Chapter 709: Like

“Good morning,” Kakashi replied, then glanced at Obito.

Obito could only reluctantly greet Kakashi, so Rin Nohara wouldn’t think he was impolite.

After exchanging greetings, Kakashi didn’t chat much with the two and left directly, which surprised Obito.

Anko and the other two also took the opportunity to slip away.

Rin Nohara also didn’t invite Kakashi as Obito had expected.

Seeing Kakashi and Anko’s group leave directly, she continued walking with Obito towards the flower shop.

“It’s over just like that?” Obito was both surprised and delighted.

If Kakashi had suddenly joined them, he definitely wouldn’t have been able to get closer to Rin Nohara today, as dealing with Kakashi would have taken up most of his attention.

“Rin…”

Obito wanted to ask Rin Nohara why she hadn’t called Kakashi, but then he suddenly closed his mouth.

“What’s wrong, Obito?” Rin Nohara turned her face and asked curiously.

“I originally wanted to ask you something, but then I suddenly forgot it when I was about to say it,” Obito said, scratching his head awkwardly.

Obito was worried that Rin Nohara had forgotten to ask, and his reminder would make her remember.

They had just separated from Kakashi, and at a Ninja’s traveling speed, they could catch up to Kakashi in a few seconds.

“Is it important?”

“Uh, I don’t think so.” Obito felt that even if Kakashi really joined them, it wouldn’t be an important matter.

After all, the worst-case scenario would only be wasting a day. He and Rin Nohara were still very young, only thirteen years old, and Obito still had plenty of time to get closer to Rin Nohara.

“That’s true, even Obito shouldn’t be so muddled as to forget something important the moment he turns around,” Rin Nohara said with a smile.

“Of course.”

The two walked along, chatting and laughing. As they were about to enter the street where the Yamanaka flower shop was located, they suddenly heard a hawker’s cry.

“Tempura, freshly fried Tempura.”

“Rin, do you want to eat some Tempura?” Obito asked Rin Nohara.

Rin Nohara looked in the direction of the hawker’s cry, and a Tempura stall came into view.

As if noticing Rin Nohara’s gaze and wanting to show off his skills, the middle-aged stall owner picked up a prepared shrimp, coated it in egg batter, and carefully dropped it into the oil pan, splashing a few drops of hot oil.

It seemed to have splashed on his hand, and the middle-aged stall owner’s expression became somewhat distorted.

Rin Nohara:…Why does this stall owner feel like a novice who hasn’t done this before, not even as good as her own cooking?

“Obito, why don’t we go somewhere else to eat after we visit the flower shop?” Rin Nohara advised.

Although buying street food wouldn’t cost much, this stall owner looked unreliable, and it might not taste good.

“Let’s just have this. I haven’t had Tempura in a while, and I want to try it. Plus, I’m a bit hungry,” Obito didn’t give up.

“Obito, look closely. This boss seems like a novice who hasn’t done this much, so it might not taste good.” Rin Nohara thought Obito hadn’t noticed, so she said it directly.

“Is that so? I think we can try it. It doesn’t cost much to buy a little anyway, and maybe it’s one of those that looks unappealing but is actually delicious,” Obito insisted.

Hearing Obito say that, Rin Nohara stopped trying to persuade him.

After all, Obito’s words made some sense; it really wouldn’t cost much, and in the worst case, there wouldn’t be too much loss.

So the two walked together to the Tempura stall, and Obito said, “Give me one serving of Tempura.”

The middle-aged stall owner nodded, then said with a solemn expression:

“Congratulations, you are our shop’s ten thousandth customer and will receive a mysterious free gift from our shop.”

Rin Nohara looked at the middle-aged stall owner suspiciously, then carefully examined the stall a few more times.

Ten thousand customers? She didn’t see this middle-aged stall owner as someone who had been operating for a long time.

“Is my luck that good? It seems today is my lucky day. What’s the reward?” Obito said in a monotone.

This was why he insisted on buying Tempura. The Tempura stall owner was actually Kotetsu Hagane in disguise.

To fill the extra time, so that he and Rin Nohara would finish visiting the flower shop just in time for lunch, and also to better enhance their relationship, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki’s plan included more than one “surprise.”

“Escape Room for Two!” Kotetsu Hagane replied.

“It’s the latest game that can effectively train a Ninja’s observation skills. If it weren’t for the ten thousandth person being so commemorative, I really wouldn’t be willing to spend this money.”

Kotetsu Hagane introduced it while making a pained expression.

“Does Konoha still have such game venues now?” Rin Nohara felt increasingly strange.

She wondered if it was because of psychological reasons, but she felt that Obito had also become a bit strange.

