Obito: I'm Losing It
In the stands.
Crack.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face turned as dark as Danzo's.
He crushed the cup in his hand.
The jeers around him were endless.
"Hahaha, I'm dying! Konoha really is a great Ninja Village. Such a wealth of talent!"
"Indeed. That young man is quite a talent. I'd pay handsomely to have him work for me."
"...Uh, why?"
"(´┓`*) No special reason. That's just what I'm into."
"(°ー°〃) Oh..."
Hiruzen snorted and looked at Kisuke beside him.
"Kisuke, is this the fine student you've taught?"
Kisuke felt terribly wronged.
The kid's ridiculous all on his own. What's that got to do with me?
If you keep blaming me for this, I'm quitting teaching.
I... I'll open a convenience store!
Kisuke said nothing.
Hiruzen sat up straight with a frosty expression and looked back toward the arena, pretending to be angry.
That Sexy Jutsu really was something...
No. I have to classify it as a Forbidden Technique!
A technique that turns something so absurd into a marvel must never fall into another village's hands!
In the arena.
Guy stared at the three women opposite him.
His blood surged, and his face flushed scarlet.
"Obito-kun, are you trying to humiliate me?!"
Obito was baffled.
I've given him three lovely ladies.
How is that humiliating?
If he actually wants to be humiliated... that'll cost extra!
Just then.
The female examiner's cool voice rang out.
"Obito Uchiha has violated the examination rules. I hereby disqualify him from this match!"
Obito's heart skipped a beat.
He dispelled the Sexy Jutsu and looked at the examiner in grievance.
"Wait, how did I break the rules?!"
The examiner's pretty face was as cold as ice.
"What I say is the rule. Leave now, or you'll never take the Chunin Ninja Exams again."
Obito bristled.
Who the hell are you to talk like that? You say I can't take—
Oh, right. I remember now.
When she introduced herself, she said her name was Sarutobi something...
Never mind, then.
Obito trudged out of the arena.
He sighed to himself.
If only the examiner had been a guy.
Forget kicking me out.
He'd probably have wanted me to stay in the arena forever.
In fact.
Guy was even more dejected than Obito.
His Youth had gone cold.
Below the arena.
Rin saw Obito being sent off and hurried over, looking worried.
"Obito-kun..."
Kakashi wanted to follow her.
But he had a cool, aloof image to maintain.
After hesitating, he stayed where he was.
(Readers: Another girl's about to steal your crush! Who cares about your image?)
Obito gave Rin's hand a squeeze and smiled at her.
"I'm fine, Lin-chan. Really."
Rin studied Obito with some suspicion.
Then she realized he genuinely didn't seem upset!
As the two of them spoke.
The examiner's voice rang out again.
"Uesugi Huayi and Rin Nohara, please enter the arena."
"Ah, it's my turn."
Rin took a couple of steps toward the arena.
Still uneasy, she turned back and told Obito.
"I'm going to compete now. Take care of yourself, okay?"
Obito smiled, nodded, and gave Rin a cheering gesture.
"You can do it, Lin-chan!"
Once Rin entered the arena.
Shikaba came over too.
He patted Obito on the shoulder and tried to comfort him.
Obito chatted with Shikaba for a moment, then left the examination hall.
After checking several times that no one was around.
He muttered cautiously to himself.
"Hey, System, that counts as completing the task, right?"
"If that didn't dazzle the whole crowd... it must be because I didn't transform into Teacher Mikami!"
System: "..."
[Choice successful! Reward obtained: Hashirama Cells transformation!]
The familiar notification sounded in his mind.
Obito couldn't help cheering.
"Woohoo!"
Who gave a damn about the Chunin title?
The reward for making his choice was what really mattered!
Obito felt a warm current well up inside him from nowhere.
It flowed slowly through every inch of his body.
As it did, it transformed his meridians, bones, muscles, and even his cells.
"System-made means top quality!" Obito exclaimed.
In that short time.
He felt his physical abilities take a leap forward.
He could probably haul a sack of rice up several flights of stairs without getting winded!
That meant his strength, endurance, Chakra capacity, and more.
They had all improved through the transformation.
More importantly.
He wouldn't have to worry so much about his eyesight when he used his Dōjutsu anymore.
"I don't know many Ninjutsu, but I should be at Special Jōnin level now."
Obito wagged his head smugly.
"Man, this feels great. Isn't getting stronger better than becoming a Chunin?"
"To hell with being a Chunin. I can still wipe the floor with everyone as a Genin."
That evening.
Uchiha Chuan came home looking exhausted.
He had watched the entire Chunin Ninja Exams that day.
Naturally, he had seen his nephew's outrageous performance.
Damn it.
That brat has disgraced the entire Uchiha Clan!
Though... that girl in the middle did have a certain charm...
Shisui heard him come in.
He emerged from his room and asked curiously.
"Father, are the Chunin Ninja Exams over? How did Big Brother Obito do?"
Ah...
Seeing the expectant look on his son's face gave Chuan a headache.
He considered his words carefully.
"Shisui, your Big Brother Obito didn't pass the exam, but he... well, he dazzled the whole crowd."
"None of the other examinees managed that, so... well, he did all right."
Shisui clenched his fists excitedly.
"I knew it!"
Ah...
Chuan looked at his son's little face, full of admiration.
He made up his mind.
I need to keep him away from Obito from now on.
Otherwise that guy will be a bad influence on him!
The next day.
At Team Minato's meeting place.
Obito stared at Rin in disbelief, wondering if he had heard her correctly.
"What did you just say, Lin-chan?"
"...Everyone passed the Chunin Ninja Exams except me?!"
Rin fidgeted with her fingers and gave an awkward smile.
"That's right, Obito-kun."
"Even Nami..."
Obito muttered to himself, feeling utterly miserable.
He didn't care about the Chunin title.
But if everyone else was a Chunin and he was the only Genin left... that was embarrassing!
Kakashi glanced at Obito through half-lidded eyes.
"Idiot. That's what you get for clowning around during the exam when you were perfectly capable of passing."
Obito huffed and punched Kakashi.
Oh, so that's how it is, Kakashi.
Instead of comforting me, you're mocking me!
"Kakashi!"
"Obito!"
"You two! Not again!"
As the three of them bickered.
Minato dropped down from above.
He smiled and said.
"Everyone's in good spirits today. Excellent."
"We've received a new mission. We'll be leaving the village shortly, so get ready."