After training for two and a half days, Obito finally mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu on the afternoon of the third day.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Obito formed the seals and gathered chakra.
Bang!
A puff of white smoke flashed, and a clone identical to Obito appeared beside him, looking neither fat nor thin, nor short.
"Finally, success!" Obito cheered with joy on his face.
He could already imagine how comfortable his future days would be. Shadow clones could attend school, do homework, work, and play with Lin… well, he would have to do that himself.
"That's great." Might Guy silently dispelled his shadow clone with skin as rough as a rock.
He also wished to send his shadow clone to school.
"From now on, you can handle school and homework," Obito said happily to his shadow clone.
However, the shadow clone gave Obito an unexpected answer.
"Why should I go to school?" asked the shadow clone.
The shadow clone's question left Obito stumped. After thinking it over, he replied, "Because you're my shadow clone."
"You are Uchiha Obito, and I am also Uchiha Obito. Why can't you go to school and do the homework?" The shadow clone reasoned logically.
"Because… because…" Obito scratched his head, feeling that the shadow clone was quite reasonable.
"How about I eat Teacher Mokgetsu's meals instead? This way, you get the tasty memories without worrying about gaining weight," suggested the shadow clone.
"I can also help you play with Rin, so you have more time to train."
"No, no, absolutely not!" Obito waved his hands, shaking his head vehemently.
"Why does this shadow clone only think about eating, drinking, and having fun?" Obito suddenly realized a problem.
"Aren't you also trying to dump those tedious things on me so you can eat, drink, and have fun?" The shadow clone responded bluntly.
Obito had nothing left to say and directly dispelled the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, have I not really learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu yet?" Obito asked in confusion, feeling like there was something wrong with his shadow clone.
Mokgetsu glanced at Obito with an assessment; the shadow clone had already reached the beginner level.
"You've already learned it. You don't need to train in this ninjutsu anymore," Mokgetsu replied.
"But I feel like I haven't learned it yet. There's something wrong with this shadow clone," Obito felt he still needed to learn.
"The thoughts of a shadow clone are the same as the original body," Mokgetsu said euphemistically.
The Ninja World is vast, and there are many talented people. This argument with the shadow clone is nothing; eventually, there will be a ninja who fights with his shadow clone.
"Hehe, then I'll start training the breathing techniques," Obito showed an embarrassed smile, understanding Mokgetsu's meaning.
If the main body wants to slack off, the clone will also want to slack off.
Obito slightly lowered his evaluation of the Second Hokage; although this ninjutsu was good, there were many aspects not thoroughly considered.
A fulfilling life always passes quickly, and soon it was the last day before school started.
"Everyone, take a break tomorrow. Those who want to play should go play, and those who don't can lie in the yard to contemplate life. After today, there won't be much free time.
Of course, if you desperately want to train, you can come here, and I'll be training here," Mokgetsu said.
"Rin, let's play together tomorrow!" Obito chose to rest tomorrow, especially since Mokgetsu strongly recommended taking a break.
"Okay," Nohara Rin nodded in agreement.
Having refused once before, and since it's the last day before school starts, it truly is a chance to relax a bit.
"Then tomorrow, let's find Kakashi in the morning and invite him along," suggested Nohara Rin after thinking.
Obito's initial joy diminished slightly, as he actually wanted it to be just the two of them. But since Nohara Rin wanted to invite Kakashi, Obito asked Might Guy:
"Guy, do you want to play together?"
"No, tomorrow I'm going to train the Breath of Rock," refused Might Guy.
If anything were evident from the shadow clone evidence, it's that Guy's mind only thought of the Breath of Rock now.
"What about you, Shisui?" Obito looked toward Shisui.
"You guys have fun; my Breath of Flame progress still falls short, and I plan to train all day tomorrow," Shisui replied.
Though previously leading in all sorts of training, Shisui's progress in breathing techniques was currently lacking, though it wasn't much. Compared to before, the gap was noticeable, and he wanted to spend more time training to catch up with Obito's progress.
Obito's joy dwindled a bit more.
This feeling was like having four people in a dormitory, and when one suggests going out to play on the weekend, only two head out while the rest stay behind to study. How can one enjoy playing?
"It's just one day. Training one day more isn't going to accomplish much," Obito mentally consoled.
The next day, morning.
Nohara Rin and Obito met at the designated spot, then headed to Kakashi's home together.
They were lucky; Kakashi wasn't on a mission today but sat at home, daydreaming, contemplating life.
