Chapter 5: Tardy Tobi
"Kurenai, what's going on?!"
Sarutobi Asuma was panicking, his voice cracking like a prepubescent radio.
Yuuhi Kurenai blinked, baffled by his overreaction.
They hadn't known each other long, and at their age, she simply saw him as a friend—clueless to the emotional landmine she'd just stepped on.
That one sentence had broken Asuma, twisting him into a jealous gremlin.
"It's like this," Kurenai explained the situation briefly.
Asuma's face purpled with rage.
The culprit… was hisown damn father?!
Currently in his rebellious phase, Asuma hated living under Hiruzen's shadow—this was the last straw.
"Asuma?" Kurenai tilted her head. "Why's your face red?"
"N-Nothing!" Asuma forced a grin, sweating bullets.
"We'll be late if we don't hurry," Kurenai said, already walking ahead.
Asuma trailed behind, side-eyeing Yuchuan like a hawk.
Yuchuan's cheek twitched.
That stare…
It reminded him of a certain meme:
"I'll always be watching you… forever and ever…"
Ninja Academy - Entrance
"Asuma, I'll take Yuchuan to the teacher's office. You go ahead to class," Kurenai said.
"I can guide him!" Asuma volunteered desperately.
"No," Kurenai shook her head. "Dad assigned this to me."
"But—"
Before Asuma could protest, Kurenai and Yuchuan vanished around a corner.
NO!
Asuma's hand trembled mid-reach, his soul crumbling to dust.
Damn you,Yuchuan brat…!
Teacher's Office
Yuchuan handed his enrollment letter to a young chūnin—Yamamoto Eiichirō, according to Kurenai.
A thoroughly average instructor.
"Welcome to Class 1-A, Yuchuan," Eiichirō said with a strained smile.
Any student personally approved byHiruzenrequired… special attention.
"Thank you, sensei," Yuchuan replied politely.
Eiichirō relaxed slightly.
At least he's not a troublemaker.
"Kurenai, you may go," Eiichirō said. "I'll escort Yuchuan."
"Okay!" Kurenai shot Yuchuan a quick wink before leaving.
"Here are your first-year textbooks," Eiichirō handed him a stack.
Yuchuan counted seven books, topped by "Chakra Theory & Extraction Methods."
"Class starts soon, but feel free to skim," Eiichirō offered.
Yuchuan flipped through the table of contents:
Weapon Throwing
Will of Fire
Ninja Code
Konoha History
Comprehensive… for a ninja preschool.
He recalled fan analyses of the Chūnin Exams—questions on English, chemistry, even physics.
While graduation only required the Three Basic Techniques, the curriculum was deceptively broad.
Ding-dong~
The bell blared.
"Let's go," Eiichirō grabbed a lesson plan, leading the way.
Class 1-A
Yuchuan waited at the doorway as dozens of eyes locked onto him.
Some girls literally sparkled, looking ready to devour him whole.
His gaze immediately snagged on Hatake Kakashi—white hair, masked face, impossible to miss.
In the original story:
Graduated at 5
Chūnin at 6
Jōnin by 13
A once-in-a-generation genius, future student of Namikaze Minato, and eventual mentor to Naruto/Sasuke.
To Kakashi's left sat an empty desk—likely Uchiha Obito's.
To his right: a brown-haired girl with gentle eyes and purple face markings—Nohara Rin.
The future catalyst forObito's villain arc.
Speaking of whom—
"WAAAH—!"
A howl echoed down the hall.
Yuchuan turned just as a boy in orange goggles came barreling toward him, face red with exertion.
"MOVE IT!" the boy yelped.
Yuchuan sidestepped smoothly.
The boy shot past, skidded, tripped over his own feet, and face-planted spectacularly.
"Late again, Obito," Eiichirō sighed.
"S-Sorry, sensei!" Obito scrambled up. "I was helping an old lady cross the street!"
"Change your excuse," Eiichirō deadpanned.
"It's true!" Obito whined.
"Sit down."
Eiichirō wasn't buying it.
How many grannies could one kid possibly assist?
"Rin!" Obito plopped into his seat, grinning.
"Good morning, Obito," Rin smiled softly.
"Heh…" Obito's IQ visibly dropped 50 points.
"Before we begin," Eiichirō clapped, "an announcement."
The class hushed—the sharper kids already eyeing Yuchuan.
"Please welcome Yuchuan, our new transfer student!"
Polite applause erupted—except from Asuma, who glared daggers at Kurenai's enthusiastic clapping.
The sour taste ofunripe lemonsfilled his mouth.
"He's… kinda cute," whispered a black-haired girl behind Rin.
"Rin, what do you think?" Obito asked, suddenly tense.
Rin hesitated.
She did think Yuchuan was handsome—but saying so would wound Obito's fragile ego.
"Looks don't matter. Strength does," Kakashi interjected coolly.
"SHUT UP, MR. PERFECT!" Obito snapped, ego indeed shattered.
"I'll beat you down once I unlock my Sharingan!"
He'd always assumed Rin liked Kakashi for his skills—this confirmed his fears.
"Kakashi's right!" A green-spandex-clad boy spun around, teeth gleaming. "YOUTH IS ABOUT POWER!"
"That's enough," Eiichirō cut in. "Yuchuan, please introduce yourself."