"Teacher Lin Yu, is Obito going to be alright?"
"Probably… he'll be fine. I'll go check on him later. By the way, Kakashi, how did you get promoted to Jonin without the Hokage here?"
Lin Yu found it strange. Even the Chunin exams required the Hokage's approval for paperwork, let alone a promotion to Jonin. Jonin were the core strength of a village; a promotion without the Hokage's nod was impossible.
With Hiruzen Sarutobi away, the acting Hokage, Shikaku Nara, could theoretically approve, but the authority to issue the appointment letter belonged solely to the Hokage.
"Not yet, I just completed a special mission. The appointment letter will only be issued when the Hokage returns, and I'm only a special Jonin!"
Kakashi looked at Lin Yu nonchalantly, as if to say, "I'm at your level now! Stop ruffling my hair!"
Lin Yu walked over and ruffled Kakashi's white hair, saying contentedly, "Oh! Getting promoted to Jonin means Kakashi, your strength has grown rapidly! How about it? Want to spar with your teacher again?"
"Uh… actually, the mission I undertook wasn't difficult at all. And since we're in a time of war, the village is in need of people, so the assessments have been relaxed. My strength is at best Elite Chunin!"
Kakashi explained a barrage of reasons, not wanting to spar with a monster like Lin Yu. Even though over a year had passed, the Wood Style jutsu and the Rasengan from that time left a deep impression on him!
"It's fine! Come on, let's spar! There's not much difference between Elite Chunin and Special Jonin!"
At least not in my eyes. Both can be treated as Genin! Lin Yu added mentally.
Kakashi: Can't you understand what I'm saying?!
"Ahem, no, Teacher Lin Yu, you should go check on Obito quickly. I have a feeling something will happen to him."
Kakashi coughed, tugged at his mask, and pretended to be very concerned about Obito's safety.
"Alright then, I didn't expect Kakashi to care so much about Obito. I must deliver this good news to him!"
"Hey, wait! Wait, wait! Don't go! Why are you running now!"
Under Kakashi's "delighted" gaze, Lin Yu sprinted off to chase after Obito, disappearing in moments.
...
"Damn Kakashi, I'm definitely buying him a unique gift that will make him see me in a new light!"
Obito muttered to himself as he walked along the commercial street of Konoha, his eyes unfocused. He didn't know what kind of gift to give Kakashi.
"Don't miss out, fresh buns!"
Obito immediately dismissed this. Giving buns to Kakashi? That's too casual!
"Specially made kunai, special shuriken, big sale! 10% off if you buy three items!"
Kunai? Wouldn't that be too common? Practical, yes, but not unique! Dismissed!
"New ninja combat suits, loose and comfortable, with multiple ninja pouches, and even a special tight-fitting green style!"
...
The moment Obito heard "tight-fitting green style," he thought of Might Guy. If he gave Kakashi the same style, he'd probably beat him to death! He'd pass on this.
"Latest women's handbags from the Land of Fire, the best gift for your dearest! Gentlemen, don't miss out!"
A handbag for Kakashi? No, no! What is all this nonsense!
Obito shook his head wildly. None of these were what he wanted. Could he not find a single unique item in all of Konoha!?
"New ladies' underwear, with patterned styles. Little one, would you like to come in and take a look?"
A heavily made-up auntie, seeing Obito standing at the shop entrance in a daze, stepped forward and asked tentatively.
"Ah! No, no! I took a wrong turn!"
Obito glanced at the colorful underwear inside, his little face immediately turned red, and he fled the commercial street as if pursued.
In that brief moment, he had actually imagined what it would be like if Kakashi wore that underwear. This… this was simply an insult to decency!
"That kid runs really fast. His face is so red, does he already have a little girlfriend? Kids these days are so forward!"
The auntie glanced at Obito and continued to solicit customers on the street.
...
"Huff, huff, huff!"
Obito, who didn't know how far he had run, leaned over, gasping for breath. It was his first time running so far without using chakra. Where had he ended up!
Green trees came into view. He had somehow run to the back mountain. Obito caught his breath for a moment, oriented himself, jumped onto a branch, and disappeared into the forest.
Not long after, on the Hokage Rock of Konoha, a figure landed next to Obito and slung an arm around his shoulder.
"Obito, so you were here. You had me searching everywhere. What's this? Is Obito interested in underwear?"
Obito's expression, which had been a bit lost, instantly turned angry upon hearing Lin Yu's words: "Of course not! Don't talk nonsense, that was an accident!"
Lin Yu pretended to breathe a sigh of relief and patted his chest, "You scared me to death. I thought Obito had some special hobbies! Fortunately, it was just an accident."
"Hmph!"
The conversation quieted. A breeze swept past them, rustling Lin Yu's red hair. They swung their legs, with the bustling village of Konoha below. It was the afternoon, the liveliest time in Konoha.
"Teacher Lin Yu, please help me. What gift should I give Kakashi?"
Obito broke the silence first, his face creased with worry, wanting Lin Yu's help.
*Tsuchi-ge, you're begging me now, don't blame me!*
Lin Yu pondered for a moment, stroked his chin, and said, "Well, it depends on Kakashi's preferences."
"Preferences? Should I give Kakashi ninja tools? Or ninjutsu scrolls?"
Obito looked disappointed. He didn't want to give Kakashi such ordinary things.
"Of course not!"
Lin Yu leaned in and whispered a little secret about Kakashi to Obito.
"%*…￥!"
"Kakashi is like that!"
Obito's face immediately turned red. He never expected that the normally proud and aloof Kakashi would actually enjoy reading adult books!
It was… unbelievable!
But how could he, Obito, give such a thing as a gift!
"No, no! I can't accept this! Besides, it's not unique!"
Obito shook his head, his face flushed, and he firmly refused!
Lin Yu continued, "Obito, let me ask you, if you see something you like, what kind of emotions do you experience?"
Obito thought for a moment and then hesitantly replied, "Excitement? Thrill? Happiness?"
"And what are the characteristics of these emotions?"
"Blushing?"
"Correct! So, when have you ever seen Kakashi blush, and what happened?"
Obito shook his head in thought. He didn't seem to recall Kakashi ever blushing. This white-haired kid always had dead fish eyes, with such an arrogant demeanor!
No! He seemed to have blushed once when he visited Kakashi's house!
As for the reason…
"Teacher Lin Yu! Are you tricking me! What kind of thing is this!"