Chapter 22: The Ultimate Test
A/N: As of 6/23/2022, I made some minor changes to the chapter, including updates to some of the dialogue.
Impatient footsteps echoed through the corridor as Jitsuko eagerly skipped to the hospital's exit. A hot gust of wind blew through her hair once the doors opened, and she let loose a triumphant sigh at knowing she was finally free from the confines of a hospital bed. The severe injury in her chest and shoulder took weeks to heal, and even longer once it reopened from the malignant encounter with Kusuo Uchiha.
By that time, Rin discharged from her part-time rehabilitation and cut down on missions to return to her full-time duties at the Hidden Leaf Hospital. Humorously enough, her first patient happened to be Jitsuko. She waved her goodbye as Jitsuko trekked to the shopping district with a particular jubilance in her steps.
The first thing I'm doing to celebrate my newfound freedom… Ichiraku Ramen!
Her arms swayed enthusiastically while on her quest for food, moving through countless villagers and overhearing their discussions as she passed them by – but one conversation lessened her avid skips to a halt.
"I've heard a lot of talk about Asuma Sarutobi. What's been going on with him?"
"Didn't you know? He just got promoted to a Jonin!"
"Really? He's that good? Do you think he has what it takes to become Hokage one day?"
"I wouldn't doubt it; he is the son of Lord Third, after all."
The two villagers then moved out of earshot while Jitsuko stood there deep in thought.
That's right… I'm supposed to be helping Obito become Hokage, yet he's still only a Chunin. But what can I do for him…? Wait, I know!
With her mind made up, Jitsuko ignored the aggressive grumbling in her stomach and hastily reoriented her destination from the ramen shop to the Hokage's office.
"Please, Minato-sensei. As Obito's former teacher, he needs your approval before he can become a Jonin. I think he's more than ready for it."
Minato's stance seemed tense – his elbows rested on the desk, his fingers laced together and propped his chin up with his face in serious contemplation.
"Jitsuko. In order to qualify as a Jonin, a ninja must usually master at least two Elemental Chakra Natures, and from my understanding, Obito has mastered one."
"Y-yeah, that's true, b-but you also haven't seen the new jutsu Obito taught himself. You see, it's called Bomb Blast Dance – it's where-"
"Jitsuko," Minato softly interjected. "I know you believe he's ready for the responsibility, but as his former instructor, I can't see it that way – at least not yet. Obito is strong, but he needs more experience before I can authorize his promotion."
She closed her mouth, realizing she had left it slightly agape while her back impulsively stiffened, preparing for her next point. Jitsuko wasn't giving up that easily.
"I know life as a Hokage is busy, but you must have had enough time to read the report on me and Obito's personal encounter with Madara by now, right, sensei?"
Minato stayed silent, his face remaining unreadable.
"I may have temporarily disabled the statue, but it was Obito who fended off Madara the whole time. I need to repeat, Minato-sensei – Obito stood off against the Madara Uchiha, and won. If that doesn't make him qualified to be a Jonin then I don't know what will."
Minato continued to glare at Jitsuko quietly; she tried to maintain eye contact but eventually her vision instinctively went downcast around his desk before shifting back up to relink with his icy blue eyes. Soon, the impasse became rather awkward.
Hold your ground, Jitsuko!
Without warning, Minato shut his eyes and the signs of a deep, slow inhale made its way to Jitsuko's ears. After a couple more moments, the hold on his breath released while removing his elbows from the table; a lax, defeated expression replaced his serious one, with a benevolent smile to accompany it.
"The assignment to find Madara and retrieve Rin does qualify as an A-rank or even an S-rank mission – and the two of them did complete it successfully. I suppose I have no choice but to make an exception with those credentials."
The smile that overtook Jitsuko's features almost hurt from how outspread it was.
"However, I will see it that Obito is granted permission to take a special Jonin exam, to truly test his current skills and experience as a shinobi.
Jonin exam? I heard about that once in the show, but it was never mentioned again. I figured that Chunin were just promoted once they get approval from the Hokage.
"A Jonin exam, sensei? What does he need to do to prove himself?"
"Since this is a special case, I will personally design a specific set of A-rank and S-rank level tasks for Obito to undertake, to simulate a typical mission for Jonin. If I am satisfied with his results, then I will acknowledge his growth and promote him to a Jonin," Minato stated while he scrawled something onto a sheet of paper before handing it to her.
"Pass this along to Obito, with the message to prepare himself."
