A Vulgar Love Triangle

However.

Ever since Obito became infatuated with Rin, hovering around her every day, his contact with Uchiha Shingen had gradually dwindled.

Furthermore, after graduating from the Ninja Academy, Obito became a subordinate of Minato, while Uchiha Shingen's jonin instructor was Inuzuka Gaku, leaving them even fewer opportunities to cross paths.

This was, in fact, their first meeting since graduation.

"Heh heh~"

Obito proudly touched his forehead protector.

"I'm not the same dead-last I used to be!"

"What, are you a super dead-last now?!"

Uchiha Shingen retorted instinctively, immediately drawing a burst of laughter from the others at the table.

Obito's face turned beet red, and just as he was about to defend himself, Rin, sitting at his side, couldn't help but speak up first to explain for him:

"Obito just passed the Chunin Exams a little while ago; he's a chunin now."

Kakashi lowered his eyelids, adding with a touch of speechlessness:

"Yeah."

"He's been telling everyone he meets for the past few days, practically wishing he could plaster the word 'chunin' onto his own face."

"Damn you, Kakashi, I'm going to challenge you to a duel!"

With his secret exposed, Obito's face flushed crimson as he made a move to start a brawl with Kakashi.

"Can't even a piece of grilled meat plug your mouth?!"

Rin casually picked up a piece of grilled meat from the plate and stuffed it into Obito's mouth.

Obito immediately sat back down in his chair, quiet as a mouse, holding his chin with one hand and savoring the meat with a blissful smile on his face.

"Rin fed me grilled meat, which means she has me in her heart, I..."

Because his mouth was stuffed with meat, Obito's words were garbled, and no one present could hear him clearly.

Rin sat to the side, helplessly patting his head, her eyes filled with doting affection.

Kakashi sat with his hands behind his head, still wearing that look of total indifference toward everything.

Only his eyes occasionally drifted toward Uchiha Shingen.

He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but tonight, he caught a whiff of something dangerous from this peer who had previously seemed so unremarkable.

But after a moment's thought, Kakashi understood.

To be valued by Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, and taken on as a disciple—beyond the special status of the Uchiha name—there had to be something extraordinary about him.

He just wondered... exactly how strong was he?!

Uchiha Shingen naturally noticed Kakashi's strange gaze, but he didn't care.

The process of his previous battle with Shisui, as well as his true strength, were likely clear to the higher-ups in Konoha and the Uchiha clan by now.

It was no surprise that Kakashi would be interested in him.

With Obito's clowning around, the group, who had felt somewhat like strangers, suddenly opened up.

The atmosphere at the dining table instantly became lively.

Minato had long since heard of his junior's reputation from Jiraiya, and seeing him now, he felt mostly curiosity.

"I heard about you, Shingen-kun, from Gaku-san while we were on a mission."

"Captain Gaku?"

An image of a simple, honest man with a short beard immediately surfaced in Uchiha Shingen's mind.

That was Inuzuka Gaku, the jonin instructor he had been assigned to after graduating from the academy, under whose guidance he had carried out missions for several years.

"Yes."

Minato nodded and continued:

"He said many times that he felt guilty for not being able to protect you all back then, and he hasn't dared to come see you these past few years."

Uchiha Shingen was silent for a moment, then shook his head gently and said:

"Gaku-sensei did his best. After all, the opponents were the elite forces of Iwagakure; it was lucky enough that we kept our lives."

"Besides, if it weren't for that battle, I might not have awakened my eyes even now."

"In a way, it could be considered a blessing in disguise."

At the mention of Uchiha Shingen's past, the table suddenly went cold.

Minato realized he had said the wrong thing and was about to explain, but Jiraiya spoke first to break the deadlock, pointing at Uchiha Shingen:

"Don't let his indifferent look fool you; his strength is quite formidable. At the very least, when I was his age, I was nowhere near as good as him."

"For real?!"

Obito, who had been busy stuffing his face with grilled meat, looked up at Jiraiya, then at Uchiha Shingen, momentarily doubting whether Jiraiya was just blowing his own horn.

"Shingen hasn't been on a mission in a long time, has he?"

"From what I know of him, this guy isn't very interested in training either; all he thinks about all day is how to slack off..."

"No!"

Kakashi spoke up, a rare occurrence, cutting Obito off while keeping his eyes fixed on Uchiha Shingen.

"I can feel it. There's a dangerous aura about this guy that makes me very uncomfortable."

"No way?!"

Rin looked on in disbelief.

In their generation, Kakashi's strength was practically in a league of its own.

He had graduated from the Ninja Academy at six, passed the Chunin Exams at seven, and was now already preparing for the Jonin Exams.

If Uchiha Shingen could make Kakashi feel threatened, didn't that mean Uchiha Shingen's strength was at least on par with Kakashi's?!

"It's true~"

Minato nodded. Seeing Kakashi take an interest in someone for once, he couldn't help but suggest:

"Why don't you try sparring?!"

"I heard from Master Jiraiya that Shingen-kun already possesses Jonin-level combat power. If you can beat him, passing the Jonin Exams will be a sure thing."

Seeing this, Jiraiya also became a bit interested.

Although he was well aware of Uchiha Shingen's training progress over the past few days, based on his understanding of the boy, he knew with a little thought that this kid was definitely hiding more than what he showed on the surface.

He likely had more than one trick up his sleeve.

However.

Before anyone could react, Uchiha Shingen flatly refused:

"Spare me."

"A game with zero rewards is a complete waste of time."

"Uh..."

The blunt and direct refusal left everyone stunned on the spot.

A somewhat awkward smile appeared on Minato's face.

Although he had already learned about Uchiha Shingen's personality from Inuzuka Gaku, actually interacting with him still left one at a loss for words.

This attitude of having laziness and boredom etched into his instincts gave off such a strong Nara clan vibe.

Though Kakashi was taken aback, he became even more curious about Uchiha Shingen.

"You're not scared, are you?!"

Obito's eyes rolled as he tried to goad him.

"Yeah, yeah, sure..."

Uchiha Shingen didn't fall for it at all; to him, anything without a benefit was a complete waste of time.

"Didn't you say earlier that you wanted Earth Style ninjutsu?!"

Just as the group felt the awkwardness, Jiraiya's voice rang out.

After more than a month of getting along, he had gradually figured out Uchiha Shingen's personality—he was the type who wouldn't get out of bed for anything less than a profit.

If you wanted him to make a move, it was impossible without offering a reward!

"If you win tonight, I can give it to you in advance."

"Deal!"

Uchiha Shingen suddenly became interested.

Ever since he developed his earth-nature transformation, he had been looking for corresponding Earth Style ninjutsu to replenish his arsenal, preparing for his future saturation-firepower tactics.

Since this Earth Style ninjutsu was being delivered to his doorstep, it would be a waste not to take it.

"After we finish eating, let's just call it digestion exercise."