23: Kakashi entered the Scenario again.
Seeing Itsuki there didn’t surprise him anymore.
By now, he was used to Itsuki showing up just to watch the drama unfold.
Strangely enough, Itsuki’s presence even helped him relax.
“Itsuki-san, this is the plan I came up with.
Do you think it’ll work?” Kakashi looked at him expectantly.
Itsuki rubbed his chin and considered it for a moment.
“Your plan might take a while.
You’ll probably need several attempts before it succeeds.” “But I have to admit, the odds are pretty good.” “That’s good enough.” Kakashi finally relaxed after hearing that.
“However…” The sudden turn in Itsuki’s tone made Kakashi tense again.
“What is it?” Itsuki didn’t answer directly.
Instead, he asked, “What do you think your greatest advantage is inside a Scenario?” Before Kakashi could respond, Itsuki continued.
“It isn’t your increased strength.” “It’s information.” “Information about events that haven’t happened yet from the perspective of the Scenario.” “That is your greatest advantage.” “So when you make a plan, you should exploit that advantage as much as possible.” Kakashi froze.
The words struck him like a bolt of lightning.
His entire way of thinking suddenly shifted.
“Thank you for the advice, Itsuki-san.” This time, his gratitude was completely sincere.
Itsuki casually waved it off.
The Scenario began.
Compared to his previous attempt, Kakashi was even stronger now.
Just as before, he rescued Rin from the Kirigakure shinobi with little difficulty and began escaping with her.
“Rin, don’t panic.
Even if they sealed a tailed beast inside you, Minato-sensei and Kushina-sama can help.” “Kushina-sama is a jinchūriki herself, and she’s from the Uzumaki Clan.
There has to be a way to deal with this.” Once Rin calmed down, Kakashi fought through wave after wave of pursuers.
Eventually, Obito finally appeared.
That was when Kakashi made his move.
“Summoning Technique!” Poof!
A group of ninken appeared.
Kakashi immediately looked toward Pakkun.
“Pakkun, track the scent of that mysterious creature.” “I want to know where it came from.” “No problem.
Leave it to me.” Just like during the previous run, Kakashi killed the first hidden attacker and then joined forces with Obito to wipe out the remaining Kirigakure shinobi.
When the second ambush came, Kakashi deliberately allowed Obito to expose himself slightly.
After killing the attacker, Kakashi finally turned toward him.
“Obito.” “Is that you?” Obito’s entire body stiffened.
He stared at Kakashi in disbelief.
It wasn’t merely the question that startled him.
It was Kakashi’s absolute certainty.
Obito was about to deny it when Kakashi stared directly at him and said, “That thing wrapped around your body…” “It’s the same creature that took you away from Kannabi Bridge, isn’t it?” What?!
This time, both Obito and White Zetsu were stunned.
Kakashi had recognized him.
“Obito.” White Zetsu’s voice turned cold.
“Kill Kakashi.” Madara’s plan had not truly begun yet.
White Zetsu could not afford to have his existence exposed.
More importantly, Kakashi might know even more.
He absolutely could not be allowed to leave alive.
“No!” Obito panicked.
He had no idea how the situation had deteriorated so quickly.
This was supposed to be a reunion after years apart.
“Obito!” Kakashi suddenly shouted.
“Don’t trust that thing!” “This entire situation is a setup!” Obito froze.
Kakashi continued, his voice growing louder.
“Do you know why Rin is in danger today?” “The person behind you arranged all of this because he wants to use Rin’s death to force you to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan!” “He’s using you!” “Rin dies!” “Minato-sensei dies too!” “And all of it happens because of the people behind you!” Obito stared at him blankly.
“Kakashi…
what are you talking about?” “Rin is standing right here.” “And Minato-sensei is out on a mission.” “Have you lost your mind?” Even White Zetsu was shaken by the information Kakashi had suddenly revealed.
Before either of them could recover, Kakashi spoke again.
“Obito, haven’t you wondered why I suddenly became so much stronger?” “Why I was able to recognize you?” “Why I knew about the enemy attacks before they happened?” Obito immediately nodded.
Of course he had wondered.
White Zetsu had too.
Kakashi’s movements during battle had been far too precise.
There had been almost no wasted motion.
That kind of fighting style belonged to a seasoned veteran with years of life-and-death experience.
Not a teenage Kakashi.
Kakashi took a deep breath.
He knew what he was about to do was risky.
But Itsuki’s words echoed in his mind.
Your greatest advantage is information.
If he used that advantage properly, this could work.
Kakashi spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.
“Because…” “I came back from the future.” Silence.
What?!
The statement hit everyone like a thunderbolt.
Obito.
Rin.
Even White Zetsu.
All three stared at Kakashi in shock.
Obito’s mouth fell open.
“Huh?” “Kakashi, you’ve got to be joking.” “You came back from the future?” He couldn’t believe it.
White Zetsu, however, reacted very differently.
His body stiffened.
If that’s true…
Then everything makes sense.
Kakashi’s sudden increase in strength.
The information he possesses.
He could have learned all of it in the future.
But one question still bothered him.
What kind of jutsu could send someone through time?
Why have I never heard of anything like it?
Kakashi watched the shock and uncertainty on their faces.
He knew he had gotten their attention.
But it wasn’t enough.
So he kept going.
This time, he began fabricating an entire story.
“According to the original course of history, Rin dies today.” “Her death causes you to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.” “After that, you join the organization behind the person manipulating you.” “Later, that organization attacks Konoha while Kushina-sama is giving birth.” “The attack leads to the deaths of Minato-sensei and Kushina-sama.” “The Nine-Tails is sealed again.” “And in my time, Konoha is already suffering heavy losses from secret attacks carried out by that mysterious organization.” “During one of those attacks, we managed to capture you alive.” “But before we could extract any information, someone silenced you.” “Right now, Konoha is facing a massive crisis.” “We desperately need information about that organization.” “Obito!” Kakashi’s voice rose into a shout.
“Tell me what you know!” “I don’t have much time left!” Then he stopped.
He held his breath and stared at them nervously.
His heart pounded.
Did they buy it?
Can I fool Obito and whatever is controlling him?
Even if this fails, I can always try again.
And I still have a backup plan.
Kakashi kept reassuring himself.
One second passed.
Then another.
And another.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Only the wind moved, rustling through the leaves.
Neither Obito nor White Zetsu reacted.
Kakashi’s heart sank.
Did it fail?
He wasn’t too surprised.
The story had been thrown together on the spot.
There were plenty of holes in it.
What Kakashi didn’t know was that Obito and White Zetsu were both completely overwhelmed.
Gulp.
Obito swallowed hard.
His thoughts were in total chaos.
White Zetsu, meanwhile, felt as if a storm had exploded inside his head.
His eyes filled with killing intent as he stared at Kakashi.
There’s no mistake.
Collecting the Nine-Tails is part of Madara’s plan.
Kakashi really did come back from the future!
He has to die.
There is absolutely no way we can let him return alive.
Even Obito won’t be allowed to stop me this time.
Not far away, Itsuki stared at the scene with his mouth slightly open.
Even he had been stunned by Kakashi’s ridiculous maneuver.
The man had invented a story on the spot— and somehow managed to stumble straight into the truth.
Unbelievable.
The most absurd part was that White Zetsu might actually believe every word.
Because Kakashi’s lie was simply far too close to reality.