Stacking the now empty bowl atop two others with an audible clunk, Jitsuko sighed and leaned back on the stool with a satisfied smirk on her face. Obito simultaneously glanced in her direction with a mouthful of ramen, with part of the noodles still dangling from his mouth while he closed his eyes in delight as a response to Jitsuko's contentment.
Soon, her body began to tremble, and she couldn't help but let a sly snicker escape her lips, no longer able to control her excitement over what she had to tell her best friend.
"You're that excited about finally breaking out of that place, huh? I don't blame you. I'd have lost it if I had to stay cooped up in that hospital room for as long as you did."
Jitsuko clumsily shook her head; eyes still squeezed shut in glee as she wordlessly slid a document across the bar to Obito.
"What's this?"
"Read it."
Obito's dark eyes shifted from her to the paper in front of him, with his expression morphing from mild puzzlement to stark bewilderment almost immediately while his hands eagerly darted from his lap to grasp at the document with an insistent crumpling noise.
"Jitsuko…! Is this…?!"
"Hmm-hm!" was all her throat could produce through all the exhilaration in the air.
Obito's jaw dropped, his mind clouded with disbelief as his eyes continued to examine the Jonin application she picked up for him.
"But Jitsuko, I need Minato-sensei to sign this for-" Obito's breath caught in his throat once his scanning eyes captured a neat scribbling on the dotted line.
The Fourth Hokage's signature.
Obito's eyes widened before he lifted one foot and quickly levered himself out of his seat, with Jitsuko gleefully standing up with him shortly after. Finally, he forced his gaze off that tidy stamp of approval and turned his attention entirely to her, his parted mouth instantly switching to a euphoric smile.
"You got… I'm a… I don't…" he managed to mutter out while he took turns switching his attention from the paper to her. "Jitsuko, thank you!" he exclaimed with a hearty yell, and she watched him spread his arms before enveloping her into a crushing hug around her waist, knocking all the air out of Jitsuko's lungs. Before she could react, he promptly tightened his hold, lifted her off the ground, and spun her around with him in genuine adoration, his exuberant laugh not dying down for even a moment.
"I can't believe you'd do this for me! How'd I get so lucky with you? I'm gonna be a Jonin?!" he babbled as he reluctantly set Jitsuko down, but unconsciously kept a tight grip around her waist in exhilaration.
"Well, it wasn't easy, but I convinced Minato-sensei to permit you to take a special Jonin exam. He didn't tell me exactly what you have to do, but I guarantee it's nothing you can't handle!" she finished with both her hands unknowingly landing on Obito's shoulders to return his joyous embrace. Things went silent a moment later when the two of them realized how they were holding each other before abruptly letting go, a searing heat pervading their faces.
"…But I thought I have to master two chakra natures to become a Jonin. What'd you even say to Minato-sensei?"
"I insisted that our fight against Madara makes you more than qualified for a promotion. It's absolutely true that you are!"
Obito's cheerful expression unexpectedly fell, his view landing on the bar next to him while pondering something.
"Where's your application, Jitsuko?"
Jitsuko blinked at Obito's question. She hadn't thought about herself.
"Well… I wasn't planning on becoming a Jonin, I guess."
"What? Why not? You were just as important on that mission as I was. Hell, they should promote you instantly for what you did back there."
Jitsuko's hand unconsciously lifted to cover her gracious smile in modesty.
Now that he mentions it, I was a big part of that mission. I even designed a few new jutsu. That's another big requirement to become a Jonin.
"You know what? You're right! I'll talk to my sensei and get his approval!"
"And don't stop until he says yes!" he added eagerly.
"We can become Jonin together!" she beamed while outstretching her arm and presented him her fist. Obito immediately extended his own arm to return the gesture in a harmonious fist bump, the unbreakable determination flaring through the both of them.
To Jitsuko's surprise, her sensei approved the application with little resistance. It could have to do with how, in her haste, she interrupted his leisurely session at the hot springs to sign it, his signature smudged from the steam that soaked into the document. Minato acknowledged the recommendation, but insisted that she complete the exam alongside Obito to prove her exceptional capabilities as a kunoichi.
As the exam date grew closer, Jitsuko had begun to doubt her own abilities as a ninja. Before she could come to her senses, she found herself at the doorstep of her other friend, Kakashi Hatake.
