White Fang Is a Hero

The attack was almost upon him, but Obito didn't panic.

Before, he really hadn't been a match for Nagano Nami.

But now...

He had gained Genin-level Taijutsu.

There was only one thing he wanted to say.

Everyone here was just a grade-schooler.

I could take you all down with one punch apiece!

Ahem. Except Kakashi and Guy, of course.

The thought flashed through his mind.

Facing the incoming fist,

Obito stepped forward, caught Nagano Nami's arm with one hand,

then spun, 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.

But the one who fell... was the class bully!

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

What just happened?

I'd attacked with total confidence, only to be taken down in one move by the Dead Last?

Anger surged through him.

Nagano Nami flushed crimson down to his neck.

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

I'll make him pay dearly!

Nagano Nami got to his feet and glared at Obito.

If he hadn't been caught off guard, how could Obito have beaten him?

He snarled,

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

Obito merely chuckled.

A grade-schooler making threats. Nothing unusual there.

Though that tone... why did he sound like some sixty-nine-year-old veteran?

Despite his anger,

Nagano Nami calmed down.

He circled Obito cautiously, apparently searching for an opening.

The teacher watched and sighed inwardly.

Honestly,

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

Now that Nagano Nami was taking it seriously,

the poor kid was probably in for another beating.

Without drawing attention, he moved closer to the two of them.

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

Nagano Nami circled Obito several times but couldn't find a single opening.

As he shifted his footing,

he accidentally stepped into a depression in the ground and lost his balance, falling backward.

Obito saw it and charged without hesitation.

But the next instant,

Nagano Nami abruptly steadied himself.

He met Obito with a cold smile and threw another punch.

Didn't see that coming, did you?

I left that opening on purpose!

You can't handle me when I'm serious!

"Die, you Dead—"

Smack!

A crisp slap rang out.

Nagano Nami clutched his cheek, stunned yet again.

Obito gave a scornful laugh.

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

But Earth Boy's on the fifth.

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

What were you thinking?

Don't you know hunters often appear as prey?

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

This time,

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

That would just drag things out.

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

"EDG rules!"

Shouting something no one else understood,

Obito unleashed a relentless barrage on Nagano Nami.

After a while,

even the teacher couldn't stand watching.

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

He suddenly felt that, with the mood built up like this, he ought to say something.

"I know that to you, a ninja who breaks the rules and fails a mission is no better than trash."

"But someone who doesn't value their comrades is worse than trash."

"I think Konoha's White Fang is a true hero!"

Obito's words rang with conviction, and Kakashi jolted.

Something new entered the way he looked at Obito, and a pop-up appeared above his head: Favorability +1.

Obito chuckled inwardly. If standing up for him earns me Kakashi's favor, this was worth it!

From the crowd,

a chubby boy who often hung out with Nagano Nami spoke up.

"But he sacrificed the whole village's interests for a few people. Is that really something to praise?"

Right!

Many turned back to Obito, doubt in their eyes.

Obito snorted.

"Are you saying those few people aren't our fellow villagers in Konoha?"

"Easy for you to say... If it were your parents on that mission, would you still say that so readily?"

The chubby boy's face stiffened.

"I... I..."

He wanted to loudly declare his filial devotion to the village,

to say that for the village's sake, his parents were a small price to pay.

But when he pictured their faces... he just couldn't do it!

Obito spoke with a hint of weariness.

"So when it doesn't concern us, we can all stay rational."

"But if the people on that mission were your dearest friends and family, what would you choose?"

Ahem.

At the very least, you'd want more money, right?

The children around him lowered their heads in shame.

They asked themselves honestly:

If the ninja on that mission had been one of their own family...

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

Seeing this,

Obito spread his hands and said,

"Look, White Fang's choice might not have been right, but it certainly wasn't wrong."

"Because what he did was only human."

The teacher listened to Obito in silence.

Then he was the first to applaud again.

Looking at the figure standing there, he felt momentarily dazed.

Had those profound words really come from that troublesome kid?

Something about it felt off...

Under everyone's conflicted gazes,

Obito stood in black with his hands behind his back, trying hard to look like an enlightened master.

Unfortunately,

striking a grand pose with a bruised, swollen face just looked inexplicably ridiculous.

That's more like it, many thought. This goofball is the Obito we know!

Nagano Nami had already gotten up.

He looked unhappy, plainly embarrassed.

But he spoke with complete sincerity.

"I was wrong to insult White Fang."

"But you and I still have a score to settle for beating me up!"

With that, he slunk back into the crowd.

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

But when he saw the shoe print on Nagano Nami's face,

he decided the matter might be beyond his abilities.

The teacher changed the subject.

"Now, who's next?"

"..."

The matches continued.

Humming to himself, Obito headed for the bathroom.

"Phew~"

Feeling relieved,

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

Then Watermelon Head emerged from a stall.

He looked at Obito's wet hands and burst out laughing.

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

Obito: "???"

Guy turned on the tap, washed his hands, then splashed cold water on his face with obvious delight.

Obito threw back his head and laughed three times.

"Hahaha! Guy, I never knew you were even fiercer than me. You got it all the way onto your face!"

Guy: "...???"