22: “Obito’s alive, so why don’t you look happier?” Kakashi jumped when Itsuki suddenly appeared beside him.
Then he sighed.
“Of course I’m happy that Obito survived.
But there are too many mysteries surrounding him.” “Why can he use Wood Release?
Why didn’t he return to Konoha?
Why didn’t he contact me?” “How am I supposed to be happy when none of that makes sense?” He looked up at Itsuki in confusion.
“Itsuki-san…
why do you think that is?” Because he went down a very dark path.
Itsuki kept the thought to himself and merely shrugged.
“Just clear the Scenario.
Once you do, you’ll know everything.” “You’re right.” Kakashi took a deep breath and pulled himself together.
“As long as I clear the Scenario, I’ll get my answers.” “Once midnight passes, I’m going back in.” Itsuki silently gave him an approving thumbs-up.
Now that’s motivation.
“I’ll be waiting for the day you earn an S-rank evaluation.” “S-rank…” Kakashi’s body stiffened slightly.
The thought alone was enough to reignite his anticipation.
He quickly claimed his reward from the Scenario.
A-rank Physical Enhancement Potion Effect: Upon consumption, increases the user’s strength, speed, agility, and chakra reserves by approximately the level of an average jōnin, based on the user’s existing foundation.
Kakashi’s eye lit up.
This was good.
Very good.
The reward immediately dispelled much of the gloom hanging over him.
He raised the bottle and drank it in one go.
A warm current spread through his body.
His physical capabilities slowly increased.
His chakra reserves, in particular, rose noticeably.
By then, Itsuki had already left the Scenario Space.
Midnight.
Kakashi entered another Scenario.
Itsuki, who had nothing better to do, came along to watch.
But when he arrived, he was surprised.
Kakashi hadn’t entered Rin’s Death.
He had gone back into Obito’s Death.
“The mysterious person in Rin’s Death was probably the one who took Obito away.” Kakashi spoke calmly.
“The chakra I sensed from that thing was very similar to what I detected during Obito’s Death.” Once the Scenario started, Kakashi didn’t interfere immediately.
Everything unfolded just as he remembered.
Minato Namikaze eventually appeared, eliminated most of the enemies, and took Kakashi and Rin away.
But this time— Kakashi had left behind a shadow clone.
The clone remained hidden inside a barrier.
Then suddenly— “There!” Kakashi sensed it.
That same familiar chakra was moving underground toward the place where Obito lay buried.
“Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide!” Rumble!
The ground shook violently.
Then the earth split open along a straight line.
The underground scene was exposed.
A pale-white figure stood there, wrapping itself around the severely wounded and unconscious Obito.
White Zetsu stared at Kakashi in complete confusion.
“I knew it was you.” Kakashi’s expression twisted with anger.
“You cowardly parasite hiding in the shadows!” “Get away from Obito!” Before he even finished speaking, Kakashi vanished.
When he reappeared, he was already beside White Zetsu.
His short sword flashed again and again.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
The White Zetsu wrapped around Obito was cut apart.
A system notification immediately appeared.
Ding!
Congratulations.
You have cleared the Scenario [Obito’s Death].
Final Evaluation: A-rank Reward: A-rank Ninjutsu — Lightning Release: Chidori Current This technique is a future derivative of Chidori developed by Uchiha Sasuke after mastering Chidori.
Note: This Scenario has been cleared.
Re-entering it will no longer provide rewards.
“Cleared?” Kakashi stared at the panel in a daze.
“So that really was the mysterious person.” “It had already targeted Obito back then.” “And it modified Obito’s body, allowing him to use Wood Release.” “So all of this had been planned from the beginning.” Kakashi slowly clenched his fist.
It took him a long time before he finally relaxed his hand.
Only then did Itsuki appear.
He wore a strangely amused smile.
“Aren’t you going to check your reward?” Kakashi gave him a suspicious look.
“Is there something unusual about it?” He claimed the reward.
Then he read the information displayed on the panel.
His expression became strange.
“A technique Sasuke develops in the future?” He looked stiffly at Itsuki.
“This…
is actually real?” “What do you think?” Itsuki raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying himself.
“I admit that being able to pull techniques from the future is impressive.” Kakashi stared at him.
“But Itsuki-san…
don’t you think it’s a little awkward for a teacher to learn a technique his own student is supposed to invent years later?” Itsuki smiled.
“Are you going to learn it or not?” Kakashi fell silent.
That was the real question.
Would he learn it?
Kakashi answered with his actions.
Without the slightest hesitation, he picked up the skill book and slapped it against himself.
The book dissolved into light.
After absorbing the technique, Kakashi even had the nerve to evaluate it seriously.
“Huh.” “So Sasuke eventually develops Chidori this far.” Kakashi nodded approvingly.
“As expected of my student.” He paused.
“Then I suppose I’ll be the one to teach this technique to him in the future.” Itsuki’s mouth twitched.
“Kakashi.” “You really have no shame.” Stealing your own student’s future technique before he even had the chance to invent it.
Kakashi had truly outdone himself.
“Thank you for the compliment.” Kakashi’s eye curved into a smile.
Itsuki stared at him.
Unbelievable.
Unable to tolerate that shameless expression any longer, Itsuki disappeared.
The next day.
Kakashi and Team 7 escorted Tazuna to the bridge construction site as usual.
Afterward, Kakashi supervised the three Genin’s training.
Nearby, Sasuke ran into a problem while practicing Fire Release.
He went over to ask Kakashi for advice.
To his surprise, Kakashi didn’t brush him off.
Instead, he actually gave a serious explanation.
Sasuke was stunned.
Was this really the same Kakashi who usually just told him to practice more?
Even stranger was the way Kakashi kept looking at him.
Am I imagining things?
Why does Kakashi keep staring at me today?
And why does he look…
impressed?
Sasuke immediately felt embarrassed by his own thoughts.
I’m getting way too full of myself.
“Do you understand?” Kakashi asked after finishing his explanation.
“Yes.” Sasuke nodded quickly.
Inside, however, he was genuinely impressed.
Kakashi really is good.
Once he actually explains something, it makes perfect sense.
“Good.” “Go practice.” Kakashi nodded in satisfaction as Sasuke walked away.
Smart.
Talented.
And most importantly— His future potential was excellent.
Kakashi found himself increasingly satisfied with this student.
Naruto quietly crept over to Sakura.
“Hey, Sakura.” He lowered his voice.
“Don’t you think Kakashi-sensei is acting really suspicious around Sasuke today?” Sakura was busy using the medical ninjutsu Kakashi had taught her to treat a fish.
Sweat covered her forehead from the effort.
She rolled her eyes.
“How would I know?” “It’s definitely suspicious.” Naruto scratched his head while repeatedly glancing between Kakashi and Sasuke.