White Fang Was a Hero

The attack was almost upon him, but Obito did not panic.

Before this, he really would have been no match for Nagano Nami.

But now...

He had gained Genin-level Taijutsu.

There was only one thing he wanted to say.

Everyone here was a grade-schooler.

I could take you all out with one punch apiece!

Ahem. Kakashi and Guy were exceptions, of course.

The thought flashed through his mind.

As the fist came at him,

Obito stepped in and caught Nagano Nami's arm.

Then he turned sharply, twisted his shoulder, and threw him cleanly over it.

"Ah!"

A girl cried out.

She had expected Obito to be the one thrown to the ground.

Instead, the one who fell was the class bully!

Nagano Nami sat on the ground, his mind blank once again.

What had just happened?

He had attacked with complete confidence, only to be taken down in one move by the Dead Last?

Anger surged through him.

Nagano Nami flushed all the way down his neck.

Obito, that perpetual Dead Last, dared to humiliate me!

I'll make him pay for it!

Nagano Nami got to his feet and glared at Obito.

If he had not been caught off guard, how could Obito possibly have beaten him?

He said viciously,

"I let my guard down just now. This time, I'll show you the difference between us!"

Obito merely chuckled.

Grade-schoolers made tough talk. Nothing unusual about that.

But that tone... why did he sound like a sixty-nine-year-old geezer?

Despite his anger,

Nagano Nami calmed down.

He circled Obito cautiously, apparently searching for an opening.

The teacher watched and sighed to himself.

To be honest,

Obito catching Nagano Nami by surprise and narrowly winning that exchange had already exceeded his expectations.

Now that Nagano Nami was serious,

the unlucky kid was probably in for another beating.

Without drawing attention to himself, the teacher moved closer to them.

He planned to stop the fight as soon as Obito lost.

Nagano Nami circled Obito several times without finding an opening.

Then, as he shifted his footing,

he accidentally stepped into a dip in the ground and toppled backward.

Obito saw his chance and rushed in.

But the next instant,

Nagano Nami suddenly regained his balance.

With a cold smile, he met Obito head-on and threw another punch.

Didn't see that coming, did you?

I left that opening on purpose!

You can't handle me when I get serious!

"Die, you Dead—"

Smack!

A crisp slap rang out.

Nagano Nami clutched his cheek and froze yet again.

Obito gave a derisive smile.

You saw the second layer and thought I was on the first.

But Earth Boy was on the fifth all along.

You baited someone whose Taijutsu far outclassed yours into closing the distance...

What were you thinking?

Don't you know hunters often appear to be prey?

"Don't look down on us Dead Lasts, you bastard!"

This time,

Obito had no intention of giving Nagano Nami a chance to recover.

That would just drag things out.

While Nagano Nami stood stunned, Obito rushed in with a flurry of BABAQWER.

"EDG rules!"

Shouting something nobody else understood,

Obito unleashed a relentless barrage on Nagano Nami.

After a while,

even the teacher could not bear to watch.

"Ahem, Obito. That's enough, that's enough."

Only then did Obito stop, still wanting more.

He glanced at Nagano Nami on the ground.

Then he looked at his classmates, who stared as though they were seeing him for the first time.

With the mood already at its peak, he suddenly felt he ought to say something.

"I know everyone thinks a ninja who breaks the rules and fails a mission is worthless."

"But someone who doesn't value his comrades is worse than worthless."

"I believe Konoha's White Fang was a true hero!"

Obito's words rang out with conviction, sending a jolt through Kakashi.

A new look appeared in Kakashi's eyes as he gazed at Obito, and a pop-up appeared above his head: Favorability +1.

Obito laughed inwardly. If standing up for Kakashi earned him favorability, it had been worth it!

Among the crowd,

a chubby boy who often hung around Nagano Nami spoke up loudly.

"But he sacrificed the interests of the whole village for a few people. Is that really worth praising?"

That's right!

Many turned back to Obito, doubt in their eyes.

Obito gave a cold snort.

"Are those few people you're talking about not fellow people of Konoha?"

"Easy for you to say... If your parents had been on that mission, could you still say it so decisively?"

The chubby boy's face stiffened.

"I... I..."

Part of him wanted to declare, in a grand display of unfilial devotion, that for the village, even his parents were expendable.

But when he pictured his parents... he could not do it!

Obito said, his enthusiasm fading,

"That's how it is. It's easy to be rational when it doesn't concern you."

"But if the ones on that mission were the people dearest to you, what would you choose?"

Ahem.

At the very least, they would have to pay him more.

One by one, the children around him lowered their heads in shame.

They asked themselves honestly:

If one of the ninja on that mission had been a family member...

They probably would have made the same choice as White Fang.

Seeing this,

Obito spread his hands and said,

"Look, maybe White Fang didn't make the right choice, but he wasn't wrong, either."

"What he did was only human."

The teacher listened to Obito in silence.

Then he led the applause once again.

Looking at the figure standing in the middle of the group, he felt momentarily dazed.

Had those profound words really come from that troublesome kid?

Something about it felt off...

Under everyone's complicated gazes,

Obito stood in black with his hands clasped behind his back, trying hard to look like a wise master beyond worldly concerns.

Unfortunately,

with his face bruised and swollen, his attempt to look impressive was oddly comical.

Many of them thought, That's more like it. This ridiculous guy is the Obito we know!

Nagano Nami had already risen from the ground.

He looked unhappy, plainly embarrassed.

But he spoke with complete sincerity.

"I was wrong to insult White Fang."

"But I'll settle the score with you for beating me up later!"

With that, he slunk back into the crowd.

The teacher had wanted Nagano Nami and Obito to shake hands and form the Seal of Reconciliation.

But after seeing the shoe print on Nagano Nami's face,

he felt that might be beyond his abilities.

The teacher changed the subject.

"So, who's next?"

"..."

The matches continued.

Humming a tune, Obito headed for the restroom.

"Phew~"

Feeling relieved,

Obito washed his hands at the sink and was about to leave.

Suddenly, Watermelon Head emerged from the restroom.

Seeing Obito's wet hands, he burst out laughing.

"Obito-kun, you got pee on your hands too!"

Obito: "???"

Guy turned on the tap and washed his hands, then splashed cold water on his face, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Obito threw back his head and laughed three times.

"Hahaha! Guy, I never knew you were even bolder than me. You got it on your face!"

Guy: "...???"