"Kakashi, want to hang out together?" Nohara Rin asked with a smile.
"Obito and I are starting school tomorrow; we might not have much free time after that."
"Isn't Ninja Academy pretty laid-back?" Kakashi asked, puzzled. He remembered having plenty of free time when he was in school.
"That's because you're too amazing, Kakashi," Nohara Rin complimented.
"Alright, let's go." Kakashi agreed since he had nothing else to do today.
Watching Kakashi agree, Obito's mouth, initially upturned to smile, drooped down again.
"Damn Kakashi, as a ninja, he should be doing missions rather than lounging around!" Obito muttered under his breath.
"Obito, you little..."
Bam!
Before Nohara Rin could finish, Obito, not watching where he was going, bumped into a lamppost.
"Damn Kakashi, can't you put this lamppost somewhere where no one will bump into it?" This was the second time Obito had run into it, and he felt there was something wrong with its placement.
Kakashi: ...
"If there really was such a place, I'd first help you find your brain and eyes," Kakashi replied.
He felt that Obito was uncomfortable unless something was in his way; this lamppost's placement wasn't his decision.
"Alright, don't argue, rub it, and it won't hurt," Nohara Rin said gently, then stepped in front of Obito, softly massaging the spot he'd bumped.
"How is it, feeling better?" Nohara Rin asked softly as she rubbed.
"Hehe." Feeling Rin's warm, soft hand, Obito smiled contentedly, nodding even though he hadn't heard what she asked.
"Then let's keep going," Nohara Rin said with a smile.
"Kakashi, have you had breakfast?" Nohara Rin suddenly asked.
Since Obito came with her, she knew he hadn't eaten either, just like her.
"Not yet," Kakashi replied, shaking his head.
"That's good. I heard there's a new dango shop on the street that has great flavors. Their tricolored dango is especially tasty," Nohara Rin explained.
Led by Nohara Rin, the three headed to the newly opened dango shop on the street.
Each of the three bought a set, with each set containing three skewers.
"They look really nice," Nohara Rin commented, looking at the small plate of rounded, colorful dango.
"Not as good as Teacher Mokgetsu's tempura," Obito said after finishing his share.
"Only you would compare two completely different foods," Kakashi remarked as he ate a piece.
"Yeah, the red ones have red bean paste, they're quite good, though I think strawberry filling would be better," Nohara Rin said after taking a bite, unaffected by Obito's words.
Though Mokgetsu's cooking is delicious, desserts and main courses are in different leagues.
"Kakashi, can you briefly describe what life as an official ninja is like? Obito and I have just two more semesters before graduating," Nohara Rin asked curiously.
"Training, missions," Kakashi replied simply.
"That's too simplistic, you might as well not have said anything," Obito couldn't help but complain.
"Are there any things we should be aware of?" Nohara Rin, unfazed, continued to inquire.
"As a ninja, missions are everything. Completing missions is the top priority," Kakashi thought and said.
"You sound like a mature adult, Kakashi," Nohara Rin joked.
"Missions aren't everything, comrades are. If a mission fails, there's always a chance to make up for it; if a comrade dies, there's no bringing them back," Obito disagreed with Kakashi's philosophy.
"That's why you're still a student, while I'm already a Chunin," Kakashi said bluntly.
"You're too naive. Some mission failures can cause significant losses to the village, something that can't be measured by one person's life."
"I'll become a better ninja than you one day, just wait and see!" Obito was upset but had no retort.
He didn't have the standing to argue with Kakashi yet, since he wasn't even an official ninja.
"Alright, alright, both of you will definitely become excellent ninjas. How about we check out the shopping district?" Nohara Rin suggested.
The three spent most of the day being led around by Nohara Rin, and by noon they had a picnic in the woods, where Obito suggested fishing in the river to grill and eat.
"Don't drown, the river seems deep," Kakashi reminded.
"Don't underestimate me, I have chakra," Obito said, holding a wooden stick with a kunai tied to it as he stood on the water's surface.
"You've already mastered walking on water?" Kakashi was slightly impressed.
Although he was still far from Kakashi's level, Obito was no longer the hopeless student Kakashi had once known.
Having mastered Fire Attribute nature transformation and looking fairly competent in Ninjutsu, he now also knows how to walk on water.
Kakashi grilled the fish, and having lived alone for quite some time, he had honed many survival skills.
Watching Nohara Rin praise Kakashi's grilling skills, Obito vowed to learn cooking from Mokgetsu when he had the chance.
He was determined not to lose to Kakashi in any area.