"Eat up. When the weather turns cold, the energy you get from food decreases, and it can't fully replenish your strength," Mirai urged.
"Yeah!" Obito answered and began eating.
Obito lay on the grass, patting his overstuffed stomach in satisfaction.
He looked much more spirited. Mirai smiled as he lay on his side, watching Obito.
Obito slowly sat up, looked at Mirai, and asked, "Elder, why are you here?"
"Hmm..." Mirai pondered for a moment, then looked at the ground. "Because this is a place I used to come to often..."
"Here!? What did you come here for?" Obito was startled.
Mirai smiled and replied, "Like you—training."
Obito continued, "Even a powerful ninja like you still came here to train!?"
Mirai answered, "No matter how powerful a ninja becomes, everyone has a beginning. Back then, just like you, I came here alone to train every day."
"Alone..." Obito lowered his eyes slightly, then asked, "Wasn't it hard?"
"Of course it was hard." Mirai smiled and continued, "But... hard work and perseverance are the price one must pay for this dream."
"Obito, what kind of dream do you have?" Mirai asked.
Obito froze slightly at that, his face flushing with embarrassment.
But when he looked into Mirai's eyes, he unconsciously felt reassured and trusted him, so he said:
"I promised Nohara Rin that I would become Hokage and protect her and the whole village!"
Mirai was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. "Obito, your dream hasn't changed."
"Elder Mirai must think it's ridiculous. Someone like me, who can't do anything right, actually wants to become Hokage. It's just wishful thinking."
Obito gave a bitter smile. Things had been fine before. Ever since Kakashi appeared, he had begun to feel inadequate.
Mirai shook his head and said, "Everyone has the right