The classroom fell silent for a split second.
Then— “Pfft!” Aoki was the first to burst out laughing.
Next were his two cronies.
And then, the entire classroom dissolved into laughter.
“A genius?
Obito is a genius?” “Makoto, have you lost your mind?” “If Obito is a genius, then I’m the Hokage!” Roars of laughter echoed back and forth.
Obito’s face flushed red as a ripe tomato, his head dipping even lower.
Makoto didn’t laugh.
He waited until the noise quieted down slightly before continuing, “Don’t believe me?” “Only an idiot would believe you!” Aoki laughed so hard tears spilled from his eyes.
“If Obito is a genius, I’ll eat this desk right here, right now!” “Fine,” Makoto agreed with a nod.
“Then let me make a bet with you.” “Bet on what?” “One month.” Makoto held up his index finger.
“In one month, Obito will defeat you.” The laughter instantly died down.
Everyone froze.
Obito froze as well, raising his head to stare blankly at Makoto.
“W-What did you say?” Aoki thought he had misheard.
“I said, in one month, Obito will defeat you,” Makoto repeated clearly.
“Do you dare to bet?” Aoki stared at Makoto for several seconds.
Then he let out a loud, exaggerated laugh.
“A bet?
Why wouldn’t I bet!” He slammed his hand onto the desk.
“If Obito can beat me, I won’t just eat this desk—I’ll call you Grandpa!” “No need for that,” Makoto said.
“If you lose, just take the long way around whenever you see Obito from now on.” “Deal!” Aoki agreed instantly.
“And what if you lose?” “If I lose?” Makoto mused for a moment.
“I’ll call you Grandpa.” “It’s a deal!” Aoki extended his hand and slapped Makoto’s palm to seal the oath.
After high-fiving, Aoki shot an arrogant smirk at Obito before strolling back to his seat with his followers.
The room erupted into quiet chatter once again.
“Is Makoto crazy…” “How could Obito ever beat Aoki?” “Yeah, Aoki’s dad is a Jonin…” Makoto paid no mind to the chatter around him.
He turned back toward Obito.
Obito was still sitting there like a statue, his eyes wide as saucers.
“M-Makoto…” he stammered out.
“Y-You just…” Makoto leaned down, bringing his eyes level with the seated Obito.
“Obito, do you trust me?” Obito opened his mouth.
He remembered how Makoto had casually thrashed Aoki with one hand yesterday.
He remembered the utter confidence in Makoto’s voice when he said, *Taking on those three takes just one hand.* He remembered Makoto stepping forward to stand in front of him and stick up for him.
“I…” Obito drew in a deep breath.
“I trust you!” “Then that’s all that matters.” Makoto straightened his posture.
“Starting today, meet me at the training ground after school.
I’ll teach you.” “Teach me what?” “Teach you how to get strong,” Makoto said.
“Teach you how to beat Aoki into the dirt one month from now.” Obito’s eyes lit up brightly.
But in the next instant, hesitation crept back into his expression.
“But…
can I really do it?” he whispered softly.
“Everyone says I’m a Dead-last…” “That’s because they’re blind,” Makoto replied.
“If I say you can do it, you can.” Obito stared intently at Makoto for a long time.
Then, he nodded heavily.
“Okay!” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried absolute conviction.
Makoto smiled, reaching out to pat Obito’s shoulder.
“Then it’s settled.” With that, he turned around to head back to his desk.
“Makoto!” Obito called out suddenly.
“Hmm?” “Um…” Obito scratched his head.
“Why do you believe in me so much?” Makoto paused in his tracks.
He turned around and looked at Obito.
The classroom was quiet, everyone listening with bated breath.
Makoto took a slow breath, then looked at Obito with utter sincerity and said: “Because I believe we are both geniuses.” The moment the words landed: Obito froze.
Aoki froze.
The entire class froze.
Inside his mind, Makoto recited silently.
[Ding!
Target ‘Uchiha Obito’ trust assessment for lie ‘We are both geniuses’: 100%] [Manifesting lie “We are both geniuses” at 80%.
Manifestation beginning…
Manifestation level is influenced by both character importance and trust level…] [Manifestation complete.
Host acquired Talent: Genius] [Notice: Daily limit for ‘Lie Made Real’ ability reached (1/1)] It worked.
Makoto let out a quiet sigh of relief in his heart.
Eighty percent!
Because Obito wasn’t the main character of this world yet, it couldn’t reach one hundred percent, but eighty was more than enough.
This kid Obito really did believe down to his absolute core that he was a genius.
“Makoto…” Obito’s voice pulled Makoto back to reality.
“Hmm?” “Did you just say…” Obito’s eyes were glowing brightly.
“We’re both geniuses?” “Yeah.” Makoto nodded.
“I think we’re both geniuses.” “I think so too!” Obito abruptly stood up, his voice booming loud enough for the entire class to hear.
“I think we are geniuses!” Silence gripped the classroom for a heartbeat.
Then— “Pfft, HAHAHAHA!” Aoki was the first to burst into gut-busting laughter.
“Obito, are you actually stupid?” “A Dead-last calling himself a genius?” “And ‘we’?
Makoto aside, are you even worthy?” Mockery surged toward them like a tidal wave.
Obito’s face flushed bright red once more, but this time, he didn’t hang his head.
He stood tall and threw his shoulders back, staring straight at Makoto, and Makoto looked right back at him.
The two locked eyes for three seconds before Makoto burst into a smile, and Obito smiled right back.
It was a slightly goofy smile, but entirely earnest.