A Show-Off's Declaration

Early morning, Konoha

The late-autumn mist had yet to fully lift. Sunlight spilled through the haze, shrouding all of Konoha in a soft, shimmering glow.

As he walked down the street, breathing in the fresh air and glancing at the towering trees all around Konoha, Suifeng's mood lifted. He stretched grandly, full of energy, and was just about to call out, "Good morning, Konoha!" when a voice reached his ears.

"Take it slow, take it slow! Careful, don't fall!"

His eyes narrowed as he looked toward the figure not far away, helping an old woman cross the street.

Obito Uchiha.

The Hokage's number-one sycophant, and a veteran chūnibyō!

At that moment, Obito wore a completely earnest smile as he carefully helped a woman in her seventies across the narrow road. He looked as though he were carrying out some sacred mission.

"Morning, Obito!"

After a brief moment's thought, Suifeng walked over and greeted him.

Obito was the same age as him. They were close blood relatives, too, from the same branch of the clan. Like Suifeng, Obito had lost both his parents and lived with only his grandmother. Perhaps Obito's daily habit of helping old women cross the street came from a desire to extend his affection for his own grandmother to others.

"Oh, Suifeng!"

Obito looked surprised to see him. Though they were from the same branch, they weren't close.

Before his death, the original Suifeng had acted like most Uchiha: arrogant and aloof, never giving a dropout like Obito the time of day. Though they were the same age and from the same clan, they had little to do with each other.

And after Awakening his Sharingan, Suifeng had stopped going to the Ninja Academy altogether. They'd had no contact at all since then.

Now he'd come over to greet Obito of his own accord. It caught Obito off guard.

But Obito was still a simple-minded kid at this point. When he saw Suifeng approaching, he smiled too, jogging over and greeting him warmly. "Long time no see, Suifeng! I heard you're getting special training from the clan and aren't even going to the academy anymore!"

"Yeah, can't be helped. What can I say? I awakened my Sharingan!"

Suifeng smiled and activated his Sharingan. A small comma appeared in his eyes, slowly turning.

Obito's face stiffened, his smile freezing in place.

Did you come all this way just to show off your eyes?

"I heard you and Kakashi get along pretty well," Suifeng said.

"Not at all! Who'd be friends with that smug jerk?" Obito immediately denied it.

I didn't even say you were friends!

Suifeng scoffed inwardly.

"Why are you asking?" Obito asked, confused. Then he seemed to realize something, and his eyes lit up. "You're not going to challenge Kakashi again, are you? Listen, you may have awakened your Sharingan, but Kakashi's no ordinary guy. Beating him won't be easy!"

"I know." Suifeng nodded with an entirely matter-of-fact expression. "Actually, I have to thank him."

"Thank him?! What are you talking about?"

Obito thought he'd misheard. As far as he knew, Uchiha Suifeng and Kakashi were two of a kind. They both acted like they were above everyone else at the academy, thanks to their impressive kunai-throwing skills and their mastery of Fire Release Ninjutsu—something few students there could manage. They always seemed to think everyone owed them hundreds of thousands of ryo. But today, Suifeng seemed like a completely different person. Was this guy an impostor?

"Yeah, I truly mean it. If he hadn't kicked some sense into me, I'd still think I was a genius, invincible in the whole world!"

Suifeng sounded utterly sincere. "Now I understand how foolish I was back then, so I want to thank him."

"R-really?"

"Of course. What did you think?" Suifeng smiled, looking at Obito with an earnest gaze. "I know a dropout like you couldn't possibly understand how I feel, but that's fine. Just pass my words on to Kakashi."

"A dropout like me?" Obito's mouth twitched. The vein on his forehead bulged into a cross-shaped mark as he roared at Suifeng, "What the hell are you talking about?!"

"Nothing. I'm just telling you a fact. All you have to do is pass on my message!"

"You bastard!"

Obito was completely enraged. With a roar, he charged at Suifeng.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Suifeng didn't move. A red gleam flashed in his eyes. Only when Obito's kick came within inches of him did he casually dodge, leaving the kick to strike empty air.

"Too slow, Obito!"

"Die!"

His attack had missed, and now he was being mocked. Obito was beside himself with rage. He swung his fist, aiming it at Suifeng's face from point-blank range.

Just as the fist was about to hit, Suifeng turned his head and dodged. At the same time, he reached out and grabbed Obito's wrist, pulling him along with the momentum. Obito's body flew through the air and landed three or four meters away, covered in dust.

"Your movements are too slow!" Suifeng stood off to the side, calm and unruffled. "In front of these eyes, you might as well be moving in slow motion."

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Kunai whistled through the air toward him. Suifeng smiled, flicked them away with his fingertips, and sent the kunai flying.

"Even your kunai-throwing is that bad? You need to keep working at it, Obito!" Suifeng walked over to him and chuckled before turning away.

"I'll beat you one day!" Watching Suifeng's retreating figure, Obito struggled to his feet and shouted after him.

"The howling of a defeated dog!"

With his hands behind his back, Suifeng walked down the street. "Tell Kakashi that a moment's brilliance doesn't last forever. In front of these eyes, he's nothing!"

His voice drifted back, reaching Obito's ears.

"A moment's brilliance doesn't last forever. In front of these eyes, he's nothing. That's Uchiha style, all right!"

Konoha, the Hatake Residence

Hatake Sakumo polished the short blade in his hand, his expression impassive and focused.

In the courtyard, Kakashi swung his own short blade, drenched in sweat as he struck the wooden post in front of him again and again.

"Stop for a moment!"

Sakumo suddenly looked up and called a halt to Kakashi's practice.

"Father!"

Kakashi stopped, panting slightly. He looked at his father, puzzled.

"If you're going to train, focus. You were distracted just now!"

"I..." Kakashi seemed to want to argue, but stopped himself.

"Is it because of that Uchiha, Suifeng?"

"Yes, Father. Since he's openly challenged me, if I don't accept..."

"You're already a Genin. He's just a student who hasn't graduated yet. Even if you beat him, it won't prove anything."

"But..."

"Is it because of Obito?" Sakumo asked calmly, seeing the defiant look on his son's face.

"No. That idiot's foolishness has nothing to do with me. I just want him to know that even with the Sharingan, he's still no match for me!"

"Is that so?" Hatake Sakumo nodded. "You've never fought an opponent with the Sharingan. So how do you know he isn't telling the truth?"

"Father..."

"Never underestimate any opponent, even one you've defeated before!" Sakumo set down the White Fang short blade and looked at his son. "Remember: an Uchiha who has awakened the Sharingan and one who hasn't are completely different beings!"