Chapter Thirteen – Tests part four
"Well, this is unexpected."
The thought didn't belong to me alone.
In that suspended moment, thick with the scent of dust and dry grass, I wasn't the only one thinking it. Every pair of eyes in the clearing was glued to the scene, a silent tableau unfolding under the pale wash of the sky.
There they stood.
(Obito Uchiha) and (Kakashi Hatake).
Facing each other like two statues carved from tension and quiet rivalry. Not a single word passed between them. The only sound was the distant rustle of leaves, a whisper against the profound silence that had fallen over the spectators.
The chakra, a visible, shimmering aura, held the leaves perfectly still in their palms.
A feat of control.
Yet, they didn't seem to care about the leaves, or the test, or the watching world. Their postures were deceptively relaxed, but their eyes… oh, their eyes told a different story. They were locked onto each other, two points of intense focus in the still air, one dark and determined, the other grey and assessing, as if the entire universe had shrunk down to the space between them.
Scrape.
A tiny pebble dislodged under someone's shifting foot, the sound unnaturally loud.
At the same time, I couldn't help but think that this was… amusing.
In the end, (Obito)'s talent in the original story was considered low. It wasn't a lack of spirit, but a lack of guidance. He never received the proper training, never had someone to whip that inherent commitment into a sharpened blade. The boy possessed the necessary drive, a smoldering fire, but he lacked the master to fan it into a proper flame.
But now…
The man who would later stand behind the Fourth Great Shinobi War was… different.
Vastly, profoundly different from his previous history.
He now possessed the fundamentals of chakra control, honed by relentless practice. He had a foundation of physical training, a body being tempered for a purpose greater than himself. And on top of that, the bloodline of the Uchiha clan was far more potent than that of the Hatake.
Swish.
A gentle breeze teased the edges of the leaves in their hands, but the papers didn't even flutter.
But that didn't necessarily mean (Kakashi) would lose to (Obito) at this stage.
(Kakashi) was on a completely different level.
In the end, he was a master of Ninjutsu, which placed him on a very high tier of control. Furthermore, he had been trained by the White Fang, (Sakumo Hatake). A shinobi so fearsome that even enemy nations trembled at the mere mention of his name and power.
And (Kakashi) was that man's son.
He had received exceptional training and possessed a multitude of skills from the cradle. So, I wasn't sure if (Obito) even had a chance.
A slow, knowing smile crept onto my lips, feeling out of place on my face.
"But that's not important."
This was merely the beginning.
(Kakashi)'s ceiling was clear, a well-defined peak of genius. But (Obito)'s ceiling… was a vast, open sky. In the original flow of time, he had shown a terrifying leap in prowess immediately after awakening the Sharingan, capable of facing shinobi far above his rank in that single, desperate moment.
But now, he didn't need all that wasted time.
By having him train with more precision and purpose, he would undoubtedly become stronger than his previous self. A sharper, more dangerous weapon, forged before the heat of tragedy could warp him completely.
Hiss.
A soft, frustrated sigh escaped from somewhere in the crowd.
For the others, especially the Uchiha present, the sight was equally shocking.
To see (Kakashi Hatake) approach one of the Uchiha was one thing. But for the two to clearly know each other? That was another matter entirely.
(Uchiha Ryu), who had been thinking about (Kakashi) and his infamous father's reputation, was taken aback that the boy had ignored him completely and gone to another Uchiha.
"Damn that brat. What the hell?"
It was true that the Uchiha knew each other, being one clan. But for the first time, (Uchiha Ryu) didn't recognize the person in front of him. This wasn't a familiar face from the usual circles of promising clansmen.
"I will win for sure!"
There was only one way he could prove he was better than this person who dared to ignore him: win, and hold the leaf longer. But even as he thought this, his hand wouldn't stop trembling. A fine, constant tremor ran through his fingers.
Chakra control meant sending a constant, steady stream of energy to the hand. It was like a continuous, delicate charge. It was nerve-wracking, literally. It required constant, grueling training to master this trick. It might be easy to start, but as time wore on, the difficulty and exhaustion multiplied, even for the skilled or the gifted.
A single drop of sweat traced a path from his temple to his jaw, hanging for a moment before falling to the dry earth with a silent pat.
On the other hand, (Fugaku Uchiha) didn't know what to say. His mind was a whirlwind of reassessment.
"This boy… is he (Kagami)'s relative? Is he talented? Why have I never heard of him before?"
He had heard rumors of a boy playing pranks around the clan to attract attention, but he had paid them no mind. Still, a reputation had spread, and (Obito)'s standing was low among the clan members.
Furthermore, he was a relative of (Uchiha Kagami), who was also known for his closeness to the Hokage. That very connection had ironically made the boy's reputation worse among the Uchiha, as many disliked the Hokage's way of dealing with them.
