Chapter 5 -
Obuya withdrew the barrier.
Kirito finally began to recover from the full-body paralysis.
He tried to stand, but with one leg pointing forward and the other backward, not only did it look terrifying, it was also extremely awkward to move. As he struggled to rise, he lost his balance and toppled to the side.
The few companions following him hurried to help him up.
"You… you're a medical ninja!"
At this moment, Kirito's gaze toward Obuya no longer carried hatred. Instead, it was filled with fear.
Even a layman could guess that a medical ninja capable of rearranging someone's body at will must possess utterly unimaginable skill.
Medical ninjas were the most respected among all shinobi, as injuries were commonplace, and their aid was essential.
From the moment Obuya had demonstrated that extraordinary "ninjutsu," Kirito knew he had no chance to boast or continue his arrogance.
"Consider yourself warned!"
"Today's outcome is your own fault. If I ever see you bullying someone again for no reason, I'll cut off your head and reattach it on your ass, so you'll always walk upside down. Now, get lost…"
Obuya's cold command made Kirito and his group shiver in terror.
"Hurry! Help me walk!"
Kirito shouted.
Even walking was now a problem. As Obuya had warned, if he didn't fix this, his life would become unmanageable.
The group, humbled and embarrassed, left with their tails between their legs.
"Obuya… are you really a medical ninja?"
Rin's voice trembled with disbelief.
Obuya thought to himself: At this point, how could I argue? Should I tell her I was using a Devil Fruit power, not a medical ninjutsu? But Devil Fruits don't even exist in this world.
After a moment's hesitation, he decided to remain silent.
He nodded. "Rin, don't misunderstand. I never meant to hide it from you. My abilities… they only just awakened today."
"Just awakened? And you already have such incredible medical skills? How… could it be…"
Rin's eyes suddenly lit up as realization struck her.
"I know!"
"You must have a rare Kekkei Genkai, like the Uchiha's Sharingan, except yours is focused on medical abilities!"
Obuya inwardly smiled at this explanation—Rin had provided a perfect cover story.
Kekkei Genkai were not unheard of among shinobi. At least in Konoha, many possessed them, though some were stronger than others.
Moreover, Kekkei Genkai had no strict definition. Obuya's "Devil Fruit" abilities could easily be disguised as such.
"That's amazing! Obuya, you truly have a medical Kekkei Genkai! From now on, no one will dare underestimate you again."
Rin's cheeks flushed as she tightly grabbed Obuya's arm, clearly thrilled.
Obuya could see that the girl was genuinely happy for him.
"Does sensei know about this?" Rin asked excitedly.
"No, I only just awakened this ability today. I haven't had the chance to tell Lord Minato yet."
"You must tell him soon! If he finds out, he'll be overjoyed."
Obuya felt deep gratitude toward Namikaze Minato. When he had just awoken in this unfamiliar world, stranded and alone, it was Minato who had brought him to the village—without him, he might have starved to death.
"Obuya, if you don't mind, I'll report this to sensei for you."
Obuya naturally had no objections.
With Rin around, she would undoubtedly lavish praise on him.
Besides, Minato was now a Konoha elite jonin. Obuya was merely someone he had inadvertently rescued, with no formal teacher-student relationship. Rin could easily act as intermediary.
After arranging to meet at the academy the next day, Rin, nimble as a rabbit, dashed away through the alleys.
Watching her disappear, Obuya thought: Once Minato knows, the Konoha leadership will also know. Whether this is a blessing or a curse for me remains to be seen.
"Big brother, your Kekkei Genkai is amazing! Thank you for teaching that annoying Kirito a lesson. I want to be as strong as you one day."
A childish voice pulled Obuya from his thoughts.
Before him stood a four- or five-year-old child, holding hands with a poised and beautiful young woman. The child looked up at him earnestly.
The Uchiha clan emblem adorned the child's clothing.
Obuya reached out and patted the boy's head with a smile, saying nothing.
Today's victory had largely relied on taking Kirito by surprise. If Kirito had used a powerful ninjutsu from the start, winning would not have been so easy.
"It's time to go, Itachi."
The young woman smiled at Obuya and led the child away.
"Itachi? Could it be… he's the young Uchiha Itachi, the future Itachi God?"
Obuya was momentarily stunned.
But after a moment, he relaxed.
He was currently in a period just before the Third Great Ninja War, with the younger generation represented by Kakashi. Minato had already grown into an elite jonin but had not yet become Hokage.
According to the ninja history Obuya had pieced together, this Uchiha Itachi was indeed only a four- or five-year-old child, not yet enrolled in the ninja academy.
"Uchiha…"
Obuya murmured, watching the child walk away.
Who would have thought that the once-proud Uchiha clan would eventually meet its end at the hands of this very child?
From the ninja history Obuya knew, the clan's downfall was inevitable, resulting from multiple intertwined factors.
The Land of Fire would never tolerate rebellion. Itachi's actions, though tragic, were for the greater good—in Uchiha Itachi's perspective at least.
Obuya knew this history but did not attempt to change it.
Firstly, he lacked the ability to intervene in Konoha's internal struggles with a great clan.
Secondly, surviving in the larger context of the ninja world was difficult enough; he had no leisure to meddle in matters unrelated to himself.
"Tomorrow is the ninja academy graduation exam… though it doesn't concern me anymore."
Obuya walked alone toward his lodgings.
It was a place to stay, not truly a home—just an empty room.
He wasn't originally from Konoha, but a war refugee.
Thanks to Minato, he had been allowed to attend the academy, but only as an auditor. He had no right to participate in the exams, wear Konoha's forehead protector, or become a genin.