Hiruzen had been defeated, leaving four Heaven Shinobi challengers: Mito, Kakuzu, Might Guy, and A-Juan!
Obito spoke up. "It's time to let A-Juan take the stage. Everyone keeps pulling rank on her and stealing her turn. It's going too far."
Naruto laughed. "You spoil her too much. Aren't you afraid she'll get spoiled rotten?"
Obito said, "I watched that kid grow up, after all. Apart from you and your wife, I'm the one she's closest to..."
Naruto said, "Are you sure that isn't because of Tobi...?"
Obito lowered his head to sip his tea, pretending not to hear.
Naruto raised two fingers in front of his chest.
Using the Mind Transmission Technique, he told Mito, Kakuzu, and Might Guy, "You three, give A-Juan a turn. Let her go first."
On the field.
A-Juan stepped forward, glancing back every three steps. Seeing that none of the three behind her intended to compete for the next turn, she called out, "Keh-heh! I challenge Obito Uchiha!"
"Pfft!!"
Obito sprayed a mouthful of vintage '82 oolong tea onto the back of Konan's head in the seat in front of him!
Konan turned around, expressionless.
Obito flailed in a panic. "S-sorry, I meant to do that-no, no, I did it on purpose, um..."
Konan smiled sweetly, sending a chill through Obito. "It's fine. After all, I'm one of those people you said were 'pulling rank' on her..."
It wasn't just Obito. Everyone present wondered if they had misheard!
There was an unwritten rule in the Heaven Shinobi challenges: better to challenge Naruto in first place than Obito in second!
As obnoxious as Naruto's abilities were, at least they were things people could see and touch.
But the very principles behind Obito's abilities belonged to another dimension.
Even Naruto himself said that fighting Obito would kill