That person was Uchiha Obito, Ryosuke's partner-in-misery at the ninja academy.
The two of them had always been at the bottom of the class rankings.
And since both were members of the Uchiha clan, certain arrogant clansmen looked down on them even more.
Behind their backs, people would sneer and call them the "Shame of the Uchiha," or the clan's two dead-last losers.
"You don't know?"
Ryosuke stopped walking and put the half-eaten rice ball back into his bag.
"Know what?"
Obito jogged up beside him.
"Just a little sick, nothing serious."
Seeing Obito's confused expression, Ryosuke casually came up with a surface-level excuse.
"Sick?"
Obito looked him up and down, scratching his head.
"You don't look sick to me."
Ryosuke didn't respond.
"Oh right, Ryosuke—could you lend me some money?"
"What for? You short on cash?"
Ryosuke frowned. Even in their situation, the clan gave both of them a stipend to cover basic living expenses.
"I just wanted to buy a gift for someone."
Obito rubbed his head, looking embarrassed.
"For someone? For Rin?"
The moment Rin's name came up, Obito's face flushed bright red. He glared at Ryosuke in embarrassment.
"Ryosuke, what are you talking about?! It's for Kakashi!"
In Ryosuke's memory, Kakashi had been in the same class as him and Obito during their first term at the academy.
Not long after starting, Kakashi had applied for early graduation, and rumor had it he was already a chūnin.
"Lately, I've heard some things about Kakashi…"
Obito's voice lowered, and a shadow passed over his expression.
"So, I was thinking of going with Rin to visit him at his place after school today."
Kakashi?
Ryosuke's heart skipped a beat.
Kakashi was Sasuke's future teacher in Team 7—this was a solid bond connection.
And he'd just been wondering how to get more card points from here… talk about perfect timing.
Obito still looked a little awkward.
Seeing his troubled face, Ryosuke patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll cover the money for the gift."
Obito blinked, then quickly shook his head.
"No way! I'll borrow it from you, and pay you back when I have the money."
Ryosuke didn't push it and agreed.
"Ryosuke, you're coming with us?"
"Sure. It's been a while since I've seen Kakashi too."
Obito was moved.
"I knew it—you're just as kindhearted as I thought!"
Ryosuke shot him a look of disgust and strode ahead.
"Quit it. I'm not like you. I don't like guys."
"Ryosuke, you bastard!"
Obito's roar echoed behind him a moment later as the words sank in.
"Kindhearted, huh?"
Ryosuke muttered under his breath, his face returning to calm as he quickened his pace.
Before long, they reached the academy.
He entered the classroom under the curious gazes of the other students and quietly took his seat at the back.
Around him, groups of students chattered in small clusters.
Ryosuke ignored them, set down his bag, and slumped over his desk.
With his current abilities—three-tomoe Sharingan, Chidori, and the Cursed Seal—even without using those trump cards, he was at least chūnin level.
In the wider ninja world, he was still weak, but he finally had some means to protect himself.
And after all his recent visits to Fugaku's home, plus being back at the academy, even clansmen who disliked him were keeping their heads down.
Few were dumb enough to try causing trouble for him now.
Realizing this, Ryosuke let out a long breath.
He could finally take it easy at the academy for a few days.
Running to Fugaku's house every day, always acting the part, had been exhausting.
He hadn't been resting long when he felt someone tugging at his sleeve.
Looking up, he saw his seatmate—Kato Shizune.
"What is it?"
He turned toward her.
"Did you forget you promised to come with me to Konoha Hospital to study medical ninjutsu?"
Konoha Hospital?
Ryosuke remembered.
Before gaining the system, because his natural talent was so lacking, he had considered becoming a medical ninja as a fallback plan.
Knowing the story's events, he was well aware that peace wouldn't last; the Third Great Ninja War could break out at any time.
If he graduated normally and was sent to the battlefield, he'd basically be walking to his death.
After careful thought, he had decided to try medical ninjutsu, aiming for a rear-line position where survival chances were higher.
"Oh, that… Sorry, Shizune. The clan's been keeping me busy lately."
Her expression soured.
A day or two was one thing, but he'd been gone for so long without telling her.
"I see… Well, are you free this afternoon? We could go to Konoha Hospital after school. I heard Lady Tsunade will be giving a talk on medical ninjutsu today—we could listen in."
Ryosuke straightened, ruffling her hair.
"I've got plans this afternoon. Going with Obito to see Kakashi. Let's go tomorrow."
She pouted and swatted his hand away.
"Fine. But Lady Tsunade won't be here tomorrow morning—she should be at the hospital in the afternoon giving another lecture. We'll go then."
Seeing her expectant look, Ryosuke nodded.
He was clear-headed.
Even with the system and the possibility of reaching the peak, growth still took time.
Staying low-key and using the medical ninja plan as a cover was a good move.
He'd just settled back down when an unwelcome voice rang out.
"Uchiha Ryosuke! I've been waiting for you for days. What, you finally decided to show up?
Don't pretend to be asleep just because I'm here. Today, no matter what, I'm going to teach you—our clan's dead last—a lesson!"
The classroom fell silent, all eyes turning toward them.
Ryosuke rose slowly, meeting the speaker's gaze without a flicker of emotion.
This guy wasn't the brightest, and Ryosuke had avoided him several times to save trouble.
But the idiot was persistent—after all this time off, Ryosuke had barely set foot in class before he started up again.
The world really wasn't short on fools looking for a beating.
"Teach me, Uchiha Ryosuke? You think you have that kind of strength?"
The moment he finished speaking, Ryosuke's figure vanished.
The students barely registered the blur before a loud bang echoed.
The arrogant challenger's body arched like a bowstring and shot out of the classroom, crashing headfirst into the hallway's trash bin.
[End of Chapter]