Chapter 3 — Shuriken
The moment he saw Rin's bright, carefree smile, a shadow flickered across Obuya's expression.
A memory from his previous life surfaced unbidden—the future of the ninja world, one soaked in blood and tragedy. Rin… her fate was already sealed in that history. She would die in the Third Great Ninja War… and the one who would end her life would be none other than her own teammate, Hatake Kakashi.
His fingers curled slightly at his sides.
"No… I won't let that happen. No matter what it takes, I won't let Rin die," Obuya murmured inwardly, his voice firm despite the turmoil beneath it.
By the time his thoughts settled, Rin had already walked up to him.
She stopped in front of him, her height barely reaching his shoulder. Tilting her head slightly, she looked up at him from below, her eyes curious. When she noticed the distant look on his face, she waved her hand gently in front of him.
"Obuya? Are you listening?"
Without thinking, Obuya reached out and caught her wrist.
Rin froze for a brief moment, clearly startled. A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she quickly pulled her hand back, lowering her gaze slightly.
"Rin… why are you here?" Obuya asked, releasing her as if only just realizing what he had done. "Isn't tomorrow the graduation exam? Shouldn't you be at home preparing for it?"
He spoke first, trying to cover the awkwardness lingering between them.
At his words, Rin's embarrassment faded almost instantly. She shook her head lightly, her usual gentle smile returning.
"It's just an exam. There's nothing to worry about," she said with quiet confidence. "I'll pass easily."
"You make it sound like you're trying to discourage me on purpose," Obuya replied, feigning annoyance, though there was no real heat behind his tone.
Rin understood immediately that he was joking. Her eyes curved into a soft smile.
"By the way," she added after a moment, glancing at the dimming sky, "it's already so late. Haven't you eaten yet?"
"I'm fine—"
Before he could finish, his stomach betrayed him with a loud, unmistakable growl.
"Grrrblrr…"
Obuya paused, then let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head.
"I wasn't hungry just now… but since you mentioned it, I suddenly feel starving."
"Oh~~"
Rin drew out the sound teasingly, her smile widening with amusement.
"So it's my fault?" she said playfully. "If asking made you hungry, then I'll treat you to a meal as an apology."
Obuya didn't respond immediately.
He understood what she was really doing. Rin had always been observant—too observant. She must have noticed that his living expenses were nearly gone. In the next few days, he would likely have nothing left to eat.
This wasn't just a casual invitation. She was helping him… quietly, without making it obvious.
Neither of them pointed it out.
Obuya stayed silent because he understood her kindness. Rin stayed silent because she didn't want to hurt his pride.
"I'm starving," Obuya said finally, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Ichiraku Ramen should be closing soon. Let's go."
…
The warm glow of lantern light spilled out from Ichiraku Ramen, illuminating the quiet street.
They took their seats along the outer counter, the familiar scent of broth and noodles filling the air.
Obuya wasted no time. He dug into his bowl with astonishing speed, devouring the noodles as if he hadn't eaten in days. Within moments, even the last drop of soup was gone.
Leaning back slightly, he let out a satisfied breath before turning his gaze toward Rin.
In contrast, she ate slowly, savoring each bite, her movements calm and unhurried.
After a brief silence, Obuya spoke again, his tone more thoughtful.
"Rin… what's your dream?"
"My dream?"
Rin paused, setting down her chopsticks. She looked at him, slightly puzzled, but when she saw the seriousness in his expression, her face softened into a more contemplative look.
"My dream…" she repeated quietly. "I hope Obito can become Hokage, just like he always talks about. I hope Kakashi can grow into a great ninja like his father. And… I hope the village can stay peaceful forever."
Obuya let out a faint sigh, shaking his head.
"You're always thinking about others," he said. "What about your own dream?"
"My own…?"
Rin blinked, then her expression brightened, her eyes lighting up with quiet determination.
"I want to become a medical ninja as great as Lady Tsunade," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I want to use my abilities to protect everyone in the village… even if it costs me my life."
Her face was filled with conviction, her words carrying a sincerity that left no room for doubt.
Then she turned to him, her gaze steady.
"What about you, Obuya?"
"I didn't have one before…" Obuya said slowly. "But now, after hearing yours…"
He paused.
"My dream is—"
"Kakashi!!"
Rin suddenly called out, her voice bright with excitement.
Obuya followed her gaze.
A slender figure was walking alone along the street, his posture straight but distant.
Hearing Rin's voice, the boy stopped and turned his head slightly in their direction.
Hatake Kakashi.
As fellow students under Namikaze Minato, Obuya had met him before. But unlike his close bond with Obito and Rin, he had barely interacted with Kakashi.
At this moment, Kakashi's lower face was still covered, and he had yet to receive Obito's Sharingan. His visible eye carried a faint trace of loneliness—something Obuya understood all too well.
After all, Kakashi was currently enduring one of the darkest periods of his life… the aftermath of his father's death.
"Kakashi, do you still have the gift I gave you?" Rin called out cheerfully.
Kakashi didn't respond verbally. Without stopping, he lifted his hand slightly, holding up a small shell between two fingers.
Rin's smile grew even brighter.
"What's that?" Obuya asked, curiosity piqued.
Instead of answering, Rin reached into her pocket and took something out. She placed it gently in front of him, her expression soft.
"This is for you," she said. "Keep it safe. It's a token of our friendship. No matter what happens… we should never betray each other."
Obuya picked it up, examining it closely.
It was a small shell, about the size of a baby's fist. Its surface was smooth and milky white, clearly something that had been carefully selected. Etched onto it were two simple characters:
Friendship.
"Rin…" Obuya's voice lowered slightly. "To everyone else, I'm just a failure. There's nothing about me worth noticing. But you… you've always treated me as a friend."
He closed his fingers around the shell.
"I'll treasure this."
"Heh… a failure is still a failure. At least you're self-aware."
A mocking voice suddenly cut in from behind them.
Both of their expressions darkened as they turned around.
"Uchiha Kirito…" Rin said, her tone sharpening slightly. "We're classmates. You should watch what you say."
She was clearly upset, but she restrained herself, mindful of his Uchiha background.
Obuya's gaze hardened as well.
Kirito was notorious among their peers—a bully who relied on his clan's status to act however he pleased. Most people endured his behavior in silence, unwilling to provoke the Uchiha.
Even Obito, despite being part of the same clan, was often mocked by him.
As for Obuya… an outsider with no backing, he was an easy target.
Kirito walked forward arrogantly, a sneer on his face, showing no intention of backing down.
"Why should I watch my words?" he scoffed. "This guy—Obuya—is nothing but an outsider. Lord Minato took him in out of pity, but he's completely useless. Like a dumb pig—can't do anything right."
He paused, smirking.
"Oh, wait. There is one thing he's good at—eating."
"Ha ha ha ha—!"
The group of students behind him burst into loud, exaggerated laughter.
"Poop boy… the nickname suits him perfectly."
"Nohara Rin," Kirito continued coldly, "kindness isn't a bad thing. But if you're kind even to something as worthless as a cockroach, then you're just a fool."
Rin's face flushed with anger, her fists clenching at her sides.
Without a word, Obuya slipped the shell into his pocket.
Then, slowly, he rose to his feet. Turning to face Kirito, his expression became completely calm—too calm.
"I can tolerate you mocking me," he said evenly. "But you insulted Rin for no reason."
"That's where it ends."
"Apologize to Rin, and I'll let it go with just a light lesson."
A faint, cold pressure began to seep into his voice.
"Otherwise…"
His chilling gaze locked onto Kirito, unwavering.
"You might find it very difficult to keep living comfortably from now on."