"Hatake Kakashi. Former student of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato."
"Just like the three of you, I was once part of Team Seven."
"Ten years in ANBU. Now an elite jōnin of Konoha."
Kakashi finally stepped into the classroom and introduced himself.
"Alright! My turn!"
Naruto was practically bursting with energy.
"Uzumaki Naruto! I love Ichiraku Ramen!"
"My dream is to become Hokage!"
"I'll earn everyone's acknowledgment and surpass all the Hokage before me!"
His enthusiasm burned brightly.
Then he leaned forward eagerly.
"Kakashi-sensei… you were the Fourth Hokage's student, right?"
"Was he really that strong?"
Kakashi froze for a moment.
Uchiha Kai noticed the subtle pause immediately.
So he knows now.
Naruto's life had never improved much. If Kakashi had known earlier that Naruto was Minato's son, things might have been different.
Kakashi had once lost his own father, yet he still shared fish with Obito and Rin, even while pretending to be indifferent.
He wasn't heartless.
Which meant—
The higher-ups had truly failed both the Uchiha clan and the hero's son.
But then—
Uchiha Kai noticed Kakashi's gaze shift toward him.
Careful.
Measuring.
"Oh, my turn?"
"Uchiha Kai. Just an ordinary member of the Uchiha clan."
"My strength is average—"
"Liar."
Sasuke cut him off immediately.
Naruto blinked in confusion.
"If Uchiha Kai is average," Sasuke said flatly, "then I'm not even worthy to carry his shoes."
Naruto stared.
Sasuke lowering himself like that?
Impossible.
"…Well," Uchiha Kai sighed, "since we're teammates now, hiding too much isn't ideal."
"I'll admit it."
"I'm slightly stronger than Sasuke."
"But I believe he'll catch up through effort."
Sasuke clenched his fists.
Kakashi's visible eye curved slightly.
Perfect.
He had intended to probe Uchiha Kai anyway.
The so-called 'Uchiha evil spirit' mission assigned by the Third Hokage still lingered in his mind.
"If that's the case," Kakashi said casually, "I originally planned to administer the bell test… but since we seem destined to work together, I'll skip it."
"You're officially my students."
"In exchange, let's each share a secret."
Uchiha Kai looked at him.
This already deviated from canon.
But deviations were normal now.
The Uchiha clan survived.
Madara stood behind him.
What was there to fear?
"Fine."
"Good. Naruto first."
Kakashi wanted to approach Uchiha Kai cautiously.
Start elsewhere.
Mask the real intention.
Naruto nodded eagerly.
"If it's a secret… I actually do have one."
"I always thought my chakra system was broken."
"I'm not bad at forming hand seals, but I couldn't use basic jutsu properly."
"Except my own invention—Sexy Jutsu. That works perfectly."
"So… does that count as a ghost story?"
Kakashi fell silent.
He couldn't exactly say:
Yes, because there's a massive fox sealed inside you that enjoys your transformation.
Earlier that morning, he had visited Naruto's apartment.
Expired milk sat in the refrigerator.
Hiruzen had dismissed it as Naruto simply being careless.
But now—
Naruto's unstable chakra was clearly the result of Kurama's interference.
Which meant Minato's seal might be weakening slightly.
And the higher-ups had done… nothing?
"I'll help you check that later," Kakashi said gently.
Naruto grinned.
"Thanks!"
"Next—Uchiha Kai."
Kakashi tilted his head slightly.
"Let's make yours a horror story."
"Do you ever feel… a chill behind you?"
"Like your body feels heavier than usual?"
Direct.
Very direct.
Uchiha Kai immediately understood.
So it wasn't only Obito who had seen Madara's projection.
The Third Hokage had seen it too.
That explained Konoha's cautious inaction over the past few years.
When Hashirama Senju was alive, no village dared challenge Konoha.
And Madara—
Madara didn't negotiate peace.
Hashirama would bow to preserve harmony.
Madara would make others bow.
Tobirama's disciples weren't fools.
They bullied the compliant—
Not the volatile.
"Alright," Uchiha Kai said calmly.
"Let's tell a ghost story."
"I think…"
"Uchiha Obito isn't dead."
[Uchiha Revival Path]
[Elder Madara]: !!
[Uchiha Fugaku]: !
For once—
The ones startled weren't Naruto or Kakashi.
It was the dead men watching from beyond.
Want More? Get up to +60 Extra Chapters on Patreon!
➤ https://www.patreon.com/MangekyoChronicles
➤ +300 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter Drop!
Thanks for the support!