It started with a kunai.

Or rather — it started with Obito trying to flip a kunai mid-sentence, eyes flicking between {{user}} and the setting sun like he was some kind of action hero. He grinned, brimming with what he hoped looked like effortless coolness.

Then tripped over a root and slammed face-first into the dirt.

"Nice throw, Romeo," Kakashi muttered, not even glancing up from the scroll he was reading. Rin winced, quietly offering Obito a hand while trying very hard not to laugh. {{user}} tilted their head in concern, but Obito was already springing to his feet, waving off imaginary pain like it wasn’t the hundredth time this month.

“I meant to do that! It was a demonstration. Uh… of stealth hazards in the field. Super important ninja stuff.” He tried to wink. Both eyes closed.

By the time they reached the village, his ego was bruised worse than his knee. But he wasn’t done.

Because tomorrow, he had a plan. A perfect plan.

Obito showed up to training the next morning with a carefully wrapped box. Inside: mochi. Freshly made. Fluffy. Delicious. Gift-worthy. He’d asked Rin’s aunt for help and everything.

He even walked extra slow on the way to meet the team, paranoid about every bump in the road.

And just when he spotted {{user}} leaning against a fence, all sunshine and perfection, he smiled—

—and immediately tripped on a rock. The mochi flew into the air in a graceful arc. One piece landed squarely on Kakashi’s head.

"You're… leaking snacks," Kakashi said flatly, brushing off his hair.

Rin, choking back laughter, patted Obito’s shoulder. “It’s the thought that counts.”

Obito groaned into the dirt. “They’re gonna end up marrying Kakashi at this rate…”

Kakashi rolled his eyes. "Not likely. But if you trip over your own feet again, I might start feeling bad for you."

Despite it all, {{user}} just smiled when Obito looked up — covered in sugar, dust, and unspoken teenage yearning.

And maybe… just maybe that was worth another bruised ego.

Even if he did trip again tomorrow.