chapter 113 part 2
Born of humble origins, he only rose to prominence at the age of 16, then displayed his strength and potential at an exaggerated pace over just three years, becoming the center of attention. Yet, the world still didn't know what level Tsukasa Kaede had truly reached.
Just the act of "devouring a First Hokage" made Obito gulp.
If this First Hokage also had a pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan, that would be even more outrageous. After all, Obito still hadn't awakened his Sharingan and couldn't fully grasp the significance of the First Hokage possessing a pair of Sharingan. As a result, he couldn't look directly at the Hokage Rock anymore; every glance felt like an eyesore, like he was looking at Tsukasa Kaede.
Kakashi's expression was serious: "Early graduation, huh? As expected, you finally couldn't resist. If it weren't for wanting to defeat you, I would have applied for early graduation half a year ago; I wouldn't have dragged it out until now."
"Heh, you arrogant guy. If your strength was half as good as your mouth, you wouldn't have been beaten so badly by me."
Obito was equally defiant in his words, and even more so in his attitude. He had largely figured out how to be a strong person (crossed out), and how to show off.
Just as Obito and Kakashi were arguing.
A woman with a cool, detached demeanor and blue hair passed by their group, immediately attracting the attention of Obito and the others.
"This person... Obito, could it be..."
"No mistake. She's supposedly Jiraiya's disciple, currently living in Tsukasa Kaede's house, and has never undertaken any Missions issued by the Village. It's like she's here on vacation, which isn't normal." Obito's expression was serious.
Konan, after all, was entangled with Nagato and the Rinnegan, one of the usable chess pieces for the Eye of the Moon Plan. Obito was trying to think from a higher perspective.
Kakashi glanced at Obito. He always felt that this guy sometimes acted overly theatrical, as if deliberately imitating someone. At first, he thought it was Tsukasa Kaede, because Obito only omitted the honorific when mentioning Tsukasa Kaede. But that didn't make sense.
If one admired someone, shouldn't they use an honorific? Instead, it was as if he knew him intimately enough to call him by name.
Kakashi felt there was something going on, but it didn't concern him. He was more interested in how to defeat Obito.
Konan walked away.
Kakashi snapped his fingers in front of Obito, who was staring intently: "I'll also graduate early. I won't let you have it easy. Let's go on Missions together in the future and see who completes the most."
"Go to hell." Obito chuckled, raising his chin in feigned arrogance.
"Ah, but your current act looks a bit shoddy, too deliberate. You should learn more advanced techniques from true experts."
"What?! You bastard, do you want to fight?! Come on!!" Obito's pretense shattered in a second.
Amidst the many boys and girls eagerly watching the drama unfold, a girl stepped forward, mustering her courage, seemingly wanting to stand between the two to stop them. But Obito roughly pushed her aside.
"Get out of the way! I remember you're Rin, right? So annoying, don't bother me! Kakashi, let's go, one-on-one! And then tell me in detail about those 'advanced techniques' you mentioned. Those must be Sakumo's famous Jutsu, right?"
All of Obito's attention was drawn to what Kakashi mentioned. He couldn't help it; Sakumo Hatake was a genuinely Hokage-level strong individual. Though always low-key, and rumored to have a gentle temperament, completely lacking the flashy demeanor one might expect from someone who wildly cut down opponents.
But regardless, his showing-off techniques must be superior. Obito felt that Sakumo should be better at this than anyone from the Uchiha Clan—there was no other way to explain it, the Uchiha Clan hadn't produced a Hokage-level strong Ninja in such a long, long time. The last one was Madara.
Obito had seen exactly what Madara was like. When Madara "dealt with" Tsukasa Kaede with a single glare, he thought he had truly witnessed the demeanor of a super expert. But Tsukasa Kaede resurrected right afterward, becoming even stronger, leaving Madara helpless.
Obito's mind was filled with crafting his own persona.
As for the "extra" Rin Nohara, whom he ruthlessly pushed aside... Obito didn't care at all. There were simply too many girls surrounding him; who was Rin Nohara among them?
Wherever Obito went, a group of girls cheered and shrieked. He had become somewhat desensitized and found it hard to develop feelings of liking for a gentle and quiet girl—he was a dazzling super genius, whose name was recognized by the Village Higher-ups, not the Dead Last from the original Timeline who desperately needed people's care and tenderness.
Only things that were unattainable would receive extra attention and be clutched onto like the whole world, rare and precious. The opposite held no interest whatsoever.
...
Konan returned to Tsukasa Kaede's house. She had gained a relatively comprehensive understanding of Hidden Leaf Village and paid attention to the topics its people eagerly discussed.
Konan was completely unfazed by the capture of the One-Tails; she didn't even know that the Gedo Mazo was a Vessel for Sealing Tailed Beasts.
Instead, the Hidden Sand Village's claim that Tsukasa Kaede could use Wood Release caught her slight attention, but she quickly lost interest.
There was absolutely no news of the Land of Rain or Nagato... Konan felt she had become an emotionless Explosive Tag-manufacturing machine, unable to leave this Village, yet unable to leverage its power for anything.
Just as Konan activated Paper Release to create new Explosive Tags.
Bang! The door was violently pulled open, along with its lock.
"Only you're here? Where's that guy Kaede?!"
Tsunade rushed in first, looking around, only to see the calm Konan.
Jiraiya followed closely, entering with a helpless expression, relieved to see his disciple unharmed.
"I don't know. That guy never tells me what he's going to do. You've asked the wrong person."
Konan didn't even lift her head, still focused on making Explosive Tags.
Jiraiya opened his mouth, then hesitated: "You've made enough Explosive Tags by now, haven't you? It should be enough. I'll go talk to Tsukasa Kaede and ask him to set you free."
Konan didn't speak. Sure enough, her figure instantly vanished from her spot. The next second, Tsukasa Kaede and she reappeared.