https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-179-Kakashi-s-Gold-Coin-Explosion/12558124/
Chapter 178: Brotherhood
Chapter 178: Brotherhood
"Haven't seen Obito in a while. I wonder how he's doing." On her way home from training, Noel Rin frowned, her expression tinged with worry.
The Ninja Academy had never sugar-coated the harsh realities of the ninja world, openly discussing the dangers of missions and battles.
But hearing about sacrifices and deaths in class and actually knowing someone who perished are two very different things. Ever since learning about Kakashi's teammates' demise on a mission, Noel Rin had come to truly understand the cruel nature of a ninja's life.
And Obito, with his tendency to get carried away, only added to her concerns. Noel Rin genuinely feared that his reckless behavior might lead to injury during missions.
"Obito, Kakashi, Might Guy, what are you three up to?" Noel Rin's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the familiar figures.
"Waaah!" Hearing Noel Rin's voice, Obito looked up excitedly, but remembering their bet, he could only gesture frantically while making unintelligible noises that only they could understand.
Even Noel Rin, who knew Obito inside out, was bewildered by his possessed-like behavior and had no idea what was going on.
"Kakashi, what's wrong with Obito?" Noel Rin turned to the usually reliable Kakashi for an explanation.
But Kakashi remained silent, choosing only to stare back at her.
Noel Rin found his uncharacteristic silence even more puzzling. Could Obito's unreliability be contagious?
Might Guy's next words shed light on the situation.
"Hahaha! They all lost to me in a race, so they can't speak for the rest of the day!" Might Guy laughed, giving himself a thumbs-up.
Running a hundred laps was a true test of endurance, especially for those already exhausted from their journey. It was no surprise, then, that Might Guy, with his superior stamina and determination, had emerged as the winner.
Noel Rin was at a loss for words. Their punishment—a day of silence—seemed more fitting for mischievous children than for aspiring ninjas.
"I thought you had become genin and were supposed to be taking on missions. Why are you racing Kakashi instead?" Noel Rin asked, her large eyes filled with confusion.
"Yeah, we just got back from a mission," Might Guy nodded in confirmation.
"Uuuuu..." Obito was frustrated. He desperately wanted to share his and Mu Yue's heroic exploits during the battle, as well as Kakashi's embarrassing moments, with Noel Rin.
"Damn you, Kakashi! Targeting me like that!" Obito seethed inwardly.
Might Guy had casually issued a challenge to Kakashi, who had readily accepted. It was a blatant setup!
"Could it be... that he anticipated this situation and is afraid I'll tell Noel about his less-than-stellar performance?" Obito's mind raced with suspicion.
"You despicable Kakashi! Just wait till I expose you tomorrow!" Obito vowed to tarnish Kakashi's reputation the very next day.
"So that's what happened," Noel Rin said, her eyes widening in realization. "Your bond with Kakashi is strong; you sought him out as soon as you returned."
"It's not like that!" Obito protested, feeling uneasy about the direction the conversation was taking. "He's our teammate, that's all."
Obito could only hope that Might Guy would clarify the situation, but his next words nearly made Obito stumble in shock.
"Of course! Youth and friendship go hand in hand!" Might Guy exclaimed with a brilliant smile.
"The bonds between young men are truly special," Noel Rin remarked, a hint of envy in her voice.
In that moment, Obito cursed his inability to use sign language. Otherwise, he would have conveyed everything through gestures at lightning speed, faster than any hand seals.
"The three of you?" Noel Rin suddenly realized something. "Aside from you, Guy, and Obito, who was the third member of your team?"
Obito heaved a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Noel Rin was quick-witted, or else she might have misunderstood the situation.
"It was Kakashi," Might Guy answered, scratching his head.
"But isn't Kakashi already a Chunin? Why would he be in an intern ninja class?" Noel Rin became even more perplexed as her suspicions were confirmed.
Kakashi: ...
Kakashi, who couldn't speak at the moment, had no way of answering Noel Rin's question. Even if he could speak, he wouldn't know what to say, as he himself was baffled by the fact that this was an intern class.
"That's the bond between me and my best friend!" Might Guy exclaimed passionately.
"I may not fully understand, but it's wonderful that you're all together," Noel Rin said with a gentle smile.
Although the process had been unexpected, the outcome was still positive. Even though she was no longer with them, Kakashi and Obito were still together, and she believed that Kakashi would take care of Obito.
"It's not good at all," Obito complained internally, mentally chastising Kakashi. He even blamed Kakashi for Noel Rin's inability to join their internship. If it weren't for Kakashi, perhaps it would have been him, Might Guy, and Noel Rin as a team.
"Well, I'm heading home now. You all look pretty tired too, so make sure to get some rest," Noel Rin waved goodbye with a smile.
Obito raised his hand, then lowered it again. He had lost the bet and had to remain silent for the day.
...
The next day, Mu Yue gathered her disciples at Training Ground 26.
The assembly time set by Mu Yue was 8 am, and both Kakashi and Might Guy arrived around 7:50, while Obito strolled in at 8:10.
"You're late again," Kakashi said coldly.
"That's because..." Obito tried to explain, but Mu Yue cut him off.
"Let's start with a debrief before training. Let's summarize the battle from our last mission," Mu Yue suggested.
"Kakashi was too aggressive and ended up being controlled by the enemy for more than ten minutes!" Obito quickly summarized on Kakashi's behalf.
"Obito, you don't understand combat. If it weren't for me, you would have fallen into the enemy's trap long ago," Kakashi countered.
Slap! Slap!
Two crisp slapping sounds rang out, and both Obito and Kakashi covered their heads.
"I asked you to reflect on your own performance, not critique others," Mu Yue said with a smile as she lowered her hand.
"So fast. I couldn't even dodge it," Kakashi thought to himself, experiencing Mu Yue's speed firsthand.
With Mu Yue's assertive intervention, Obito and Kakashi stopped their mutual criticism and began to thoughtfully consider their own shortcomings.
"My strength and explosiveness are still lacking. I need to train more and master the Eight Inner Gates as soon as possible," Might Guy spoke up first.
Might Guy's training regimen wasn't as diverse as Kakashi's and Obito's. He focused solely on taijutsu, with breathing techniques and the Eight Inner Gates as its core.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
