The next morning, Obito habitually woke up early. Looking at the time in the clock, he got out of the bed.
He washed his face, and then left the house before the sun had fully risen. The streets were still dim, quiet except for a few distant birds calling out.
He made his way to the training ground and began his usual workout, though the intensity had doubled since a month ago. His body handled it better now.
Kakashi and Gai didn't come today. All three of them had mutually decided to cancel their joint training to prepare for today's assessment.
Kakashi and Obito didn't need to, to be honest. They had already prepared, but Gai had been particularly anxious yesterday—especially about the theoretical part.
His score had always been at the bottom in theory in every assessment so far. Even Obito had performed better than him, earning second-last place in the first assessment.
Honestly, Obito couldn't blame him. Gai was terrible at memorizing things. His brain just didn't retain written information well.
Theory required exactly that. It was no surprise he struggled with it. In the end, Kakashi helplessly lent him his own personal notes, which seemed to have relieved him a great deal.
Because Gai had cried on the spot and hugged Kakashi's knees, declaring him his lifelong rival and comrade, and swore he would protect Kakashi's fire of youth until his last breath.
The scene was very amusing to Obito. It was a pity he didn't have a camera and couldn't capture it.
After finishing his morning workout, he headed back home and walked straight to the bathroom. The warm water relaxed his muscles and cleared the last of the sleep from his head.
After a long while, he stood in front of the mirror, gazing at his reflection.
He had dressed differently today: a dark, fitted top with a high collar and short sleeves. It looked neat under his jacket.
"Obito, breakfast!" his grandmother called from downstairs.
"Coming!" he replied and went down.
...
After finishing his breakfast and saying goodbye to his grandmother at the gate, Obito walked out of the Uchiha compound and made his way toward the academy.
The village was already lively with activity. There was still half an hour left until the exam started. So Obito walked leisurely, his gaze sweeping past the bustling streets.
A few minutes later, Obito reached the academy. He had just turned a corner and stopped when he saw someone familiar.
Kakashi was casually leaning against the academy wall, hands in his pockets, his silver hair as messy as ever.
"Yo, Kakashi," Obito said, walking over. "You're already here."
Kakashi raised two fingers in a small wave of greeting and fell into step beside him.
"So," Kakashi suddenly asked, "are you prepared?"
Obito smirked a little. "You'll know once the results are out."
Kakashi studied him for a moment, then nodded, as if deciding not to pry. Indeed, he'd know once the results were out.
The reason he asked was because Obito had changed a lot in the past month. As his training partner, he knew it better than anyone. At least in terms of taijutsu and shuriken throwing, he felt few could rival him in the class.
In fact, during this time, Kakashi had wondered more than once how a mere loss in a spar with him could motivate Obito so much that the usually boastful but lazy Obito started training so diligently.
His learning speed was also quite astonishing. Kakashi felt like Obito was a genius no less than him.
Had he unintentionally stimulated Obito's potential? Kakashi was a little proud and felt like he had the potential to be a teacher.
They were just approaching the academy's front gate when Obito felt something shift behind him in his perception. His body moved on instinct and he stepped sideways.
A pebble shot past the space where his head had been a moment ago.
Obito slowly turned his head toward the source. He saw three boys standing down the path, walking toward them with slow steps.
Asuma led them, hands in his pockets and a smug expression on his face. Obito also recognized the two other boys flanking him: Raido Namiashi and Genma Shiranui.
He had seen them in class before. They could always be found following Asuma in the academy. In simple words, they were his lackeys.
"Oh? Isn't that our dead-last Uchiha?" Asuma called out with a laugh. "Kakashi, why is a genius like you hanging around someone like him?"
Kakashi's expression barely shifted, but his gaze became colder.
"Asuma Sarutobi," he said sharply. "Who I spend my time with has nothing to do with you."
The use of his full name clearly stung Asuma and his face twisted into a scowl.
He had always disliked this Kakashi—the genius prodigy of their class.
It bothered him that people praised Kakashi whenever he performed well in the academy, but when it came to him, they always attributed his performance to his father, saying it was only natural he had some skill because he was the Hokage's son.
He had talent too, and he also worked hard!
He hated those people, and even more than them, he hated that old man who rarely ever came home but took away all the recognition that should have rightfully belonged to him.
His eyes moved to Obito next, his expression turning grave.
"Uchiha Obito," he said, "don't be smug just because you've learned a bit of skill lately. You're still just a low rung in the class. I can tell you, get ready to kiss my sandals in the taijutsu exam today like before. I'm certain your opponent will definitely be me."
Obito's eyes narrowed at his words. He didn't mind fighting Asuma. In fact, he would be glad to do it. The payback for the humiliation he had suffered at his hands a month ago was long overdue.
What he didn't understand was why Asuma seemed so fixated on him. They barely interacted most of the time. And recently, Obito's taijutsu had improved so much that he hadn't lost a single academy spar in weeks.
But on second thought, after the beating from Asuma that one time, his matches had been mostly against civilian-born students.
Clearly, Mitsuka-sensei was trying to avoid another incident. He had also heard that their practical arts instructor got a good earful from him for matching him up against Asuma.
So it was likely that because of this, Asuma had some misunderstanding about his current strength. Regardless, it didn't prevent Obito from digging the pit this young master had already dug for himself a bit deeper.
Obito crossed his arms and smiled provocatively. "Asuma Sarutobi, what do you mean by 'my opponent will be you'? Are you saying you arranged the match yourself? Using your father's name around, maybe?"
He waved his hand dismissively, as if swatting a fly.
"In fact, now I don't even feel like sparring with you. If I beat you up, you'll probably run straight to your Hokage daddy and complain. I'd rather not get lectured for kicking his precious son's ass, you know."
His words seemed to strike a nerve as he saw Asuma's face turn extremely ugly.
"You dead last—what do you know?" he snapped. Then he jerked his chin. "Raido! Teach him a lesson!"
A tall boy with a mean look stepped forward. He cracked his knuckles and gave Obito a predatory look, then charged forward.
He covered the few meters of distance between them in just a few steps and swung a fist straight toward Obito's face.
It was fast and carried momentum. If Obito were to get hit, he would probably be out cold—but as he watched the fist enlarge in his eyes, Obito's expression remained unchanged.
Kakashi, at the side, still had his hands in his pockets, looking quite leisurely as if watching a show. He wasn't worried about Obito at all.
Sure enough, just as the punch came in, Obito swiftly shifted his body slightly to the side and reached out with his right hand. His fingers closed around Raido's wrist at the exact moment the punch missed his cheek.
Using Raido's forward momentum, Obito stepped in, turned his hip, and pulled the boy's arm over his shoulder.
Raido's eyes widened as he felt himself lifted off the ground.
A moment later, Raido's back hit the dirt with a heavy thud. The sound echoed across the empty walkway. His eyes rolled back for a second, and then he fainted directly.
Silence hung for a brief moment.