Kakashi glanced at Danzo, his expression unchanged.
This was the very man who had once instigated him to assassinate Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had colluded with Orochimaru in conducting human experiments.
Kakashi couldn't understand why the Third Hokage kept someone like this at his side—
not only tolerated him, but even entrusted him with authority as Hokage's aide.
But years in the ANBU had tempered him.
Some questions were better left unasked.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Danzo, then spoke calmly.
"Everyone, go back for now.
We'll convene the pre-war council tomorrow."
As for sabotaging the relationship between the Uchiha and the Hyuga,
he couldn't dirty his own hands with it.
That task could only be left to Danzo.
Kumogakure's declaration of war had already spread throughout the ninja world.
It was indeed time to prepare for battle.
Kakashi was the first to leave.
He returned home swiftly, removed his ANBU attire, then headed back out.
Sure enough—
Might Guy was waiting outside.
"Kakashi!
Let's have a duel of youth!"
Guy struck a pose, burning with passion.
Kakashi rolled his eyes, ignored him entirely, and walked straight toward Ichiraku Ramen.
It was dinner time.
He didn't have the patience to fool around with a muscle-brained maniac.
Guy didn't press him, simply followed along.
He hadn't had a mission today and had trained all day—
he was genuinely hungry.
A fiery duel could wait until after dinner.
"One large bowl of tonkotsu ramen."
"I'll have the same."
The two ordered as soon as they sat down.
"You're here! Long time no see!"
Just then, someone eating with his head down beside them spoke up.
Kakashi and Guy turned at the same time—
and saw Uchiha Yusuke, happily slurping his noodles.
"Yusuke?!"
Guy jumped to his feet in shock.
Yusuke was their old classmate, sure—but now he was the head of the Uchiha clan.
Seeing someone of that stature casually eating ramen was… rare.
Kakashi, on the other hand, simply nodded, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He had graduated early from the Academy and hadn't been especially close with Yusuke.
But because of Obito, Kakashi paid more attention to the Uchiha than most.
And working in ANBU meant he knew quite a bit about Yusuke already.
"What? Surprised?"
Yusuke smiled at Guy.
Though he was clan head, he never indulged in privileges, nor did he have people managing his daily life.
He lived alone and almost never cooked for himself.
Usually he ate out—or freeloaded meals at Fugaku's, Inabi's, or Tekka's places.
Training took up most of his time.
Who had time to cook?
Most of the time, when he ate out, he went to Uchiha-owned restaurants.
Today he just felt like having ramen.
He hadn't expected to run into Kakashi and Guy.
"Uh…"
Guy scratched his head, not knowing what to say.
Was it strange?
Not really.
There was no rule saying the Uchiha clan head couldn't eat ramen.
"Haha, it really has been a long time!"
Guy laughed awkwardly and sat back down.
"Oh, right—I haven't congratulated you yet!"
He suddenly remembered and spoke sheepishly.
After all, Yusuke had become clan head, and as an old classmate, Guy hadn't formally congratulated him.
Not seeing each other was one thing.
Running into each other like this made it awkward.
"I really didn't expect you to grow this strong, Yusuke."
Guy sighed with emotion.
Back in the Academy, Yusuke had been solid—but nothing spectacular.
Not dead last like Obito.
But nowhere near a prodigy like Kakashi.
Yet after graduation, Yusuke's strength skyrocketed.
By the Third Shinobi World War, he had already earned the title 'Flame Demon'.
Now, his strength had even surpassed Kakashi's dazzling talent.
The Uchiha bloodline truly was terrifying.
Once the Sharingan awakened, power soared overnight.
Ordinary jōnin stood no chance.
"Heh, I was just lucky."
Yusuke's expression stiffened for a split second before he smiled lightly.
He knew Guy's temperament all too well.
Whenever he saw a strong opponent, he'd want a "youthful duel."
"By the way—Kakashi,"
Yusuke quickly changed the subject and looked at him.
"Are you getting the hang of using the Sharingan?"
Kakashi, known as the 'Copy Ninja,' seemed to embody the essence of the Sharingan even more than Yusuke himself.
Kakashi lowered his head, silent.
Something flickered in his eyes—loneliness.
Every time he saw Yusuke, he couldn't help thinking of Uchiha Obito.
If Obito were still alive…
he probably wouldn't be much weaker than Yusuke now.
"Sorry. I'm heading out."
Kakashi suddenly stood up, set down some money, said quietly, and left.
The direction he went—
the Memorial Stone.
Yusuke calmly watched his retreating figure.
"Looks like seeing me stirred things up for him again."
He had clearly sensed the guilt in Kakashi's eyes.
That emotion meant Kakashi was someone who could be won over.
This was evident even in canon—Kakashi's favoritism toward Sasuke said it all.
Back when Uchiha Itachi served in ANBU, he and Kakashi had been teammates.
Given Kakashi's personality, the reason he'd worked with Itachi for so long was likely that same lingering guilt toward the Uchiha.
Obito wasn't dead?
Did that matter?
Not at all.
As long as Kakashi believed Obito was dead, that was enough.
"Kakashi…"
Guy stared after him, silent.
Even he knew this wasn't the time to follow.
Yusuke and Guy returned to eating in silence.
Guy finished quickly—faster than Yusuke, despite arriving later.
Once done, he stared straight at Yusuke.
"…Hm?"
Yusuke felt a headache coming on.
Don't tell me…
Just as he set down his chopsticks, Guy struck.
"Yusuke!
Let's have a duel of youth!"
Guy cracked his knuckles, eyes blazing.
Ever since Yusuke became famous, Guy had wanted to test himself against him.
Now that he finally had the chance—there was no way he'd let it slip.
Yusuke paused, then nodded reluctantly.
If he refused now, it would only get worse later.
"Fine. A sparring match is okay."
"But you have to agree to one condition—"
"This duel happens once.
And never again."
His tone grew serious.
As Uchiha clan head, he couldn't afford to lose.
But winning had its problems too.
If Guy latched onto him like he did to Kakashi, it would be unbearable.
Yusuke had no intention of becoming Guy's personal training dummy.
Throwing the fight for a draw wouldn't work—Guy would see through it.
And that would hurt his pride.
If Guy decided to open the Eight Gates and fight to the death, what then?
Rock Lee could open the Fifth Gate at thirteen.
Guy was seventeen now—
opening the Seventh Gate was very likely.
Seventh Gate Guy might not kick gods—
but kicking an ordinary Kage-level opponent?
That was absolutely possible.
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