Satoru walked up and patted Eren lightly on the shoulder, his gaze sincere:
• "Brother, you won't be mad if I speak plainly, will you?"
Eren closed his eyes, brows slightly furrowed, but then let out a quiet chuckle, his voice calm:
• "I'm not the petty type. And you're right—I still don't fully understand this ninja world. A little caution isn't a bad thing."
Satoru grinned, clearly pleased:
• "As for Wood Release, I really have nothing to teach you. That's fate's domain now. Let's see how far you can go with it—I'm counting on you."
Eren smiled silently, his eyes gleaming with resolve. He knew his path was still long, and he hadn't yet touched his limits. He couldn't let his younger brother carry everything—he had his own pride, and his own road to carve.
The Match: Obito vs. Gai
After Kakashi and Eren's intense duel, Obito and Gai stepped forward, their eyes brimming with determination.
Obito clenched his fists, his single tomoe Sharingan glinting in the shadow.
Gai stood steady, his breath controlled, each exhale radiating raw power.
Satoru crossed his arms, eyes alight with anticipation:
• "Alright. Let's see what you two can do."
BOOM!
The match began!
Gai let out a low growl as heat surged from his body—the unmistakable signal of the Eight Gates!
• "FIRST GATE, OPEN!"
His speed skyrocketed.
Everyone was stunned—except Satoru, who narrowed his eyes to track the legendary taijutsu that had once made even Six Paths Madara spit blood.
In a blink, Gai vanished from Obito's line of sight.
• "Too fast!" Obito's Sharingan kicked in, barely keeping up.
WHAM!
A crushing kick to the gut sent Obito flying into a tree.
• "Urghhh!"
He coughed up a bit of blood, his whole body shuddering from the impact.
• "That hit… it's insane…"
Still, Obito didn't back down.
Activating both Sharingan and Observation Haki to the max, sweat dotted his brow as he began reading Gai's movements. No way he was backing out of this—not with Rin watching. He couldn't be dead last here, not in class, and definitely not in front of her.
He closed his eyes, steadied his breath, and began dodging, inch by inch.
Gai accelerated, unleashing a barrage of kicks that howled through the air, tearing through leaves and dirt like a storm.
But this time, Obito adapted.
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
Blow after blow clashed against Obito's blocks, sliding him backward across the ground with each hit.
Gai was relentless, like a panther on the hunt.
Even Kakashi, watching from the sidelines, winced at the strain Obito's arms were taking.
Obito's eyes flared with fury—if it was for Rin, he'd risk everything.
He minimized every movement, reducing wasted motion, his evasions getting sharper.
• "Damn it… If only I had a proper weapon… I need distance—time to weave signs!"
Using the ancient trees as cover, Obito weaved between trunks, forcing Gai into a zigzag chase.
After a few loops, he created enough space!
• "Now!"
Obito struck back.
His hands blurred through seals—"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
BOOM!
A massive fireball erupted, forcing Gai to leap high into the air.
• "The real attack—starts now!" Obito smirked.
A shadow clone appeared from above the trees—
Another fireball rained down from above!
Eren Intervenes
It all happened in a flash.
A powerful gust of wind swept through the battlefield—
BOOM!
A figure landed in front of Gai, arms wide to absorb the blast—
• "Eren!" both boys shouted.
The flames engulfed Eren, searing his skin—
But within seconds, his wounds healed over, his monstrous regeneration kicking in.
Obito panicked, rushing over:
• "Eren-san! I'm sorry! I didn't think it'd be that strong!"
Eren chuckled, patting Obito on the shoulder:
• "It's fine. This is just a sparring match. Don't sweat it."
Gai lowered his head, voice serious:
• "Thank you, Eren. I would've been hit for sure."
Eren smiled:
• "Gai, you're strong. But remember—speed alone doesn't always win."
Satoru crossed his arms, clearly pleased:
• "Well done. You all did great today."
The four looked at each other, bonds strengthening through battle.
Satoru clapped once:
• "As a reward, I'll get each of you a weapon suited to your style. But don't expect it right away."
They all laughed, the tension broken. Obito especially looked over the moon—tonight, he might not even sleep.
He was cool in front of Rin. That was all that mattered.
A Feast Under the Moonlight
That night, beneath a star-filled sky, the group sat around a campfire, the scent of grilled meat mixing with the earth and leaves.
Kakashi had secretly brought a bit of sake, placing it before Satoru and Eren:
• "A little gift from us."
Obito, Gai, and Rin all cheered, thanking their sensei.
Satoru's eyes sparkled as he ruffled their hair:
• "Haha, you kids really know your sensei."
Eren laughed, raising his cup:
• "Then… cheers!"
The group laughed and drank, cherishing this rare peace amidst chaotic times.
Satoru gazed up at the stars, a heavy sigh escaping.
• "How long can moments like this last?"
A gentle breeze swept past, carrying the whisper of fate.
Somewhere far, Black Zetsu was still watching, as it had for a thousand years.
The campfire flickered in the night, casting warm light over young faces full of dreams.
The meat sizzled, the scent mouthwatering, and Obito was the most excited.
He chomped into a skewer, eyes sparkling:
• "Rin, this is amazing!"
Rin smiled, handing another to Gai.
Gai beamed:
• "This is the feast of youth!"
Kakashi quietly munched, calm as always.
Satoru and Eren sat nearby, sipping sake, watching the kids.
• "What do you think?" Satoru asked.
Eren drank, the heat trailing down his throat, then set his cup down.
• "About what?"
• "About them."
Eren looked at the children—genius Kakashi, blazing Gai, determined Obito, kind Rin.
He was quiet for a moment.
• "They're different from us."
Satoru waited.
• "They haven't seen war. Haven't witnessed true despair. But they're strong. They have willpower. They have dreams. And more importantly…"
His gaze softened as he watched them laugh.
• "…they still have hope."
Satoru smiled faintly, the weight returning to his chest.
• "Yeah. That's what we lost."
Eren nodded. He'd seen the fall of humanity. Lost himself in the void.
But here—he had a chance to start over.
Satoru raised his cup to the stars.
• "We may be broken. But if we can protect them… maybe that's enough."
Eren clinked his cup gently against his brother's.
• "Agreed."
And together, they drank—a silent oath.
To protect these children… and spare them from the tragedies we once knew.