Obito's Swagger

After Uchiha Yeshing left, the people on the training field soon dispersed as well. Without exception, Houka's name began spreading through all the classes.

Six months ago, he had beaten Masamune Hyuga. Six months later, he had beaten Uchiha Ronai. Then he had fought Uchiha Yeshing, a Chunin with the Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Though he had lost, the students at the Ninja Academy admired and idolized him even more, believing he was a genius who could rival Kakashi!

And at that very moment, the genius was sitting in his courtyard with a bitter smile.

When a Shadow Clone was dispelled after sustaining a fatal injury, its memories returned to the original.

"Uchiha Ronai. Seriously."

Houka felt a headache coming on. First it was the Hyuga House, and now it was his own Uchiha Clan. Was he supposed to take on Konoha's two great clans and beat them both?

But even if Houka had another chance to start over, he still wouldn't hesitate to fight for Might Duy's good name. Well, he'd leave anyone Chunin rank or above to Might Duy to deal with himself.

"But... the Ninja Academy is a place the Third Hokage values greatly. He treats it as his own territory. How could he possibly let a Chunin from the Uchiha Clan cause trouble there?"

Houka narrowed his eyes. He had to consider these questions, because the situation in Konoha was complicated.

There was the Third Hokage's faction, Danzo's faction, the Uchiha faction, and the Hyuga House, along with the many other ninja clans that depended on these powers. As they vied for the Hokage Position and their own clans' interests, one faction after another took the stage. Spies from other villages were mixed in among them, too. Right now, Houka was nothing but a little ant. If he carelessly wandered onto the grand stage, he would surely be crushed without mercy.

"Ugh, I know too little, and I'm not strong enough. What can I do? I'm desperate, too."

Since he couldn't figure it out, Houka stopped trying. He stood up. "Looks like I'll have to go to the academy. I wonder what happened afterward."

In the next instant, Houka vanished from the courtyard.

Over the past six months, he had trained under Might Duy. After pestering him relentlessly, he had finally gotten Duy to teach him the advanced Three Body Technique: the Body Flicker Technique, the Immobilization Technique, and the Invisibility Technique. Houka had put a great deal of effort into training in the Body Flicker Technique because it was extremely useful. It appeared frequently even in the Fourth Shinobi World War, the largest war in history, so Houka couldn't afford to underestimate it.

He soon left the Uchiha Clan's compound, crossed the streets and alleys, and arrived at the Ninja Academy.

There wasn't a single student on the training field. It was quiet. Houka used the Body Flicker Technique twice to reach his classroom, then knocked and went in.

Shin Kiyono, standing at the front of the classroom, couldn't help narrowing his eyes when he saw Houka.

Although he had been ordered not to appear during the earlier showdown, he had been watching the whole time.

He managed to fight Uchiha Yeshing with nothing but a Shadow Clone. Houka's growing far too fast. Maybe he really can catch up to Kakashi!

The students in the classroom were much more excited.

"Uchiha Houka, you're amazing!"

"Haha, Houka, you're our pride!"

"That fight was incredible!"

"That Chunin was awful! Picking on a little kid!"

Houka's eye twitched. You're the little kid! Your whole family's little kids!

My mental age is already over twenty, you know!

"Houka!" Guy's gaze was still as fierce as ever. Beneath those thick, bushy eyebrows, it was ten times as intense.

Houka nodded to show him he was fine.

"Houka, you scared me half to death, you jerk! Hahahaha!" Obito stood up, hands on his hips, and laughed triumphantly at the ceiling. His smug expression made Houka's balls ache.

"Forget to take your medicine today?"

Obito protested, "Idiot, I'm not sick!"

Houka sighed. It was nice to be a carefree little kid who couldn't understand a sarcastic joke.

"Houka, take your seat." Shin Kiyono quieted the students and sent Houka back to his seat, then continued his lesson on the use of ninja tools.

"Kunai have five basic uses: horizontal slashes, vertical chops, diagonal cuts, thrusts, and throws. But some specially made kunai have more and stronger functions. For example, in the fight on the training field just now, Uchiha Yeshing coated a specially made kunai with Chakra, increasing its lethality and sharpness. If it cuts you, it'll cause a large wound, and you'll bleed to death in a very short time!"

At the front of the classroom, Obito secretly looked back and kept sending Houka flirtatious glances.

One to the left.

One to the right.

Then another, back and forth!

Houka's eyes were about to go blind.

"Creep, stop staring at me!" Houka snapped.

"What? I'm just worried about you. You suddenly ran off in the middle of the fight, after all." Obito grinned from ear to ear. He didn't look worried in the slightest.

Rin, not far away, glanced over and shook her head helplessly.

Houka froze. It seemed his Shadow Clone hadn't been exposed. But...

He looked at Shin Kiyono at the front of the classroom. Every so often, the teacher's gaze swept over him as if casually. It seemed unintentional, but Houka could feel the brief moment when his eyes lingered.

It seemed Teacher Shin Kiyono already knew.

"Hey, Houka, I'm talking to you." Obito grew anxious when he saw Houka staring into space. He hadn't told Houka the news that he had awakened his Sharingan yet!

"Oh, right. After my Shadow Clo—after I left, what happened on the training field?" Houka asked seriously.

"After you left, that Chunin came over and tried to force me to tell him where you'd gone. Of course I didn't tell him. Then another ninja wearing a mask showed up, and the Chunin left with Uchiha Ronai." Obito couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out excitedly, "Houka, guess what? I just awakened my Sharingan!"

"A masked ninja? Root or Anbu?" Houka wondered, then put on a look of disbelief. "What? You—you awakened your Sharingan? How's that possible? How could you awaken it so early?!"

Houka was genuinely panicking.

In the original story, Obito didn't awaken his Sharingan until near the end of the Third Shinobi World War, when he saw Kakashi desperately protecting him and awakened it in a fit of rage. This, this...

Huh?

Could it be that his Shadow Clone's "death" had looked so convincing that it had shocked Obito into awakening it?

Houka was completely stunned.

Damn it, he felt like he'd lost out here!

It had already been half a year since Houka awakened his Sharingan. His ocular power was more than sufficient, but without some kind of "stimulation," he couldn't evolve it into a Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

After confirming that Obito's Sharingan had only one tomoe, Houka could only offer a bitter smile. He could only chalk it up to a twist of fate.

At the same time, he confirmed one thing: the original story could be changed!

"Houka, after school, I'll show you my Sharingan!" Obito said smugly.

"Uchiha Obito, don't get distracted during class!" Shin Kiyono said in exasperation. "I know you've awakened your Sharingan, but it isn't all-powerful. You need to learn the basics right now. Understand?"

"Yes!" Obito answered lazily.