"Instructor, can we have more actual combat training? We're becoming ninjas, not marathon runners who just escape danger."
Many students complained incessantly.
Compared to plain, unadorned physical training, they preferred one-on-one combat.
At least then, they could earn cheers from others.
"Yo, Kakashi! This is my favorite part!" Might Guy flashed his shiny, white teeth and gave a thumbs-up.
"Care for a hot, youthful confrontation with me?"
"..."
Kakashi, wearing his scarf, glanced at the green jumpsuit Guy was wearing.
Seeing Guy still striking strange poses, Kakashi just wanted to wash out his own eyes.
He didn't know why his father, Sakumo Hatake, had warned him that Might Guy would one day be a respectable rival, at this moment, he only found it absurd.
"If you don't run, you'll fall behind."
Kakashi started running.
"Kakashi, here I come!"
Might Guy immediately followed Kakashi.
"Kakashi is as cool as ever."
Many young girls stared at Kakashi running, feeling that watching him made the exercise less tiring.
Rin Nohara also secretly watched Kakashi, trying to keep up with his pace.
"Can you keep up?" Kakashi asked faintly.
"I can."
Rin Nohara nodded.
Obito was at the very back. Seeing Rin and Kakashi chatting freely, he gritted his teeth, sped up a few steps, and ran in front, blocking Rin's line of sight.
"Kakashi, you're running too slow."
Obito put on a relaxed expression.
"Idiot."
Kakashi only found Obito foolish. They had only run a few laps, and Obito had already suddenly messed up his own pace to match others.
He would inevitably run out of stamina later on.
Kakashi shook his head and continued running forward.
"That's... Kiyoshi Uchiha."
Kakashi's gaze sharpened.
While he was distracted by others, he looked back and suddenly realized that Kiyoshi had run up to the front few runners.
Kakashi wondered if it was his imagination, but Kiyoshi seemed to be running more easily as he went.
Kakashi observed Kiyoshi for the subsequent laps.
Kiyoshi didn't even break much of a sweat until the end.
While everyone else was panting heavily and resting, Kiyoshi took out a small booklet and was looking at something.
This performance caught the attention of the instructor.
He immediately recalled Kiyoshi's background.
"The Land of Lightning, huh."
He thought of the Hidden Cloud ninjas known for their Nintaijutsu (Ninja Body Technique).
It was normal for Kiyoshi to have better physical endurance than others.
Neither the Senju clan nor the Uzumaki clan were as famous for Nintaijutsu as the ninjas from the Land of Lightning.
"Aren't you tired?" Kakashi came over and asked.
He was curious as to why Kiyoshi, despite his slender appearance, had such good long-distance running ability.
"I'm alright."
Kiyoshi took a sip from his pre-prepared water bottle. Thanks to the existence of chakra, ninjas are much stronger than ordinary people, and long-distance running is no exception.
After drinking, Kiyoshi looked at Kakashi.
This was a genius who developed the S-rank ninjutsu Lightning Cutter at the age of twelve.
The Sharingan that Obito gave Kakashi ironically hindered Kakashi's growth.
In the official novel Kakashi Hiden: Lightning in the Icy Sky, not long after losing his Sharingan, Kakashi developed a new type of Lightning Release ninjutsu that didn't rely on the Sharingan and could be activated without hand signs.
That was "Purple Electricity," which served as a replacement for Lightning Cutter.
"Kakashi, aren't you the one who performed even better?"
Kakashi was the overall top student in the class, so naturally, he had no weakness in physical endurance.
"Kiyoshi, you are also one of us who burns with youth!"
Might Guy ran over, his bowl-cut hair swaying in the wind.
"No, I'm just exercising."
Kiyoshi pointed to his thin body, paused, and said:
"If I want to be a ninja in the future, just being like this won't be enough."
"That's true."
Might Guy nodded in agreement.
Beneath his bodysuit, Might Guy had already trained his body to be strong.
Kiyoshi certainly needed this kind of exercise.
"Kiyoshi is so diligent."
Rin Nohara wiped her sweat and walked over.
A thin layer of sweat clung to Rin Nohara's fair skin, giving her a slightly slippery sensation.
"My posture should have been cool enough."
Obito, who had messed up his rhythm by running ahead to block Kakashi from Rin Nohara earlier, was exhausted in the final laps.
Everyone else had finished running, leaving only him.
He took his weak, stumbling steps and finally finished the last lap.
He looked around for Rin Nohara.
If Rin Nohara saw this diligent side of him, being tired was worth it.
"Rin..."
Obito saw Rin Nohara's back to his left. Just as he took a few steps, wanting to go say hello, he saw a few people standing in front of Rin Nohara.
He automatically ignored Might Guy.
There was his rival, Kakashi.
And that annoying person from the Land of Lightning.
"Rin Nohara, can I trouble you to teach me ninjutsu again today? I have a preliminary understanding of the Tree Climbing training. I want to learn an E-rank ninjutsu as soon as possible."
Hearing this, Kakashi looked at Rin Nohara with confusion.
His father had asked him to come home early yesterday, so he left earlier than usual.
So Rin Nohara taught this transfer student Tree Climbing yesterday?
Kakashi thought to himself.
"Of course, that way Kiyoshi can adapt to the studies here sooner."
Rin Nohara nodded.
In front of Kakashi, she naturally had to show her gentle and kind side.
Their conversation reached Obito's ears.
"It's that guy again."
Obito stopped walking, clenching his hand.
He didn't even get much time alone with Rin. Most of the time, it was Kakashi, Rin, and himself, the three of them together.
Yesterday, he had to shamelessly join them.
If he hadn't, wouldn't they have been alone?
He heard from his grandmother that his parents died on the battlefield a long time ago.
And the Land of Lightning was currently at war with the Land of Fire.
This guy was also from the Land of Lightning.
And he was constantly hanging around Rin.
Obito could tolerate other things, but he couldn't stand this point about Rin Nohara.
Regarding Kakashi, he somewhat acknowledged Kakashi's strength and viewed him as both a rival in love and a good classmate.
But why was a newcomer getting Rin's attention like this?
"What's wrong, Obito?"
Asuma Sarutobi, sucking on a lollipop, noticed Obito's poor expression.
"Nothing."
Obito waved his hand.
Seeing this, Asuma Sarutobi didn't bother to ask further.
His relationship with Obito was just average, so he only asked casually.
"So it's Rin, huh."
Asuma Sarutobi followed Obito's line of sight and immediately understood why Obito looked like this.
Obito was always so attentive to Rin, the classmates in the class could all see what was going on.
"Tch."
Asuma Sarutobi didn't think much of Obito's "dog-like" behavior. Why was such a big man so subservient?
He walked in another direction, smiled, and said:
"Kurenai, are you tired? I have candy here..."