The instructor's whistle cut through the afternoon air, marking the end of sparring.
Students began drifting away in small groups, chattering about their matches. Obito headed to the infirmary first to get his wounds checked, then he trudged toward the classroom building to grab his books.
Today's defeat was a lesson for him. He lost not only in terms of taijutsu skills but also overall body stats and combat awareness.
He was already training his taijutsu and physique, and once he mastered the academy basics, he planned to exchange some contributions to request proper Uchiha-style taijutsu from the clan archives.
But combat awareness was another matter entirely. It couldn't be learned from books or solo training. It required real battles, which gave him a headache.
Daily spars in the academy were the only opportunity he got to spar. But with just that, it would be difficult to catch up to Asuma and the other clan kids. They had parents, cousins, uncles—people to spar with every day after class.
"Should I trade some clan points for a sparring partner? Or maybe someone to guide me in taijutsu?"
The idea nagged him all the way to the classroom.
Inside, the desks were already emptying out. A few students were packing up, chattering about dinner plans or complaining about homework.
Obito gathered his notebooks, shoved them into his bag, and slung it over his shoulder. He was just about to walk out when he heard someone call him from the doorway.
"Hey."
Obito looked up.
Kakashi was standing there, half in shadow. His silver hair caught the light from the window.
"What do you want?" Obito asked flatly.
Kakashi paused in front of him, then said stiffly, "About… last month."
Obito raised a brow. 'So he came to apologize?'
Suddenly, a faint glint flashed in Obito's eyes.
"You mean when you kicked me so hard during spar I almost became stupid?"
Kakashi's jaw tightened. "You blocked the wrong way."
Obito looked at him, speechless. "I wasn't supposed to block a spinning heel kick with my ribs!"
There was an awkward silence. Then Kakashi let out a short breath. "I didn't mean to injure you. You moved in too close. It wasn't on purpose."
Obito crossed his arms. "That's what you came to say? That it 'wasn't on purpose'?"
"No," Kakashi said quietly, almost whispering. "I… wanted to apologize for injuring you."
Obito shook his head. "Forget it. An apology isn't enough."
Kakashi blinked. "Then what?"
"You think being a genius means you can just walk away and everything resets?" Obito said expressionlessly. "Thanks to you, I fell behind in every subject by over a month. Aren't you going to take responsibility?"
Kakashi didn't respond immediately. His gaze swept over Obito's left cheek, where Asuma had kicked. Although there was no wound, the area was still a bit swollen. "Well, you did perform terribly today," he said bluntly.
Obito's eyebrows twitched. "You have a very keen observation. Should I say—as expected of a genius?"
Kakashi asked, "So what do you want?"
Obito was direct. "Make up for it. And I'll forgive you."
Kakashi frowned. "Make up for it how?"
"Be my sparring and training partner for three—no, two—months. Every morning before class. If you really mean that apology, help me catch up."
Kakashi considered it. "That would take a lot of time. I also have to train."
"Then call it extra training," Obito shot back. "Or…" his lips curled up, "…is our genius afraid that others would catch up to him?"
Kakashi stared at him. The corner of his mouth twitched. "You're remarkably confident for someone who can't hit a stationary target."
Obito's expression remained unchanged.
Kakashi scratched the back of his head. "Fine. Mornings before class. But don't be late. You're late to everything."
"I won't," Obito said.
Before either of them could say anything else, a loud, enthusiastic voice suddenly burst from behind the desks.
"You two are training taijutsu together? Count me in!"
Both of them turned towards the voice at the same time.
Gai, don't know when, had somehow appeared on top of his desk, hands on his hips, grinning so widely it almost reached his ears. Dust clung to his green jumpsuit, and excitement was almost flowing out of his eyes.
"Nothing burns brighter than the flames of youthful taijutsu!" Gai declared, striking a pose. "Let us begin a glorious morning training regimen!"
Both Obito and Kakashi were left speechless for a moment.
After a moment, Obito asked, "Gai… have you been eavesdropping on us all this time?"
"I prefer to call it listening to the winds of destiny!" Gai announced proudly. "Just the thought of training with my eternal rival Kakashi and Obito makes my youth boil!"
Kakashi muttered under his breath, "Damn youth again…"
But Gai didn't hear him—or pretended not to. "I shall bring special jumpsuits for the two of you tomorrow! Bright green, to commemorate the beginning of our youthful journey!"
"No need!" Obito said instantly. "I already have a training outfit."
Gai turned to Kakashi with some expectation in his eyes. "And you, rival?"
"Me too," Kakashi said quickly.
Gai looked disappointed for half a second, then burst right back into enthusiasm. "Then let's meet at dawn! Where should the training begin?"
Obito explained to both of them, "Behind my house, training ground three. Six in the morning."
Gai pumped both fists into the air. "Splendid! Then to express my youthful spirit, I shall walk to my house on hands today!"
Obito blinked. "Wait—"
But Gai was already gone, sprinting down the hall while shouting something about his youth boiling.
Kakashi let out a quiet sigh. "You shouldn't have agreed to let him join."
Obito grinned. "With Gai around, our training will have a spark of youth."
Kakashi gave him a disgusted side glance.
Then they walked out of the classroom. At the academy gate, Kakashi gave a casual wave before heading in the opposite direction.
Obito stood there for a moment, watching his back disappear around the corner. Only then did he adjust the strap of his bag and make his way to his house.
Outside, the late afternoon sun had settled low, casting long shadows across the village streets.
They were bustling with activity—shopkeepers moving crates, civilians chatting while sweeping their storefronts, and a few shinobi passing by in their flak jackets, talking quietly among themselves. A pair of kids ran past him chasing a dog.
As he walked, a smile couldn't help but creep onto his face. The moment he knew Kakashi's purpose, he had begun schem—no, planning—to use it to get him to agree to be his training partner. With his skills reaching genin, Kakashi was definitely the best fit for the job.
Moreover, Kakashi had really injured Obito, so squeezing him a bit didn't make him feel guilty.
Gai's appearance was a big surprise. But not a bad one. In fact, Obito was more than pleased with it. He had always somewhat admired Gai, the king of hard work and youth.
His classmates often said he and Gai were the same—loud, reckless, and hopeless in most subjects. And maybe that was true in theory.
But one thing was undeniable: when it came to taijutsu, Gai was in a league of his own. In their entire class, only a handful could match him. Even fewer could beat him.
"With their help, my taijutsu and combat awareness will definitely improve faster. Maybe even catch up to those clan kids sooner than I thought."