What am I doing here? Kakashi and I may be friends now, but that doesn't mean he would-
"Hey, Jitsuko. Everything alright?" Kakashi's sudden appearance startled her. Jitsuko hadn't even knocked on his door, yet he was already aware of her presence at his home. He was surprised that she was visiting him, especially after the incident that happened the last time Jitsuko was standing at his door – but he was happy to see her.
"Kakashi…! Uh, would you, um, consider sparring with me…?" she muttered, interlacing her fingers together out of nerves. "I need help perfecting my Earth Style techniques for me and Obito's Jonin exam, and I was hoping that you could give me a few pointers with your own techniques… maybe?"
Jitsuko was clearly anxious to ask someone like Kakashi for help, as she once thought he would never give her the time of day - but to her absolute surprise, he accepted. Kakashi then spent the evening strengthening her taijutsu and ninjutsu skills. He even distinguished which type of earth works best in certain situations.
He instructed that using soft sand when blocking attacks is actually more effective than hard, rocky walls: the cushioning of the sand would absorb attacks while hard stone could crumble from a forceful collision and potentially strike the defender. Gravel should be concentrated and launched at the enemy; its rigid texture would burrow into their skin with ease. He pointed these out, as well as other useful tricks and techniques, and Jitsuko took Kakashi's valuable advice to heart and ended the night with mild confidence and trust in her abilities. She was ready.
The Jonin exam was an entirely different experience. There were no exams evident in the show, and Jitsuko went into it completely blind, but she had faith in her best friend's ability to make it through – especially with his new jutsu. The first phase was to demonstrate their ability to design a completely original and proficient jutsu. Between Jitsuko's massive elemental hands and Obito's Bomb Blast Dance, the two of them passed the initial stage with flying colors.
The next phase was similar to the Chunin exams, where impeccable stealth was essential. The task was to elude a dozen sentinels and pilfer for an ancient scroll – hundreds of dimly lit candles surrounded every room and encompassed the scroll by mere inches. If the wind generated by their movements while fighting or retrieving it extinguished even one flame, or if the scroll catches fire, it was an automatic fail.
Even though it was a solo exam, Jitsuko and Obito worked together – he distracted the guards with a mild genjutsu conjured by his Sharingan and knocked them out while she pressed her hands flat onto the floor and manipulated the ground to carefully swallow the scroll and transfer it through the earth, where it soon popped out into her open hand. Every candle remained untouched. The two of them clasped the scroll with one hand each and presented it to Minato together with a prideful gleam in their smiles.
Minato had observed the entire performance, and while he was pleased with the excellent teamwork, he was strangely dissatisfied with the outcome.
All that remained was the final phase. Minato instructed the both of them to gather at the training grounds and he would join them shortly. Neither one of them could contain their enthusiasm while dashing for the grounds, but not without naturally turning it into a competition. Last one there buys that evening's celebratory ice cream.
Struggling to recover their breath, Jitsuko flopped onto the dirt on the sparring field with Obito mirroring her action shortly after. With her head resting on its side, Jitsuko watched from afar as numerous Genin kids practiced their shuriken throwing and other basic techniques at the areas nearby.
"Obito," she muttered between labored breaths. "Do you think it's a little weird that our final test as high-ranked ninjas is going to happen around a bunch of kids?"
"But we come here all the time. What's so weird about that?"
"It's not that, wouldn't you think that our final test would be, you know, kinda dangerous? I thought Minato-sensei would have us do something totally life threatening, or something that needs quick decision-making – I don't know, something more noteworthy than this."
"I wouldn't doubt Minato-sensei," Obito hoisted himself into a squatting position, his breath returning to a normal pattern. "The Hokage's gotta have something grueling in mind. I'm ready for anything he's got!"
Behind Obito, a soundless form appeared out of thin air, startling the two of them into exerting matching undignified squeals, with Obito's being a slightly higher pitch.
"Sorry I'm late," Minato started nonchalantly. "It took some time to uncover the pieces I need for the final phase of your examination."
A special sound accompanied Minato's words. It was soft, soothing, and all-too familiar.
That noise… sounds like… bells…?
Minato extended his arm to reveal the objects of interest between his fingers – two miniscule bells, the same ones used in the bell test for Kakashi's and eventually Naruto's team.
"Wha-? This has to be a joke, Minato-sensei. You're telling me that our final test is to steal the bells away from you again? That's academy grade stuff," Obito huffed in irritation. "You may be the Hokage, but there has to be something more challenging than this!"
Minato stared at the agitated Uchiha; his face looked painfully unimpressed by Obito's assumptions.
