Chapter 283. Reunion
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On the other side.
The ninjas from each village who participated in the Chunin Exams were wrapping up their last night of celebration and getting ready to head back to their accommodations.
One night of rest, and by morning, they'd be gone.
"Obito!" Asuma and the others glanced at Obito and that Kumogakure ninja—clearly, they had something to talk about. They quickly chuckled and said, "We'll head out first."
As soon as the words fell, the group swiftly vanished from sight. After gaining some distance—
"They probably can't see us from here, right?"
"This isn't good, Asuma!" Shiranui Genma picked at his teeth. "Last time we almost ended up in the hospital together."
In the same department too… the Anorectal Department, you know?
"Relax!" Asuma said confidently, patting his chest. "At this distance, there's no way he'll notice!" As he spoke, he pulled out his brand-new phone. "Will of Fire 8. One hundred times ultra-stable zoom, 80-megapixel super light-sensitive camera, dual-structure optical image stabilization—even in the dark, we can see everything crystal clear!"
As soon as he said that—
Everyone gasped. "That's the new phone from Yuto Group this year? I heard it's not cheap!"
"Yup! My uncle Danzo gave it to me." Asuma grinned proudly, unlocked the phone, swiped it for a remote view, and instantly… a crystal-clear image came up.
Everyone gasped again. "This is amazing!"
"Hurry, let's see what's going on with Obito over there!"
"Weren't you guys saying this was a bad idea?"
"This is Youth!"
Immediately—
The group huddled together, glued to the little screen, sneakily watching.
Meanwhile—
On Obito's side.
"…"
It was nothing at first, but Asuma and the others' weird remarks before leaving made things awkward between the two of them.
Finally—
[Keep women out of your heart, and your ninjutsu will ascend!]
That line popped into Obito's mind, calming him a little. Then, looking at Yugito Nii, who was brushing her bangs aside, he bowed slightly. "I'm really sorry about today! I'll have a proper talk with Jun."
After all, he was a teacher now.
At first, it was just his group celebrating, but then they ran into some Kumo ninjas at the next table doing the same, so they joined up.
Later…
The kids left first, and the adults stayed behind a bit longer.
After he finished speaking—
Yugito let out a light chuckle and looked at Obito in front of her. "I remember you weren't like this back then!"
Back then—
When he was stopped and forcibly defeated by the Fourth Hokage, Uchiha Obito had been furious and full of swagger.
He wanted to do something to her!
Sighing with a trace of nostalgia, she walked slowly with her hands behind her back. "That guy was really just like you back then!"
"I…"
"Now I believe that kid's…" She paused, her cheeks seeming slightly red. "You didn't teach him that jutsu!"
"I really didn't teach him!" Obito pouted and shrugged. "I've said that like a hundred times!"
"Don't go using that jutsu on girls anymore!" Yugito returned to her queen-like attitude, flipping her hair. "You'll just get labeled a pervert again!"
"Damn it! That's a proper ninjutsu!"
"Are you really a pervert? You still want to use it? Forget it~" Yugito looked at Obito, who was still carefree as a little kid, and shook her head helplessly. "It's getting late. I should go back—I have to leave tomorrow."
"Hmph! It just so happens that I'm leaving too!"
"Are you a child?" Yugito said in disbelief at the proud look on Obito's face, then turned and walked toward Yuto Hotel.
This guy…
He seriously needs a beating!
He was so sincere when he apologized just a minute ago—what happened now?
As for Obito…
After glancing at Yugito's retreating figure, he folded his arms behind his head, whistling as he strolled toward home.
But then—
He hadn't gone far when—
"Hey, you pervert!" Yugito's voice came again.
"I already said I'm not!"
"Fine, Uchiha Obito." Yugito smiled slightly. "I'll take you around Kumogakure when the time comes! Just consider it my thanks for stopping that game!"
With that—
Without waiting for the stunned Obito to reply, she turned and walked off again.
Obito snapped out of it, turned his head to the side, pouted, and muttered, "I'm not going to Kumogakure! Boring things will only hinder my training!"
Seriously!
He's a man who's going to become Hokage!
How could he waste time on something so pointless?
He kicked a little stone by his foot.
And then—
"Are you an idiot, Obito?!"
