The Storm Gathers

Leaving Ichiraku Ramen, Sora Uchiha didn't know what to do for a while and could only start wandering aimlessly.

Along the way, Sora Uchiha could faintly hear people pointing and talking about him by the roadside:

"That kid looks like he's from the Uchiha Clan."

"Uchiha? That cold-blooded clan?"

"Tsk, I heard Uchiha are emotionless killing machines on the battlefield, all of them incredibly cold and aloof. They say they don't even know how to smile."

"Look, that kid up ahead, even though he's young, his face already carries a clear indifference."

"If you ask me, the Uchiha Clan should be removed from Konoha."

Listening to the hushed whispers, filled with pity or mockery, Sora Uchiha's expression remained unchanged. He didn't argue, nor did his pace falter.

Cold-blooded Uchiha?

The Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan required strong emotions to awaken.

In principle, love, hate, and sorrow could all stimulate the awakening of the Sharingan.

However, in this world, pain was the deepest emotion. Compared to love, hate and pain were far easier to come by.

Simply losing someone dear to you would most likely awaken the Sharingan.

And the places with the most hate and pain were often battlefields.

Therefore, most Uchiha who survived wars could awaken the Sharingan. As more people died, their emotions naturally became more subdued.

Possessing those eyes proved that one had lost a lot up to that point.

Strictly speaking, the Uchiha were the clan that valued emotions the most in the ninja world, yet the eyes awakened through pain were seen as those of cold-blooded people by the people of Konoha.

How ironic.

Next to Ichiraku Ramen was Konoha's clothing store, where pretty girls were happily picking out delicate clothes with smiles on their faces.

Speaking of which, these shops were quite bold. Even though the Land of Fire was still in a state of war, the shops were still able to stay open.

Sora Uchiha hadn't intended to pay them any mind, but as he passed by the clothing store, a glance from the corner of his eye made him stop.

Because he saw a few unexpected people.

The red-eyed girl holding up clothes with both hands to try them on, the short-haired girl with two painted markings on her cheeks, and a spirited young lady.

It was Kurenai Yuhi, Rin, and Anko Mitarashi.

He hadn't expected these three to be out shopping for clothes together.

But then...

Sora Uchiha stroked his chin. Since Rin was here, was that guy also nearby?

He scanned the surroundings and, sure enough, spotted the bespectacled boy at a small eatery not far away.

He let out a soft chuckle, "As expected, wherever Rin is, Obito is too."

After a moment's thought, he walked over...

The small eatery had few customers, only a handful of people eating fried skewers and discussing recent amusing events. A sense of everyday life filled the air.

Among the few patrons, Obito listlessly ate a grilled sausage, his eyes constantly fixed on the oil-painted girl in the clothing store not far away.

"Rin, so cute..." he mumbled, acting like a lovesick fool.

"If you keep staring, you'll drool."

A teasing voice came from the side.

Obito jumped and quickly wiped his mouth with his sleeve, only to find nothing there. He looked up and saw Sora Uchiha struggling to suppress a smile in the corner of his eye.

Even with his thick skin, he blushed beet red and said angrily, "Sora, what nonsense are you talking about!"

With that, he flicked the skewer stick towards Sora Uchiha.

Sora Uchiha smiled faintly, precisely catching the wooden stick between two fingers. Under Obito's fierce gaze, he sat down.

"Boss, five skewers of lamb." he called out, then turned back to Obito.

"Just kidding, no need to stare at me like you're going to eat me. It's not like your crush on Rin is a new thing."

Obito was startled. He instantly flashed in front of Sora Uchiha and covered his mouth, stammering, "Y-you, how did you know?!"

Sora Uchiha unceremoniously slapped Obito's hand away and sneered, "What do you mean 'how did I know'? You should ask who doesn't know."

As he spoke, the boss brought over two skewers of lamb. He handed one to Obito.

Mmm, the sizzling grilled meat, exuding a golden luster, was incredibly tempting, its allure comparable to "Temptation of Home."

Taking a bite, Sora Uchiha's eyes lit up slightly. He hadn't expected the lamb skewers to be so delicious and silently marked the place.

Obito took the skewer but had no appetite for it, his mind still filled with Sora Uchiha's words from earlier. He set the grilled meat aside.

"Sora, is it that obvious?"

"Yeah, your eyes are practically glued to Rin. I bet everyone knows except you."

Obito's old face flushed red, and he stammered, "Rin, where's Rin?"

"Rin?" Sora Uchiha pondered for a moment, also uncertain. "She... probably knows too?"

In the original story, Obito was seemingly, perhaps, probably in unrequited love!

Upon hearing this, Obito's face contorted into a bitter grimace. "Ah, it's no use if only I like Rin. Rin doesn't like me!"

"Oh? How do you know Rin doesn't like you?"

"Because Rin already likes someone."

"Huh? Who?" Sora Uchiha was startled and pressed further.

Gossip, gossip!

Who snagged our Kamui, who hid his tears? Hmm... saying 'snagged' isn't quite right either, considering our Lord Obito never truly possessed her.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he spoke, he noticed Obito's gaze turn exceptionally... resentful.

He heard Obito say sinisterly, "Who?" in a strange tone. "Doesn't everyone know our Uchiha genius has charmed countless girls in the Ninja Academy? That one summoning jutsu was truly earth-shattering and spirit-moving."

Hearing this, Sora Uchiha blinked, coughed lightly, and picked up a skewer of grilled meat.

"Obito, look, this grilled meat is really grilled meat..."

Obito glared at him resentfully, casually treating the grilled meat as Sora, and took a fierce bite, as if that could quell the hatred in his heart.

"Ah! Sora, what are you doing here?"

Just as Obito was engrossed in the grilled meat, a girl's surprised exclamation came from beside him. He looked up resentfully, his voice cool.

"Hey, don't ignore me! You jerk!"

"Oops, sorry, sorry!" Kurenai Yuhi immediately clapped her hands together and apologized.

Sora! I'll never forgive you!!!

Sora Uchiha couldn't help but chuckle, then extended his palm towards Kurenai Yuhi.

The latter was startled, realized something, and placed her hand in Sora's palm, her face flushed.

...Silence...

Sora Uchiha unceremoniously slapped away the girl's soft little hand, a fake smile on his face.

"Did you forget something?"

"What, you're so unromantic," Kurenai Yuhi stuck out her tongue and casually took out a few candies from her pocket, placing them in Sora's hand. "I remember, one month and one week."

Rin also came over and placed a handful of nuts in Sora Uchiha's hand.

Looking at her slightly flushed face, Sora Uchiha's heart stirred.

Rin was actually a very lively person, but why did she always seem so delicate in front of him?

Recalling Obito's earlier words, "Rin already likes someone," he narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Could it be that Obito was right?" he thought.

"Hey, hey, why are you giving this guy food?!" Anko Mitarashi's eyes widened, and she stared suspiciously at Sora, trying to uncover any abnormal relationship between them.

Could it be that Sora had something on Kurenai and Rin?

"Anko, we lost a bet to him," Kurenai Yuhi said, grabbing Anko Mitarashi's wrist and explaining sheepishly.

Sora Uchiha silently watched the girls' actions, feeling that this kind of life was quite good.

However, how long could it last?

The wind was filling the tower before the storm.