Chapter 207. I Still Have a Dream!

Chapter 207. I Still Have a Dream!

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My name is Asuma.

I'm still not discharged from the hospital.

I was originally supposed to be discharged a few days ago, but… there was an accident. As for what happened… I don't want to talk about it.

Don't ask.

With a sigh, Asuma leaned on his crutches, limping out of the bathroom and making his way back to his hospital room.

Along the way—

He saw a sea of injured patients.

All of them had been admitted in the past few days.

Apparently… from playing mahjong.

Asuma was completely dumbfounded. How could a game of mahjong leave people bruised, battered, and unconscious?!

What, did they start a brawl after losing?

Or did someone get caught cheating and get beaten up on the spot?

No sense of sportsmanship at all!

Cheating?

How shameful!

Unfortunately—

He had already lost his dream.

That 10 million ryo… would never belong to him.

Asuma shook his head in regret, gripping his crutches tightly as he walked forward. After entering his hospital room, he immediately saw his attending physician—Dr. Kondo.

"Back already, Asuma?" Dr. Kondo smiled slightly. "Looks like you're recovering well!"

"Aside from not being able to walk, yes, I'm doing great."

"..."

Dr. Sato, another doctor, gave an awkward smile and shook his head helplessly. "This is why young people shouldn't be so arrogant. Someone even came to the hospital to attack… This is the first time I've seen something like this in my 20 years as a medical ninja."

As he spoke, he checked Asuma's condition, who still looked absolutely furious.

After a moment—

"You're recovering very well. One of your legs is almost healed. Try walking when you have time. Looks like Tsun… cough, cough, cough… they didn't go too overboard with their attacks!"

However—

"I! Uncle Asuma, will absolutely have my revenge!" he roared angrily.

Once his legs healed—

He would go online and destroy them a thousand times over to quench his hatred!

As soon as he said that—

Dr. Sato fell into a brief silence. As a medical ninja, he couldn't just watch young ninjas waste their lives on pointless fights.

So—

He sighed, patted Asuma's shoulder, hesitated for a moment, and then said: "You should really get a membership card~"

"…No! This was just an accident! I, Asuma, will never get injured this easily again!" Asuma let out a cold laugh.

A membership card?

What for?!

What a joke!

I have no money!

But seeing that only his leg was still injured—

His recovery was unexpectedly fast.

Then, he remembered what Shiranui Genma said that morning—Obito was competing in the afternoon.

Had the match ended yet?

Should he go watch?

If Obito and Kakashi both advanced, that meant they were carrying on his dream—the dream of winning 10 million ryo.

This was the continuation of his dream!

And when they won…

Surely they would give him a few hundred thousand ryo, right?

After all, he'd be cheering for them!

Thinking about it, Asuma got excited and turned to his doctor. "Doctor, can I be discharged now?"

"Well…" Dr. Sato hesitated. "Staying a few more days would be better! Although you can rest at home, I still recommend staying longer. Also, you can only walk a little, no excessive movement!"

However—

"No!" Asuma shook his head firmly, gripping his crutches. "I can walk now! I still have a dream! A mere limp can't stop me from chasing my dream!" His eyes burned with determination as he stared straight at Dr. Sato. "Please let me pursue my dream."

Hearing that, Dr. Sato helplessly looked away, unable to face that blinding determination. But deep down, he was touched by the young man's unyielding pursuit of his dream.

"Fine! Just… be careful out there."

After a moment of silence, he added: "Don't worry, I'll keep this hospital bed reserved for you."

"…"

No thanks!

…

At the same time—

Obito's match had begun.

The two sides were going back and forth.

Uchiha Throwing Technique after Uchiha Throwing Technique rained down toward Nii Yugito.

The battle was intense.

Before long—

Among the four players at the table…

The other two had already been eliminated by Obito and Yugito.

Now—

Only the two of them remained.

At this moment—

The mahjong table was already covered in battle scars.

Marks and scratches were everywhere, and discarded tiles were piled up high.

"I never expected our battle to continue in this form," Yugito said seriously, staring at Uchiha Obito. "Hmph! This time, you won't be able to use that move again!"

"..."

No, no, no!

Even if I could use it, I don't know how to use it anymore!

Obito's mouth twitched, but since this was a competition, he still arrogantly looked at Yugito. "This time! Only I will win!"

As he finished speaking—

His eyes widened.

Suddenly, they turned scarlet.

"The moment I open these eyes, you've already lost!"

However—

"Hmph! I won't look!" Yugito shut her eyes tightly.

"Hey, hey, we're playing mahjong here!" Obito's mouth twitched again. "How are you supposed to play with your eyes closed?"