On top of that, the boy's talent was said to be pathetically weak. He hadn't even awakened the Sharingan. So, everyone considered him a failure, worthless.
But (Fugaku) hadn't quite believed that. Yet, he couldn't do anything about it. He was to be the next clan head, and he had tried to ignore the matter, maintaining a diplomatic distance.
Though, at the same time, his future wife, (Uchiha Mikoto), would often go to (Obito)'s grandmother, (Hana), to check on her and give her money on his behalf. (Mikoto) was close to Grandma (Hana), and so a good relationship existed between them, a quiet kindness beneath the clan's political surface.
But in this moment, the future clan head was staring at (Obito) with clear confusion in his dark eyes.
"Is it normal for a boy with supposedly no talent to keep a leaf on his hand for this long? It's been over twenty minutes…"
His gaze, sharp and analytical, shifted. From a distance, he noticed (Uchiha Ryu) beginning to struggle. The boy's hand was shaking violently.
"Tch. The amount of chakra… plus, he's just awakened the Sharingan. It makes it harder for him to control the quantity he releases. If he releases even a little more, the leaf will either fall or be blown apart."
This wouldn't be a bad thing in other circumstances—it would show the youth had high potential. But here, now, (Fugaku)'s eyes scanned the individuals watching the event. Shinobi from other clans, elders, officials.
"This will make me look bad, as I haven't taught him complete control."
In a place like this, displaying the clan's talents was crucial, especially for the clan head. And since he was the next clan head, if he lost face on such a basic exercise, it would reflect poorly on his leadership.
It was clear that (Obito) seemed far more composed.
"What is this method? It's different from the ordinary control… He isn't focusing his chakra across his entire palm, but on a single point. That makes the chakra flow more stable. A simple technique, but effective in this situation."
The future clan head deduced the trick instantly. But in the next moment, a more pressing question arose.
"Did he master this by himself, or did someone else teach him?"
He had activated his Sharingan. With its piercing vision, seeing the flow of chakra was child's play. He could pinpoint exactly where the energy was being concentrated. He quickly judged that someone must have taught (Obito) this method.
The question opened a chasm in (Fugaku)'s mind.
"I haven't heard of this. Wasn't everyone in the clan cold to (Obito)? Why would anyone teach him anything? Unless…"
With his Sharingan eyes, he looked toward the direction where the White Fang and the Third Hokage stood side by side, observing the proceedings.
"Could it be the Hokage? Did he send someone, or did he himself teach (Obito)?"
The idea was becoming more logical. After all, (Obito) wasn't naturally talented. If he were, he would have been respected by the clan, for the Uchiha respected strength above all. If he had shown the Sharingan, if he had awakened it, everyone would respect him now.
But since he hadn't…
The only reason (Fugaku) could think of was that he had been taught by an outsider. And the only one who would do that was the Hokage.
As for why… there was a connection between (Uchiha Kagami) and the Third Hokage. They were both students of the Second Hokage. That would give the Hokage a motive.
"I will have to investigate this."
A spark of ambition, cold and calculating, ignited within him.
"If the Hokage is interested in (Obito), that could be a huge gain for the Uchiha clan. Especially if I can plant (Obito) close to the Hokage… it would bring the clan's standing closer to the center of power."
Of course, he had to research and confirm it. But a great hope began to bloom inside him, so potent that he no longer cared if (Ryu) held on for a second longer. His focus, now, was entirely and irrevocably on (Obito Uchiha).
…
"This boy from the Uchiha clan… it seems you, (Kakashi), know him?"
(Sarutobi Hiruzen) couldn't resist murmuring the question, his voice low like the rustle of old scrolls. Yet, it was heard with perfect clarity by the White Fang standing close by.
"They met a short while ago. I saw him talking with this young man. He is truly talented. It's been over twenty-five minutes, and he's still maintaining perfect control. He might be the best one here right now."
Around them, the numbers were thinning. Members of other clans were losing their grip, one by one. The soft, frustrated thwip of a falling leaf, followed by a dejected sigh, became a recurring sound.
Soon, only six remained.
The first was (Yuhi Kurenai). Her face was a mask of concentration, lips pressed into a thin line.
In addition, there was (Mitirashi Anko), (Sarutobi Asuma), (Uchiha Ryu), (Uchiha Obito), and (Kakashi Hatake).
All the other students had lost a long time ago.
(Anko) was suffering the most. Her entire arm trembled violently, a puppet with its strings cut. Beads of sweat, like tiny diamonds, formed on her brow and rolled down her temples, dripping from the ends of her soaked hair. Plink. Plink. They fell onto the dry ground in a steady, pathetic rhythm. She was trying to take deep, shuddering breaths to calm herself, her eyes burning a hole into the innocent leaf in her hand.