“I don’t know, maybe it’s new recently. After all, the war ended, and the village’s economy has prospered quite a bit,” Obito helped explain.

During their conversation, Kotetsu Hagane began his main job—frying Tempura.

Under Rin Nohara’s gaze, which she couldn’t bear to watch, he fried a fresh shrimp until it was black.

Now Rin Nohara was certain; this was a complete novice who couldn’t fry Tempura. Fried like this, it definitely wouldn’t taste good.

“Could he be a spy from another village?” Rin Nohara became cautious in her heart.

If the stall owner was a spy, then everything would make sense.

Obito was now a famous Uchiha genius in the Ninja World, an object that many Ninja Villages wanted to eliminate quickly.

Even if they couldn’t eliminate him, getting key intelligence about Obito would be a good thing for Ninja Villages that considered Konoha a potential enemy.

“So, where is this escape room located?” Rin Nohara asked back, feigning curiosity.

Although she had discovered the middle-aged stall owner’s secret, Rin Nohara was not flustered.

No matter what, she was still a Jonin of Konoha with decent strength, and Obito was an even stronger expert whose strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Jonin. A spy should not be their opponent.

Moreover, Obito now also mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, so even if the spy was exceptionally strong, Obito could retreat and call for backup immediately.

“Go straight this way for five hundred meters, then turn left for two hundred meters and then…” Kotetsu Hagane considerately took out a small map and showed Rin Nohara the way.

Of course, they didn’t have the money to really open an escape room. Even this Tempura stall was rented.

But no money also had its ways.

If they didn’t have money to open a real shop, they would use the Ninja’s strong practical skills to build a simple hut in a small forest and then just decorate it casually.

Anyway, it wasn’t really meant for business; it was just specially provided for Obito’s date.

“He’s definitely a spy.” Rin Nohara nodded inwardly.

She was naturally familiar with Konoha. She remembered that the area the middle-aged stall owner pointed to was a small grove; how could there be an escape room game store there?

“Obito, wait here for a moment. I think I saw a friend and I’m going to say hello,” Rin Nohara said to Obito calmly.

“Okay, Rin, you go ahead then.” Obito didn’t think too much and nodded.

Then Rin Nohara quickly left, returning to the Tempura stall after about a minute and a half.

“Rin, who did you see? Shizune?” Obito asked casually.

“Yes, she came to help Lady Tsunade buy some daily necessities,” Rin Nohara thought for a moment and replied.

Then Rin Nohara looked at the middle-aged stall owner and said, “Please give me three servings of Tempura, thank you.”

Kotetsu Hagane was amused. It turned out he also had cooking and stall-keeping talents. Rin Nohara hadn’t even tasted it but wanted to buy three servings just by looking.

“Rin, are you that hungry? Buying three servings at once,” Obito said with a surprised expression.

Earlier, Rin Nohara had stopped him, saying it might not taste good and not recommending buying it, but in a blink of an eye, Rin Nohara herself bought three servings.

“Rin, why don’t you buy a little less? Buy one serving to try first.”

This time it was Obito’s turn to persuade Rin Nohara. He came to buy it only because the plan had this step.

Before Kotetsu Hagane fried it, Obito couldn’t be sure of Kotetsu Hagane’s skill level.

Just now, Kotetsu Hagane had fried the Tempura until it was black, so he definitely couldn’t cook.

Kotetsu Hagane was a bit unhappy. Even Captain Obito couldn’t deny his talent!

“It’s fine, Obito, didn’t you also say that a bad appearance doesn’t mean it doesn’t taste good?” Rin Nohara said with a smile, handing the money to the middle-aged stall owner.

Obito hesitated, wanting to speak, but in the end said nothing.

“I’ll take Rin to a good restaurant for lunch,” Obito thought with guilt.

“Three servings, right? I’ll make them right away.”

Kotetsu Hagane happily took the money and started frying Tempura.

“Why don’t I just set up the stall here today and sell all the ingredients? That way, after deducting the rent, I can still earn some money,” Kotetsu Hagane thought to himself.

Rin Nohara’s three servings gave Kotetsu Hagane ample confidence.

To thank Rin Nohara for her recognition, Kotetsu Hagane carefully fried each piece of Tempura, striving to make them the best.

“Obito.”

Just as Kotetsu Hagane was about to finish frying the three servings of Tempura, a voice somewhat familiar to Obito rang out.

Obito turned his head and saw the Uchiha Jonin who had previously asked him about leading a team, followed by two Uchiha Ninja whom Obito didn’t know very well.

