Heartbreak

"It contains a detailed record of how Nebula Kotetsu... how he..." Obito Uchiha's face flushed red, as if he were too ashamed to speak: "How he does things with them that he shouldn't be doing."

"Take a look."

This was the fruit of his labor throughout the entire night.

After changing his strategy from "digging up dirt" to "proving the other party is involved in passionate romances with many women," he had managed to succeed in part, despite taking a rolling pin to the head for his efforts.

He had even shamelessly begged several people to sign their names beneath the supporting evidence.

He believed that with this "proof of guilt," Rin Nohara would surely see Nebula Kotetsu's true colors and draw a clear line between herself and that guy once and for all!

Under his expectant gaze, Rin Nohara stared fixedly at the notebook before her.

Seconds ticked by, one after another.

Rin Nohara remained motionless.

A complex look flashed through her eyes.

Curiosity.

Nervousness.

Fear.

Avoidance...

"Rin, what's wrong?"

"Why aren't you looking?"

"You, you should open it and take a look!" Obito Uchiha grew anxious.

However, to his disappointment, Rin Nohara ultimately did not flip it open.

"Obito, I won't look at it."

"Regardless of whether what you brought is true or false, as classmates, we shouldn't pry into Nebula's private affairs."

"Don't you think your actions are going too far?"

Obito Uchiha froze.

"I... I just..."

Watching the stammering Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara shook her head in disappointment.

Panic surged in Obito Uchiha's heart, and he blurted out: "Rin!"

"I didn't mean it!"

"I was just afraid you would get hurt."

Rin Nohara looked at him with displeasure: "Nebula and I are just classmates."

"What kind of hurt would I receive?"

Hearing this, Obito Uchiha felt he could breathe again, yet Rin Nohara's next words made his heart turn cold.

"Besides, don't you think your concern has crossed the line?"

"Crack!" A shattering sound.

It sounded like his heart, or perhaps Obito Uchiha himself.

He stood dazed on the spot, feeling a chill run through his entire body despite the summer heat, unable to stop himself from trembling.

Rin Nohara's words pierced into his heart like a knife.

"Don't you think your concern has crossed the line?"

"Crossed the line?"

"The line?"

"Line~"

The space before his eyes seemed to compress, the depth of field in the world shifted, and the colors faded away.

Only a hint of purple remained on Rin Nohara's face.

Had he crossed the line?

Previously, Rin Nohara had never spoken such cold words to him, and he had never considered this question.

He had simply been greedy for her gentleness and consideration.

He had assumed that this gentleness and consideration belonged to him alone.

The appearance of Nebula Kotetsu made him feel a massive threat!

This sense of threat left him unable to eat or sleep, which was why he had gone to such lengths to make Rin see the other party's true face; his goal... was to have that gentleness return to him alone.

Obito Uchiha was incredibly clear that he liked Rin Nohara.

Liked her so, so much!

It wasn't just her appearance. He liked the faint fragrance she carried, liked the gentleness with which she cared for him, and liked her understanding and tolerance whenever he made a mistake.

He loved that captivating smile.

Deep in his heart, he vaguely felt that Rin Nohara... probably liked him, too.

Otherwise, why would she show him such a gentle, intoxicating smile? To protect that gentle smile, he was willing to give everything!

Rin Nohara, of course, had no idea what Obito Uchiha was thinking at this moment. If she did, she might not be able to help but retort.

"I'm not just gentle to you alone!"

"I'm a gentle person by nature! I was born to smile!"

Right now, looking at Obito Uchiha standing dazed before her, as if cut off from the entire world, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret.

Was what she said earlier about "boundaries" too hurtful to him?

She felt a bit of pity, but her anger at him for acting on his own accord hadn't faded yet, and she couldn't bring herself to apologize.

At this moment, someone walked into the classroom.

"Everyone."

"Head out now and gather at the main training ground!"

"Bring your ninja tool pouches."

Rin Nohara breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at Obito in front of her, she offered him a way out, though her tone still carried a hint of lingering irritation.

"Let's go, to the training ground."

"...Oh... oh." Obito Uchiha responded subconsciously. Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he grabbed his bag and followed her.

Ninja Academy training ground.

The crowd was growing.

Besides the class Rin Nohara was in, there were other classes. She observed and realized that the entire grade was heading this way.

On the north side of the large training ground, a few tables and chairs had been moved to form a makeshift podium, where several teachers sat with thick stacks of documents in front of them.

Everyone grew nervous.

"What's going on?"

"This is quite the setup."

"Was the graduation exam like this last year?"

"I don't know, I didn't pay attention last year. Why don't you go ask that dead-last Nebula Kotetsu? He's taken it twice, he must know."

"You don't have to tell me, I wanted to ask, but he's late."

"Wait! He's here! He's here, you can go ask him now."

"Do you think I'm stupid? Asking him at a time like this."

As the crowd whispered, a teacher sitting in a chair picked up the microphone in front of him.

"Quiet down, quiet down."

"Anyone else talking can go stand at the edge of the training ground to listen."

With those two sentences, the crowd fell instantly silent.

The teacher nodded in satisfaction at the sight and then said, "The format for this year's graduation exam has undergone some changes."

"It is divided into three parts."

"The first is the academic assessment."

"This has already been completed, determined by your exam rankings over the past year."

"The second is the combat assessment."

"In a moment, the teachers will arrange matches based on your recent performance in combat class, pairing students of similar strength, and grade you based on your performance."

"For this, the Hokage has specially arranged for an outstanding graduate, Chunin Kaede Hyuga, to serve as your referee."

Following his words, a hooded woman on the side of the podium put down the documents she was reviewing and removed her hood. She nodded to everyone in greeting.

With her movement, a wave of noise erupted from the crowd.

"Whoa!"

"Senior Kaede!"

"So beautiful!"

"Oh my god!"

Exclamations rang out continuously in the crowd.

It was because the woman was very well-known; she was a graduate three years their senior. When many of them first entered the Ninja Academy, she was already a prominent figure and a famous genius in the school.

Besides that, she was simply too beautiful!

The woman wore a Chunin combat uniform, but the monotonous colors could not hide her graceful figure. More eye-catching than her physique was her face.

Exquisite.

Her nose, mouth, jaw, and cheeks—not a single part was anything less than beautiful, and everything was in perfect harmony.

Her pure white eyes carried a unique aesthetic, and the ninja headband on her forehead added a touch of heroism to her. As the hood came off and her silky long hair cascaded down, many male students stared, completely transfixed.