Even his fellow Uchiha clansman, Obito, had been notified.

So the problem could only lie with Konoha's higher-ups or Minato Namikaze.

Minato's possibility was incredibly slim. After all, they had a pleasant past interaction; he didn't believe Minato would deliberately cut him off.

That left Konoha's higher-ups. The old Third Hokage? Or Root?

He sneered inwardly. He knew why. Someone in Konoha's leadership feared his talent, fearing he'd be the next Fugaku Uchiha. This was a warning.

In Fugaku Uchiha's generation, at least Konoha's leadership used his grandfather, Kagami Uchiha, to control Fugaku Uchiha.

But in this generation, no one among his peers could control him. Once he became the Uchiha Clan Head, he would wield absolute power.

After all... Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha were still too young, not yet on Konoha's leadership's radar.

Once he understood, he felt even more that his Father's decision to change the Uchiha's status through the Third Shinobi World War was the correct one.

"Perhaps they forgot to notify me," Sora Uchiha smiled faintly. "I'll go to the training grounds with you later."

Everyone fell silent. Forgetting to notify the top ranker of the Chunin Exams? That possibility was as likely as the Third Hokage choking on water.

They all knew, more or less, the current situation of the Uchiha within Konoha.

With unspoken understanding, they said nothing, merely nodding silently.

Sora Uchiha followed behind everyone, head bowed, making it impossible to see his expression. If someone bent down to look, they would discover he was actually smiling.

They deliberately ignored him?

Then, what would happen if he showed up at the training grounds of his own accord?

Amusing, so amusing.

Perhaps it was genetic, but Sora Uchiha also carried the arrogance that most Uchiha possessed.