The sunlight in the hallway gradually grew harsher, casting long, slanting shadows through the window frames onto the floor. Dust motes drifted lazily in the air.
One class period passed quickly.
The classroom door suddenly slid open, and Teacher Ibuki stuck his head out, looking at them expressionlessly.
"Come in."
Shin-chan and Obito nodded and obediently walked back into the classroom.
"Ahem." Teacher Ibuki stood in the center of the room and cleared his throat. "I have an announcement."
The classroom immediately went quiet.
For once, Teacher Ibuki actually smiled. "Next month, the Third Hokage will be coming to our school for an inspection."
The classroom exploded instantly.
"A live Hokage!"
"No way—Teacher Ibuki isn't messing with us, right?"
"We really get to see Lord Third?"
The children excitedly whispered to one another. The Hokage was the very peak of Konoha—the legendary strongest ninja, the ultimate idol of every child.
Teacher Ibuki raised a hand, signaling them to calm down. "And during his visit, the Hokage will personally guide everyone in sparring practice."
"Sparring?" Obito shot to his feet, his voice trembling with excitement. "With the Hokage himself?"
Teacher Ibuki nodded. "The Hokage will personally give one-on-one guidance to selected students, point out your weaknesses, and teach you how to improve."
"I want to go!" Obito instantly got fired up, both arms raised high over his head. "I want to spar with Lord Hokage! Teacher Ibuki, pick me! I'll give it everything I've got!"
Laughter broke out across the classroom.
Someone muttered under their breath, "You just started school. You don't even know anything yet. How are you supposed to fight?"
"Yeah, Lord Hokage could pin you down with one finger."
"Forget one finger—he could probably blow on you and send you flying all the way to Konoha's front gate."
Obito's face turned red. "So what? Even if I get flattened, being able to fight the Hokage would still be an honor!"
Guy stood up too, eyes brimming with tears. "Well said! Youth means challenging the strong—I want to fight Lord Hokage too!"
"Whoa!"
"There's another one…"
"The two of you together probably still wouldn't be enough for Lord Hokage to warm up."
"Exactly."
The room descended into chaos.
Teacher Ibuki slammed his hand against the desk.
"Quiet!"
Only after the children gradually settled down did he push up his glasses and sweep his gaze across the room.
"The Hokage has limited time. He can't spar with everyone. So only the top three students in the class will get that chance."
The classroom erupted again.
"Top three?"
"Oh no, then I definitely have no shot."
"That's way too hard!"
The room filled with groans and sharp intakes of breath. Most of the students looked instantly crushed.
"In two weeks, there will be a comprehensive test covering what you've learned recently as well as your basic training," Teacher Ibuki said, scanning the room. "The top three will get to stand face-to-face with the Hokage. So if you want that chance, you need to start working hard right now."
Flames seemed to burst into Obito's eyes. He clenched his fists so tightly his whole body shook, as if he could already see himself fighting the Hokage.
"Top three—I'm definitely making the top three!"
Guy shot to his feet as well, flames practically rising behind him. "Youth! This is a trial of youth! If I'm going to stand before Lord Hokage, I'll burn myself to the limit!"
"You two can stop dreaming," someone said coldly. "That guy Kakashi is basically guaranteed one of the top three spots. Do you really think you can fight over the other two?"
Obito and Guy both turned to look at Kakashi.
The silver-haired boy was resting his chin in one hand, gazing out the window as if he hadn't heard a single word.
Obito's expression stiffened for a moment, but then the fire came right back. "S-So what? There are still two spots left!"
"And those two spots won't be yours either."
"You—!"
Teacher Ibuki slapped the desk again. "That's enough, stop arguing. Starting today, study properly and train properly. Everyone has a chance."
Shin-chan hadn't said a word this whole time. He was resting his chin on one hand, staring at the blackboard, but it was obvious his mind was somewhere else.
Uchiha Toru noticed the strange look on his face and asked quietly, "Shin-chan, what's wrong?"
Shin-chan slowly turned his head, and for once, his expression was unusually serious.
"Toru."
"Yeah?"
"If I can stand in front of Lord Hokage... do you think I could ask him for a favor?"
"A favor?" Uchiha Toru blinked. He genuinely couldn't imagine what sort of problem Shin-chan could possibly have that would require the Hokage himself to solve.
Shin-chan leaned closer and lowered his voice. "If Lord Hokage gave the order to wipe out every bell pepper in Konoha, then I wouldn't have to wait until I became Hokage myself."
Uchiha Toru fell silent for two seconds, then said, "In theory, the Hokage really could give that order."
"That's great!"
"But," Uchiha Toru cut in, "why would Lord Hokage ever give an order over something this small?"
"Why not?" Shin-chan tilted his head. "I have to face bell peppers every day. I have to suffer every day. Isn't that a big deal?"
Uchiha Toru opened his mouth, but from Shin-chan's point of view... it really was a huge deal.
"And besides," Shin-chan went on, "if I'm standing right in front of him, he'd be too embarrassed to refuse a little kid's request, wouldn't he?"
Uchiha Toru thought about it, then reminded him, "Shin-chan, first you have to earn the right to stand in front of him before you can make any requests."
"Oh, right." Shin-chan nodded, his eyes turning determined. "Then I'm getting into the top three!"
Uchiha Toru looked at his serious face and honestly didn't know what to say.
This guy was actually going to study hard... just so he wouldn't have to eat bell peppers?
Shin-chan clenched his little fists. "For a future without bell peppers, I'm going to do my best!"
"Alright then." Uchiha Toru nodded. "I'll work hard too and try to make the top three."
"You're trying too?" Shin-chan blinked. "Then doesn't that make us rivals?"
"We're rivals, but we're also friends." Uchiha Toru smiled faintly. "Fair competition."
Shin-chan thought about it, then stuck out his pinky. "Then pinky promise—whoever makes the top three has to treat the other one to chocolate sticks."
Uchiha Toru froze for a second, then smiled.
"Okay. Pinky promise."
The two hooked pinkies.
Second period began. At the front of the room, Teacher Ibuki went back to explaining chakra. He explained it in great detail, but for most of the newly enrolled children, it was still difficult and boring.
Shin-chan sat with his back perfectly straight, both hands folded neatly on the desk, chin slightly raised, his big eyes locked onto the blackboard.
For the rest of the day's lessons—and even during after-school training—Shin-chan was filled with fighting spirit.
"For the top three! For the destruction of bell peppers! I'm going to burn with youth!"
~~~
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