A group of people jumped out in front of him, all glaring at him like he'd failed them.
"You should've said yes and walked her back!"
"Idiot!"
"Dumbass!"
"Such a waste!"
"I waited in vain!"
As soon as they finished, Obito stood frozen, his face flushing red and pale by turns. He stared at them. "Assholes! Didn't you guys already leave?!"
"…"
Seeing Obito's embarrassed and angry expression, the group realized the situation and started sweating nervously.
Right—
They were supposed to be gone!
After a moment—
They all whistled and turned to stare righteously at Asuma.
"Seriously! Asuma, why'd you hold us back?"
"It's all Asuma's fault!"
"This guy even sneakily filmed you!"
"This is Youth!"
"…" Asuma stood dumbfounded, staring at the group that betrayed him without a second thought.
Who was it just now begging to get a peek?!
Bastards!
"Hey hey, that's enough from you guys! Is this what Konoha taught you? We're supposed to be comrades! Partners! And you betray me like this? What about our bonds?"
I'm seriously sad here!
Do you guys even realize that?!
However—
No one paid any attention to Asuma. Instead, they all stared at Obito, who had already begun forming hand seals. They shivered and laughed nervously, "It's getting late, we'll head back first."
As soon as they finished speaking—
Whoosh Whoosh~
They vanished with Body Flicker Jutsu, leaving only Might Guy calmly standing in place…
"I…" Asuma's mouth twitched, leaving him speechless. But when he saw Guy still there, his heart was moved. At least… someone stayed with him. "Guy, you… you really deserve to be my eternal brother—"
Before he could finish—
"I'll visit you in the hospital," Guy gave Asuma a thumbs-up, his white teeth flashing. "This is Youth!"
And then—
"Fifth Gate… Open!"
His body turned into a streak of blue light and disappeared before Asuma's eyes.
"…"
I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not.
It feels like I've been targeted.
Asuma awkwardly turned his head, cold sweat forming on his forehead, looking at Obito, who had already completed the hand seals. He quickly said in a dry voice, "O-Obito-sama! No no… don't do this, it wouldn't look good!"
"Uchiha Forbidden Jutsu…"
"Wait a minute, wait a minute! I just caught something great on video—Boss Yuto, he… mmph~"
A wave-like sound… echoed through the night.
Just like clear spring water…
Flowing slowly!
…
Meanwhile.
A tipsy Roshi and Biwa Juzo were also getting ready to return to their rooms and rest.
They were just here for vacation, so the Chunin Exams had nothing to do with them. Just a bit of celebration and fun, and that was it.
"So boring!"
"Don't say that~ it's actually quite interesting!" Roshi chuckled. "You've said that like five times already!"
"Hmph! I'd rather be back in my room surfing the internet!"
"Being addicted to the internet isn't good!"
"It's collecting intelligence!" Biwa Juzo retorted disdainfully. "As a ninja…"
Suddenly—
Before he could finish—
Biwa Juzo shut his mouth, froze on the spot, and stared ahead seriously. Then he said in a calm voice, "You go back first."
"What's wrong?" Roshi seemed to notice something off with Biwa Juzo too. "Constipation?"
"I… have constipation!" Biwa Juzo's eyelid twitched, but he still nodded. "I'm going to the bathroom first, I'll come back later. You go ahead."
However—
"Alright, stop pretending!" Roshi laughed, then turned serious as he looked ahead. "Friend up ahead! Come out!" He sighed helplessly. "Seriously! You've got such bad luck, getting spotted like that!"
As soon as he said that—
A figure walked out under the dim light.
Under the light…
Slicked-back orange hair, a businessman's belly, wearing a sharp and expensive-looking suit, and holding a briefcase under his right arm.
He looked just like… a CEO about to negotiate a billion-dollar deal.
"?!"
Suikazan Fuguki!
The atmosphere instantly turned tense.
Roshi and Biwa Juzo took defensive stances, staring at the man seriously.
However—
"No need to worry. I didn't come to start anything. I just came to reminisce about the past," Fuguki smiled faintly, then turned to look at Biwa Juzo. After a brief silence, he sighed with emotion. "Long time no see, Biwa Juzo."
Who would've thought…
They'd run into each other in Konoha.
"Want to have a drink?"
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