Danzo's Proposal

In the Small Grove.

Obito was still inching forward, crawling with a struggle.

But something was different now.

A green "snake" had joined him.

The two clumsy "snakes" wriggled along together, looking utterly brainless. It was quite a sight.

Obito had gone numb.

He felt like he and Guy were reenacting the Legend of the White Snake.

Guy crawled earnestly beside him, marveling as he went.

"Obito-kun, I never imagined the Dragon Spine Opener could really work the muscles in your waist and abdomen."

"How did you come up with such a brilliant exercise?"

Obito replied evenly.

"Don't talk while doing the Dragon Spine Opener. It'll interfere with the training."

"Oh," Guy said, and fell silent.

Obito breathed a sigh of relief.

For a while.

The only sounds in the grove were the moaning wind and the rustle of their crawling.

Before long, though, Guy spoke again.

"Obito-kun, do you come here to do the Dragon Spine Opener every night?"

"Can I train with you from now on?"

Obito's eye twitched. He spoke one word at a time.

"No! You! Can't!"

"There's no chance of us doing this together. Give it up!"

Guy looked a little crestfallen, his thick eyebrows drooping.

So Obito-kun doesn't consider me a friend.

But I've thought of him as a kindred spirit for so long...

Just as Obito finished firmly rejecting Guy.

A screen of light appeared before his eyes.

[Option 1: The path of training is long, and companionship helps. Since he wants to train as a pair with you, give in. Completion reward: Taijutsu improvement (Chunin-level).]

[Option 2: Even if I, Obito, starve to death, even if I get no reward, I will never put on this bizarre performance with a green-skinned kappa! Completion reward: None.]

[Option 3: Tell Guy that if he can bring Kakashi along, you'll agree to the three of you having fun together... training! Completion reward: Three's a Crowd Aura.]

[Three's a Crowd Aura: As long as two or more people accompany you, you will never feel embarrassed, no matter what you're doing.]

Well, this...

Obito really did want to refuse.

But the system was offering far too much!

He forced a smile and addressed the silent "snake" beside him.

"Guy, I was just joking earlier."

"Let's train together from now on. We can encourage each other, push each other, and improve together."

Guy's heart, cold and deflated just moments ago, filled with warmth again.

"Really, Obito-kun? That's great!"

At the same time.

The system notification sounded.

[Selection successful! Reward obtained: Taijutsu improvement (Chunin-level)!]

Obito let out a long sigh.

What have I done?

He felt an endless surge of strength welling up inside him.

He crawled noticeably faster than before.

To his surprise, though.

No matter how fast he went, Guy kept pace with him.

"That makes no sense..." Obito muttered.

After a moment's thought, realization struck.

Maybe that's the difference between an acorn and a soaring dragon.

A week later.

In a Ninja Academy classroom.

The teacher was delivering a lively lesson at the front.

Obito, however, was distracted. He kept glancing at an empty seat nearby.

Kakashi...

Why didn't he come to class today?

After class.

Obito spotted a familiar figure while he was out on the training ground.

Kakashi seemed to have come specifically to wait for him and gave him a slight nod.

Obito walked over, puzzled.

"What's up, Kakashi?"

Kakashi was silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

"I applied to graduate early. I won't be coming to school anymore... I wanted to let you know."

Obito nodded, his expression conflicted.

"I see."

Kakashi was still a child.

He wasn't yet the unflappable Kak, who could take anything in stride, that Obito remembered.

No matter how mature he was, rumors and gossip could still hurt him.

Obito thought for a moment, then reached out and patted Kakashi's shoulder twice.

This time, Kakashi didn't push his hand away.

Obito looked Kakashi straight in the eye and said earnestly.

"I want you to know that whatever you decide, I'll support you unconditionally."

"Because you're Kakashi. Because you're my friend."

The corner of Kakashi's mouth lifted slightly beneath his mask, though his voice remained calm.

"Yeah. See you."

Kakashi himself didn't even realize it.

His steps were much lighter as he left than they had been when he arrived.

Obito curled his lip.

"Would it kill that stubborn guy to say a little more?"

Just then.

Guy came running over in a hurry.

"Obito-kun! Obito-kun!"

"I saw Kakashi come to find you from upstairs."

"What did you two talk about? Did he say why he missed class today?"

That lovestruck energy is practically hitting me in the face!

Obito discreetly took two steps back.

Then he repeated what Kakashi had told him.

After hearing it, Guy murmured in dismay.

"How could this happen... How could this happen..."

He made up his mind and declared firmly.

"No, I'm graduating early too!"

Obito shook his head and mercilessly burst Guy's bubble.

"Guy, your Three Body Technique is a mess. Graduating might be a little difficult."

Oh. Right... Guy's expression stiffened.

The days passed.

The rumors about White Fang did not fade.

Instead, they intensified over time until they reached a peak.

Some people tried to defend White Fang, but they were quickly drowned out by a flood of malice.

"Why hasn't that useless failure who couldn't finish his mission died yet?"

"He caused the village so much damage, and he still has the nerve to stay here? I'm embarrassed for him!"

"I say we drive White Fang out of the village. He's a disgrace to Konoha!"

"..."

The hero they had once held aloft had fallen, and everyone was eager to kick him while he was down.

As though doing so.

Would make them important people too, with the power and pleasure of passing judgment on others at will.

In the Hokage Office.

The Third looked at Hatake Sakumo standing before him, pained and unsure what to say.

"Sakumo, you..."

The endless insults and rumors had nearly crushed the young man.

His posture was no longer straight, and the light had gone from his deep-set eyes.

The once-spirited White Fang was nowhere to be seen.

All that seemed to remain was a soulless shell.

A figure emerged from the shadows.

He was plainly dissatisfied with the Third's hesitation.

"Hiruzen, let me say it."

Danzo walked slowly up to Sakumo and looked down at him.

"Hatake Sakumo, there is an opportunity before you to make amends and redeem yourself. A mission."

"Complete it, and the ugly talk around the village will disappear. You'll be a hero in everyone's eyes again."

"Will you accept it?"