The sunlight in the hallway gradually grew harsh, casting long, slanted shadows through the window frames. Dust motes drifted through the air, lending it a lazy feel.
One class period passed in the blink of an eye.
The classroom door suddenly swung open. Teacher Ibuki poked his head out and looked at them expressionlessly. "Come in."
Shin-chan and Obito nodded and obediently walked into the classroom.
"Ahem." Teacher Ibuki stood in the center of the platform and cleared his throat. "I have an announcement."
The classroom fell silent.
Teacher Ibuki rarely smiled, but now he did. "Next month, the Lord Third will visit our school."
The classroom erupted at once.
"The Hokage, in the flesh!"
"Seriously? Teacher Ibuki, you're not messing with us, are you?"
"We'll get to see the Lord Third?"
The children excitedly whispered among themselves. The Hokage stood at the very top of Konoha, the strongest Ninja of legend, and every child's ultimate idol.
Teacher Ibuki raised a hand to quiet them. "And while he's here, the Hokage will personally guide you through sparring practice."
"Sparring?" Obito jumped to his feet, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "With the Hokage?"
Teacher Ibuki nodded. "The Hokage will give one-on-one guidance to selected students, point out their problems, and teach them how to improve."
"I want in!" Obito was fired up in an instant. He threw both arms over his head. "I want to spar with the Hokage! Teacher Ibuki, pick me! I'll give it everything I've got!"
Laughter rose from the classroom.
Someone muttered, "You just started school. You don't know how to do anything. How are you supposed to fight?"
"Exactly. The Hokage could pin you down with one finger."
"Forget one finger. The Hokage could blow you all the way to the Konoha Gate with a single breath."
Obito flushed. "So what? Getting to fight the Hokage would be an honor, even if I got knocked flat."
Might Guy stood up too, tears in his eyes. "Well said! Youth means challenging the strong. I want to fight the Hokage too!"
"Whoa!"
"Not another one..."
"You two together still wouldn't be enough for the Hokage to fight, would you?"
"Exactly!"
The classroom descended into chaos.
Teacher Ibuki slapped the desk hard.
"Quiet!"
The children gradually settled down.
Teacher Ibuki pushed up his glasses and swept his gaze over everyone. "The Hokage has limited time, so he can't fight everyone. Only the top three students will get this opportunity."
The classroom erupted again.
"Top three?"
"It's over, I don't stand a chance."
"That's way too hard!"
Groans and sharp intakes of breath filled the classroom. Most of the students' eyes immediately dimmed.
"In two weeks, there'll be a comprehensive exam on what you've studied recently and the basics of training. The top three will get to stand before the Hokage." Teacher Ibuki looked around the room. "So if you want this opportunity, you'd better start working hard now."
A blazing fire lit in Obito's eyes. He clenched his fists and trembled all over, as if he could already see himself facing off against the Hokage.
"Top three—I'm definitely making the top three!"
Might Guy stood up too, flames seeming to rise behind him. "Youth! This is the trial of youth! To stand before the Hokage, I'll burn with all my might!"
"Stop dreaming, you two," someone said, pouring cold water on their enthusiasm. "Kakashi's guaranteed to make the top three. Do you think you can beat him to one of the two remaining spots?"
Obito and Might Guy looked at Kakashi at the same time.
The silver-haired little boy was resting his chin on his hand and gazing out the window, as if he hadn't heard a word they'd said.
Obito's expression stiffened, but he quickly got fired up again. "S-so what? There are still two spots!"
"Those two spots are for other people. You two don't have a chance."
"You!"
Teacher Ibuki slapped the desk again. "All right, all right. Stop arguing. From now on, pay attention in class and train hard. Everyone has a chance."
Shin-chan hadn't said a word this whole time. He rested his chin on his hand and stared at the blackboard, but his eyes were clearly unfocused.
Uchiha Toru noticed something was off and asked quietly, "Shin-chan, what's wrong?"
Shin-chan slowly turned his head, looking unusually serious. "Xiao Che."
"Yeah?"
"Tell me, if I could stand before the Hokage, could I get him to do me a favor?"
"What favor?" Uchiha Toru paused, unable to imagine what Shin-chan could possibly need the Hokage to step in and handle.
Shin-chan leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Get the Hokage to order the destruction of every green pepper in Konoha, so I don't have to wait until I become Hokage."
Uchiha Toru was silent for two seconds, then said, "In theory, the Hokage could give that order."
"That's great!"
"But," Uchiha Toru cut him off, "why would the Hokage give an order over something so trivial?"
"Why wouldn't he?" Shin-chan tilted his head. "I have to face green peppers every day. I suffer every day. How is that not a big deal?"
Uchiha Toru opened his mouth, then closed it. In a way, to Shin-chan, it really was a huge deal.
"Besides," Shin-chan continued, "if I'm standing right in front of him, he couldn't very well refuse a little kid's request, could he?"
Uchiha Toru thought it over, then reminded him, "Shin-chan, you have to earn the right to stand before him before you can make your request."
"Oh, right." Shin-chan nodded, his gaze growing determined. "I'm going to make the top three!"
Uchiha Toru looked at his serious face and didn't know what to say.
Was this guy really going to study hard just so he wouldn't have to eat green peppers?
Shin-chan clenched his little fist. "For a future without green peppers, I'll give it my all!"
"All right." Uchiha Toru nodded. "I'll work hard too and try to make the top three."
"You want to make it too?" Shin-chan blinked. "Doesn't that make us rivals?"
"We can be rivals and friends." Uchiha Toru smiled. "Let's compete fairly."
Shin-chan thought it over, then held out his pinky. "Then let's pinky swear. Whoever makes the top three has to buy the other a Chocolate Stick."
Uchiha Toru paused, then smiled.
"Deal. Pinky swear."
The two boys hooked their little fingers together.
The second class began. At the front of the room, Teacher Ibuki continued explaining Chakra. His explanation was detailed, but to most of the children who had just started school, the material still seemed difficult and tedious.
Shin-chan sat bolt upright, his hands folded on the desk and his chin slightly raised. His big eyes shone as he stared at the blackboard.
Throughout the day's classes, and even during training after school, Shin-chan was full of fighting spirit. "For the top three, for the destruction of green peppers, I'll burn with all my youthful passion!"
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