Obito's words didn't just shock Lock—it stunned everyone, including Instructor Yagyū.
The dead last actually looks down on the second-to-last?
"Idiot," Kakashi muttered again.
"This guy Obito is crazy. Is he trying to make a fool of himself?"
"What a disgrace to the Uchiha clan."
"Crane tail being crane tail—doesn't even have a brain."
"Did he forget he's still the very last?"
The murmurs spread until—
"Cough, cough."
Yagyū cleared his throat, silencing the crowd. He looked at Obito and said firmly:
"Enough. Kakashi isn't a suitable opponent for you. You'll be fighting Lock."
"What? Sensei, didn't you say we could choose freely? I don't want to fight Lock! He's not worth it—I want Kakashi!" Obito protested.
But Yagyū's expression hardened. "That's final. If you're dissatisfied, step down and let someone else take your place."
Obito had no choice but to accept.
"Lock, step forward. You'll spar against Obito."
Lock had been holding back his irritation for a while. That idiot Obito still thought he could show off by trampling him? Not a chance.
"Be careful, Fujiwara-kun," Kurenai whispered with worry.
Lock walked to the front. Yagyū ordered the students to step back, clearing space for the fight.
Lock stared coldly at Obito. He had already decided—today, Obito would be taught a lesson.
Obito waved his hand dismissively. "Lock, you're not my opponent. Just admit defeat."
The corner of Lock's mouth curled. Raising a finger, he said slowly:
"One move. I'll defeat you in one move."
The kids watching were stunned. The class's last place against its second-to-last, yet both were acting like champions about to duel.
Even Yagyū felt embarrassed. If Kakashi had said such words, he'd believe it—but these two? Their boasting only made the coming clash more ridiculous.
"These two really are the same breed."
"Who do you think will win?"
"Doesn't matter—two chickens pecking each other is still boring."
"Wake me up when it's over."
Lock ignored the jeers. But Obito clenched his fists. Hearing their scorn only lit a fire in him. He was determined to prove himself in this fight.
"Sorry, Lock," Obito thought, but today I have to win. Over the break, he felt he'd grown stronger. Defeating Lock should be easy.
"You attack first!" Obito declared, trying to wear the air of a master.
The spectators nearly laughed out loud.
Lock, used to Obito's bluster, didn't waste words. He quickly formed seals—
"Clone Technique!"
Poof!
Another Lock appeared beside him. At first glance, it was impossible to tell which was the real one.
"What?! The Clone Technique?"
Shock rippled through the crowd. Though the Clone, Substitution, and Transformation jutsu were the basics of shinobi, mastering them was another story. At the Academy, they were extremely difficult for children to grasp. Last semester, only Kakashi could perform them.
Yet Lock—the second-to-last—had just used it flawlessly.
Even Yagyū froze for a moment. Kakashi was expected to be a genius. But now Lock had shown equal ability—this was a surprise beyond what he'd hoped for.
"A genius… among civilians," Yagyū thought, his heart stirring. "Not like clan prodigies—but real, raw talent."
His hands trembled slightly at the thought. Perhaps this boy could one day stand alongside greats like Jiraiya or Orochimaru.
The class, meanwhile, was buzzing.
Then Lock raised a shuriken with both his hands, pointing them at Obito.
"Obito, be careful. I'm going to use a ninjutsu I created myself. Once I unleash it, it will shake the world, terrify gods and ghosts, and finish you in an instant. Are you ready?"
Obito's heart skipped. He'd already panicked when Lock used the Clone. But with the whole class watching, he couldn't back down. He forced himself to hold steady, though his palms sweated.
"No way. He's bluffing. Lock can't have created his own ninjutsu," Obito thought desperately.
But the claim had already rippled through the class.
"Created his own ninjutsu?"
"Impossible!"
"Even jōnin don't talk about making their own techniques—how could Lock?"
One of the clan kids sneered. "What a show-off. As if a commoner brat could surpass us Uchiha."
"You can't do it, but that doesn't mean Fujiwara-kun can't!" Kurenai snapped back angrily.
"Hmph." He crossed his arms, looking away.
Still, all eyes returned to Lock, waiting to see what he would do next.