"Obito?"
Nohara Rin's face filled with surprise as she lifted her head, glancing toward Zoro beside her—whose expression had subtly changed as well.
The mont realization struck, Rin's heart jolted. In a fluster, she quickly withdrew her delicate hand from Zoro's grasp.
It wasn't that she was afraid of Obito discovering her closeness with Zoro. Rather, it was simple embarrassnt—like being caught by a friend in the middle of a secret rendezvous.
Zoro, however, remained unexpectedly calm as he watched her reaction, his gaze steady and unreadable.
"Rin! So you're here too!!"
The canvas curtain at the shop entrance was pulled aside, and Uchiha Obito stepped into view.
The instant he spotted Rin, his expression lit up with delight, as though the entire world had suddenly burst into color.
"Obito, are you here to buy ninja tools as well?"
Rin offered a gentle smile, raising her hand in greeting.
The lingering warmth in her palm caused a faint, unusual blush to bloom across her cheeks. Her hands, which had been cool monts ago, had sohow been ward by Zoro's grip.
"Yeah… you—wait, you two? Are you also here to buy ninja tools?"
Obito walked up to Rin, only now noticing Zoro standing beside her. The surprise on his face made it obvious just how completely his attention had been fixed on Rin.
"Of course. Tomorrow's our first mission working together, so we need to prepare properly."
Uchiha Zoro casually stretched his arms. Using the iron weights strapped to them, he began lightly working his biceps.
His strength hadn't co overnight. Every mont, every breath—he was pushing himself to grow stronger. Simply put, relentless self-discipline.
A faint smile rested on Zoro's face, as calm and unremarkable as ever.
"I see… Rin, is there anything you want to buy?"
Obito's expression turned eager, as though even the moon in the sky could be plucked down if she asked for it.
"Ah… I haven't really decided yet."
Rin smiled awkwardly. She had only been dragged here by Zoro—what to buy hadn't even crossed her mind.
"That's fine. As long as it's sothing you want—"
Before Obito could finish, the middle-aged shop owner stepped out from inside, carrying a large, overstuffed crate in his arms.
Inside were all kinds of ninja tools—and stacks upon stacks of explosive tags.
"Young master, this is the finest stock our shop has to offer. I wonder what else the young lady beside you might need?"
The owner's words made Obito pause, his eyes widening as he looked at the towering pile of items—nearly taller than himself.
Could it be… all of this was for Rin?
"Obito, what were you just saying?"
The noise of setting down the crate had been too loud; Rin hadn't caught his earlier words.
"Ah—nothing, nothing. Rin… are you really buying all of this?"
Obito forced a dry laugh, his expression stiff. Even if he sold himself, he doubted he could afford that much.
"? I don't know. These are what Zoro-kun wants."
Rin looked equally helpless. But hearing the owner's words, she couldn't help but feel a faint, inexplicable warmth—almost as if these things had been prepared for her.
"Zoro, you're buying this much? Do you even have that kind of allowance?"
Obito asked, baffled. If he rembered correctly, Zoro was a few years younger than him.
Younger than him—and already this wealthy? The thought filled Obito with shock… and more than a little envy.
"? I don't need to pay. This shop belongs to my family."
Zoro shrugged helplessly.
Then, under Obito's stunned gaze, he added in a tone of casual extravagance:
"Obito, if there's anything you like, I can give it to you."
"R-really?"
Obito blinked in disbelief. He hadn't expected Zoro to offer him anything.
"Of course. A man's word is his bond. We're teammates now."
Zoro spoke lightly. He already knew Obito had long taken a liking to a particular ninja tool pouch in the shop.
Obito glanced at the usually stern shop owner, but seeing no objection, he hesitantly pointed toward a spot.
"Then… I'd like that one. If that's okay."
A faint blush crept onto his face.
"Oh, the ninja tool pouch? No problem."
"Thank you, Zoro! I'll pay you back soday—just consider it a loan for now."
Obito bead with happiness. He had been saving up for that multifunctional pouch for a long ti. If all went as planned, he would have been able to buy it upon becoming a Chūnin.
"We're teammates. No need to be so formal."
Zoro stepped forward and slung an arm around Obito's shoulders. His gaze drifted unconsciously to the top of Obito's head, as if catching a faint trace of green.
He would make Obito give up on Rin. As for whether Obito would still awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future… that would depend on his luck.
Obito's descent into darkness had always been rooted in Rin—she was the one who comforted him, the one who gave him hope. Now, Zoro intended to gradually take her place.
Obito… you should understand. Won only slow down the speed at which you draw your blade.
"So, Rin, is there anything you want? If not… I might just give you all of this."
Zoro teased casually, still holding Obito, watching the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. A trace of indifference flickered through Zoro's eyes.
"I—I don't need that much…"
A warmth spread through Rin's heart, but as a dical ninja, she truly had no use for such a large quantity of equipnt.
"In that case…"
As if he had anticipated this, Zoro handed her a prepared box.
"These are just so basic dical supplies for ninja. Consider it a gift—for the past two months we've known each other. Right, Obito?"
"Yeah, Rin. Just take it. It's rare for Zoro to treat us—don't let it go to waste."
Obito was still riding the high of getting his pouch early. Naturally, he wanted Rin to receive sothing useful as well.
"In that case… I'll accept it. Thank you, Zoro-kun."
Rin spoke softly, unable to et his gaze directly. She opened the so-called "ordinary" dical supply box—
—and her expression imdiately shifted.
It was packed full of explosive tags.
For a mont, she didn't know what to say.
"A dical ninja should be able to protect herself too."
Zoro gave her a subtle wink, silently telling her not to refuse.
Rin had originally intended to decline. But when her eyes t his, mories of that forceful kiss from a few days ago resurfaced. Before she knew it, she nodded.
After chatting for a while longer, the three of them parted ways and headed ho. With Obito present, Zoro made no move to flirt with Rin in front of him.
"Young master, is this really worth it? Spending your own money just to win over a few so-called teammates?"
Once Rin and Obito had fully left the shop, the middle-aged owner voiced his confusion.
Looking at Zoro—whose expression had shifted so suddenly—the owner couldn't tell which version of him was the real one.
"You don't understand. Money is just sothing external."
Zoro smiled faintly.
Of course, he was well aware—ANBU had been watching from the shadows the entire ti.
He didn't know whether his presence would cause any kind of butterfly effect. But one thing was certain—
Black Zetsu and that old man, Madara, would never give up so easily.
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