"The initial bell test to be promoted to Genin required you to remove these bells from me." Minato's voice sounded almost too confident.
"Your test now, Jitsuko, Obito,"
Minato flicked his wrist and expertly tossed the bells in their direction, with Jitsuko and Obito each snatching one in midair.
"- is to remove these bells from each other. The first of you to succeed will be granted the status of Jonin. Use any means necessary. You may start."
The two of them stood there, completely stunned by what Minato had assigned as the third and final obstacle of becoming an official Jonin.
"M-Minato-sensei… you can't be serious…?" she somehow managed to choke out before Obito could. "Why would you set us up like this?"
"Being promoted to Jonin is a prodigious milestone for any shinobi. The position is incredibly competitive and not everyone is able to meet the standards to reach that level of prestige. Qualified shinobi must demonstrate critical decision-making skills in dire situations – and challenging each other is a suitable example of that. You may find yourselves up against a comrade in advanced missions, and as Jonin you must be prepared for when that opportunity arises."
We came this close only for Minato to pull the rug out from under our feet. What do I do? Do I forfeit, that way Obito automatically wins? No, he would want to win fair and square. Should I make it easy for him to grab the bell, then? But… I want to become a Jonin, too...
A seething aura radiated off Obito, his entire body grew rigid and tense as he struggled to restrain his temper. "I can't believe you, Minato-sensei!" He pointed a figure accusingly at his mentor. "Of all shinobi, I thought that you would understand that we would neverturn on a comrade!" he declared while aggressively gesturing to Jitsuko and himself. The Hokage's eyebrows raised just a fraction of an inch.
Uh oh. I need to do something…!
"It… It's okay, Obito. It'll be just like… sparring…?"
"No, Jitsuko, it's not! This is different!" Obito's irritated form turned to her. "How could Minato-sensei even think about me hurting you as our final test? I always thought he knew better…" His voice descended to a disheartened mutter, and he turned back around to shoot Minato a disappointed look.
Oh no… Obito can't get discouraged. Not after everything we've been through to get this far. Minato is kind of right, we will have to make terribly difficult choices like this on our missions. Obito needs to see that. I need to snap him out of it. I need to push him to his limit. I need to show Minato that at least one of us is ready for the title of Jonin!
Minato's eyes softened considerably at Obito. The Hokage looked as though he were about to speak until the ground under Obito's feet began to shift before he unexpectedly fell over. Immediately recognizing this technique as Jitsuko's, Obito peered over his shoulder at her, his face crowded with confusion and astonishment.
Forgive me, Obito…
"So you think you're able to hurt me? Do you really think it'd be that easy to snatch my bell and steal the Jonin title away from me?"
"Jitsuko? Of course I don't think-"
"You really see me as that weak?"
Obito paused at the assertion. He'd always believed with all his heart that she was a strong shinobi, both physically and mentally – yet she was standing there, insisting that he considered her as easy to take down.
But she is anything but weak! How could she think that about herself?
"You're not weak, Jitsuko. You're the best shinobi I know!"
"Obito, I would have died so many times if it weren't for you. I am weak and you know it…!" Her words pierced her deeper than she was expecting. It was true what she was telling her friend. Ever since Jitsuko came to this world, she viewed herself as an inadequate shinobi who had been, on numerous occasions, captured, incapacitated, and almost killed while on her own.
"Don't talk about yourself like that! You've always had faith in other people – faith in me – but you need to believe in yourself, too!" Distress, bewilderment, and even anger surrounded Obito's tone. He just couldn't stand seeing the one he adored degrading themselves, especially when he knew of her wonderful potential.
"If that's true then try to take this bell from me. Show me how strong you think I am, and don't hold back!" Jitsuko's legs slowly shifted into a battle stance, and she attached the bell to her waist, all while her determined eyes never separated from Obito's surprised ones.
It was extremely upsetting for Obito to see Jitsuko doubting herself so heavily. If the only way to prove that she was a powerful shinobi was by accepting the challenge, then so be it. He would go all out and force her to demonstrate her strength by pushing her to her limits, just like how she planned to push his.
Without saying a word, Obito rose to his feet and mimicked Jitsuko's battle stance, his hand hovering over his face with his pinky and ring finger curled into his palm with the rest of his fingers positioned vertically upright, a gesture to signify that he was ready. Serious resolution overflowed from both their faces as a profound aura filled the atmosphere around them. With blood pumping and resolves absolute, the battle commenced.
