"Hey, hey, hey, seriously? Obito actually lost?"
"What else could he do? He's already unconscious. He couldn't have a rematch even if he wanted one."
"I never thought this Kōki Itō would actually beat Obito."
"Sure enough, you can't expect anything from a dead last like Obito. A dead last is a dead last. He's completely humiliated us upperclassmen."
After Mr. Ikeda announced the result of the duel, all the children present erupted into an uproar. The outcome had taken everyone by surprise. Nothing like this had ever happened at the Ninja Academy.
Some of the top students from families with deep shinobi roots understood that, strictly speaking, Obito Uchiha wasn't weak. Students nearing graduation were essentially Genin candidates, with only a formal assessment standing in their way. However weak they were, there was a limit to it.
But this duel had clearly shown that Kōki Itō held the advantage. His attainments in Taijutsu and Ninjutsu far surpassed Obito's. Whether it was his timing in Taijutsu or his proficiency in Ninjutsu, he was above Obito, and even ranked among the best of actual Genin.
Of course, they didn't know that Kōki had held back enormously in this duel. With Wood Release off-limits, he hadn't even used the Taijutsu trump cards he had kept in reserve. It could be said that Kōki had only used around twenty percent of his strength in this duel.
"Mr. Inoue, can you help me apply to Lord Hokage for early graduation now? I've already passed this assessment."
The people around them were marveling at and praising Kōki's extraordinary strength and talent. Yet Kōki felt no stir in his heart. To him, this was only a minor affair. If his opponent hadn't been Obito, but some random stranger, he would have ended the duel even faster.
Of course, he bore no ill will toward the current Obito. His mischievous streak had simply flared up, and he had wanted to give the Shinobi World's big boss from the original story an unforgettable childhood memory.
Looking at the child before him, so unruffled by praise or disgrace and so perfectly composed, Naoya Inoue almost thought Kōki was a seasoned shinobi who had fought countless battles, rather than a seven-year-old brat who had only just enrolled.
Such a stunning performance made Naoya Inoue recognize Kōki's innate talent as a shinobi. But he still didn't want Kōki to graduate early.
After all, war was about to begin. Graduating now meant entering the battlefield to fight for his life. Even an adult shinobi couldn't be guaranteed to survive that meat grinder, much less a seven-year-old child.
"Kōki, are you sure you want to graduate early? You need to understand that war is about to begin. Once you graduate early, you'll have to step onto the battlefield. No one there will care whether you're a child, and enemy shinobi certainly won't spare a seven-year-old genius. When that happens, even the comrades beside you won't be able to guarantee they can save you."
"In other words, you could die. You're still young, and you have a bright future. There's no need for you to enter the battlefield now. You still have..."
Naoya Inoue paused, his expression solemn and earnest as he tried to dissuade Kōki Itō. He didn't want such a young, outstanding child to enter the battlefield so soon.
But before Naoya Inoue could finish, Kōki interrupted him. He had long since prepared himself mentally and wasn't so easily persuaded.
"Sir, I've already considered all the consequences. If I end up dying on the battlefield, that will only mean that was the limit of my capacity."
"Besides, if I want to fulfill my ambition of surpassing all the past Hokage, I can't just wait around at the Ninja Academy. No strong person grows up in a greenhouse."
Kōki was glad that Naoya Inoue would try so hard to dissuade him, but he had reasons he couldn't stop.
He knew clearly that the future would only be crueler than the present. He needed more power to face a whole series of crises. He had to keep moving forward, keep improving, and let no opportunity slip past, however small.
"All right, I understand. I'll inform Lord Hokage of your situation."
Looking at Kōki's determined face, Naoya Inoue understood that he could no longer stop this boy. Regretfully, he turned to notify Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Meanwhile, after Kōki and Naoya Inoue finished their conversation, Obito was also freed from the earth by his class's teacher.
"Obito, Obito, are you all right?"
Obito felt as though a familiar voice was coming from the horizon, while someone shook his body.
Slowly, at Rin Nohara's calls, he opened his eyes.
The moment he woke, Obito saw his crush right in front of him, looking at him with a face full of concern. His heart suddenly began pounding fiercely and rapidly.
At the same time, seeing Rin's concern, Obito went limp all over, as though his body had no bones. He felt as though he were in heaven.
But within a few seconds, Obito remembered the humiliating scene that had just taken place. That annoying brat had actually beaten him in no time at all, and he had barely been able to fight back.
His mood plunged from heaven straight into hell. His expression grew ugly, and his body began to stiffen.
Damn it, I actually lost to a cocky little brat, and right in front of Rin, too. I'm finished. Will Rin stop liking me? I wish I could just die. As Obito sank into dejection and wild thoughts,
a warm, gentle voice sounded beside his ear. "Obito, it's all right."
Obito looked up and saw Rin smiling reassuringly at him. She was still as kind, considerate, and caring as ever, without the slightest trace of contempt in her expression.
"Rin..."
Tears instantly filled Obito's eyes, and he found the courage to go on living again. But just as he was feeling moved, a voice he hated reached his ears.
"Obito, you're awake. My name is Kōki Itō. I look forward to learning from you."
Obito turned and saw Kōki standing beside him, smiling as he held out a hand as though to help him up.
His face darkened briefly, but with Rin Nohara beside him, he couldn't very well lash out. He could only put on a gracious front, take Kōki's hand, and stand up. Then he said haughtily, "Brat, I was careless this time, but it won't happen again. Once I awaken my Sharingan, we'll have a proper match."
"No problem, but we might not get another chance." Kōki looked unconcerned. He had only wanted to say hello to Obito and get acquainted.
"What do you mean?"
Obito looked at Kōki strangely. Beside him, Rin Nohara also looked puzzled after hearing Kōki's words.
"I mean that I've already applied for early graduation. Unless something unexpected happens, I'll become an official shinobi before you. So I won't have time to duel with you anymore."
Kōki smiled, but his words dealt Obito a heavy blow. Not only did they make Obito realize the gap between them, they also reminded him of a certain self-important white-haired freak. Then, remembering that the annoying white-haired jerk was already a Chunin, Obito's expression grew even uglier.