Drop Some power stones! If you like the chapter! It helps to keep me motivated to upload more!💎💎💎

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Inside the Kiboku-dō shop.

"I'm done, Master!" Obito's loud shout rang out, jolting Akio awake from his half-dozing state.

"One hundred pieces, and you still have energy left? Not bad at all." Akio nodded at the pile of stones in front of him and smiled.

Obito had been carving stones for half a year. From the initial six pieces to now a hundred, and from barely legible scribbles to clearly etched "Uchiha Obito," his chakra reserves and control had both made noticeable progress.

"Of course!" Obito puffed out his chest proudly, clearly fishing for praise.

Akio subtly curled his lip. In just six months, there was no way Obito's chakra had increased dramatically. He had simply learned how to conserve energy—only carving the surface layer of the stones, making it look like his progress had multiplied tenfold.

Seeing Obito's hopeful, praise-seeking face, Akio chose not to burst his bubble.

"Well done. Let's move on to the second stage of training."

Obito's expression instantly collapsed. "Second stage? It took over half a year just for the first stage? How many stages are there in total?"

Akio grinned. "Three stages in total. First, the refrigerator... Hm, I mean four stages in total."

Obito blinked, confused. "Refrigerator?"

"Nothing important," Akio brushed it off and changed the topic. He reached behind and pulled out another stone. With a bit of concentration and a palm pressed against it, he reshaped its internal structure with Earth Release.

"Still with the stones?" Obito groaned dramatically. He'd been fighting with rocks for over six months.

"Try this one." Akio smirked, spinning a tale. "I brought this one back from the tallest mountain in the world. It's different."

Obito's eyes sparkled with awe. "The tallest mountain in the world? Where is it? I want to go someday!"

Akio froze for a moment. This kid's thought process was anything but normal.

"It's gone now. After I climbed it, the scenery was underwhelming, so I used a Wind Release to blow the mountain away." Akio sighed with fake nostalgia.

"Wow, you're amazing, Master!" Obito's admiration only deepened.

Akio actually started to feel a little guilty... How could this kid be so gullible?

"Stop thinking about useless things. Get back to training."

Obito naturally picked up his carving knife and infused it with chakra. A faint blue glow appeared on the blade—then his face froze.

"Master, why is this stone so hard?"

Akio waved him off. "Put some strength into it. Did you skip breakfast?"

Obito was instantly reminded of the frustration from his first carving lesson. By the time he finished carving the new stone, he was drenched in sweat.

But this time, he managed to stay conscious, sitting on the ground panting for breath.

"Master, stones from the world's tallest mountain are really that hard? And you split it open... That's incredible!" Obito looked even more impressed.

Akio glanced at him a few times, then helplessly shook his head. A thought suddenly struck him as he turned toward the door.

"Get up, your crush is here. Don't embarrass yourself sitting on the ground."

Obito blushed, then sprang to his feet and dashed to the door to peek outside.

"Where?"

He turned back—only to see Akio holding two more stones. His expression twisted.

"Master, don't tell me you brought the whole mountain back?"

Akio didn't explain. "Still got energy? Then carve two more."

Obito let out a long sigh and picked up his carving knife again.

Half an hour later, "Done!"

This time, Obito couldn't keep up the act—he collapsed flat on the floor.

Akio was just about to speak when he paused, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

"Are you sure lying on the ground is a good idea? Your crush really is here this time."

Obito caught his breath, then grinned. "Master, I'm not falling for the same trick twice."

"Obito, why are you lying on the floor?" Rin Nohara's voice suddenly rang out.

Obito's smile froze.

He glanced at Akio's expression, then slowly turned around, one stiff movement at a time—Rin's cheerful face came into view.

"Ahhh!" Obito yelped, jumping up and frantically dusting himself off. "Rin, what are you doing here?"

Rin's expression shifted as she remembered why she came. She grabbed Obito by the hand.

"Come on! I heard Kakashi applied for early graduation!"

"Kakashi? Didn't he turn the same age as us? Is that for real?"

"It is..."

The two ran off, leaving Akio behind with a wry smile.

"This little brat really doesn't take me seriously as a master. But if Kakashi's graduating, I suppose I should head over too."

Akio closed up the shop, didn't bother undoing his Transformation Technique, and went straight to the Ninja Academy—only to find it empty.

"The test is at the Hokage's building? Hiruzen himself is attending? I guess it makes sense. After all, Kakashi is the first kid to apply for graduation at the age of five."

Akio arrived at the Hokage's office. A crowd of children had already gathered around the entrance—Obito and Rin were among them, apparently waiting for the results.

Obito seemed particularly tense. He only noticed Akio after Rin nudged him.

"Master, you came too." Obito looked a little embarrassed, remembering that he had dashed off without saying a word.

Akio smiled. "What's wrong? Eager to congratulate Kakashi on becoming a genin?"

Obito froze, then stubbornly said, "He might not pass, you know!"

"Always so stubborn."

As they spoke, the doors to the Hokage building opened. Kakashi stepped out. No one needed to ask the result—the forehead protector on his head said it all. At the same moment, Akio received 10 Witness Points.

The crowd of kids surged forward to offer congratulations. Only Obito remained at Akio's side.

"What, you're not going to congratulate Kakashi?"

"Not a chance..."

Obito stayed put, but Kakashi walked over instead.

"Senpai." He greeted Akio politely, then turned to Obito. Their eyes met—and suddenly, Akio's carved "humph-from-both-sides" expression was reenacted perfectly by the two of them. Akio couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Without a word, Kakashi walked coolly past Obito, face full of aloof arrogance. The other kids quickly followed, Rin among them.

Obito stood there, fists clenched, staring at the Hokage building.

"I can't let this stand. I'm applying for graduation too!"

Akio was caught off guard and quickly grabbed him. After over half a year of chakra training, Obito was already close to genin level. If he passed by luck... well, it wouldn't be the worst thing.

Thinking it over, Akio let go—but added a final remark.

"Kakashi's graduated now, which means no one at the Academy will be getting in the way of you and your little crush. Are you sure this is the best time to graduate?"

Obito froze, then broke into a delighted grin.

"Master, you really do have experience!"

Akio felt like he'd been stabbed in the heart all over again...

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