As expected, Obito initiated contact. He dashed at Jitsuko with surprising speed, one arm hid behind his back to retrieve a kunai from his pack while she instinctively did the same. Before she could blink, the sound of metal grinding with metal met her ears; a faint ringing of two bells registered in the background upon the impact – the soothing tone of the chime directly contradicted the harsh clash of weapons on front of them.
Jitsuko's hand trembled as she struggled to resist Obito's frontal attack, almost missing his other hand when it suddenly darted to grab her other arm in a tight grip. He then shoved himself forward, taking her down to the ground with him. As soon as her back met harshly with the unforgiving earth, Jitsuko's legs immediately curled by their knees, using her feet on his stomach to forcefully shove him off her.
She had just enough time to scramble to her feet before he was back over Jitsuko in an instant, his limbs thrusting toward her in a relentless volley of fists, palms, elbows, and kicks while she parried and defended herself. Eventually a fist managed to sneak by her, making contact full force with her cheekbone, splitting it open and sending Jitsuko flying backwards – only barely managing to land on her feet.
Tears quickly filled her eyes at the sudden throbbing sting on her cheek. Obito's vision also clouded with tears, not from his aching knuckles, but from the mental anguish of actually managing to strike her. The guilt in his chest from having to hurt Jitsuko far outweighed any physical pain she could ever inflict on him.
This was entirely different from simple sparring. Obito was putting his heart into proving that Jitsuko was not weak, that she was strong enough to withstand him - while Jitsuko wanted to expose him to impossibly tough decisions and emotions to show that he is worthy of becoming a Jonin and then Hokage. The powerful motives of both her and Obito stemmed from wanting to help each other grow.
Jitsuko took a moment to wipe the blood off her cheek; her eyes landing on the bell tied around Obito's waist as he followed her gaze and instinctively hovered his hand over the chime, the fiercely determined but pained expression never leaving his face.
She made the next move by withdrawing a new kunai before hurling it vigorously into the ground right next to her. The pointed tip lodged sturdily into the dirt before the ground shifted and concealed the weapon into its depths. Jitsuko then sprinted toward Obito, the aggressive action prompting him to activate his Sharingan, and she returned his relentless attacks with her own while he responded by blocking her blows.
She saw a narrow opening and swiftly crouched down and swept her leg from under Obito's as she watched him begin to fall backwards. The move was identical to Madara's when he first caught Obito off guard, but he had learned since then. Instead of collapsing on his back, leaving him exposed, he fluently twisted his body in midair where his stomach faced the ground and his hands caught himself before the rest of his body could strike the rocky surface. Using his arms as leverage, Obito instantly pushed his body up and propelled himself backward, delivering an unexpected, harsh kick to Jitsuko's gut with both feet before stabilizing himself with his back facing her. Her back once again thumped brutally onto the dirt and she helplessly watched as Obito rushed toward her, his eyes locked in fierce determination.
"You can't give up on me, Jitsuko! You are strong. The Jitsuko I know wouldn't surrender that easily!" Obito's tone was strict but had complete and utter faith in her. His eyes then set on her constantly chiming bell. His outstretched hand steadily inched closer to the small sphere until a sharp object burst from the ground next to his hand – the kunai she previously buried – where it severed the string connecting the bell to Jitsuko's waist.
"I'm not done yet!" Jitsuko snatched the loose bell before Obito could and hoisted it high into the air, desperate to keep it away from him. He watched the chime in slow motion through his Sharingan as he pounced directly above her to catch it. His fingertips grazed its smooth surface before he registered a clamping sensation around his leg. Obito blinked in realization and his eyes widened for a fraction of a second before Jitsuko used all the strength in her legs wrapped around his to abruptly yank him downwards to the ground, landing on top of her.
The sound of tiny metal making contact and rolling on the solid surface just behind their heads then captured both of their attention. In his haste to seize the bell, Obito crawled and leaned over Jitsuko's body, forgetting about his own bell while it dangled within her reach. Her hurried attempt to snatch it forced him to panic and back off Jitsuko with irritation evident in his leap.
Suddenly, a rapid stream of sand whirled around Obito's body that adamantly persisted and severely inhibited his field of vision, even after lowering his goggles to protect his eyes. He cautiously stood in place, slightly hunched over with his arms and legs spread far apart in an anticipatory stance while crimson eyes darted and scoped the gritty atmosphere in earnest – when a shadow emerged from outside of the storm that was heading straight for him.
