The bell for the end of class finally rang.
"Alright, that's it for the morning." Teacher Ibuki closed his textbook and reminded, "Nohara Shinnosuke, don't forget to hand in your reflections on the Will of Fire tomorrow—at least three hundred words."
Shin-chan lay flat on the desk, looking like a puddle of melted wax.
"Three hundred words. I'm going to die."
Uchiha Tetsu was packing his books next to him; he glanced at him and couldn't help but laugh.
"Actually, three hundred words isn't much; it's just a few sentences."
"A few sentences?" Shin-chan lifted his head. "Then if I say, 'The Will of Fire is not eating green peppers,' how many words is that?"
Uchiha Tetsu counted, "Ten words."
"Then how many times do I have to say it?"
"Thirty times."
Shin-chan fell silent, then slumped back onto the desk.
Uchiha Tetsu looked at his "life is meaningless" expression, suddenly remembered something, took a small, paper-wrapped package from his schoolbag, and placed it in front of Shin-chan.
"Here."
Shin-chan looked up at the paper package.
"What's this?"
"Open it and see."
Shin-chan opened the paper package curiously; it was a chocolate bar.
"A chocolate bar!" Shin-chan's eyes immediately lit up.
"Yeah." Uchiha Tetsu turned his face away slightly, looking a bit embarrassed. "Didn't you say yesterday that you like chocolate bars? My house happened to have some, so I brought one for you."
Shin-chan stared at the chocolate bar, saliva almost dripping out, then looked at Uchiha Tetsu. "Tetsu."
"Wh-what?"
"You're my best friend!"
Uchiha Tetsu's face turned slightly red. "Don't... don't be so dramatic."
"Really." Shin-chan gave him a big hug. "Tetsu is the best, ten thousand times better than green peppers."
"Don't compare me to green peppers!"
"Ten thousand times better than natto."
"That's about the same!"
Shin-chan let go of him and picked up the chocolate bar with a serious expression, as if he were performing some kind of sacred ritual.
Then he took a bite.
"Mmm."
Uchiha Tetsu watched him nervously. "How is it?"
Shin-chan closed his eyes, chewing slowly, a look of intoxication on his face.
"Delicious, so delicious. This is the best chocolate bar I've ever eaten."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Shin-chan opened his eyes and looked at Uchiha Tetsu. "Tetsu, you take a bite too."
"No need. It's for you."
"No, half each." Shin-chan broke the chocolate bar into two pieces and handed the longer piece to Uchiha Tetsu. "Give."
Uchiha Tetsu looked at the half chocolate bar, stunned for a moment.
"This is yours."
"Friends are meant to share." Shin-chan had already stuffed the other half into his mouth. "And since you treated me, of course I should give you half."
Uchiha Tetsu looked at the half chocolate bar in his hand, a strange feeling suddenly surging in his heart.
It was warm, like sunlight shining on his body.
Uchiha Tetsu took a bite.
"Is it good?" Shin-chan asked.
"Yeah." Uchiha Tetsu nodded. "It's good."
Shin-chan smiled, then remembered something else. "By the way, Tetsu, do you like eating bear biscuits?"
"They're okay."
"Then I'll bring some for you next time; my mom bought a lot."
"Okay."
The two sat together, eating the same chocolate bar.
Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.
Guy passed by, and seeing this scene, his eyes welled up again.
"Youth, this is the Youth of friendship!"
Shin-chan and Uchiha Tetsu looked at him at the same time.
"Guy, do you want some?" Shin-chan held up the last small piece in his hand. "There's a little bit left."
Guy froze for a moment, and then tears burst from his eyes.
"Shin-chan!"
He lunged forward and gave Shin-chan a big hug.
"You really are my best friend!"
"Le... let go. I can't breathe."
Teacher Ibuki was packing up his things on the podium; just as the corners of his mouth began to turn up while watching the children...
"What did you say?"
Obito's roar erupted from the corner, startling everyone.
Teacher Ibuki's smile froze on his face. He looked toward the sound and saw Obito stand up abruptly, his small face flushed red, staring at a boy in the back row with wide eyes.
"I said," Asuma repeated slowly, "what's so great about the Hokage? He's so busy all day he's nowhere to be seen."
Obito clenched his fists. "Hokage-sama is the greatest Ninja. He protects the Village. How can you say that?"
"That's my old man." Asuma rolled his eyes. "I know better than you. All he knows is work, work, work, all day long. He never cares about things at home. What's the use of being great? He doesn't even have time to spend with his family."
Obito was trembling with rage. "That's for the sake of the Village; Hokage-sama sacrifices himself for everyone."
"Sacrifice?" Asuma stood up and met Obito's gaze. "Who cares about his sacrifice? I'd rather he wasn't the Hokage, just an ordinary dad."
"You don't deserve to be the Hokage's son at all!"
"You think I want to be?" Asuma's voice also grew louder. "Everywhere I go, people are watching me. I have to mind my image in everything I do. It's annoying as hell!"
The two stood face to face, eyes almost spitting fire.
The surrounding children fell silent, watching the scene nervously.
Seeing this situation, Teacher Ibuki immediately panicked and walked over quickly. "Hey, hey, what are you doing?"
But neither Obito nor Asuma paid him any attention.
"Apologize," Obito roared. "Apologize to Hokage-sama."
"Why should I apologize? I'm telling the truth."
"You!"
Obito threw a punch; Asuma dodged to the side and pushed back, and the two began to scuffle.
"Stop it. Everyone, stop it."
Teacher Ibuki rushed up to pull them apart, but as a young teacher in his early twenties facing this kind of scene for the first time, he had no idea what to do.
Just as he grabbed Obito's arm, Asuma's leg kicked out, nearly hitting him.
"Stop fighting!" Teacher Ibuki's voice was filled with anxiety and helplessness.
But the two children's eyes were already red with anger, and they couldn't hear a word. Some of the surrounding children shrank into a ball in fear, while others cheered excitedly.
Kakashi sat in his seat, watching the scene expressionlessly, without any intention of intervening.
Rin stood up anxiously. "Stop fighting; you'll get hurt."
Guy also tried to go up and break up the fight but was pushed away by the two.
The scene became increasingly chaotic.
Shin-chan appeared between the two at some point. "Why are you fighting? Is it to fight over a chocolate bar?"
"No," the two said in unison.
"Then is it to fight over a beautiful older sister?"
"No."
"Then is it over who gets to use the toilet first?"
"Of course not."
Shin-chan tilted his head, looking confused. "Then why are you fighting?"
Obito pointed at Asuma. "He insulted Hokage-sama."
Asuma sneered. "I'm telling the truth."
Shin-chan blinked, looking at Obito and then at Asuma, then asked, "Your dad is the Hokage?"
"Yeah."
"Then is your dad really powerful?"
Asuma froze for a moment and turned his face away. "Whether he's powerful or not is none of your business."
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