"How?" Yugito let out a cold laugh. "I've already mastered tile-touching!"

Smack!

"Triple Bamboo!"

Everyone was stunned.

She had really declared exactly what tile she played without even looking.

As for Uchiha Obito…

He hadn't used genjutsu from the start and wasn't very skilled at it anyway. Now, he was extremely frustrated!

As for other ninjutsu, he only knew a few. And it's not like he could use them here!

"I told you! This time, I will win!" Seeing Obito's frustration, the usually cold and composed Yugito suddenly smirked slightly—almost like she was showing off. "Hmph! My victory is guaranteed!"

"Damn it! Despicable!"

"Hey, do you really have the right to say that?"

"Shameless!"

"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?!" Yugito's face darkened. "You're the one who's despicable, shameless, and vulgar! Just admit defeat!"

"Quit joking! I, Uchiha Obito," he stared coldly at her, "am the man who will become Hokage! How could I surrender?!"

"In that case, don't blame me for not holding back!"

As soon as Yugito finished speaking—

A blue-black chakra erupted from her body.

It took the shape of two massive feline claws, swiping at Obito.

But—

Obito, with his Sharingan activated, dodged.

However…

The overwhelming pressure of Tailed Beast Chakra wasn't something that could be easily avoided.

The sheer force of it made Obito feel oppressed and suffocated.

At this moment—

Everyone outside the match noticed.

Obito…

He was at a disadvantage.

"Did Obito lose?" Shiranui Genma sighed. "I didn't expect that Kumo ninja to think of a counter like this."

"Well, Obito isn't exactly skilled at genjutsu." Kurenai shook her head. "Up until now, he's only used one move. It's normal for someone to catch on."

"..."

Kakashi rolled his eyes silently, not saying anything. He just frowned as he watched Obito.

[Is this all that you have, Obito?]

Unfortunately—

Everyone felt regretful.

After making it this far…

Suddenly.

From above—

A massive banner unfurled.

And then—

"With Yuto Milk Tea, the moment I drink it… you've already lost!"

A loud, booming voice echoed through the speakers, grabbing everyone's attention.

This voice was…

Uchiha Obito?!

Shiranui Genma and the others looked at the banner—which had a giant sticker of Obito's face on it. For a moment, they didn't know what to say.

Boss Yuto… really knew how to market.

Meanwhile, Yuto himself sighed. As a "father figure" to Obito, this was all he could do to help.

A Uchiha Obito match plus a Uchiha Obito advertisement.

This unexpected commercial would definitely leave a lasting impression on everyone.

From now on—

Whenever they thought of Obito… they would remember this moment.

There was no stopping this chaotic mahjong tournament anymore.

Might as well squeeze in an ad.

A giant banner slowly dropped from the center of the venue.

With a series of loud pops, it unfurled completely.

At first, it only showed Obito's face.

Then, his upper body was revealed.

"What the f—"

Obito's face instantly darkened.

His entire body seemed to twist in embarrassment.

He almost rushed off the stage to beat the hell out of whoever was responsible!

This was too humiliating!

But—

The effect was perfect.

Even Yugito—who had kept her eyes closed—turned her head and opened them to look. When she saw the massive banner hanging in the center of the venue…

She froze.

A moment later—

She couldn't help but burst into laughter, as if she had completely forgotten about the match. She turned to Obito and said, "Obito, you…"

But—

Before she could finish—She suddenly realized… his eyes were already inches away from hers.

The warmth of his breath—

She could feel it.

Too close.

That sharp, serious face—

It was way too close!

Yugito's face turned bright red.

She opened her mouth to say something—

"I told you! The moment I open these eyes, you've already lost!" Obito's cold voice rang out. "You lost."

And then—

"D-Despicable… S-Scoundrel!"

A soft, weak voice responded.

The entire venue erupted in cheers!

Seeing Yugito's dazed expression—

Everyone knew…

Uchiha Obito had won!

"Uchiha Obito!"

"Uchiha Obito!"

"Nishikyo!"

"Drink milk tea!"

As the crowd cheered—

Meanwhile, in Kirigakure's section—

A bandaged man watched the match with cold eyes.

"Konoha won again, huh?"

With a cold snort—

He ignored his teammates, turned, and walked away.

Too frustrating.

He and Konoha… would never coexist!

Zabuza clenched his fists and walked out of the Chunin Exam venue, his eyes burning with anger.

And in his mind—

The one person he had been investigating…

"The Most Handsome Ninja…"

Before he could finish muttering—

Suddenly.

He sharply lifted his head.

As if he had noticed something.

Narrowing his eyes, he looked ahead—

At a Konoha ninja, limping along on crutches, smiling lightly as he walked…

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