The more Aoki fought, the more alarmed he became.
His taijutsu was personally taught by his own father.
Among his peers, he considered his taijutsu to be quite good.
But the Uchiha Makoto in front of him…
Fast, far too fast.
Furthermore, every single strike hit his joints and soft spots, making him grimace in pain.
“Bang!”
Another punch landed squarely on his stomach.
Aoki let out a muffled grunt, stumbled back several steps, and hunched over while clutching his stomach.
“Still want to fight?” Makoto asked.
Aoki looked up, his eyes completely red.
“Fight!”
He gritted his teeth and rushed forward, using his full strength this time.
Makoto sighed.
Why bother!
Side-stepping, dodging, he grabbed Aoki’s punching arm, pulled it along with the momentum, and tripped him with his foot.
“Thud!”
Aoki crashed face-first into the sandy ground, getting a mouthful of sand.
Both of the henchmen were dumbfounded, and Obito was completely dumbfounded too.
Makoto stood in place, dusting off his hands.
“Still want to fight?” he asked again.
Aoki lay flat on the ground without moving for a long time.
After a good while, he propped himself up and crawled to his feet, his face covered in sand and dirt, with a torn patch of skin at the corner of his mouth.
“You… you…” He pointed at Makoto, his fingers trembling.
“What about me?” Makoto walked over, squatted down in front of him, and asked, “Do you yield?”
Aoki gritted his teeth.
“If you don’t yield, come again,” Makoto stood up.
“I’ll beat you until you do.”
Aoki stared at Makoto for a few seconds before finally lowering his head.
“… I yield.”
His voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
Makoto nodded and turned to walk towards Obito.
The two henchmen hurried over to support Aoki.
“Aoki-bro, are you alright?”
“Do you want to go to the hospital?”
Aoki brushed away their hands, stood up on his own, and glared fiercely at Makoto.
“I’ll let you win today,” he said through gritted teeth, “but this isn’t over!”
“Anytime.” Makoto didn’t even turn his head.
Aoki glared at Obito once more, then limped away with his two henchmen.
The training ground quieted down.
Obito was still hugging Makoto’s school bag, his mouth wide enough to stuff an egg into.
“Makoto…
you…” He stuttered, “You actually beat Aoki…”
“That was amazing! How did you train? Teach me! Teach me!”
Seeing Obito’s excited expression, the lingering tension in Makoto’s heart finally dissipated.
Good thing he didn’t mess up the act.
“Want to learn?” Makoto asked.
“Yes!” Obito nodded like a pounding pestle.
“Alright.” Makoto slung the school bag over his shoulder.
“Starting today, we’ll train for two hours every day after school.”
“No problem!”
“You are not allowed to complain about being tired.”
“I definitely won’t complain!”
“You are not allowed to slack off.”
“I swear!”
Looking at Obito’s posture resembling a “shonen manga protagonist taking an oath,” Makoto felt a little amused.
But he held it back.
“Then let’s go.” He turned and walked out of the training ground.
“Today we’ll practice the basics first.”
“Basics? What basics?”
“Physical fitness.” Without turning his head, Makoto said, “Run twenty laps first.”
“T-Twenty laps?!” Obito’s voice cracked.
On the afternoon of the second day of school, Makoto sat in his usual spot, the second-to-last row by the window.
The throne of the king!
He rested his chin in his hand, his eyes fixed on the crooked tree outside the window, while his mind was plotting other matters.
Although only 25% of the strength increase was manifested yesterday, it was more than enough to deal with Aoki.
Yesterday, Obito believed 50% of the statement “I can take on three with one hand.” If he phrased it differently today, like…
Just as he was thinking, a burst of jeering laughter suddenly came from nearby.
Makoto turned his head; it was Aoki’s gang once again.
They gathered around Obito’s desk, speaking loudly enough for the entire classroom to hear.
“Obito, if Makoto hadn’t helped you yesterday, do you feel like you’d have any confidence in becoming a Ninja?” Aoki crossed his arms, smiling in a way that just begged to be punched.
Obito looked at the three of them and spoke unceremoniously.
“I will become a great Ninja and become the Hokage.”
Hearing Obito’s words, the whole class burst into laughter.
Aoki and the other two laughed particularly exaggeratedly.
“You want to become the Hokage? Don’t disgrace the Uchiha.”
Obito clenched his fists tightly.
Watching this scene, a thought suddenly popped into Makoto’s mind.
The opportunity has come.
He stood up and walked over in that direction.
The classroom gradually quieted down.
“Aoki.” Makoto walked up to the group, his voice not loud, but clear enough.
Aoki turned his head and saw it was Makoto; his expression changed slightly.
“What, looking to meddle in other people’s business again?”
“It’s not meddling,” Makoto said.
“It’s about reason.”
“What kind of reason?”
“You said Obito is a tail-end student,” Makoto glanced at Obito.
“I don’t think so.”
Aoki sneered, “If he isn’t the tail-end student, then who is?”
Makoto turned to face the class, “Everyone is learning Ninjutsu for the very first time, who is really stronger than whom? Who knows, maybe Obito will be able to defeat you tomorrow?”
As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of whispers broke out in the classroom.
“That’s true…”
“Aoki only learned basic Ninjutsu at home before coming to the Ninja Academy. Maybe Obito will surpass Aoki after some time!”
Aoki was so angry he wanted to curse.
They actually dared to say Obito would become stronger than him in the future.
But after all, that was a matter for the future.
Even if said now, there was no way to prove it.
Ignoring him, Makoto turned his head to look at Obito.
“Obito.”
“Huh?” Obito raised his head, and it was evident his eyes were a bit red.
“Do you think you’re a tail-end student?” Makoto asked.
Obito was stunned for a moment.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but nothing came out.
Makoto waited for three seconds, and seeing that Obito didn’t answer, he said, “I don’t think you are.”
Obito’s eyes widened.
“I believe,” Makoto said word by word, “you are a genius.”