A slim gap formed in the storm as Jitsuko broke into it and aggressively leaped at Obito with a firm battle cry; her arm winded back in preparation for a punch, her fist coated in thousands of coarse granules for a sharper impact – until he turned to look at her.
For a moment, Obito's face expressed genuine fright for the first time in the fight. The brief look of helplessness unintentionally generated memories of the two of them together: How happy Obito was as he spun Jitsuko around in adoration after giving him the application. His vulnerable expression when he struggled to convey his feelings for her at the pond. The pure feeling of rapture and understanding that was shared through their first kiss. Intense emotion overwhelmed Jitsuko in an instant and she deliberately directed the punch into the dirt next to him instead, leaving a gaping hole in its place.
Damn it… stop letting sentiment get in the way!
Jitsuko's heart raced wildly in her head, realizing she had left herself completely unguarded. Without a moment to spare, she formed hand signs just as Obito tackled her to the ground. A monstrous rumbling then reverberated throughout the field as the sand and earth accumulated to form two colossal hands – one removed Obito off Jitsuko while the other attempted to grapple his violently swinging bell. Obito struggled and wriggled out of its grip, landing nearby as the hands persisted in trying to debilitate him, leaving him with just enough time to form his own hand signs.
The countless distracting particles of sand in the air dulled in comparison to the blinding flame that shot from Obito's mouth in a ferocious coil, surrounding Jitsuko's sand fists and encasing them in an uncontrollable inferno. His Bomb Blast Dance burned with such a staggering intensity - it melted the sand encompassing the jutsu, superheating it and morphing them into glass.
Astonished, Jitsuko immediately lost control of the jutsu and the glass hands began to plummet to the ground near Obito. Her eyes widened, followed with a gasp in horror, anticipating the violent collision that was about to strike him.
Distracted by the blinding objects descending from the sky, Obito flinched upon noticing the ground below him shifting. His eyes squeezed shut to brace for her attack, until an engulfing darkness stirred them back open, realizing it was Jitsuko's Protective Barrier surrounding him rather than another attack. Not a moment later, a muffled, thunderous crash made it to Obito's ears, and he listened to the deafening sound of the glass hands shattering upon impact, sending thousands of glass shards throughout the field. Her Protective Barrier dissolved a moment later, the countless shards embedded into every spot on his side of the field except where he stood.
Jitsuko… even when we're fighting, she…
Obito gaped at her, awestruck. Even when the two were opponents, keeping him safe was still Jitsuko's number one priority.
Has she… been holding back…?
His face morphed from awe back to serious at the notion. He didn't want her restraining herself anymore.
Jitsuko gazed at Obito from a safe distance, satisfied with herself for putting his wellbeing first. She eased her stance and let her guard down, but she began to feel unsettled over something, but she couldn't quite put a finger on it. Obito seemed to be almost too still. The piercing look in his crimson eyes chilled Jitsuko with an inexplicable dread.
Wait a minute… Obito's Sharingan!
Panic struck her very core, struggling to comprehend that her eyes made contact with Obito's the moment she released him from the barrier, allowing herself to become vulnerable to his genjutsu abilities. Jitsuko learned this too late, as the Obito in front of her dissolved into nothing. The area around her then ignited, shrouded in a thick wall of flames stretching high into the air.
Jitsuko stood there frozen, the terror of her situation rooting her body in place as she felt that passionate, familiar presence directly behind her. She managed to swivel her body to face him, crossed her arms, and formed a small sand shield to absorb the punch heading right for her. Jitsuko could counter his fervent attacks with her own, but she chose not to. Instead, she opted to endure each strike that was increasing in both frequency and intensity, signaling Obito's growing frustration.
"You are not weak!" Obito emphasized the last word with a particularly powerful punch, one that forced her feet to skid slightly backwards. "I know you've been holding back from me, Jitsuko!"
"I have to, Obito!" she managed between frenzied blows, each one generating a sickening 'thwack' noise. "I can't stand seeing you hurt!"
Obito's pained expression grew even more agonizing.
"I don't want this!" he gritted, his punches rising in vigor. The forceful movements finally caused the tears flooding his eyes to loosen and spill over. "But I'm doing this for you! Fight back!"
Jitsuko felt the full weight of Obito's fists on her arms, becoming painfully aware of her weary body. Her tears, the pain, her frustration. It became too much to bear.
"Obito,"
*THWACK*
"I'm holding back because I'm your protector!"
