Fingers Interlocked

"Shinji actually awakened the Sharingan!"

"Hiss!"

Obito leaned against a tree trunk, cursing under his breath. The lingering pain from the genjutsu made him suck in a sharp breath.

A trace of bitterness welled up in his heart. If only he had those eyes too.

He was jealous.

He looked toward the training ground, where Kakashi drew the blade from his back and completely suppressed Asuma with his fierce inherited swordsmanship.

After thinking for a moment, Obito recalled that Kakashi's father had once been a renowned ninja of Konoha, only to commit suicide in the end.

At that thought, his expression immediately turned solemn.

He had always regarded Kakashi as his rival, but Kakashi had changed after that. He had grown stronger and stronger, and his personality had become increasingly cold.

Kakashi had not only graduated from the Ninja Academy ahead of schedule, but had now leaped straight to Jonin, while he himself had only just become a Chunin.

He clenched his fists and muttered softly, "If I had the Sharingan too, I'd definitely be able to catch up to Kakashi."

Obito wanted to go talk to Rin, only to discover that she was gone!

"Rin?"

He hurriedly looked around and finally spotted that familiar figure on a bench not far away.

"Damn it, Shinji's sitting so close to Rin—and Kurenai's beside him too!"

Obito's cheeks instantly flushed red. Watching Shinji with a girl on each side, envy and jealousy tangled in his heart.

He pressed his lips together tightly, his heart sour with resentment.

"They're even chatting so happily?" He pricked up his ears, but could only make out vague sounds. "I can't hear them. I need to get closer."

He stood up, crouched low, and carefully sneaked over.

"What are Kakashi and Obito usually like?"

Hearing their conversation, Obito's heart suddenly skipped a beat. So they were talking about him and Kakashi.

He suppressed his excitement and looked eagerly at Rin, happily imagining, Rin must think I'm a mature and dependable man!

However, Rin's gentle voice reached him the next second, shattering his fantasy.

"Obito is very enthusiastic, but sometimes he's so reckless that he makes people worry. He feels like a little brother who needs looking after."

There were three great illusions in life: I can turn this around, someone's calling me, and she likes me.

"I'm not a little brother!"

Tears welled at the corners of Obito's eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as he wanted to shout at the sky, but found that he did not have even a shred of strength left.

Kakashi and Asuma's match came to an end, with Kakashi emerging victorious. The two walked off the field side by side, while Asuma still wore a somewhat unwilling expression.

Seeing this, Minato called Kurenai and Rin's names, signaling for them to take part in the final match.

Honestly, Shinji had been looking forward to this duel the most.

It was not because he thought either of them was especially powerful. It was simply because watching two pretty girls fight was far more pleasing to the eye than watching two grown men beat each other up.

Shinji nodded to himself. He loved watching girls fight.

At that moment, Kakashi, who had just left the field, jerked his thumb toward the bench and casually asked, "What's wrong with that idiot?"

At a glance, he saw Obito sitting there with his head lowered, looking as though the sky had fallen.

Asuma followed his gaze and likewise noticed that something was off about Obito.

Shinji shrugged. He could not exactly say that Rin had accidentally friendzoned Obito just now and hit him so hard that he had ended up like this.

He had thought that Rin's careless words might even provoke Obito into awakening his eyes on the spot.

Yet nothing had happened.

Perhaps, in Obito's heart, everything about Rin was flawless?

Truly the greatest romantic fool in Hokage.

What a pity. Rin only sees you as a little brother, while I've already succeeded in holding her hand.

A man had to take the initiative, Obito. You were still too young.

At that thought, Shinji's lips curled into a smile as he casually explained, "He probably feels a little disappointed after losing to me."

The sentence carried two meanings, and only he understood them!

Kakashi snorted, his tone full of disdain. "He's the dead last. Isn't that only natural?"

A minute later.

"Hm?"

This time, Kakashi was genuinely surprised. He stared suspiciously at Obito and thought, Why didn't this idiot jump up and argue with me like usual?

He had already grown used to their usual pattern: Kakashi mocked him, and Obito argued back.

Yet Obito still kept his head lowered. In his heart, that sky remained collapsed.

The final match came to an end, with Kurenai Yuhi claiming victory.

The two linked arms and walked off the field side by side, neither particularly concerned with winning or losing. Their faces bore only the faint panting and smiles left behind by training.

Teacher Minato was very satisfied with this joint training session. He had now seen the Shinji Squad's strength clearly.

Especially since he had discovered a promising talent.

His gaze fell on Shinji as he mused inwardly:

"Before long, his strength will probably catch up to Kakashi's."

"For the Uchiha Clan, once they awaken their eyes, their strength improves incredibly quickly."

He turned to the six of them and announced, "Meet at the village entrance at nine in the morning three days from now. Dismissed!"

Teacher Minato was the first to turn and leave, leaving only the six of them on the training ground.

It was already evening. The sky gradually darkened, and the evening breeze began to rise.

Everyone was hungry and exhausted, nearly drained of strength.

Asuma suddenly suggested, "How about we go get some barbecue?"

His gaze drifted unconsciously toward Kurenai. In truth, she was the only one he really wanted to invite.

Kakashi lightly shook his head. "I'll pass. I'm heading home first."

Obito weakly raised a hand. "Me too. I'm a little tired today."

Kurenai Yuhi smiled gently. "My father is waiting for me. Maybe next time."

Three people were gone in an instant, and Kurenai had especially declined as well. Asuma immediately wilted and said listlessly, "Then... next time."

He let out a soft sigh.

He had liked Kurenai Yuhi for so long, yet there had never been the slightest progress.

Seeing that there was nothing else to do, Kakashi turned and left. Obito did the same, even forgetting to say goodbye to Rin as he walked off directly, his back looking especially lonely.

Rin watched his retreating figure and muttered softly, "Why was Obito acting so strange just now?"

Shinji laughed inwardly.

The group then went their separate ways.

Just as Rin was about to leave, Shinji quietly tugged at the corner of her clothes.

Nohara Rin paused and quickly turned back toward Shinji.

Shinji silently moved his lips, mouthing, "Slow down."

Her cheeks reddened, and she could not help clutching the hem of her clothes as she inexplicably slowed her pace.

Gradually, the two deliberately fell behind the others, until only Shinji and Rin remained.

They walked side by side, and the atmosphere began to turn sweet and tender.

Shinji deliberately cleared his throat.

"Ahem, Rin, let me walk you home."

Rin's heartbeat suddenly quickened, and she replied softly, "Thank you, Shinji."

"It's no trouble. Still, I didn't expect us to be going to the front lines together this time."

"It's not just me. Teacher Minato and the others are going too."

"Rin, I'll protect you!"

"Mm!"

Rin's voice grew quieter and quieter. Shinji had to listen carefully to catch that soft hum, and he could not help smiling to himself.

He slowly moved closer to Rin. Their hands brushed accidentally, and Rin always instinctively pulled away.

At last, Shinji's right pinky gently hooked around Rin's left pinky.

He felt her palm trembling faintly, but she did not pull away.

Shinji grew bolder. No longer satisfied with that, he took her hand in his.

Their fingers interlocked as they walked together toward Konoha's residential district.