However.
Ever since Obito became infatuated with Rin, hovering around her every single day, his contact with Uchiha Shingen had gradually decreased.
Plus, after graduating from the Ninja Academy, Obito had become Minato’s subordinate, while Uchiha Shingen’s Jonin instructor was Inuzuka Ago, making it even less likely for them to run into each other.
This was actually their first time crossing paths since graduation.
“Heh heh~”
Obito smugly tapped his forehead protector.
“I’m not the dead-last dropout I used to be!”
“What, are you a super dead-last now?!”
Uchiha Shingen instinctively fired back, immediately drawing a burst of laughter from everyone at the table.
Obito’s face flushed bright red.
Just as he was about to speak up and defend himself, Rin, sitting next to him, couldn’t help but chime in first to explain for him:
“Obito recently passed the Chunin Exams, so he’s a Chunin now.”
Kakashi, his eyelids drooping lazily, added with a somewhat speechless tone:
“Yeah.”
“He’s been telling everyone he meets these past few days.
He wishes he could plaster the word ‘Chunin’ right on his forehead.”
“Bastard Kakashi, I challenge you to a duel!”
Having his cover blown, Obito turned completely red and made a show of getting ready for a massive brawl with Kakashi.
“Even barbecue can’t shut your mouth!”
Rin casually picked up a piece of roasted meat from her plate and stuffed it right into Obito’s mouth.
Obito instantly settled down quietly in his chair.
Resting his chin in one hand, he chewed the barbecue with a look of absolute intoxication, his face plastered with a blissful smile.
“Rin fed me barbecue, that means I’m in her heart, I…”
Because his mouth was stuffed full of meat, Obito’s words were muffled and indistinct, and no one at the table could hear what he was mumbling.
Sitting to the side, Rin helplessly patted his head, her eyes full of fondness.
Kakashi sat with his hands clasped behind his head, still maintaining that look of complete disinterest in everything.
Only his eyes would occasionally land on Uchiha Shingen.
He didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but tonight he actually caught a whiff of danger coming from this originally unremarkable peer.
However, on second thought, Kakashi quickly understood why.
To be highly regarded and taken in as a disciple by Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, aside from the special status of being an Uchiha, he definitely had to possess some extraordinary qualities.
He just didn’t know…
exactly how strong he was?!
Uchiha Shingen naturally noticed Kakashi’s unusual gaze, but he couldn’t care less about it.
The details of his previous battle with Shisui, along with his true strength, were probably crystal clear to the current Konoha and Uchiha higher-ups by now.
It wasn’t strange at all that Kakashi would be interested in him.
Thanks to Obito’s little comedy routine, the group, which had initially been a bit unfamiliar with each other, opened up.
Minato had already learned the name of his junior brother from Jiraiya, and now that they had finally met, he was mostly filled with curiosity.
“I’ve actually heard about you from Big Brother Ago during a mission, Shingen-kun.”
“Captain Ago?”
An image of an honest, short-bearded figure immediately surfaced in Uchiha Shingen’s mind.
That was the Jonin instructor he had been assigned to after graduating from the Ninja Academy, Inuzuka Ago.
Under his guidance, he had carried out missions for several years.
“Yeah.”
Minato nodded and continued:
“He’s mentioned many times that he failed to protect you guys back then.
He’s always blamed himself and hasn’t dared to come see you these past few years.”
Uchiha Shingen remained silent for a moment before gently shaking his head and saying:
“Teacher Ago did his best.
After all, the opponents were Iwagakure’s elite forces.
Just surviving with my life was already lucky.”
“Besides, if it hadn’t been for that battle, I probably wouldn’t have awakened my eyes even now.”
“In a way, it was a blessing in disguise.”
Mentioning Uchiha Shingen’s past brought a sudden chill to the table.
Realizing he had misspoken, Minato was just about to try and explain himself when Jiraiya stepped in to break the ice.
Pointing at Uchiha Shingen, he said:
“Don’t let his totally uninterested look fool you.
He’s actually incredibly strong.
At the very least, when I was his age, I was nowhere near his level.”
“Seriously?!”
Obito, who had been burying his head and ravenously stuffing his face with barbecue, looked up.
He glanced at Jiraiya, then at Uchiha Shingen, momentarily wondering if Jiraiya was just blindly boasting about his own student.
“Shingen hasn’t been on a mission in a long time, right?”
“Based on what I know about him, this guy isn’t exactly interested in training either.
All he thinks about all day is how to slack off…”
“No!”
Kakashi, in a rare move, took the initiative to speak up, cutting Obito off while keeping his eyes fixed entirely on Uchiha Shingen:
“I can feel it.
There’s a dangerous aura coming off this guy, and it’s highly unsettling.”
“No way?!”
Rin was in disbelief.
Kakashi’s strength was completely in a league of its own compared to the rest of their graduating class.
He graduated early from the Ninja Academy at age six, passed the Chunin Exams at seven, and was already preparing for the Jonin Exams.
“It’s true~”
Minato nodded.
Seeing Kakashi taking a rare interest in someone, he couldn’t help but suggest:
“Do you want to try sparring with him?!”
“I heard from Jiraiya-sensei that Shingen-kun already has Jonin-level combat power.
If you can beat him, passing the Jonin Exam will be a sure thing.”
Seeing this, Jiraiya also grew somewhat interested.
Even though he was well aware of Uchiha Shingen’s training progress over the past few days.
But based on his understanding of Uchiha Shingen, a little thought told him that this kid was definitely hiding way more than what he showed on the surface.
He was ninety-nine percent sure Shingen was holding back more than just one trick.
However.
Before anyone could react, Uchiha Shingen rejected the idea outright:
“Spare me.”
“This kind of zero-payoff game is a complete waste of time.”
“Uh…”
The simple and direct refusal left everyone stunned on the spot.
A somewhat awkward smile appeared on Minato’s face.
Although he had already learned about Uchiha Shingen’s personality from Inuzuka Ago, actually experiencing it firsthand still left one at a loss for words.
This attitude of having laziness and disinterest etched into his very instincts gave off way too strong of a Nara Clan vibe.
Though Kakashi was a bit taken aback, it actually made him even more curious about Uchiha Shingen.
“Don’t tell me you’re too scared?!”
Obito’s eyes rolled around, and he resorted to a basic taunt.
“Ah, yeah, yeah, yeah…”
Uchiha Shingen didn’t fall for it at all.
To him, doing something with absolutely no benefit was simply a waste of time.
“Didn’t you say before that you wanted an Earth Release ninjutsu?!”
Amidst the group’s awkwardness, Jiraiya’s voice rang out.
After spending more than a month together, he had gradually figured out Uchiha Shingen’s personality.
He was the type of guy who wouldn’t get out of bed if there wasn’t a profit to be made.
Getting him to make a move without offering some kind of benefit was impossible!
“If you win tonight, I can give it to you early.”
“Deal!”
Uchiha Shingen’s interest was instantly piqued.
Ever since developing his Earth-style nature transformation, he had been looking for a corresponding Earth Release ninjutsu to restock his ammo depot, preparing for his future overwhelming firepower saturation tactics.
A free Earth Release ninjutsu delivered right to his doorstep?
He’d be a fool not to take it.
“Let’s do it after we eat, just to digest our food.”