Obito finally squeezed his eyes shut with gritted teeth, unable to restrain the blazing emotions consuming him any longer.
"Jitsuko,"
*THWACK*
"I'm pushing so hard because I love you!"
A final slam accompanied Obito's last words, one that was so intense, so emotional and impassioned that it launched Jitsuko back into the air, straight through the coat of flames surrounding the two.
Obito… he…!
Plunging to the ground, Jitsuko's side dragged across the dirt before her limp and weary body came to a complete stop. With the strength completely expended from her body, Jitsuko could only watch the flame wall split in two with a tall shadow emerging from it. They took steady steps toward her subdued body at an agonizingly slow pace.
Wordlessly, Obito stood over Jitsuko. For the first time in her life, she couldn't read his facial expression. His back was straight, his curled fists told of the conflicting emotions teeming inside him as he looked down at her with a blank yet somber face. Jitsuko managed to catch the subtle change of his eyebrows lowering while taking a good look at her, studying the gentle grin on her lips, a sign - an offering, of her unconditional devotion.
After a few more excruciating moments of silence, Obito bent down. His arm reached toward Jitsuko, as if in slow motion, to finally obtain the coveted bell and claim the title of Jonin.
This is it. It's over.
I lost.
She sighed to herself, half disappointed, half relieved and shut her eyes, anticipating the sound of the bell to hit her ears.
Only, it never happened.
It wasn't until moments later when no noise followed that Jitsuko reluctantly opened her eyes to find the loose bell still lying on the ground beside her, with Obito's hand nowhere near it. Confused, Jitsuko's head gradually shifted to the Uchiha in front of her, only to see an arm outstretched toward her, with a gentle hand offering to help her up.
Jitsuko stared at his gesture in disbelief before raising a trembling hand to secure a strong grip with his. Obito eased her up, the hold on each other's hand never separating. His tender actions simultaneously filled Jitsuko's heart with warmth and furthered her feelings of confusion.
"Obito, what are you… why aren't you grabbing my bell?"
"I took the challenge because I wanted to prove to you how strong I know you are. I don't care about that bell." The grip holding her hand squeezed tighter.
"Besides," Obito added while unclipping the bell from his waist with his other hand before holding it out to Jitsuko. "We both know that you're the one who deserves to be a Jonin. There was never a doubt in my mind that you have amazing skills in protection, but to defend your opponent without even a question? You're somehow even stronger than I thought, Jitsuko. Didn't even think that was possible, to tell you the truth." He flashed her a tired smile while waiting expectantly for her to claim his bell and the title of Jonin, only to open his eyes in puzzlement a moment later when the weight of the chime still rested on his palm.
"Obito… I can't take the title away from you. That'd be turning against you if I did. We promised that we would become Jonin together, and I'll wait however long it takes for us to become amazing ninja together."
Obito's expression eased into warm admiration as he gazed down at her, the softness of his features was enough to overlook the numerous scratches and dirt marks coating his face.
"We're already amazing ninja, Jitsuko. You know that."
She responded to Obito by mirroring his soft expression, one that revealed feelings of comfort and reassurance that only he could gift her.
"Minato-sensei's just going to have to fail the both of us."
At that, Minato appeared before them, his lengthy cloak swaying with his swift movement. Blue eyes settled on the two of them, his serious look told them to prepare for his verdict.
"You both are choosing to forfeit the exam by refusing to remove the bells from each other. Are you sure about this, Jitsuko? Obito?"
Obito peered down at her and offered a firm look, one that conveyed that he had no doubts about his decision.
He got this far, yet Obito is willing to give this up and wait for me.
Finally, the two of them traded quiet nods before turning their attention back to the Hokage.
"My goal was to prove that Jitsuko is an amazing shinobi. I would never betray her, or any comrade, Minato-sensei."
"Me too. We need to protect our teammates and help them get stronger, not turn against each other. I'm sorry you can't see it that way, Minato-sensei."
Minato glanced at Obito, then back to her.
"Well then. Jitsuko Mawatari, Obito Uchiha."
A confident grin replaced his blank and serious expression.
"Starting today, the two of you will work under the Hidden Leaf Village as official Jonin-rank shinobi. Congratulations."
The grip on Jitsuko's hand instinctively pressed tighter. The almost painful clench didn't even register in her mind over disbelief overwhelming all senses but her hearing.
"Just now – what did you say, Minato-sensei?"
Minato closed his eyes in delight. "I said that I am passing the both of you on your Jonin exams."
