However, Naruto didn’t fall for that at all.
After hearing those words, he looked at Kakashi with a suspicious expression.
“Then, Big Brother Kakashi, do you have a teacher too?”
“Of course! Of course I have a teacher!”
“Then, is your teacher like your parent?”
This time, it was Kakashi’s turn to feel as though he had been struck by lightning.
Naruto’s question hit directly at the heart of the matter, leaving him almost unable to say anything.
If he said yes, then Naruto, as his teacher’s son, should indeed call him Big Brother.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with that.
If he said no, then he would be slapping himself in the face, and everything he had just said would become a complete joke.
Seeing Kakashi freeze, a barely noticeable smile appeared at the corner of Naruto’s mouth.
[Hehe! Kakashi, oh Kakashi, and you think you can use Talk-no-Jutsu on me? Naive! I was born with max-level Talk-no-Jutsu!]
“Well! Forget it. Since you want to call me Big Brother, then just keep calling me that.”
In the end, Kakashi compromised.
Naruto nodded in satisfaction and quickly pulled out some tissues from beside him to wipe his eyes.
[Damn it, the chili on this grilled meat tastes great, but getting it in my eyes really hits hard. It burns like hell.]
Kakashi nearly died of anger and desperately wanted to slap Naruto.
He had genuinely panicked just now, only to find out that this had been an act as well.
But no matter how angry he was, he knew he absolutely couldn’t show it, or his secret would be exposed.
He could only take a deep breath and force himself to calm down before changing the subject.
“By the way, Naruto, when I was examining your chakra earlier, I discovered that besides your own chakra, there’s another chakra inside your body. That chakra is extremely violent. You must be careful in the future. I’ll also help you find a way to control that chakra.”
“Huh? Is that so? Alright, I’ll be careful. Thank you, Big Brother Kakashi.”
Naruto nodded as he threw the tissue he had used to wipe his eyes into the trash, then continued eating heartily.
[Tsk!
Do I need you to tell me that I have the Nine-Tails’ chakra inside me?
And you want to find a way to control it?
Who do you think you are?
With that half-baked Sharingan of yours?
If you have the ability, go find Shisui!
Wait, this year is already Konoha’s Year 57, which means Shisui died last year.
If that’s the case, Itachi should have already awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Finding Itachi would also…
Sigh!
Why am I even thinking so much about this?]
Kakashi’s pupils suddenly shrank, and he could no longer remain calm.
Fortunately, he was wearing a mask, so Naruto, who was busy stuffing his face, didn’t notice the change in his expression.
He had originally only wanted to get a method for solving the Nine-Tails’ chakra problem from Naruto.
He hadn’t expected to not only get a possible method, but also obtain some astonishing information.
The Mangekyo Sharingan!
He never expected Uchiha Itachi to have already grown to such a level!
“Naruto, actually, I already have some ideas about this. The Uchiha clan has methods of controlling it. When I have the time, I’ll go and ask.”
“Really? That’s great, Big Brother Kakashi!”
Naruto sounded excited, but not only did he not stop eating, his movements didn’t even pause for a moment.
In his heart, he was even more dismissive.
[Kakashi, you really think you’re somebody, huh? The Uchiha clan still wants that eye of yours back, and you want to go ask them how to control the Nine-Tails? Besides, the Uchiha clan is already preparing to rebel. Do you think they’ll care about someone from the Hokage’s side like you?]
Rebellion!
Kakashi’s expression changed drastically.
His hand trembled, and his chopsticks fell directly to the ground.
Hearing the sound, Naruto paused his eating and looked at Kakashi in confusion.
“Big Brother Kakashi? What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing. This hand has swung a sword too much. It cramped up a little just now.”
“I see.”
Naruto nodded and lowered his head to continue eating without the slightest suspicion.
Kakashi bent down to pick up his chopsticks.
He appeared calm on the surface, but inside, a raging storm had already been stirred up.
“Ah~~”
Kakashi placed the chopsticks on the table and deliberately let out a long, melancholy sigh.
It was the first time Naruto had seen Kakashi like this, and he couldn’t help feeling curious.
“Big Brother Kakashi? What’s wrong?”
“Sigh! Actually, I’m not very confident about asking the Uchiha. Although I know a man named Uchiha Itachi from the ANBU, the Uchiha clan has always been dissatisfied with the village. I’m not sure whether Itachi can withstand the pressure.”
“I see. Actually, it’s alright, Big Brother Kakashi. My situation isn’t that important. It’s better not to make things difficult for others. I don’t want to make things difficult for you either. If it really doesn’t work, then forget it.”
[Heh! So you know the Uchiha are dissatisfied with the village? It’s more than just dissatisfaction. The Uchiha are going to stage a coup next year. If Shisui, who possessed the Mangekyo, hadn’t died last year, they might have rebelled last year. If Itachi could withstand the pressure, he wouldn’t have massacred his entire clan on the eve of the coup, leaving only Sasuke alive.]
Naruto sounded very understanding, but inwardly, he was already complaining.
Kakashi had deliberately said those words to fish for more information about the Uchiha.
Although he had already prepared himself mentally, he was still shocked.
He hadn’t expected the Uchiha’s rebellion to come so soon, nor had he expected Itachi to go so far as to massacre his own clan.
How much determination would that require?
“So that’s how it is. I never expected it to be like this…”
Kakashi couldn’t help muttering to himself.
It was an unconscious reaction, but to Naruto’s ears, it sounded rather sudden.
“Hm? Big Brother Kakashi? What do you mean, ‘that’s how it is’?”
“Huh? Oh! Nothing. I just suddenly remembered that I still have some things to take care of. I have to go. I’ve already paid the bill, so don’t worry and keep eating.”
As he spoke, Kakashi stood up and hurriedly left as though he truly had some urgent business to attend to.
Although Naruto was somewhat confused, he didn’t say anything.
After all, with so much grilled meat in front of him, he wished he could eat even more.
Kakashi hadn’t left because of any urgent matter.
Rather, he had realized that he was beginning to lose control of his emotions.
If he continued staying with Naruto, he might be able to get more information, but there was also a greater chance that he would expose the secret that he could hear Naruto’s inner thoughts.
That would be more trouble than it was worth.
There would be plenty of opportunities to gather information in the future.
It was better to leave now.
This way, he could avoid exposing himself while also having the peace of mind to properly digest the information he had just obtained.
By the time Naruto finished eating the grilled meat and left the restaurant, the sun was already close to setting.
He whistled as he walked on the balls of his feet, his mood extremely good.
At that moment, Hinata happened to be walking toward him.
She had only one guard in his twenties beside her, and both sides noticed each other immediately.
“Yo! Hinata, where are you going this late?”
Naruto’s face was filled with a bright smile as he took the initiative to greet her.
Hinata was startled and immediately lowered her head, not daring to look him in the eye as she nervously twisted her fingers together.