Obito, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara were all stunned by Shindai's shocking statement.
Although it was true that Pakura had initiated the hug with Shindai, it was clearly an innocent embrace. They had even witnessed Shindai nuzzle his head against hers.
In their eyes, Pakura—being a girl—had been taken advantage of, and her reaction was perfectly normal.
Kakashi and Rin Nohara both turned to look at Obito.
"Obito, you said we didn't understand anything, right? Then explain it to us—do you think Shindai secretly has a crush on Pakura?" they asked together.
Obito stammered for quite a while but couldn't get a single word out.
From what he saw... Shindai didn't really seem like he had feelings for Pakura.
If he did, how could he say something so shameless?
So maybe it was really just pure friendship?
How could Shindai be so clueless? How could he not be attracted to such a beautiful girl?
But since he had already spoken up, Obito didn't want Kakashi and Rin to accuse him of bragging or question his expertise. After all, he was known as the expert on secret crushes~
Obito cleared his throat awkwardly and insisted stubbornly, "Well, just now when Shindai wiped Pakura's tears—he was so gentle! What do you guys think? That was just a slip-up. He wasn't pretending for a moment."
Kakashi and Rin gave him a puzzled look. "You mean... he wasn't acting like himself?"
Obito continued making things up with a straight face: "When someone is in front of the person they like, they'll definitely want to show off their best side. Just now, Shindai accidentally revealed his true nature. Yeah, that's exactly what happened."
Seeing Obito spouting nonsense like this, Kakashi and Rin really wanted to laugh.
Not pretending? Revealing his true self?
Didn't they see through whether Shindai was faking or not?
"Who is there?!"
Pakura suddenly threw several kunai toward where Obito and the others were hiding.
The three from Team Minato were startled and immediately dodged, inevitably landing on the ground.
Seeing the Konoha forehead protectors on the three, Pakura glanced over at Shindai.
This area was mainly a battlefield between Sand and Mist ninja; Konoha ninja rarely ever appeared here.
Therefore, these three Konoha ninja obviously were working with Shindai.
Shindai, meanwhile, looked at the trio with a twitching eye.
And Obito, Kakashi, and Rin felt extremely awkward—how could they not feel embarrassed after getting caught peeping?
Shindai narrowed his eyes at the three. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me back there? Don't tell me you got lost all the way here!"
Kakashi and Rin simultaneously looked at Obito.
You were the one who kept insisting you understood everything—then go ahead and talk more!
After all, it was Obito who had suggested spying on them in the first place. So now that they'd been caught, he should be the one to explain things.
Sweat already forming on his forehead, Obito glared back helplessly—why were they staring at him? They'd all agreed to come watch together. Why did he have to take the blame alone?
That's not fair!
Shindai impatiently hummed, "Hmm?"
"Here goes nothing," he muttered.
Feeling Shindai's piercing, accusatory gaze, along with Kakashi's and Rin Nohara's skepticism toward his capabilities, Obito made a bold decision.
With his eyes shut tight, he shouted, "We just wanted to see what Shindai's secret crush looked like!"
As soon as those words left Obito's mouth, even Kakashi and Rin Nohara stared at him in shock, mouths slightly open. Shindai and Pakura weren't any different—they were completely stunned too.
Kakashi and Rin quietly gave Obito a thumbs-up. Tough guy.
Pakura stared at Shindai in bewilderment. "You have a secret crush on me? This is the first I've heard of it."
Shindai's face flushed instantly. "Don't believe a word he says! Me having a crush on you? Come on, that's ridiculous! What a joke! Haha! I like someone gentle, okay?! GENTLE—you know, like soft-spoken and sweet!"
Kakashi and Rin turned their thumbs-up toward Shindai instead.
Also a tough one.
Irritated, Pakura smacked Shindai's head again. "So I'm not gentle enough for you, huh?! All this time I've been taking care of you was for nothing then!"
Shindai hurriedly tried to explain. "Ah, that's not what I meant! You are gentle—you're the gentlest! There isn't a woman gentler than you in the entire world!"
Suddenly, Pakura placed her hand on top of Shindai's head and said seriously, "Shindai, you know I think of you as my younger brother. Even if I am the gentlest woman around, you're still just my little troublemaker."
"I..."
Before Shindai could argue further, Pakura cut him off completely, smiling brightly. "Okay, that's enough. This area is dangerous. There are our village ninjas and Mist ninja nearby—it's unsafe for you here. Get out now with your companions."
Shindai clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white. He was burning with humiliation!
Pakura turned her gaze toward Obito and the others. Her tone was cold and sharp now—completely different from how she had spoken to Shindai. "I'll let you go this once—for Shindai's sake. But… there won't be a next time."
She glanced back at the flustered Shindai, reached out, and flicked his forehead lightly. "Maybe once you grow up from being my little rascal into a real man, I'll think about it~"
As soon as her voice trailed off, Pakura vanished in a flash using the Shifting Body Technique.
Shindai froze for a moment before covering his forehead with his hand, glaring at Obito with pure resentment.
That heavy sense of resentment sent a chill straight down Obito's spine.
He was so dead. Like, seriously dead meat.
Obito desperately turned his eyes toward Kakashi and Rin Nohara for help.
Kakashi scanned the surroundings and said, "Shindai, this place isn't safe. Let's move out now."
Shindai nodded without ever taking his eyes off Obito for a moment.
Obito now felt like he was on pins and needles, with a chill crawling up his spine.
He kept thinking that Shindai might kill him at any moment.
In this Tsukiji-like mood, Obito followed Kakashi, Shindai, and Rin Nohara and successfully left the area.
Obito had assumed that as soon as they got out of the area, Shindai would beat him up—but surprisingly, Shindai didn't.
Even back at Konoha's base camp, Shindai didn't lay a hand on him, not even scolding him, just staring at him with deep resentment.
This made Obito mentally tormented—it would've been better if Shindai had just beaten him once and gotten it over with!
Kakashi and Rin Nohara were also really confused—given Shindai's personality, there was no way he wouldn't have pummeled Obito already.
Three days passed like that.
During that time, Kakashi and Rin Nohara asked Shindai why he hadn't hit Obito.
Shindai replied with a sly smile: "Beating him up would actually be a relief for Obito. As long as I don't act, he'll keep worrying every day whether I'm going to hit him today or not. That way, Obito will live in torment every single day!"
At that, Kakashi and Rin Nohara could only sigh, admitting that when it came to psychological torture, Shindai was indeed a pro.
Another three days passed like that.
Unable to take it anymore, Obito sneaked over to find Shindai.
"Shindai, I messed up. Just beat me up already!"
Shindai smiled brightly: "You didn't mess up at all, Obito—how could someone as brilliant as you ever make a mistake? Turns out I've been secretly in love with Pakura all along. Thank you so much for exposing it that day. If it weren't for you, I'd never have realized such an important truth!"
Shindai's sarcastic words sent shivers down Obito's spine.
Sure enough, even after all these days, Shindai was still fuming.
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