Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Haneda glanced at Obito's expectant eyes and finally nodded helplessly:

"Alright. But let me be clear—when I wake you up tomorrow morning, you *have* to get up, or we'll be late again."

"Yeah!" Obito cheered, raising his left hand in excitement.

"Let's go home... and by the way, I won't be late, stupid Haneda!"

...

Obito's house was relatively close to Haneda's, about four or five hundred meters away, a ten-minute walk.

Along the way, Obito chattered about how their teacher reacted to the two top students skipping class.

Before long, they arrived at Obito's house.

"Grandma, I'm home, and I brought Haneda too."

Obito opened the door, carelessly kicked off his shoes, and Haneda, as usual, put both their shoes neatly in the shoe cabinet.

"Little Obito's back. Oh, and Haneda too. Sit down, both of you."

A gentle voice came from inside the house.

Haneda stepped into the living room. Grandma was heading to the kitchen, and the table in the living room was laid out with food that had gone cold.

"Little Obito, little Haneda, the food's cold. Let me warm it up for you two," Grandma said, turning back to them.

"No need, Grandma. I've already eaten," Haneda waved his hand politely.

"It's fine, just treat it like a late-night snack."

Grandma picked up the dishes and headed into the kitchen.

"I'll help you, Grandma," Obito said, carrying a plate into the kitchen.

Watching this scene made Haneda feel a bit awkward, so he quickly picked up a plate and followed them.

"I'll help too."

But as he did, a question popped into his mind—why hadn't Obito come home for dinner?

Was it because of Rin, or...

'Could he have waited for me all evening?!!'

Haneda was shocked, but at the same time, a warmth and slight guilt rose in his heart.

Usually, they always walked home together after school.

...

After dinner, Haneda and Obito went to Obito's bedroom.

The room was quite empty, with only a few items scattered around, and there wasn't even a bed.

What amused Haneda was that Obito's room had a desk, a lamp, and a bookshelf crammed full of books.

Even though he had been here many times, every time he entered, the bookshelf drew his attention.

How could the room of the class's "dead last" be filled with books? It was almost unbelievable.

Just then, Grandma came in, carrying bedding.

She spread a mattress on the floor and neatly folded the quilt.

Before leaving, she reminded them:

"Obito, remember to go to bed early and don't be late. Haneda, if you need anything, just call Grandma. Don't be shy."

"Okay, Grandma," Haneda and Obito replied in unison.

After Grandma left, the two of them looked at each other.

In the end, Haneda broke the silence first.

"Are you going to train tonight, Obito?"

"Why would I train at night instead of sleeping? Are you going to train, Haneda?"

Hearing this, Haneda couldn't help but twitch his mouth. Expecting the class's "dead last" to train at night was clearly his mistake.

Still curious about the bookshelf, Haneda asked, "Then why do you have so many books on your shelf if you don't read them?"

"Those are my parents' books, not mine," Obito replied indifferently.

'So that's the case...'

"Alright then, let's sleep. There's nothing else to do anyway."

Haneda pulled the thin quilt over himself, his eyes staring at the ceiling as he thought about training.

His rough plan was to skip school with Kakashi in the mornings to practice fire and illusion techniques, train with Sakumo-san in the afternoons, and work on shadow clones and Chidori at night.

As for tonight...

He decided to relax and spend time with Obito.

After watching Obito quietly for a while, Haneda couldn't help but yawn. "What are you thinking about, Haneda?" Obito asked, glancing over.

"Training," Haneda replied.

"Is that so important?" Obito turned his head toward Haneda.

"Isn't it?" Haneda answered, though he hesitated as he said it.

He could likely avoid the Third Great Ninja War by joining the police force after graduation.

The Uchiha massacre was still far off. By then, he might have already awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, enough to handle any crisis.

As for the Fourth Great Ninja War...

With Naruto, Sasuke, and the Sage of Six Paths in the picture, what was there to worry about?

So why was he so focused on training right now?

Suddenly, Haneda looked at Obito seriously and smiled.

"Maybe it's to change a fixed fate."

"Fixed fate?" Obito repeated the words softly, then waved them off.

"That's nonsense. I, Uchiha Obito, don't believe in that kind of stuff!"

"Haneda, when did you start getting all philosophical?"

"I don't know," Haneda murmured, staring at the ceiling.

He didn't know why he had such thoughts either. It was just something that came to him in an instant.

...

The next morning.

The sun slowly rose, its light filtering through the window onto Haneda's face.

He felt something pressing against him and sleepily opened his eyes.

Only to see Obito clinging to his leg, drooling from the corner of his mouth!

"Ahhh!!"

Haneda kicked Obito off, standing up in a huff.

"Ow! What was that for, stupid Haneda!!" Obito cried, rubbing his sore, reddening face.

"You're asking me what for? I should be asking you why you were hugging my leg and drooling!"

"What!!"

Obito rushed to the window and spit out the drool.

Still feeling disgusted, he grabbed the water cup from his desk, took a big gulp, and spat it out the window.

"We're doomed!" The two of them sat on the ground, backs to each other, looking utterly defeated.

But Haneda quickly calmed down.

It was just being hugged while sleeping—who hadn't been hugged at some point in their childhood? He might as well think of himself as Obito's dad...

"Come on, Obito, let's wash up and go to school. If I don't mind, why should you?"

"Then why'd you kick me?"

"What, you got a problem with that?" Haneda activated his single tomoe Sharingan, his gaze cold.

"N-No, not at all."

Obito quickly zipped his mouth shut.

No choice—he knew he couldn't beat Haneda...

Just then, Grandma came upstairs, smiling softly as she watched the two bickering boys.

"Breakfast is ready, Obito, Haneda."

"Eat up and head off to school."

"Okay, Grandma," Haneda and Obito replied in unison, exchanging glances.

After breakfast, Haneda grabbed Obito by the arm, his face serious as they left the house.

"Obito, listen closely. I'll go first, and then you follow."

"What the heck are you talking about, Haneda?" Obito asked, looking baffled.

"I just don't want us to be late," Haneda said, pulling Obito as they quickly left the Uchiha district and arrived at Konoha's center.

This place was crowded with people, making it the easiest spot to run into elderly folks.

Pulling Obito into hiding behind a utility pole, Haneda peeked out to scout the street ahead.

There were fewer people in the morning, and the street didn't have any elderly walking around.

***

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