Since the Uchiha Jonin had once invited Obito to breakfast, Obito had a good impression of him, so he walked a few steps forward and greeted the Uchiha Jonin.

“He’s the spy!”

Rin Nohara, standing in front of the Tempura stall, suddenly shouted.

After shouting, Rin Nohara in front of the stall directly dissipated into smoke, and another Rin Nohara flashed down from a house.

Rin Nohara’s main body had just gone to find members of the Police Force, and the one who came back to find Obito was just a Shadow Clone.

“A spy?!” Kotetsu Hagane was startled and instinctively took a step back.

Whoosh! Whoosh!!

Several members of the Uchiha Police Force quickly flashed forward and attacked Kotetsu Hagane.

Kotetsu Hagane was bewildered. Why were they all rushing towards him? There was no one else around him.

It couldn’t be that he was the spy, could it? Was frying Tempura badly enough to be considered a spy? And he thought he fried it pretty well, otherwise why would Rin Nohara buy three servings?

Obito also didn’t know what was happening for a moment.

Of course, although he didn’t know what the problem was, Obito still immediately took action to save Kotetsu Hagane.

“Obito, don’t be fooled by this guy, he’s an undercover agent,” Rin Nohara quickly shouted.

Obito, Kotetsu Hagane:…What kind of situation is this?

Finally, Kotetsu Hagane, having released his Transformation Technique, put his hands together and sincerely apologized to the Uchiha Jonin, stating that he would not set up stalls randomly again.

Kotetsu Hagane was truly honest now. It turned out that frying Tempura badly could get him mistaken for a spy.

Obito, as Kotetsu Hagane’s captain, also gave an embarrassed smile and offered various explanations and guarantees for Kotetsu Hagane.

Out of respect for Obito, the Uchiha Ninja didn’t dwell on it too much, said a few simple words, and then left.

“Captain Obito, I’m sorry.”

Kotetsu Hagane suddenly had a Flash of inspiration, apologized to Obito, and then winked at him frantically, hinting.

He could take all the blame, so Obito could continue his date with Rin Nohara.

Obito understood somewhat and replied comfortingly, “It’s fine. It’s understandable for young people to want to try new things, just don’t go down the wrong path of false advertising.”

Seeing Obito’s preteniously mature and old-fashioned demeanor, Rin Nohara couldn’t help but chuckle, letting out a small laugh.

The huge stone hanging in Obito’s heart instantly dropped, and he thought, “That was a close call, I almost messed it up.”

Seeing this, Rin Nohara put away her smile and deliberately put on a stern face, looking at Obito and Kotetsu Hagane.

She wasn’t stupid. First, there was “role-playing,” and now “winning a prize.” There must be something going on.

Obito lowered his head, embarrassed.

Kotetsu Hagane looked even more ashamed, because of his mistake, Obito and Rin Nohara’s date today was ruined.

“Aren’t we going to the flower shop?”

Just as Obito thought today was over, what came was not Rin Nohara’s reproach, but a relatively calm question.

Obito looked up and saw Rin Nohara had already walked a distance, standing three meters away and looking at him.

As for the serious expression on her face, whether it was blown away by the spring breeze or something else, it had disappeared, leaving only Obito’s most familiar and warm smile.

“Yes, yes.” Obito quickly agreed.

“Then why aren’t you walking faster? Standing still with your head down won’t get you there.”

Obito patted Kotetsu Hagane’s shoulder, said thank you, then jogged to catch up with Rin Nohara, reaching her side.

“Rin, aren’t you angry?”

“Why should I be angry?”

At this moment, Obito seemed to know why he liked Rin Nohara.

Then Obito contacted Anko and the others via walkie-talkie, telling them the plan was canceled and they didn’t need to act anymore.

Because Obito understood that if Rin Nohara truly didn’t like him, no matter how much he did, it would be in vain.

It was best to continue as before; after all, they had a lot of time.

For the rest of the time, Obito normally accompanied Rin Nohara through the flower shop.

Then Rin Nohara took Obito to buy some snacks, strolled through the park, and chose a nearby restaurant for lunch.

After lunch, Obito sent Rin Nohara home.

“I’m sorry about today, Rin.”

When they arrived at the street near Rin Nohara’s house, Obito apologized and waved goodbye.

“I said I wasn’t angry. Actually, I was quite happy today.”

Rin Nohara puffed out her cheeks slightly, seemingly a little displeased by Obito’s misunderstanding.

“I’m sorry, I…” Obito apologized again in a hurry, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Pfft.

Rin Nohara covered her mouth and chuckled, “So, I was quite happy today.”

After saying that, Rin Nohara turned and went home.

Leaving only Obito stunned standing still.