The Approaching Main Storyline

Time is like Namikaze Minato; before you even notice it, it has already quietly slipped away from you.

Two years passed in a flash.

Genye appeared to be idling at home all day, but in truth, he was—ahem—actually working hard on his cultivation.

He attempted to apply the force-generating technique of "Collapse" to his Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm. The effect was outstanding, consistently shattering his meridians just as they were about to fully heal.

There was no helping it; with "perspective eyes" everywhere, this was a move born of necessity.

However, this intermittent process also served to increase the resilience of his meridians, which could be considered a form of alternative training.

Honestly, Genye felt his meridians were so tough now that if he pulled them out, they could be used as bowstrings for Nezha.

(Meridians: I'm so damn grateful to you!)

"Phew, after settling down for so long, it's time to get stronger."

Genye rose from his bedding, dressed, and cast his gaze toward a notice sheet on the table.

"Project for the cohort to celebrate Kakashi's promotion to Jonin (Classified Mission)"

Rin had stuffed this into his hands a few days ago, inviting him to come out today to meet with everyone and discuss what gift to get for Kakashi.

"If I remember correctly, today should be the hardest day for Brother Obito."

"Tsk, poor Obito."

The Yamanaka Flower Shop was one of the Yamanaka Clan's assets in Konoha and the only store in the village that supplied fresh flowers all day long.

"Rin-chan, hehe..."

Obito walked out of the shop clutching a bouquet of flowers, beaming as he walked, his face overflowing with a pure and foolish grin.

Earlier, Rin had quietly leaned into his ear and asked to meet him under the cherry blossom tree on the west side of the village, saying she had something important to tell him.

Under Rin's surprised gaze, Obito had even activated his Sharingan to confirm that the person really was Rin!

It wasn't those two bastards, Genye and Asuma!

Looking at the flowers in his hands and thinking of Rin's pretty face, Obito was excited beyond measure.

"After waiting so long, this day has finally come!"

Since Rin had mysteriously asked him to such a romantic place, what else could it be but something important?

It had to be about the two of them!

"I'm coming, Rin-chan!" Obito whispered to himself, cheering himself on.

"Coming my ass, you're coming with me!"

However, just at that moment, a large man suddenly appeared behind him, wrapped an arm around him, and began dragging him in the opposite direction without a word.

"Hey, Genye, what are you doing? Hey! Let go of me!" Obito leaned against Genye, his head spinning.

"...Damn, kid, aren't your injuries not healed yet? Why does it feel like you're stronger than me!"

Obito was afraid of using too much force and hurting the "frail" Genye.

Helpless, he had no choice but to half-heartedly follow Genye until they reached a deserted grove.

Seeing no one around, Genye finally released Obito and pointed to the flowers in his arms, asking, "Were you planning on confessing to Rin?"

"Yeah." Obito nodded, then asked with some confusion, "Why did you stop me? Wasn't it you who told me to be brave and express my feelings?"

"Here, see for yourself."

Genye couldn't be bothered to explain; he pulled the notice sheet from his pocket and handed it to Obito.

"This is... celebrating Kakashi's promotion to Jonin... Kakashi...!!"

As he read, Obito's pupils suddenly contracted.

It was as if he had realized something; his gaze dimmed instantly, and he gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Sure enough, Rin-chan wasn't looking for me to... Heh, I'm such a fool, really. I should have thought of this long ago."

He looked up at Genye and asked listlessly:

"So, Rin actually invited everyone to come out today to prepare a celebration ceremony for that guy Kakashi?"

Genye patted Obito on the shoulder, looked at the paper that had been crumpled into a ball in his hand, and sighed.

"I'm afraid so... By the way, your goggles are crooked. Let me help you fix them."

Sigh.

Obito looked at Genye with a dejected expression: "Rin invited you too, right? The time is almost up, why aren't you going?"

"Oh, it's like this," Genye explained. "That kid Kakashi made me angry two years, one month, and three days ago."

