To be honest, the small commotion surrounding the "notebook" Uchiha Obito had purchased from Ren had piqued the interest of more than a few observers in the classroom. Covert glances were cast his way throughout the morning, tracking his progress from frantic scribbling to head-clutching despair.
The audience was notable.
Kakashi Hatake, though seemingly engrossed in his own book, had shifted his visible eye minutely toward Obito's struggle more than once. Asuma Sarutobi watched with a lazy, curious smirk. Shiranui Genma's senbon twitched contemplatively, and the perpetually serious Ebisu adjusted his glasses, his gaze analytical. Among them, Rin Nohara also found her attention drawn.
Seeing her usually boisterous classmate reduced to a state of such visible anguish—forehead pressed to the desk, fingers tangled in his hair—the gentle-hearted girl felt a swell of sympathy mixed with keen curiosity.
What kind of problems could possibly cause such a reaction?
Seizing a break between classes, she turned in her seat to face the boy behind her. Her voice was soft, a gentle intrusion into his world of mathematical misery.
"Obito-kun," she began, "may I take a look at those practice problems?"
Rin's voice, like a soothing balm, cut through the fog of Uchiha Obito's frustration. He straightened up as if hit by a clarifying jutsu, all negative debuffs seemingly purged in an instant.
"O-Of course you can, Rin!" he stammered, his earlier torment forgotten.
Then, a flicker of propriety returned. He scratched the back of his head, his enthusiasm tempering. "Ah, wait… I should probably ask Ren first. I need his permission to show it to anyone else."
It was an unwritten rule in Konoha, a fundamental courtesy regarding knowledge. Techniques, notes, specialized training—these were considered personal assets. Sharing them without the originator's consent was a serious breach, akin to disclosing a teacher's private ninjutsu instruction.
"You're right," Rin said, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she stuck out her tongue in a mildly self-reproachful gesture. Her curiosity had momentarily overridden her manners. "I wasn't thinking."
Her adorable, slightly abashed expression made Obito's heart stutter.
"I'll go ask right now!" he declared, springing from his seat with renewed purpose.
He dashed to Ren's desk. "Ren! Is it okay if I show the notebook to Rin? Just to look, not to copy!"
Ren, who had been observing the exchange with mild amusement, waved a hand dismissively. "As long as no one is making copies, looking is fine. Spread the knowledge, I say."
Inwardly, he was already calculating. This is free advertising. If Rin, one of the more academically solid students, sees value in it, others will follow. If it genuinely boosts grades, demand will spread. First the class, then the grade, then the entire academy… The potential market is vast.
He wasn't worried about unauthorized replication. During his time here, he'd learned Konoha upheld a robust, if informal, system of intellectual property rights. Pirating another shinobi's or student's proprietary training materials wasn't just rude; it was a form of theft. Getting caught would mean social ostracization at best and a stern lecture from the Academy staff or even a village elder at worst. In a tight-knit community like this, reputation was everything.
Burdened with this thrilling permission, Obito hurried back.
"Rin, he said it's fine! We can look at it together! I've already solved a few… well, I've attempted a few. We could discuss them!" The prospect of collaborative study with Rin had utterly transformed the notebook from an instrument of torture into a golden opportunity.
"Thank you, Obito-kun!" Rin offered him a warm, grateful smile that made his knees feel slightly weak. She was genuinely intrigued.
Accepting the proffered notebook, Rin Nohara began to peruse its contents with careful attention. Her academic performance was reliably above average, placing her comfortably in the upper-middle of the class—respectable, but not on the same tier as prodigies like Kakashi or, as she was beginning to realize, Ren.
The initial problems were familiar, if slightly more nuanced variations on their standard curriculum. She noted, with a touch of private sympathy, that the few answers Obito had scribbled in the margins were, in fact, incorrect. She decided not to mention it; he would discover it in time, and she didn't wish to dampen his newfound enthusiasm.
However, as she progressed past the first dozen questions, her gentle expression tightened. Her brows drew together in a delicate frown. The problems escalated in complexity at a startling rate, introducing variables and conceptual layers they had never discussed in class. The symbols grew more arcane, the word problems more convoluted.
'This difficulty… it's far beyond the first-year syllabus,' she realized, a sense of awe mixing with her confusion. 'Ren-kun truly is operating on a different level.'
While she didn't share the more overt, giggling admiration some of her female classmates had for the quiet genius, she couldn't deny a growing curiosity about him. Someone who was both academically formidable and… well, pleasant to look at, naturally attracted a certain degree of attention.
A practical thought crystallized. 'If mastering these can solidify my foundational knowledge, it would be worth the investment. My grades are good, but they could be better. I should buy a copy.' The price Obito had paid wasn't trivial, but it was within the means of a shinobi family, comparable to a low-level practice scroll.
Closing the notebook, she handed it back to Obito with another kind smile. "Thank you, Obito-kun. You're right, if one can understand these, it would be very helpful for our grades. I think I'll purchase a copy from Ren-kun as well."
"R-really?" Obito's heart soared, then immediately sought to prolong the connection. "Then… then maybe we could study them together sometimes? Comparing answers and discussing methods would probably be faster than working alone, right?"
He held his breath, hoping his suggestion sounded academic rather than desperately hopeful.
Rin Nohara, ever kind and considerate, saw no harm in the idea. A study partner could be beneficial.
"Hmm," she nodded, her smile gentle. "That could be nice. Collaborative learning is often more effective."
"Really?! I'll work extra hard, then!" Obito promised, his spirit now blazing with a motivation far stronger than any fear of calculus.
Not wishing to undermine his determined expression, Rin simply nodded again. "Mhm. I look forward to it."
The rhythms of the academy day continued—lectures, dismissal, breaks. When a free period arrived, Rin Nohara, her mind made up, approached Ren's desk.
"Hello, Ren-kun."
Ren looked up from his own notes to see the brown-haired girl standing before him, her bright eyes blinking softly. Up close, he noted the distinctive magenta markings on her cheeks only enhanced her gentle, appealing features. She was a different type of adorable than Kurenai, but adorable nonetheless.
"Rin-chan," he greeted, his businessman's persona seamlessly engaging. "What can I do for you?"
"I was hoping… may I also purchase a copy of your practice problems?" she asked, her voice retaining its characteristic softness. "After looking at Obito-kun's, I believe they would be a significant help to my studies."
"Another customer! Of course," Ren beamed, the picture of hospitable enterprise. "I have copies ready. Same price as Obito—fair and consistent for everyone. No one gets a bad deal here!"
He leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting to one of gracious added value. "And remember, each purchase comes with a guarantee of quality support. If you hit a real wall, I offer two complimentary after-sales consultations. Think of it as… answer guidance."
"After-sales service?" Rin tilted her head, the gesture innocently charming. "You mean, you'll explain the solutions, like a tutor?"
Ren's smile widened, embodying the benevolent yet shrewd merchant.
"Precisely! Isn't that considerate? A total package deal." He held up two fingers. "The complimentary sessions are limited to two, of course."
That's right, he thought, the plan unfolding beautifully in his mind. Selling the problems is just phase one. Phase two is selling the solutions, the methods, the keys to the castle. And some of these later problems… let's just say even a chunin might scratch their head.
The path to profitability, Ren affirmed, was built on multiple revenue streams. He was, if nothing else, a professional.