The Path to Redemption Lies Within

As spring gave way to autumn, Obito took on several B-rank missions under Minato's guidance.

At the end of the year, Minato submitted Obito's request to take the Chunin Ninja Exams to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Obito readily agreed.

Soon afterward, Obito entered the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Obito was the only unusual participant in the exams. He had no team and was alone.

In the end, he passed with ease. His opponents were all nameless extras, and Obito steamrolled through them.

That year, Obito was not yet six years old!

He had graduated from the Ninja Academy at five, less than three months earlier!

And now, he had become a Chunin!

Once again, he stunned Konoha's higher-ups!

He set a new record for the youngest graduation age and the youngest Chunin age!

Obito's success also drew the attention of the entire Uchiha Clan!

The clan was divided over him. Some believed he should be cultivated heavily, while others thought there was no need.

There were two reasons for this disagreement.

The first was that Obito Uchiha had not awakened his Sharingan.

That was a major flaw!

An Uchiha without a Sharingan was considered the shame of the Uchiha Clan.

Obito was widely acknowledged as a genius, yet he had not awakened his Sharingan.

That left the clan uncertain about how to handle Obito Uchiha.

What was more, Obito's teacher was Minato, and Minato's teacher was Jiraiya.

Jiraiya's teacher was Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Following that line of succession, Obito could more or less be considered part of the Hokage's faction.

That made some of the clan's hawkish elders view Obito unfavorably.

Compared with Obito Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha was currently the Uchiha Clan's top choice!

Obito had no interest in the Uchiha Clan's attitude. They could do whatever they wanted.

He had no intention of getting involved in the mess between the village and the Uchiha Clan.

No one who got tangled up in those matters met a good end, like Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha.

Besides, his teacher was Minato Namikaze. With that connection, he was not afraid of being targeted.

Moreover, Konoha's higher-ups clearly wanted to train him into the next Kagami Uchiha.

That much was obvious from their decision to assign Minato Namikaze as his teacher.

If they had not wanted to cultivate him, they could have simply found any Jonin to guide him.

Why drag in Minato Namikaze, the genius of the previous generation, to teach him?

Wasn't that proof that the Hokage's faction wanted to cultivate him?

Obito rubbed his eyes. Today was a rare day off, and he was planning to buy something tasty.

Recently, Jiraiya's new work, Make-Out Paradise, had been selling like crazy throughout the Land of Fire!

Jiraiya had made a fortune from it!

The book's content had originally been rather explicit, drawing resistance from many people. But many ninja loved reading it, and with Jiraiya's status as the Hokage's disciple and one of the Three Sannin...

Make-Out Paradise was successfully published and became a huge hit!

One should never forget the one who dug the well after drinking from it. Jiraiya had generously given Obito an amount equal to half of Asuma's allowance.

It was repayment for Obito's guidance that day.

Obito gladly accepted it!

Obito changed into casual clothes and walked down the street.

If nothing unexpected happened, something unexpected was about to happen.

As Obito was considering what to buy, Rin happened to approach from the opposite direction!

Rin had not yet graduated from the Ninja Academy.

According to the original plot, Rin should graduate at eight or nine, so there were still three or four years left.

"Hi, Rin."

Obito Uchiha casually raised a hand in greeting.

Rin looked at Obito, who had already become a Chunin, and at the completely different aura he now possessed.

The complicated emotions in her eyes were impossible to hide.

"Hello, Obito. You've already become a Chunin. The school is full of stories about you. Congratulations!"

Rin said with a smile.

Obito nodded. "Thanks. I hope you graduate soon."

"Obito..."

Rin hesitated. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing.

Obito looked at Rin.

The two stood silently facing each other, and the atmosphere grew awkward. In the end, Obito broke the silence first.

"Then I'll go buy some things. See you."

With that, Obito walked straight past her.

Watching Obito gradually walk away, Rin felt as if an invisible barrier had formed between them.

Rin sighed. "Forget it. Just as Umino said, everyone has their own path. I only hope Obito can find the path that belongs to him!"

They had only been classmates and friends for a few years. Their relationship was not as deep as it had been in the original story.

After parting with Rin, Obito thought he probably would not run into any more familiar faces.

But the next moment, he spotted Kakashi buying a scarf at a street corner.

And by sheer coincidence, their gazes collided.

"Obito Uchiha?"

Kakashi frowned slightly.

Obito Uchiha glanced at Kakashi.

"Yo, Kakashi, the number one genius of our Ninja Academy!"

Obito greeted him with a smile.

Kakashi lowered his gaze. "No. You're the number one genius of the Ninja Academy, not me."

Given Obito's recent performance and his rapid rise to Chunin, Kakashi was thoroughly convinced.

He had already acknowledged that Obito had surpassed him.

Obito raised an eyebrow slightly. Though Kakashi had often mocked him as a child in the original story, his character was actually quite good.

"Well, you're wrong. I'm not the number one genius of the Ninja Academy!"

"I've already graduated. You're the number one genius of the Ninja Academy!"

Obito looked at Kakashi with an inexplicable smile.

Kakashi's expression stiffened. Fine, fine, fine!

Obito Uchiha was dissing him again!

Was he mocking him for not graduating yet?

Just as Obito was about to leave, Kakashi suddenly grabbed Obito Uchiha.

Obito Uchiha looked slightly puzzled. "Kakashi, what is it?"

Kakashi struggled internally before finally speaking. "Tell me..."

"Tell me, why did you suddenly become so strong!"

Kakashi stared firmly at Obito Uchiha.

Obito Uchiha was slightly surprised. He had not expected Kakashi to ask him that.

Obito merely shook his head. "Kakashi, you should know there are no shortcuts when it comes to talent."

Kakashi felt a sharp pain in his heart!

That meant their talents were different, and there was nothing he could do about it.

As a genius himself, Kakashi naturally understood the importance of talent.

Many ordinary children had asked him before how they could become as strong as he was.

Kakashi had not known how to answer.

Although he trained diligently, his training was still ordinary training.

If you had talent, even casual training could send you soaring.

If you lacked talent, no amount of hard work would help.

If hard work alone were enough, what would be the point of geniuses?

"Alright. Thank you."

Kakashi Hatake could only slowly leave.

Watching Kakashi's lonely figure, Obito felt he should add a little fun to Kakashi's life.

"Kakashi!"

Obito Uchiha suddenly called out to him.

Kakashi turned around.

"Although I don't have any method to help you become strong quickly, I can recommend something to ease your mood~"

Obito casually bought a copy of Jiraiya's newly released Make-Out Paradise from a nearby shelf and handed it to Kakashi.

"The path to redemption lies within~"

Obito said with a smile.

Kakashi gave Make-Out Paradise a strange look, not quite understanding, but he did not refuse Obito's kindness.

He looked at Obito and gave him a grateful glance.

"Thank you, Obito."

Kakashi tucked Make-Out Paradise into his clothes.