"If you can't afford it, I'm afraid you can't go in."
The manager gave a meaningful glance, and several bouncers came over, surrounding Obito with unfriendly expressions.
The most important thing for a manager was knowing how to read people.
Shimizu was obviously on good terms with her boss, and the boss didn't seem inclined to charge him. Why would she butt in?
But the kid who came later, with goggles on his forehead, clearly wasn't treated as favorably by the boss. That meant she should follow the rules and handle things as usual.
"Could you make an exception? I'm Uchiha, too."
"Oh, so am I."
One of the bouncers held a long stick in his only remaining hand. His eyes turned scarlet, and a One-Tomoe spun in each pupil.
Obito looked at the bouncer's burly build. Though he was missing a hand and couldn't use many ninjutsu, Obito could imagine that he was certainly no slouch at Taijutsu.
"So, uncle, could you let me in, too—"
"If you don't have money, get lost. Trying to freeload at your own clan's restaurant? You're a disgrace to the Uchiha."
The Uchiha bouncer waved Obito away.
Obito opened his near-empty wallet and took a look. He didn't have nearly enough to pay.
He had no choice but to find a place outside to squat and wait for Nohara Rin and Uchiha Shimizu to come out.
Nohara Rin, sitting stiffly in the private room, had no idea that Obito had arrived.
"Nohara Rin, you come from an ordinary family, right?"
Shimizu was the first to break the silence between them.
Before Nohara Rin could answer, Shimizu continued:
"On top of that, you want to be assigned to the same team as Kakashi, don't you?"
"Huh?"
Nohara Rin looked up in confusion.
She did have a bit of a crush on Kakashi, and she really did want to be assigned to the same team.
She had been working toward that goal, hoping to join a team with Kakashi, who had excellent grades.
"But Kakashi applied for early graduation. I'm afraid you two won't be assigned to the same team."
Nohara Rin's expression gradually dimmed. She had heard Kakashi say he was going to graduate early, and it had upset her for a while.
Generally speaking, once they graduated, they were assigned to a team.
And those teams usually stayed together for life. Teammates were only changed in special circumstances, such as a teammate dying or the team members being incompatible.
"So, Nohara Rin, would you like to catch up to Kakashi quickly? I can help you train."
"Really?"
Nohara Rin answered at once.
She hadn't expected Shimizu to be such a great guy.
Her fondness for Shimizu rose considerably.
"Of course. I'll also teach you the basics of being a medical ninja."
Shimizu watched Nohara Rin, his gaze traveling up and down her.
Nohara Rin was still too young. Shimizu wouldn't make a move.
But it was fine to collect a little interest and lay the groundwork for the future.
"Then why are you helping me like this, Shimizu?"
Nohara Rin knew that things didn't just fall into your lap for no reason. After her initial excitement, she voiced her doubts.
"We're classmates. Isn't it only natural for classmates to help each other?"
After that, Shimizu went over a series of arrangements with Nohara Rin.
Starting tomorrow, he would give her guidance once a week at the Shimizu Household.
"All right. Sorry for the trouble, Shimizu."
Nohara Rin nodded, giving it little thought. She was simply grateful to Shimizu.
The Uchiha Settlement wasn't far from her home, so the Shimizu Household was a convenient place to meet.
Her family's little house might not even have had enough room for Shimizu to train her.
Her father had lingering injuries from his time as a ninja. Even a little physical labor left him panting, and her family relied entirely on her mother's paper-flower making to supplement their income.
Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate to bring a boy home. The place was too cramped.
"Then it's settled."
A mysterious smile curled Shimizu's lips. Now that Nohara Rin had agreed, the first step—getting her hooked—was complete.
Shimizu didn't have time to win Nohara Rin over the normal way. With time so short, he had to use some unconventional methods.
An hour later.
Nohara Rin said goodbye to Shimizu outside the restaurant and happily started walking home.
"Rin!"
Once the two of them were far enough apart, Obito came scurrying over.
"Shimizu didn't do anything to you, did he?"
"What could Shimizu possibly do to me?"
Nohara Rin frowned slightly. The wind-blown strands of her short hair happened to hide her expression.
"I mean, you know... that kind of thing."
Obito couldn't see her expression clearly. He flailed his arms, making a few strange gestures.
It took Nohara Rin a good while to figure out what Obito meant.
"You pervert!"
Nohara Rin couldn't help comparing Shimizu and Obito. Leaving the perfect Kakashi in her heart aside, even though Shimizu and Obito were both Uchiha, Shimizu was practically Obito's opposite.
Calm, mature, disciplined, and refined—anyone who had met Shimizu would describe him that way.
Nohara Rin was no exception. If not for Kakashi, she might even have admired Shimizu.
"Obito, don't say things like that again. Don't talk about people behind their backs."
A trace of resentment entered Nohara Rin's voice.
She had always treated Obito like an immature junior and often looked after him.
But he kept picking on Shimizu, even though Shimizu had been kind to her and was willing to teach her medical ninjutsu.
For the first time, Nohara Rin felt negatively toward Obito. No one liked hearing someone who had helped them put down for no reason. They would instinctively defend that person.
"Ah, no, Rin, listen to me!"
Even Obito realized that something was off in Nohara Rin's tone. He hurriedly tried to grab her and explain.
But Nohara Rin slipped away and said:
"I don't want to hear your explanation right now. I'm going home."
After saying that, Nohara Rin walked into the crowd without looking back.
Obito watched as the throng of people covered Nohara Rin from view in just a few seconds. He was at a loss for words.
"Why does Rin always defend Shimizu?"
Obito couldn't make heads or tails of it. He decided to wait until Nohara Rin had calmed down before explaining himself.
"Never mind. I should head home first."
After leaving the Konoha Steakhouse, Shimizu waited until evening, then brought a bag of fruit to visit Uchiha Hazuki.
He had eaten a free meal today, so he should show his appreciation.
Uchiha Hazuki was delighted to see Shimizu. She kept him there reminiscing until nearly ten o'clock, and only then did he return home.
Under the eaves.
"I'll try the Body Flicker Technique."
A few days earlier, he had applied for a ninjutsu scroll.
D-rank ninjutsu—the Body Flicker Technique.
In an era where everyone was a glass cannon, unless your body was strong enough to kick Complete Body Susanoo apart with a single blow like Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, you were better off maxing out your evasion.
After all, even a Kage Level fighter would die if a Kunai pierced a vital spot.
Shimizu began gathering chakra and let it flow through his chakra network. Following the Body Flicker Technique's execution path, he formed a hand seal.
"Body Flicker Technique!"
He shot out from under the eaves and dashed into the yard at incredible speed. The entire process took less than a second.
From an ordinary person's perspective, a shadow flashed by, and Shimizu had instantly appeared somewhere else.
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