"But I don't understand. How are we not disqualified? Obito and I both refused the final test."
"That's precisely why I'm permitting the both of you. The final phase of your examination wasn't to test your overt abilities to see who is stronger. It was to test your views on your teammates under immense pressure. If you truly cared for your allies, you would not turn against them for your own self-interest. Shinobi with this perspective is essential for our village to prosper. We're in dire need of ninja like you and Obito."
Minato's confident expression then changed to one of awkwardness, his arm reaching to comb the back of his hair, his voice slightly docile and hesitant.
"But if I'm being honest, I saw how Obito already understood the importance of teammates. I was about to pass you after Obito initially refused to fight, before you challenged him, Jitsuko."
She mentally facepalmed at the revelation. It's okay, Jitsuko. The challenge was definitely worth it. I feel confident in my abilities… thanks to Obito – and it feels like he's grown from this, too.
"You may have gone against my expectations by battling each other, but you did so in order to strengthen one another rather than to blindly follow my orders. Nurture this view. It's a valuable asset for a Hokage to own," Minato hinted as he winked at Obito, whose mouth still hung slightly open in shock at the results.
"Assemble at my office tomorrow morning so we can discuss your advanced duties as Jonin. Until then, I suggest cleaning yourselves up, and perhaps go out to celebrate. Congratulations, you two."
With Minato's body phasing into a blur, he then disappeared, leaving Jitsuko and Obito alone to revel in the news together.
"I'm dreaming. Tell me I'm dreaming, Obito," she implored, allowing a brief moment to pass before an unstoppable smile finally poised her face. "We did it, Obito! We passed! We're Jonin!" she voiced with glee while enclosing her best friend in an impulsive hug, with one of her hands still squeezing his.
Jitsuko's goal was simple. Only a few days before, her only resolve was to assist Obito with becoming a Jonin. Never did she imagine that Minato would recognize her as qualified as well. She had Obito to thank for the boost in confidence.
It took longer for Obito to process the Hokage's verdict, but once he did, the Uchiha couldn't contain his excitement as he cheered and responded to Jitsuko's touch by wrapping his arms around her just as eagerly.
"So what do you say?" Jitsuko asked, reluctantly releasing her hold on him. "You still up for celebratory ice cream tonight?"
"Yeah!" he beamed, eyes shut in delight. "I heard they just came out with a special limited-edition flavor; all those fliers are keeping the taste a mystery. I've been meaning to figure it out myself!"
"Oh, I know the kind you're talking about! I had it, actually! It's-"
"Hold it, don't spoil it for me, I'm gonna find out soon enough!" Obito's voice was full of excitement.
"Alright, alright. I won't tell you, but let me just say that it's an… acquired taste," she chuckled. "But I love it, and I know that you'll love it, too –"
Jitsuko's body suddenly tensed up in apprehension. Love. She said love. It reminded her of what Obito had declared not even minutes earlier. The part that involved love, and involved Jitsuko.
Obito tensed too, likely distracted by the same invasive thoughts.
"So, um, Minato was right. We should probably go home and clean ourselves up. Let's go, I'll walk you home," she offered casually, hiding her nerves behind a façade of ignorance to the worrisome thoughts she and Obito were just reflecting on.
He began to follow Jitsuko, until contemplation overrode Obito's features. He peered at the ground, inwardly analyzing his options, before quickly returning his concentration to her.
"You know what, Jitsuko… I need to go alone this time."
Obito… he's… asking for time alone again? Oh no. How long is it going to be this time? What… what did I do wrong?
He watched her face as it gradually dipped from surprise to serious worry. It was then Obito considered the possible implications behind his words. She was getting the wrong idea, he realized. It was only natural to react this way after what they went through the first time he asked for this.
"Hey, it – it's fine, Jitsuko. I just… need to find some things at the shop. I'm not going home just yet, but I might be a while. That's all it is." Obito stretched his arm out to her. "I'll meet you at our usual place at six."
Jitsuko initially thought that he was going for a customary fist bump, until she noticed his pinky stuck out from the rest of his hand. She was confused by his unusual gesture. It wasn't often that she and Obito pinky swore.
"It'll be okay."
Obito knew that asking for time away from her was nerve-wracking, but he had an idea and was going to stick to it. Still, he wanted to convey that he wasn't abandoning her. On some basic levels, Jitsuko understood this. Steadily raising her hand, she quietly and heedfully looped her pinky with his.
"I promise."
