Theoretical exams, shuriken throwing, and the Three Basic Jutsu had all been tested
multiple times
before. But
this
—an
actual combat test with scores that counted toward graduation
—was a first.
Up until now, any sparring had been nothing more than
practice matches
.
But today's
results mattered.
A ninja's future could be shaped by their
performance
in this test.
Tanaka Hideichi clapped his hands, drawing the class's attention. "Alright, everyone, gather at the playground for the test."
His voice was firm at first, but as his gaze landed on
Youyu
, he hesitated.
"...That being said." Tanaka
coughed awkwardly
, glancing toward
Rin and Kurenai
—the only two people in the class who could even remotely handle Youyu.
"Rin, Kurenai... please take Youyu to the playground." His voice
lowered
as if afraid to wake a
sleeping beast.
The girls blinked, then
nodded eagerly
before shooting each other a
competitive glance
.
One left. One right.
They each
took an arm
, shaking Youyu lightly.
Youyu, still
half-drunk
, lazily cracked open an eye. "Hmm? You two... here to drink with me?" His
slurred voice
made both girls' faces twitch.
Then, with an
easy-going grin
, he lifted his sake bottle. "Fine, fine. I'll only drink with you two, then. I won't share with anyone else."
Before either girl could respond, he
tilted the bottle toward Kurenai's lips.
"Y-Youyu-kun!!" Kurenai
jerked back
, her face heating up as she practically
jumped away
.
Sure, she
loved
the scent of alcohol, but actually
drinking it
? If her parents smelled it on her, she was
dead
. And worse—if her dad found out
where all the missing bottles had gone
, she'd be grounded
for life!
"Nope, nope! You drink, I'll watch!" She
waved her hands frantically
, stepping back.
Youyu turned to Rin. "What about you?"
Rin
chuckled
and shook her head. "No drinking for me, Youyu. Let's just get to the playground, okay?"
Youyu
shrugged
, not pushing the issue. He wasn't the type to
force
a drink on someone.
Though, if they weren't the ones bringing him alcohol, he would have already introduced them to his blade.
And so, with
Rin and Kurenai supporting him
, they
half-dragged, half-guided
him toward the playground.
Meanwhile...
Two figures
watched with burning jealousy
.
Asuma and Obito.
Their
goddesses
, Rin and Kurenai, were
voluntarily
sticking close to Youyu—
holding his arms, whispering to him, laughing with him.
Asuma clenched his fists
tightly
... then loosened them just as fast.
He still
couldn't
shake the fear from before. His body
remembered
the feeling of
death
when Youyu had turned his gaze on him.
His anger flickered, then
fizzled out
.
He just
couldn't
bring himself to challenge him again.
Obito, however, was different. His
sharingan-less eyes
burned with something else—
pure rage
.
His grip tightened until his knuckles
turned white
.
That
bastard
drunk or not
—was
too close to Rin
.
Too damn close.
Without a word, he turned on his heel and stormed toward the playground.
If this test was about
combat
, then he would
finally have an excuse
.
Today, he'd
fight Youyu head-on.
And
this time... he wouldn't hesitate.