Training Ground No. 9.
He stood upside down on the tree branch with Obito in his hands and did a difficult pull-up.
"This year, I must be promoted to Chunin no matter what."
Wearing goggles to prevent sweat from getting into his eyes due to gravity, Obito's face turned red. Even though his muscles were protesting through soreness, nothing could stop his determination to become stronger.
"One hundred and twenty-one, one hundred and twenty-two, one hundred... uh?" The branch suddenly sank, as if something heavy had been placed on it.
The sudden turn of events disrupted Obito's thoughts, causing the Chakra output covering his feet to be interrupted, and he fell straight down the tree.
"Ah, spicy!"
Obito let out a scream and closed his eyes. But the expected pain did not come; instead, his body seemed to be enveloped by something soft.
Obito, trembling as he opened his eyes, immediately saw the red Toad beside him.
"Hey kid, training here?"
On the tree branch, Jiraiya sat with his legs crossed, clearly the heavy object that Obito had just felt was him.
"You peeping tom, you almost scared me to death!"
Obito angrily shoved the Toad aside Obito pointed a finger at it with a resentful look.
"Sorry, sorry, I just got Obito away because you were working so hard." Knowing he had really scared Jiraiya, Jiraiya didn't argue with him. Instead, he readily apologized and jumped down from the tree branch.
"What's gotten into you, causing this sudden surge in training?" Curious, Jiraiya stroked his Obito, observing Obito with curiosity. "Could it be that the girl you like was...?"
"No!"
Obito quickly retorted, "I just simply want to become stronger!"
"Oh, you get stronger. What happens after you get stronger?" Hearing this answer, Jiraiya was reminded of himself when he was a child.
At that time, I was also pondering the purpose of my training, and the final conclusion I reached was that becoming stronger would win Tsunade's back...
Well, in the end, Tsunade still ended up with Dan Katō...
"Hahaha..." Jiraiya couldn't help but laugh as he recalled his childish self.
"What are you laughing at?" This laugh further aggravated Obito's already somewhat irritated state, and he subconsciously assumed that the other person was mocking him.
Seeing that Obito had misunderstood him, Jiraiya quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand, seeing you actually reminds me of myself when I was a child."
"You when you were little? Well, you were just a little peeping tom when you were little. What does that have to do with me? I don't peep." Obito's eyes were filled with disdain when he heard Jiraiya compare him to him.
Upon hearing Obito's words, Jiraiya's face darkened, and he looked utterly exasperated. "You're really not cute. Have you been spending too much time with that brat from the Shimura Clan?"
"Actually, I was just like you back then, the worst in the group. I only got to where I am today through my own hard work." Jiraiya found a relatively clean rock Jiraiya plopped down on it.
"Kid, if you want to become stronger, you need a goal you can't give up on. With a goal, you'll have the motivation to pursue it." Jiraiya's expression became unusually serious.
"I..."
Upon hearing Jiraiya's question, Obito fell into deep thought, many images flashing through his mind.
I first met Kazashiro when I was four years old.
Having arrived late for the entrance ceremony, I thought I would miss my chance to attend the Ninja Academy, but thankfully Kazashiro brought out my file.
Even though I was late for graduation again, I still managed to get my own Forehead Protector with Kazashiro's help.
The scenes of him intervening at crucial moments during battle, helping to repel the enemy...
Although he kept saying he wanted to become Hokage and the captain of the Military Police Force, in the end, he was always the one being protected by the other party...
"I want to become stronger, so that I will no longer be the one being protected by Kazashiro, but the one protecting him!"
Obito clenched his fists, unleashing an unprecedented aura, and looked at Jiraiya with unwavering determination.
At that very moment, Obito 'Tsuchihara black pupils turned crimson, with a Tomoe spinning wildly within them, finally coming to a slow stop under Jiraiya's astonished gaze.
"This is..."
Jiraiya never expected that simply exchanging a few words with the other person would force them to awaken their Sharingan.
"What's wrong?"
Completely unaware of the strangeness in his own eyes, Obito was puzzled by Jiraiya's expression.
"See for yourself..."
Jiraiya took a small mirror from his pocket and handed it to Obito.
"Sharingan? I have Sharingan!"
Looking at his handsome face in the mirror (Obito called himself), Obito didn't notice anything unusual at first, until Jiraiya reminded him that he finally realized he had obtained the Sharingan he had always dreamed of.
"The old man was right. The new green leaves in the village are indeed lush and vibrant, even more dazzling than when we were here..." Jiraiya subconsciously curled the corners of his mouth as he recalled Hiruzen's words.
"In that case, let's make the green leaves in the village even more beautiful! Hey, brat, seeing how hard you've worked, I'll let the famous Shinobi World that it can stop a child Lord Jiraiya crying, teach you a few moves!"
Jiraiya rolled up his sleeves, ready to get down to business.
"I have the Sharingan! I have the Sharingan!"
Obito, preoccupied with his own joy, completely ignored Jiraiya's words.
"You bastard!" Seeing that he was being completely ignored, Jiraiya punched Obito on the head.
"Come on, Kazashiro, let's have a thrilling duel!"
Might Guy, who had shamelessly followed Kazashiro to the training ground, couldn't wait to assume a starting stance.
"Since you're so diligent, come on." Kazashiro, who was just planning to practice his Taijutsu, didn't refuse and turned to face Might Guy.
Using Ice Release to create an ice spear, Kazashiro held it in one hand and pointed the spearhead at his opponent. "Come on, Guy!"
"Oh!"
Might Guy charged at Kazashiro, attacking while dodging the weapon in Kazashiro's hand.
Gripping his weapon tightly, Kazashiro Fudō, searching for Might Guy's weakness through his observation.
After dodging one of Might Guy's kicks, Kazashiro suddenly thrust out his ice spear.
Sensing the danger, Kai spun around in mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Kazashiro gave his opponent no chance to breathe. He withdrew his ice spear and swept it horizontally, aiming directly at the spot where his opponent had landed.