Clash with Might Guy

The school bell rang.

After the teacher finished droning on about the graduation exam tomorrow and reminding everyone to keep their condition in check, Obito Uchiha stood up in an instant, packed his bag in a few quick motions, and stationed himself right by Rin Nohara's side.

"Obito, why are you acting so jumpy?" Rin Nohara asked.

Obito Uchiha replied, "It's nothing, Rin."

"Today, I'm walking you home."

As he spoke, he kept a close watch on Nebula Kotetsu.

This time, he would absolutely not allow himself to leave halfway and give Nebula Kotetsu any chance to take advantage of the situation.

Under his tense gaze, Nebula Kotetsu didn't linger and headed straight for the door.

Could it be that this guy gave up because he saw I wasn't giving him a chance? Obito Uchiha thought to himself.

Even so, he still couldn't let his guard down. Even as he watched the other boy walk out of the school and head in a direction different from Rin Nohara's home, he remained glued to her side, determined to see her all the way to her front door.

"Obito."

"I've already said it, you don't need to follow me."

"I can go home by myself just fine." On the way, seeing Obito Uchiha looking around like a monkey, cautious and wary, Rin Nohara said with a hint of helplessness.

"No." Obito Uchiha refused without a second thought.

"Today, I must see you home safely."

"That guy Nebula Kotetsu—I can't give him even the slightest chance to pester you again."

Rin Nohara looked at Obito Uchiha's determined expression and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Forget it.

Let him be; she was too tired to say anything more.

"Rin, let me tell you, you must be careful of a guy with such poor character as Nebula Kotetsu."

"Don't be deceived by his appearance. Beneath that evil exterior, he must be hiding an even more evil heart."

"Sometimes, if you let your guard down for even a moment, he might just seize the opportunity to strike."

"I'm telling you, men understand men the b—" As Obito Uchiha rambled on, he suddenly met Rin Nohara's furious eyes, and his voice faltered to a stop.

He stammered, "I... I'm just worried about you."

Rin Nohara didn't say a word and continued walking toward her house.

Obito Uchiha chased after her, catching up in a few strides. As he followed, he secretly steeled his resolve.

He had to make Rin see the true face of that scumbag!

Only after seeing Rin Nohara all the way to her house did Obito Uchiha finally set his mind at ease.

He urged her, "Rin."

"Remember what I said."

"You must be careful!"

"From now on, I'll walk you home every day!"

"Bang!" The second-floor window suddenly swung open, and a man's voice rang out.

"Is that you, Obito?"

Obito Uchiha's expression shifted. He hesitated for a second, then pinched his nose and said in a disguised voice, "No."

"Splash!!" A basin of water was immediately dumped from the second floor, accompanied by an angry shout.

"Obito, you little brat!"

Before the water could hit him, Obito scrambled away in a panic, then turned and ran off into the distance.

"Rin! I'll come to walk you home again tomorrow!"

Rin Nohara watched speechlessly as the disheveled Obito ran further and further away.

She didn't want Obito to walk her home; it felt weird.

Besides... the time Nebula had asked to study with her was in the evening, so what was the point of walking her home after school?

Of course, to avoid trouble, she wouldn't say this to Obito. She turned and went into the house, rummaging through her old study materials.

She was going to tutor Nebula tonight; she couldn't afford to show up and reveal her own ignorance—that would be too embarrassing.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

His lungs heaved violently, greedily absorbing the oxygen from the air.

Nebula Kotetsu's cheeks were flushed as he ran with all his might.

Behind him, Might Guy was running along as well, catching up to Nebula Kotetsu's side in a few strides until they were running neck and neck.

Might Guy asked, "Um... why are we running?"

Nebula Kotetsu: "Not run? If I don't run, won't I be surrounded?"

Recalling the large crowd of chattering girls gathered at the gates of Konoha, along with quite a few boys looking for a spectacle, Might Guy finally understood that Nebula Kotetsu was avoiding them.

"It's just a group of people, what is there to be afraid of?"

Nebula Kotetsu panted, "You don't understand."

"I don't understand?" Might Guy was unconvinced.

With his own wisdom, could he really not understand such a trivial matter?

He thought for a moment and reached a conclusion.

"You're afraid of everyone seeing you get defeated by me, aren't you?"

He wanted to advise the other party that this shameful, avoidant mindset was wrong.

Youth should be fearless; it should be open and aboveboard.

Nebula Kotetsu shook his head: "It's not as simple as you think."

"I am afraid of them seeing, but it's not about losing face."

"I'm afraid your life in the coming days will be very difficult."

Nebula Kotetsu knew very well. Once Might Guy landed a heavy blow during their spar, he knew exactly what kind of attitude Might Guy's girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, and less-than-attractive fan club members would adopt toward him in the following period.

It would likely be even more miserable than being a jinchuriki.

To avoid collateral damage, Nebula Kotetsu had no choice but to pick a place where they wouldn't be disturbed.

A moment later, as the two picked up their pace, the people behind them grew fewer and fewer. Might Guy had a robust physique, and after being nourished by the system, Nebula Kotetsu's 0.31 units of chakra surpassed most of his peers, giving him decent stamina.

After a while, there was no one left behind them.

The two finally stopped in an open space in the back mountains of Konoha.

"This place will do." Nebula Kotetsu selected the spot.

Might Guy asked, "Do you need to rest?"

Nebula Kotetsu agreed without a second thought: "Sure." With that, under Might Guy's surprised gaze, he sat down to steady his rapid breathing.

Might Guy sat to one side.

It was a bit boring.

Taking advantage of the break, he took the initiative to speak.

"Why did you challenge me?"

In his memory, very few people ever challenged him. As a dead-last student with poor ninjutsu talent who had only entered the academy as a replacement, what boy would want to challenge someone like him?

Even though his taijutsu strength was improving rapidly, because he was immersed in his own training all day—never looking at the class beauties or gossiping—very few people sought him out.

Nebula Kotetsu was the first.

Facing Might Guy's question, Nebula Kotetsu perked up.

This was the beginning of their formal interaction, and since it concerned the establishment of their future friendship, he had to take it seriously.

"Guy."

"Do you know? I admire you very much."

A single sentence made Might Guy's eyes widen, his focus hitting the max!

He couldn't help but turn his body, his expression becoming earnest.

"Go on."

Nebula Kotetsu: "..."

His train of thought was interrupted for a second, but he quickly adjusted, recounting his "inner journey" in a measured, storytelling tone.

"For a long time, I have been wasting my time."

"For a very long time, I have been the 'dead-last' in the mouths of my classmates."

"They say that apart from a face, I am good for nothing and could never become a qualified ninja."

"I refuse to accept that!"

"I want to prove to everyone that I am not a dead-last, that I can be just like everyone else—learning ninjutsu, training my body, and becoming a qualified ninja."