Obito was irritated.
If Kakashi didn't participate, then taking first place meant nothing.
What Obito wanted…Was to defeat Kakashi in front of Rin, to wipe away the shame of his previous loss, and stand on the podium as the undeniable victor.But now that he finally had the strength to win, his rival had stepped out of the ring.
It was infuriating.
"No. I have to make Kakashi join that competition."The more he thought about it, the more unacceptable it became.
"We can go ask him after school," Rin said softly. "It's been a while. I'll come with you."
Obito nodded. It was a good plan.
He even asked Hanyū Yuuma for leave early—he wasn't going to training today. Not until he resolved Kakashi's problem.
After class, Obito and Rin headed straight to the Hatake residence.
Kakashi's home sat outside the main district—quiet, spacious, almost empty compared to the busy city.They had been here before. Even eaten dinner here.
When the slanted-roof house came into view, they knew they had arrived.
They were lucky. Kakashi had no missions today. He was in the yard, practicing.
Silver-white chakra blade in hand, Kakashi dismantled a scarecrow dummy in two clean strokes—head, limbs, torso.
When he noticed them, Kakashi sheathed the blade casually.
"…What are you two doing here?"
"We missed hanging out," Rin said with a gentle smile. "So we came to see you."
Obito, however, had no patience for pleasantries.
"Kakashi! The Junior Ninjutsu Tournament is about to start. Are you joining or not!?"
Kakashi paused, recalling the childhood-level competition he once joined out of boredom.
"…No. Not interested."
To him, it was just a kiddy festival with kunai as rewards.He barely cared even when he was a student—much less now.
Obito's expression collapsed.
"Why not!? You joined before!"
"That was when I was still in the academy," Kakashi said flatly, tapping his Chunin forehead protector.
Obito froze.He wasn't sure if Kakashi was hinting something… or mocking him.
"What does that matter? There's no age limit!" Obito insisted.
Kakashi sighed.
"Do you really need me to say it? I'm not interested in childish pretend-ninja games."
Obito clenched his fists.
"This isn't pretend! It's a youth ninjutsu competition!"
"You're not afraid of losing to me, are you?" Obito blurted out.
Kakashi blinked once."…Lose? To you? When have you ever beaten me?"
"I—!"
Obito searched his memories.
Nothing.
Not once.
His face immediately turned red.
"Kakashi, I'm different now! I've changed!"
Kakashi looked at Obito's bright orange goggles, his lopsided tracksuit, the goofy stubborn pose.
"…I don't see it."
"KONOHAAA—! INSULT!!"
Rin laughed quietly behind them.Some things never changed.
Obito forced himself to calm down.He thought of Yuuma's training method—choose the lesser of two evils.
Then a brilliant, terrible idea struck him.
"Kakashi… let's bet."
Kakashi's eyelid twitched.
"Bet on who ranks higher? Do you think I'd fall for that idiotic trick?"
"Not that," Obito smirked. "Let's test your eyesight versus my hand speed."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
"If you win," Obito continued,"I'll treat you to five bowls of ramen and never mention the tournament again."
"If you lose… you join the competition."
A clean win.Simple.Quick.Just annoying enough for Kakashi to accept.
"…How exactly are we competing?" Kakashi asked.
Obito plucked a leaf from a nearby branch and held it on his palm.
"Easy. I'll switch this leaf between my hands at high speed. At the end, you guess which hand it's in."
Kakashi considered it.
Obito's hand speed… versus his own visual reaction time?
There was no contest.
"Fine," Kakashi said. "Go ahead."
Obito exploded into motion—arms blurring, hands swapping back and forth so fast they seemed to overlap.He kept going for nearly five full minutes.
Then he stopped.
Kakashi pointed instantly.
"Right hand."
He spoke like it wasn't even a challenge.
"I don't know why you thought your hand speed could match my eyes."
Obito grinned.
"Kakashi… you sure? Positive? You can't change your answer."
Kakashi snorted."Stop bluffing. It's the right hand. Open it."
"Alright then…" Obito lifted his hand—slowly, dramatically.
He opened his right palm—