Hattori , Puppet Tyrant in Sand

Kakashi's sudden departure left Obito feeling as though he had said something wrong.

His mood immediately turned somber.

"Rin, I didn't mean it. Maybe I should apologize to Kakashi later!"

"Mm, sure!" 

Hearing this, Nohara Rin immediately gave him a warm smile.

"I'm sure Kakashi wouldn't mind; we're friends, right, Obito?"

"Hmph, I'm not friends with him. I just feel sorry for him!" 

Obito pouted, then seemed to think of something, turning back to Rin.

"Rin, would you like to know more about Kakashi's father?"

"Well... maybe a bit, but…"

"Come on, don't worry about it!" Before Rin could finish, Obito grabbed her hand. "Follow me!"

With that, he led her running out of the cemetery.

The two moved quickly, making their way through the Leaf Village training grounds and back into the village itself in no time.

Once they returned, Obito kept glancing around as they ran, as if looking for something.

Seeing his behavior, Rin looked at him in confusion. "Obito, what are you looking for?"

"For someone. That red-haired guy from earlier—ah, there he is!"

Obito pointed toward Ichiraku Ramen, grinning widely.

"Right there!"

"Oh…" 

Following his finger, Rin saw boy sitting inside the ramen shop, eating noodles.

A hint of hesitation flickered across her face.

"But he's from the Hidden Sand Village; maybe we shouldn't approach him!"

"Oh, come on. With me here, there's nothing to worry about!"

Obito patted his chest confidently.

"I'll protect you. Let's go ask him about Kakashi's father!"

With that, he headed toward the man.

Seeing this, Rin could only follow him in.

Inside, Obito immediately sat down beside boy and called out to the ramen shop owner.

"Hey, Teuchi, two bowls of tonkotsu miso ramen with all the toppings!"

"Got it!" 

Teuchi nodded and began preparing the ramen.

In the meantime, Obito feigned surprise and greeted the boy.

"Huh? Aren't you the guy who made Kurenai cry earlier? What a coincidence!"

The boy, Hattori: "…"

That performance... so over the top!

Having experienced the battlefield, Hattori's senses were sharp. He'd noticed Obito and Rin approaching the ramen shop long before they entered.

Now, with Obito pretending to bump into him, Hattori couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated, nodding in acknowledgment.

"Yes, it's me. You must be Obito, right? I heard you secretly kiss photos of Rin at home?"

"Pff…"

Hearing Hattori's words, Obito turned bright red, immediately flustered as he denied it.

"I didn't… Don't talk nonsense! I never kissed a photo of Rin in secret!"

"Really? Then why are you so nervous?" Hattori raised an eyebrow again. "Feeling guilty?"

"No way!"

Obito's face turned beet red as he turned to explain to Rin.

"Rin, don't listen to him; I… I didn't!"

"Hehehe…"

Seeing him so flustered, Rin couldn't hold back her laughter, covering her mouth and waving a hand at him.

"Don't get so worked up, Obito. I believe you. This little guy is just teasing you!"

With that, she gave Hattori a gentle smile.

"Hello, I'm Nohara Rin, a soon-to-be genin. What's your name?"

"Hattori," he replied simply. "A jonin from the Hidden Sand Village."

"Huh?"

Hearing his introduction, both Rin and Obito looked surprised.

Especially Obito, who looked at Hattori as though he were some sort of oddity.

"You don't look older than me. How can you be a jonin? Even Kakashi is only a chunin. Is it that easy to become a jonin in the Hidden Sand Village?"

"…"

Hearing this, Hattori gave Obito a helpless look, unsure how to respond.

At that moment, a voice suddenly called out from outside the ramen shop.

"Obito, that's not something you should say!"

Turning toward the voice, Obito saw Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, walking in.

Following him was an older man in a gray robe, Ebizō.

Hiruzen entered, smiling at Obito.

"Ha ha, young man, becoming a jonin in the Hidden Sand isn't easy. Hattori here is truly talented, which is why the Kazekage appointed him as a jonin."

"Exactly!"

After Ebizō spoke, Hiruzen nodded.

"And Hattori isn't just any jonin; his status in the Hidden Sand is equivalent to the Sannin of the Leaf!"

"The Sannin of the Leaf?"

Hearing this, Obito's eyes widened, looking at Hattori with a hint of disbelief.

"He's really that strong?"

"Of course!"

Seeing Obito's disbelief, Hiruzen nodded again and patted his head.

"You haven't graduated from the Academy yet, so you wouldn't know. But Hattori here is a well-known figure in the ninja world; he's your senpai!"

The last sentence was directed at Hattori, who immediately understood and shook his head, a bit exasperated.

"Don't worry, Lord Hokage. I won't do anything to them. You and Lord Ebizō can go on your way—no need to scare the young lady here!"

"Uh…"

At Hattori's words, Hiruzen noticed Rin, looking a bit timid, and burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha... All right, we'll leave you kids alone. Let's go, Ebizō."

"After you, Lord Hokage!"

As they left, Obito turned back to Hattori.

"Are you really that strong? Stronger than Kakashi? Then if I beat you, wouldn't that mean I'm stronger than Kakashi?"

"…"

Hearing this, Hattori gave Obito a sidelong glance and sighed.

"Keep dreaming."

Obito: "(╬￣皿￣)"

You dare to look down on me?

Feeling humiliated in front of his crush, Obito stormed out of the ramen shop.

Then, standing in the street, he beckoned to Hattori.

"Come here! Today, I'll show you the power of the Uchiha Sharingan!"

"Hm? Sharingan?"

Hearing this, Hattori raised an eyebrow, then smiled as he stepped out of the shop to face Obito, his lips curving up slightly.

"All right, if you can land one hit on me, I'll give you the win."

"Fine, you said it! Don't regret it. Here I come!"

Obito agreed and lunged forward, throwing a straight punch at Hattori!

However, just as he threw his punch, Hattori had already disappeared.

"Huh? Where did he go?"

As Obito looked around, confused, Rin shouted, "Obito, look out! He's behind you!"

"Too late!"

As Rin yelled, Hattori, who had used the Body Flicker Technique to get behind Obito, clasped his hands together and jabbed at Obito's most vulnerable spot!

"Konoha Taijutsu Secret Technique: Thousand Years of Death!"

Obito: "(Д`) Aaaahhhhhh…"

*(End of Chapter)*