Always Treated You Like a Brother

Results day.

Seeing his name on the list, the weight finally lifted from Asuma's heart.

The third round of the examination did not guarantee promotion simply by winning; instead, candidates were judged based on their performance during combat.

Therefore, until the results were posted, no one knew for certain if they had passed.

...Of course, with the exception of that freak, Genye!

"That's great, Genye! All three of us passed!" Yuhi Kurenai pointed at the list, saying excitedly.

After learning the results, the three turned and headed toward Training Ground 8.

"Haha, guess what Shimura Hofu is going to say? I can't wait," Asuma said with a mischievous grin, draping an arm around Genye.

"Giving you half a month of vacation, only to add half a month of overtime?" Genye mimicked Shimura Hofu's tone.

"Damn, are you a devil, Genye?"

Asuma was stunned. "How can such cold words come from a mouth at 37 degrees Celsius!"

Genye laughed. "I'm no devil, but Teacher Hofu certainly is. Hahaha."

The three arrived at the training ground, chatting and laughing. Shimura Hofu was leaning against a tree, looking composed, clearly having waited for them for quite some time.

"Hey, Shimura Hofu! We've all become Chunin, it's time to make good on your promise," Asuma shouted from a distance.

Shimura Hofu didn't speak. Once the three reached him, he pulled three porcelain bottles from his robes and tossed them over.

"What is this?"

Asuma caught the bottle with quick reflexes, opened it, and saw three purple pills resting quietly inside.

"Hey, they're quite slippery."

Watching Asuma pour the pills into his hand to fiddle with them, Shimura Hofu said expressionlessly:

"Those are poison sacs I had Orochimaru prepare. Once crushed, the gas released is enough to kill a Jonin instantly."

What the hell?

Asuma's expression stiffened. He hurriedly poured the pills back into the bottle, squatted down, and frantically wiped his hands on the ground.

"Why would you suddenly give us something so dangerous!" Asuma complained.

Hofu ignored Asuma entirely and continued on his own:

"Congratulations on becoming Chunin. This is a celebratory gift I prepared for you, and also... a parting gift."

A parting gift?

The three were stunned. Yuhi Kurenai asked, "Teacher Hofu, are you leaving us?"

"Yes." Shimura Hofu replied calmly. "The war on the front lines is intensifying. I've been reassigned to the main battlefield, so I will no longer serve as your instructor."

After all, not everyone can be like Namikaze Minato and handle everything perfectly, Hofu sighed to himself.

"Teacher Hofu..."

After receiving confirmation from Shimura Hofu, the three exchanged glances, their moods complex.

Although Hofu was usually cold and incredibly strict with them, they could feel his concern.

"Then, will we be able to see you again?" Yuhi Kurenai couldn't help but ask.

"Hmm." Hofu tilted his head to think for a moment before answering, "I suppose so, once this war ends. But I can't say exactly when."

"We definitely will," Genye said with a look of certainty. "In three years at most, Konoha will achieve final victory."

Hofu was taken aback. Looking at the determined gazes of the three youngsters, his expression softened, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Very well, then we shall meet again in three years."

"It's a deal!"

Although they had promised to meet again, after Shimura Hofu left, he never returned.

The setting sun dyed half the sky red, turning the once-white clouds into a vibrant sunset.

"Damn it, damn it all!"

"Why can't I be like Kakashi? Why couldn't I pass the exam!"

Obito lay alone on a bench, tossing and turning in agitation, looking like a wriggling caterpillar.

"So, this is where you are."

Just then, the girl's cute, slightly chubby cheeks appeared in Obito's line of sight.

"Waaaah!"

Obito was startled, then scrambled backward in a panic. After putting some distance between himself and the girl, he flipped over and sat up.

"Oh, it's Rin. Why are you here? You scared me."

Obito felt a bit guilty; he wondered if Rin had heard what he had just said.

"Oh my."

Rin sat down beside Obito and offered a gentle, soothing smile.

"It's only natural that Kakashi passed the exam, but I'm sure we'll pass the assessment too."

Hearing Rin's words, Obito lowered his head and said, sounding rather dejected:

"But whenever I look at Kakashi, I just can't seem to find the motivation..."

"Obito-kun! What are you saying!"

Rin suddenly raised her voice, sounding a bit angry: "I told you I would always be watching you, and besides, didn't you promise me you would become Hokage?"

Obito looked up at Rin's earnest expression, his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

"So, please, pull yourself together!"

Rin placed a hand on Obito's shoulder and looked him straight in the eyes. "Let me see your cool figure as you become Hokage and save the world!"

Rin-chan!

Obito's eyes grew moist, and he nodded heavily. "Yeah!"

Once the wave of emotion passed, Obito suddenly realized just how close he was to Rin-chan!

Moreover, it seemed like Rin was intentionally closing the distance between them.

Their faces were now almost touching!

"Rin, Rin-chan." Obito couldn't help but swallow hard.

Rin smells so good, and we're... so close right now...

Obito could even see every single one of Rin's eyelashes and feel her soft breath against his face.

He felt like he was suffocating, and his face was as red as a monkey's backside.

"Obito-kun, you know."

Rin leaned in close to Obito's ear and whispered, "Actually, I have always..."

Obito froze on the bench, not daring to move a muscle. He was nervous yet expectant, his heart feeling as if it were about to burst.

Could it be, could it be that Rin-chan has actually liked me all this time?

Just thinking about that possibility made him feel like he was going to die of excitement.

"Actually, I have always had a fondness for you, because I have always looked at you as a little brother." Rin said.

Obito was stunned into silence.

What did Rin say? Always looked at me as a... little brother?

Without giving Obito time to react, Rin continued:

"I know you've been secretly liking me, but I'm sorry, Obito-kun, I don't have those kinds of feelings for you."

"The person I truly like is Kakashi!"

BOOM!

Obito felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his lips trembling as he struggled to speak.

I don't have those kinds of feelings for you...

The person I truly like is Kakashi...

These two sentences echoed repeatedly in his mind. He suddenly clutched his head and let out a low, agonizing roar.

"Why... why... AAAAAAAAH!"

"I will create a world without Kakashi!"

When Obito looked up again, his eyes were a deep, blood-red, and a pitch-black tomoe spun endlessly within them.

"Holy crap, Genye, come look at this! The kid actually opened his eyes!"

Rin's voice suddenly turned gruff, and she shouted in shock toward the bushes beside her.

"Damn, you're right!"

A figure leaped out from the bushes and stood beside Rin, looking on in astonishment.

Obito: "???"