(Kurenai) was more composed. Still, her hand had a faint, constant tremor. She continued to focus until the very end, her mind a fortress of will. She did control exercises daily, and her innate control was good to begin with. So, she was confident she could last.
But as she glanced at the other students in her periphery, a thread of tension wound itself around her spine.
She saw the one known as the star of the new generation, (Kakashi), actually yawning behind his mask. A slow, bored exhalation. And yet, his grey eyes were sharp, focused intently on the Uchiha before him.
(Obito), for his part, looked impossibly calm. Not a trace of nervousness. He just stared at his own leaf with a kind of bland indifference, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. But then, in fleeting moments, his gaze would flick up and lock onto (Kakashi) with an intensity that belied his relaxed posture.
If she had to say who was in the worst position after (Anko), it would be (Ryu).
He was holding on, but just barely. She could see that the leaf in his hand wasn't just threatening to fall, but to explode from the volatile chakra he was leaking.
"He's releasing too much chakra," she thought, a clinical assessment in the midst of her own struggle.
And then, she felt her own power waver. A split-second of distraction. It was enough.
Her leaf fluttered.
In the same instant, (Anko)—who had also been secretly watching (Kurenai)—and (Asuma Sarutobi), startled by the sudden movement, lost their concentration.
Fwip. Fwip. Fwip.
Three leaves, like wounded butterflies, drifted silently to the ground.
The proctor, (Nino), lifted his head, his expression impassive.
"The test is over for you. You may go now."
The three of them looked at each other, a shared look of bitter understanding passing between them. They let out soft, dejected sighs, the sound of missed opportunities and pride slightly bruised. They had lost the chance to continue, to prove their endurance lasted a little longer.
But (Obito Uchiha), (Ryu Uchiha), and (Kakashi Hatake) continued the examination.
Everyone was acutely aware that (Ryu Uchiha) was suffering more than the others. Sweat poured from him now, darkening the back of his shirt. He didn't dare lift his head, terrified that the leaf would vanish in the very next moment, taking his dignity with it.
Drip. Drip. His sweat pattered onto the ground, a timer counting down his defeat.
"You're still holding on. Not bad."
Completely ignoring the struggling (Ryu), (Kakashi) spoke, his voice a dry monotone. He was looking directly at (Obito), and he let out another low, deliberate yawn, his free hand coming up to casually cover the masked lower half of his face.
"Yes. You're not so bad yourself."
(Obito) smiled back, a calm, easy expression. He made the difficult exam look simple. And all of it was thanks to his teacher's technique. Perhaps he wasn't a natural genius, but he was observant.
He noticed that everyone else was spreading their chakra across their entire palm. Even (Kakashi), who seemed bored, was doing the same thing. But unlike them, (Obito) was employing a more precise method, a finer point of control. That's why his hold was more stable, especially since he was only holding one leaf, not multiple.
Of course, if the others knew he felt this way, they would have been furious. After all, the method he was using for control was unorthodox. Learning it required a control expert or someone with a wildly creative imagination to devise such a technique.
And fortunately for (Obito), (Sosuki) possessed a vast imagination, one that allowed him to conceptualize and explain this method in a way that made sense. It was a creativity far beyond the conventional thinkers of this world, who were accustomed to and practiced only the old, established ways.
The air grew heavier. Thirty minutes had passed.
(Ryu)'s breathing became a ragged, desperate thing. His leaf began to smolder, the edges curling and blackening.
"I… won't… lose…" he grunted through clenched teeth.
Fzzzt—POP!
A small, pathetic burst of chakra, and his leaf disintegrated into a tiny puff of ash and smoke.
He stared at his empty, soot-stained palm, his face a canvas of shock, humiliation, and exhaustion. He had lost. And he had lost spectacularly.
Without a word, he turned and stalked away, his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Now, only two remained.
(Obito Uchiha) and (Kakashi Hatake).
Their leaves were as steady as if they were glued on. The world seemed to hold its breath.
"It seems it's just us," (Kakashi) stated, his lone eye crinkling slightly. Was that amusement?
"It does," (Obito) replied, his voice even.
"Shall we see how long this can go?" (Kakashi) challenged, a lazy taunt in his tone.
(Obito) didn't answer with words. He simply narrowed his eyes, the faintest smirk playing on his lips. He adjusted the flow of chakra, a minute, imperceptible refinement. The leaf in his palm didn't even quiver.
(Kakashi)'s eye widened a fraction. He had felt it—a shift, a refinement. This wasn't just stubbornness. This was skill.
He leaned forward slightly, the boredom finally evaporating from his posture, replaced by a spark of genuine, focused interest.
The test was no longer about leaves.
It was a declaration.
And the first true battle between them had silently begun.
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End of Chapter.
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Thank you, dear readers, for your unwavering support! Your enthusiasm is the fuel for this story.
With a heart full of gratitude and a smile,
-The Author❤️