Looking for you?
Looking for you, my ass.
I'm going to find Lord Hokage to beat the hell out of you.
Immediately after leaving "Madara Uchiha," Itachi Uchiha ran directly to the Hatake residence and found Kakashi, who hadn't gone to sleep yet.
Uchiha... Madara?
In the warm glow of the living room lights, clad in pajamas, Kakashi looked at Itachi Uchiha before him with some surprise. Listening to the news the other brought, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but tick upward slightly.
To be precise, it was Obito Uchiha.
He hadn't expected that even with the Hokage of Konoha having changed from Hiruzen Sarutobi to himself, that guy would still want to interfere in the Uchiha clan's affairs.
Is it to prepare spare eyes for Izanagi?
"I understand, Itachi."
"Stabilize him first. Agree to his conditions. Once you've finished collecting the list, on the day we make our move, I will go meet him personally."
Kakashi signaled for Itachi not to worry.
"Yes."
Itachi looked at Kakashi with some surprise, startled in his heart.
Three years ago, he had already slain the Two-Tails in battle and dared to storm the Cloud village's main camp alone with a mere eight hundred men. Just what was Lord Hokage's strength now, three years later?
No one knew the answer to this question, but the only thing that could be certain was that the youngest Hokage in history would absolutely not be stagnant.
A ninja's golden age is between twelve and twenty-four years old.
And just how excellent the Hokage before him was—that was something the entire ninja world had witnessed.
"Yes!"
Itachi's expression was somewhat agitated.
He did not stop Kakashi.
One had to know that the mysterious masked man calling himself Madara Uchiha was the true culprit who attacked Konoha six years ago, released the Nine-Tails, and caused the death of the Fourth Hokage.
As the Fourth Hokage's disciple, it was naturally excusable for Kakashi to want to finish that guy off with his own hands.
"Aside from that Uchiha Madara, there is one more thing," Itachi spoke up with some worry.
Meeting Kakashi's puzzled gaze, Itachi voiced the thoughts in his heart:
"Brother Shisui may have some misunderstandings about you, Lord Hokage. He loves the Uchiha clan deeply. Although he isn't a Hawk, he is definitely not a Dove either."
"If he faces the death of his clansmen, he..."
Itachi paused there, looking hesitant.
Kakashi already understood what Itachi meant.
Shisui Uchiha was unwilling to see the Uchiha clan stage a coup, but he was also unwilling to face the death of his clansmen.
So if Kakashi made a move on the Uchiha clan, Shisui Uchiha would certainly be an obstacle.
"I understand."
"When the time comes, I will go have a chat with Shisui. If he isn't willing to let go..."
"I'm sorry, Itachi. I cannot let this person affect the village's peace."
Kakashi looked at the youth before him, a trace of apology in his eyes.
Itachi opened his mouth upon hearing this, somewhat at a loss for words.
Shisui Uchiha meant too much to him.
He was Itachi's teacher, friend, brother, and confidant.
But...
"For the sake of Konoha, anyone who stands in the way of Lord Hokage's steps forward should be kicked aside."
"For Lord Hokage to go to such lengths is already incredibly merciful."
Itachi fell silent for a moment, then looked at Kakashi seriously as he spoke.
For the village, for peace, he could abandon anyone except Sasuke.
Lord Hokage had rejected the idea of wiping out the entire Uchiha clan in one fell swoop; this had already moved Itachi deeply. How could he ask for more now?
"It is just that if Brother Shisui insists on having his own way, Lord Hokage will have to face Brother Shisui first, and then fight that Uchiha Madara. Will it be..."
Itachi was a bit worried about Kakashi.
If it were just Uchiha Madara alone, Itachi naturally believed in Kakashi's strength.
But to resolve Shisui Uchiha first and then fight that mysterious masked man claiming to be Madara Uchiha—even if Itachi believed in Kakashi's strength, he felt some apprehension.
"No need to mind it. It's just fighting two people."
"I've faced far more people than that."
Kakashi's calm words infected Itachi, instantly cheering him up.
As expected of Lord Hokage—not only was his heart so broad, but even his strength was so outstanding.
"In that case, I will take my leave first."
"If I am away from home for too long, it might cause unnecessary trouble."
Listening to Itachi's words, Kakashi nodded and said:
"Alright then. Stay safe during this period."
Speaking of this, Kakashi suddenly thought of something and added:
"Tomorrow should be the day Sasuke enters the Academy, right?"
"Let him sit with Naruto then. They can keep each other company."
Itachi immediately agreed with some excitement upon hearing this.
The protection this Lord Hokage offered the village's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was something everyone in Konoha had witnessed.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he raised him like a biological son; it had completely surpassed the treatment of a normal Jinchūriki.
Now, letting Sasuke stay with Naruto was clearly the start of gradually fulfilling his previous promise to take Sasuke as a personal disciple.
"Go on."
Kakashi waved his hand, and Itachi immediately stood up to take his leave.
With Itachi's departure, Kakashi sat alone on the sofa, pondering everything that was to happen next.
The Hawks within the Uchiha clan must be eliminated, not leaving a single one.
And based on the currently known Hawks, they already exceeded two-thirds of the entire Uchiha clan's combat power.
If he caught them all in one net, the entire Uchiha would suffer heavy casualties, and their strength would be far less than before.
For such a drastic change to occur during his term as Hokage, he would undoubtedly bear criticism no matter what.
And Danzō Shimura, who had always coveted the position of Hokage, would absolutely not let such a godsent opportunity slip by.
Thinking of this, Kakashi smiled.
It didn't matter. He would solve them all together.
"Do you want me to help you?"
A crisp voice came from behind him.
He saw an Uchiha girl in pink pajamas leaning against the bedroom doorframe with her arms crossed, looking at Kakashi with some worry.
"No need. I can handle these matters myself."
Kakashi shook his head.
"..."
Hikari lowered her eyes as she looked at the man before her.
It was like this again.
Every time she wanted to help Kakashi deal with enemies, he always said no need, that he could solve it.
Hikari felt that the only thing she had to offer was this strength of hers.
But here with Kakashi, it seemed to have no place to be used.
Watching Hikari fall into silence, Kakashi felt a stir in his heart.
The current Hikari... was already five hundred and eighteen years old.
"After the dust settles on the matters within Konoha."
Kakashi's words were somewhat hesitant.
"What?"
Hikari walked over, looking at Kakashi with a strange expression.
She knew his personality all too well.
He was the type who would never hesitate once he made a decision.
For this Kakashi to actually look so hesitant?
"After the dust settles on the matters within Konoha, you..."
"...Why don't you marry me?"
???
"Eh???!!!"
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