"Although I'm not a person who holds grudges, I always feel a bit bothered whenever I think about it, so I'm not going."

Obito: "???"

"Are you sure you don't hold a grudge? Why does it feel like you remember everything so clearly?"

"Alright, Obito, if you ask me, you shouldn't go either. You're clearly hurting inside, so stop forcing a smile."

Genye pulled Obito into another embrace and said in an insistent tone, "Didn't you just get promoted to Chunin? No one has celebrated for you yet, right?"

"Come on, I'll take you out to celebrate!"

Obito's eyes turned red instantly. "Genye, how did you know? I, I..."

Of course I know, Genye thought, having watched Naruto.

While watching Obito's backstory, Genye had realized that even though this world was so lively, Obito's side of it was incredibly lonely.

They say Obito is just a Naruto who took the wrong path; since he had come to this world, he had to try and change something.

Well, and he could farm some favorability with Obito while he was at it.

"Let's go eat barbecue," Genye suggested.

"But I wanted to eat ramen..."

Obito swallowed the words that had reached his lips and nodded heavily. "Alright, let's go eat barbecue!"

This was the first time in his life he had stood Rin up, but his mood... had actually improved quite a bit!

In the snack street, Mei wandered around aimlessly, looking at one restaurant after another, her indecision getting the better of her.

"What should I have for lunch? If only Brother Genye were here, he could just make the decision for me."

As she walked, Mei suddenly opened her mouth wide, her expression one of utter shock.

That person up ahead looked like Brother Genye, but the one he was holding in his arms... was... was...?!

Even if Brother Genye were holding a girl, Mei wouldn't have been this surprised.

After all, Brother Genye was so handsome that it was normal for girls to throw themselves at him, and she was confident she could take on any rival!

But... but the person Brother Genye was holding was clearly a boy, ahhhhh!

And that boy was even holding a bouquet of flowers! A bouquet of flowers!!

Mei's worldview shattered into pieces instantly, and she felt completely unwell, muttering to herself.

"No wonder Brother Genye has always turned a blind eye to my feelings. So that's why... so that's why..."

"No~!"

Snowflakes drifting~ The north wind whistling~

Amidst a bleak background melody, Mei held back her tears, covered her face, and ran away.

"..."

Genye, who had also seen Mei, wanted to say something but stopped himself.

He could tell that Mei seemed to have misunderstood something, but he couldn't exactly chase after her to explain.

Wouldn't that just make him look guilty?

And so, Genye continued to walk into the barbecue restaurant with his arm carelessly draped around Obito, ignoring the strange looks from the people around them.

"What? You want me to pay?!"

Once they were seated and ordering, Obito stared at Genye with wide eyes, his face full of disbelief.

"Big brother, didn't you say you were taking me out to celebrate? And I'm in such a bad mood today, yet you're actually making me pay?!"

"You're in a bad mood, but I'm in a good mood!"

Genye said righteously, "Think about it: if you made me pay for the treat, my mood would definitely turn sour."

"Since that's the case, it's more cost-effective to just let you be the only one in a bad mood, don't you think?"

Obito: "..."

I'll be damned if I believe your nonsense!

Just a moment ago, he was thinking how generous Genye was for ordering so much meat, only to find out he was the one paying in the end...

Obito silently took out his wallet.

He had already spent quite a bit on the flowers, and this meal was just adding insult to injury for his already meager pocket money.

As soon as the barbecue was served, Obito began to gorge himself; this was all his money being eaten, after all!

Watching Obito wolf down the food, Genye smiled slightly, though his mood felt somewhat heavy.

If he remembered correctly, the day Kakashi officially took office as a Jonin was the very day the Battle of Kannabi Bridge broke out.

If nothing went wrong, that would be in just a few days.

Obito, I will do everything in my power to save you and change your original tragic fate.

But if I fail, I hope you won't blame me...