Chapter 50: The First Gift

  Huhu.

  Obito was panting heavily, then he handed a long box to Makoto and said, "Teacher Makoto, I heard you're into calligraphy, so I thought of using the competition prize money to buy you a brush."

  Originally, Obito had planned to buy some gifts for Nohara Rin, but after thinking it over, he realized that it might not be the best idea.

  Sure, he could be a bit harsh with his words, but that didn't mean he lacked gratitude. Without Makoto's dedicated teaching, would he have achieved first place? Probably not.

  He not only clinched the top spot in the competition but also passed the theoretical exam and finally shed the embarrassing title of being the crane tail—all thanks to Makoto's guidance.

  So, after some contemplation, Obito decided to get Makoto a gift.

  Facing the long box handed to him, Makoto suppressed the urge to start preaching.

  He took the long box, opened it, glanced inside, nodded slightly, and then closed it, holding it in his left hand. With his right hand, he graciously patted Obito and said, "I do have a soft spot for calligraphy. Your gift is greatly appreciated. You can take a breather before we start with our training."

  When your disciple gives you a gift, it's crucial to offer positive feedback instead of going on a lecture spree, as originally planned.

  Judging by Obito's expression, he probably arrived late to class due to this gift-shopping endeavor.

  Imagine carefully selecting a gift for your teacher and then getting a lecture instead of appreciation—anyone would feel a bit down.

  Of course, you could also play it the other way around, apologizing and expressing gratitude after the training. Claim you're master and apprentice during training and friends afterward. This way, initial negative emotions turn into positive ones, greatly boosting goodwill.

  However, Makoto decided against this approach, at least not today.

  After all, today marked the first gift he received in this world.

  "Hehe, it's okay if you like it, teacher. I don't know much about calligraphy, so I picked this one because it looked pretty nice." Obito said with an innocent smile.

  Then Obito took a few deep breaths, stood up, and declared, "Teacher Makoto, I'm ready. Let's kick off today's practice."

  Seeing Obito's enthusiasm, Makoto nodded and gestured for Might Gai to join them.

  "Now, let's revisit the exercise from three weeks ago. You remember it, right?" Makoto asked with a smile.

  Obito's memory reluctantly transported him back to the days of grueling training that preceded the competition preparation period.

  "If you get hit once, you have to solve one more question..." Obito's forehead was drenched in cold sweat as he suddenly recalled.

  Over the past twenty days, he had been focused on mastering chakra control and the fire element, causing him to forget the torturous training regimen he had endured before that.

  "I haven't forgotten. If my hit misses the target once, I have to solve 50 questions. Each time I hit my target I reduce the number of questions by one. I can reduce the number of questions to 40 at most." Gai recollected.

  If he were asked to name his opponents in the academy combat test, he might not remember, but the training plan was etched in his mind.

  "Obito, no ninjutsu allowed in this battle. If you get hit, you'll have to answer one more question," Might Gai added with a thumbs-up, reinforcing the rules.

  Obito, looking at Might Gai's gleaming, shining white teeth, heard a subtle 'ting' as they sparkled under the light. He had no choice but to fight back tears. Praying for a miracle.

  "Teacher, I've come to realize that I might have overestimated myself. How about we take a break today?" Obito earnestly suggested, sitting down on the ground.

  While getting stronger was great, tackling those questions was agonizing. Maybe he should save them for tomorrow.

  Makoto chuckled and said, "Of course, you can take a break. If you can't practice today, just focus on those questions. I've got plenty of test papers here."

  Makoto fetched a stack of test papers from a scroll.

  And then, a medical miracle unfolded.

  Obito promptly sprang to his feet and declared solemnly, "A little discomfort won't stop me. Teacher Makoto, I believe I can continue. Let's start the training."

  Makoto, with the gift box still in hand, gently patted Might Gai's shoulder and stated, "Gai, since Obito is so determined, you'll help him improve his physical skills."

  Might Gai straightened up, his eyes glowing red, flashing a bright smile as he exclaimed, "Teacher Makoto, fear not! I will give it my all and go beyond—Plust Utra!!!"

  *Ting*

  Obito's body started trembling.

  Might Gai wasn't exaggerating. He said he'd give it his all, and he meant every word.

  While Obito had been training for the competition, Might Gai continued his physical conditioning.

  Thanks to the secret medicine in the system, Makoto had ramped up Might Gai's training intensity.

  These more than 20 days of strenuous training had genuinely improved Might Gai's physical capabilities, making him faster and stronger.

  On the other hand, Obito's special training had primarily focused on ninjutsu, which he couldn't use in their current training sessions.

  In this scenario, Obito was getting clobbered from nearly every angle.

  Luckily, Makoto's enhanced water-treading training had also bolstered Obito's physical skills, or else it would have been an even more lopsided battle.

  This close-quarters thrashing helped Obito realize the extent of his capabilities. Now there is no need for him to kill his whole clan in the middle of the night.

  Sure, he had won first place in the Junior Ninjutsu Competition, even tying with Kakashi, but his confidence was wavering.

  After his match with Might Gai, Obito recognized that he wouldn't stand a chance against Hyūga Kento in a real battle.

  His ninjutsu is potent, but when faced with Hyuga Kento's Byakugan and Gentle Fist combination, his taijutsu skills felt about as useful as a chocolate teapot at a sauna convention.

  Byakugan allowed Kento to see chakra points, while Gentle Fist could block chakra flow. Once trapped in Kento's rhythm, defeat was almost certain.

  "But these questions are seriously tough..." Obito, pen in hand, gazed at the daunting problems before him. Correction: daunting to him.

  He understood the principles, but the questions were on another level of complexity. To him.

  Makoto had to accept the inevitable truth. When it came to Obito, learning through problem-solving was the only ticket.

  Attempting to impart theoretical knowledge to Obito through speaking was about as effective as explaining quantum physics to a talking cabbage.

  "Let's take a lunch break." Makoto handed Obito and the rest their lunch boxes.

  Obito, who had been feeling hopeless, suddenly found solace in the world after savoring Makoto's homemade meal. Life was good once more.

  [You treated your disciple to a delicious home-cooked meal, and the disciple is truly grateful. As a reward, you receive a critical hit: +100 chakra]

  This thoughtful gesture, coupled with the timing of the meal, practically guaranteed a critical hit.

  Since Obito had taken quite a beating, Makoto decided to let him tackle the questions in stages rather than completing them all at once.

  The next day.

  In pursuit of strengthening the first-year class and harvesting some juicy rewards, Makoto kicked off his operation.

  Makoto began by utilizing the ninjutsu class time to conduct a combat test in the class. He then offered feedback and insights to each student one by one.