Still.
Ever since Obito had fallen for Rin, he'd spent all his time hanging around her, and he and Uchiha Shingen had gradually grown distant.
On top of that, after graduating from the Ninja Academy, Obito had become one of Minato's subordinates, while Uchiha Shingen's Jonin instructor was Inuzuka Gaku. They had even fewer chances to run into each other.
This was their first time meeting since graduation.
"Heh heh~"
Obito proudly touched his Forehead Protector.
"I'm not the dead-last loser I used to be anymore!"
"So now you're the super dead-last loser?!"
Uchiha Shingen shot back on instinct, drawing a burst of laughter from everyone at the table.
Obito's face turned beet red. Just as he was about to protest, Rin, seated beside him, spoke up to explain on his behalf:
"Obito passed the Chunin Ninja Exams not long ago. He's a Chunin now."
Kakashi added, his eyelids drooping with mild exasperation:
"Yeah."
"For the past few days, he's been telling everyone he meets. He practically wants to plaster the word 'Chunin' on his face."
"Damn you, Kakashi! I challenge you to a one-on-one!"
With his past exposed, Obito's face flushed red as he prepared to take on Kakashi.
"Can't you keep your mouth shut if you've got meat to eat?"
Rin casually picked up a piece of grilled meat from the plate and stuffed it into Obito's mouth.
Obito immediately settled back into his chair, quiet as could be. He rested one hand beneath his chin and savored the meat in his mouth, a blissful smile spreading across his face.
"Rin fed me grilled meat. That means she has feelings for me. I..."
With his mouth full, Obito mumbled incoherently. No one there could make out what he was saying.
Sitting beside him, Rin helplessly patted his head, her eyes full of affection.
Kakashi leaned back with his hands behind his head, still looking as if he couldn't care less about anything.
Only his eyes kept drifting toward Uchiha Shingen.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but tonight he sensed a hint of danger from this classmate who had once seemed utterly unremarkable.
But after thinking it over, Kakashi understood.
For one of the Sannin, Jiraiya, to take notice of him and accept him as a disciple, Shingen had to have something exceptional about him, beyond the special status of being an Uchiha.
Just how strong was he, though...?
Uchiha Shingen noticed Kakashi's strange gaze, but it didn't bother him.
The details of his fight with Shisui and his true strength were probably common knowledge among Konoha's leadership and the Uchiha higher-ups by now.
There was nothing strange about Kakashi being curious about him.
Obito's wisecracks quickly warmed up the group, and the conversation began to flow.
The atmosphere around the table grew lively.
Minato had already heard Jiraiya tell him about his junior disciple, and now that they had met, he was all the more curious.
"I've heard about Shingen-kun from Gaku while we were on missions."
"Captain Gaku?"
A kind-faced figure with a short beard came to Uchiha Shingen's mind.
Inuzuka Gaku had been the Jonin instructor assigned to him after he graduated from the Ninja Academy. Shingen had carried out missions under Gaku's guidance for years.
"Yeah."
Minato nodded and continued:
"He's told me many times that he hadn't protected you all properly back then. He's always blamed himself, and he hasn't dared come see you these past few years."
Uchiha Shingen fell silent for a moment, then shook his head gently.
"Teacher Gaku did everything he could. Our opponents were an elite Iwagakure force, after all. I was lucky just to make it out alive."
"Besides, if it hadn't been for that battle, I might still not have awakened my Sharingan."
"In a way, I suppose it was a blessing in disguise."
The atmosphere around the table turned somber as they touched on Uchiha Shingen's past.
Minato realized he'd said the wrong thing and was about to explain, but Jiraiya cut in first, pointing at Uchiha Shingen to break the tension:
"Don't let his disinterested look fool you. He's incredibly strong. At his age, I was nowhere near his level."
"Seriously?!"
Obito, who had been scarfing down grilled meat, looked from Jiraiya to Uchiha Shingen. For a moment, he wondered if Jiraiya was just bragging about his own student.
"Hasn't Shingen gone a long time without taking any missions?"
"From what I know about him, he isn't interested in training, either. All he thinks about is how to slack off..."
"No!"
Kakashi interrupted Obito, an unusual move for him, while keeping his eyes on Uchiha Shingen.
"I can sense a dangerous aura around him. It makes me uncomfortable."
"No way?!"
Rin looked incredulous.
Among their generation, Kakashi's strength was in a class of its own.
He'd graduated from the Ninja Academy early, at six, passed the Chunin exams at seven, and was already preparing for the Jonin exams.
If Uchiha Shingen made even Kakashi feel threatened, didn't that mean he was at least on Kakashi's level?
"It's true~"
Minato nodded. Seeing Kakashi take a rare interest in someone, he couldn't help suggesting:
"Why not try sparring with him?"
"I heard from Jiraiya-sensei that Shingen-kun already has the fighting strength of a Jonin. If you can beat him, you'll be all but guaranteed to pass the Jonin exams."
Jiraiya grew interested as well.
He knew every detail of Uchiha Shingen's progress over the past few days.
But from what he knew of Shingen, it only took a little thought to realize that the kid was definitely stronger than he let on.
He was probably hiding more than one trick.
But—
Before anyone else could react, Uchiha Shingen turned him down flat.
"Please, spare me."
"This game has no payoff. It'd be a complete waste of time."
"Uh..."
His blunt refusal left everyone at a loss for words.
An awkward smile appeared on Minato's face.
Though he'd already learned about Uchiha Shingen's personality from Inuzuka Gaku, meeting him in person still left Minato unsure what to say.
This instinctive, deeply ingrained laziness and lack of interest reminded him far too much of the Nara Clan.
Kakashi was a little surprised, but Shingen only made him more curious.
"Or are you scared?!"
Obito's eyes darted around as he tried to provoke Shingen.
"Sure, sure..."
Uchiha Shingen wasn't falling for it. With nothing to gain, the whole thing would just be a waste of time.
"Didn't you say you wanted Earth Release ninjutsu?"
Jiraiya's voice cut through the awkward silence.
After spending more than a month together, he had gradually figured out Uchiha Shingen's personality. The kid wouldn't lift a finger without something in it for him.
If Jiraiya wanted him to fight, he'd have to offer a reward!
"If you win tonight, I'll give you some in advance."
"Deal!"
Uchiha Shingen immediately perked up.
After developing his Earth nature transformation, he'd been searching for suitable Earth Release ninjutsu to add to his arsenal and prepare for his Saturation Fire Strike Tactics.
An Earth Release technique delivered right to his doorstep? He'd be a fool to pass it up.
"Let's do it after dinner. It'll help us digest."
Before you continue