Even Itsuki couldn’t help clicking his tongue when he saw the ranks listed beside Kakashi’s available scenarios.
The quality of these scenarios was absurdly high.
If Kakashi actually managed to clear all of them, his strength would undoubtedly skyrocket.
After making a few adjustments through the system, Itsuki added a new module to Kakashi’s interface.
At the same time, another translucent window appeared in front of Kakashi.
Scenario Panel Kakashi stared at the names listed there and fell silent.
He had never really thought about it this way before, but seeing all those events laid out one after another was enough to make even him pause.
My life really has been miserable, hasn’t it?
He still didn’t fully understand what a scenario was, but judging by those names…
Was Itsuki doing this on purpose?
Kakashi couldn’t help glancing up at him.
No matter how he looked at it, there seemed to be pity in Itsuki’s eyes.
It made him deeply uncomfortable.
Kakashi was somewhat surprised that Itsuki knew about all these events, but at the same time, he wasn’t as shocked as he probably should have been.
Ever since meeting Itsuki, his understanding of what was possible had been overturned again and again.
At this point, mystery itself seemed synonymous with the man.
Itsuki also realized that the scenario names were hitting Kakashi exactly where it hurt.
Feeling a little awkward, he rubbed his nose and began explaining.
“A scenario is an independent space created using an important event from your own life as its foundation.” “Inside that space, the events of the past will be recreated.” “Everyone has things they regret.” “A scenario gives you another chance to face those moments—to make a different choice and change what happened.” “Of course, whatever you change inside won’t affect reality.” Kakashi’s eye sharpened slightly.
Itsuki continued.
“More importantly, these scenarios contain secrets you may never have known about.” “Anyone who enters one will receive missions.
Complete those missions, and you’ll earn rewards.” “In general, clearing scenarios gives much better returns than ordinary missions.” “Of course, entering one costs coins.” “Normally, the entry fee is two ranks lower than the scenario itself.” Itsuki gestured toward Kakashi’s balance.
“So your B-rank coin is enough to enter an S-rank scenario once.” “However, since this is your first time, I’d recommend starting with an A-rank scenario instead.” Then his expression became more serious.
“One more thing.” “If you die inside a scenario, you won’t actually die in reality.” “But when you return, you’ll be weakened for a period of time.” “So?” Itsuki looked at him.
“Have you decided which one you want to enter?” Kakashi fell silent.
His gaze moved slowly across the scenario list.
If Itsuki was telling the truth, then every single one of these scenarios held a meaning that no ordinary mission ever could.
They were pieces of his past.
His regrets.
His failures.
The people he had lost.
A long while passed before Kakashi finally made his choice.
Scenario: Obito’s Death Rank: A Entry Cost: 1 C-rank Coin Kakashi stared at the title.
Obito…
This time, I’ll be the one who saves you.
Itsuki was slightly surprised by his choice, but he didn’t comment.
He converted Kakashi’s single B-rank coin into ten C-rank coins, then immediately deducted one as the entry fee.
Itsuki raised one hand.
A blue portal appeared in the center of the hall, identical to the one Zabuza and Haku had used earlier.
“Go ahead.” “Step through that door, and you’ll enter the scenario.” Kakashi didn’t move immediately.
Instead, he looked back at Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
“Can they come with me?” The three genin immediately perked up.
“We can?” Their eyes locked onto Itsuki.
Itsuki paused.
He contacted the system and received an answer that even he hadn’t expected.
“If you want the three of them to actively participate in the scenario, you’ll have to pay their individual entry fees as well.” “In that case, the scenario will become a team scenario.” “But if you only want them to watch, you can pay one additional C-rank coin total and let all three enter as observers.” Itsuki looked at Kakashi.
“It’s your choice.” “Kakashi-sensei, let us participate!” Naruto immediately jumped at the opportunity.
“Yeah, Kakashi-sensei!” Sakura quickly added, “I learned the Hemostasis Technique.
I might actually be able to help if someone gets hurt.” Sasuke didn’t say much, but the anticipation in his eyes said enough.
Kakashi studied the three of them.
They were eager.
Too eager.
And none of them had any idea how dangerous this place might actually be.
After a moment of hesitation, Kakashi chose the safer option.
“Let them enter as observers.” The three genin immediately deflated.
Naruto looked ready to protest, but Kakashi had already stepped through the portal.
“Let’s go.” Itsuki followed him inside.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura hurried after him.
Tazuna was left standing alone in the hall.
He stared after them with a helpless expression.
“…What about me?” The moment Kakashi crossed the portal, his surroundings changed.
He found himself in the middle of a forest.
Bamboo rose densely around him.
His feet rested on the surface of a stream.
And directly ahead— Kakashi froze.
It was a scene he had replayed in his memories countless times.
A shinobi wearing an Iwagakure forehead protector had captured a small girl.
Not far away stood a frantic boy wearing goggles.
Everything was completely motionless.
The shinobi.
The water.
The leaves.
Even their expressions.
It was as though time itself had stopped.
“Obito…” Kakashi’s voice came out hoarse.
“Rin…” For a moment, he couldn’t tell whether he was awake or dreaming.
Regret.
Pain.
Nostalgia.
The faint warmth of memories that should have been happy.
All of it surged through him at once.
Kakashi’s mind became a mess.
Then a system window suddenly appeared in front of him.
The interruption snapped him back to reality.
Kakashi wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
“This is the scenario?” His eye widened.
“It’s too real…” A notification sounded.
This scenario uses Immersion Mode.
Your current identity: Hatake Kakashi, newly promoted jōnin.
Another panel appeared.
Scenario: Obito’s Death During the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha jōnin Minato Namikaze led Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin on an important classified mission.
Uchiha Obito ultimately lost his life during this operation.
Scenario Start Point: After Minato Namikaze leaves the team.
Mission 1: Save Obito — B-rank Your teammate Nohara Rin is about to be captured by Iwagakure shinobi.
Your teammate Uchiha Obito will also soon face mortal danger.
Ensure Uchiha Obito remains alive until the scenario ends.
Mission 2: Hidden Truth — S-rank There appear to be many secrets surrounding what happened during this operation—secrets you never discovered.
The more clues you uncover, the higher your evaluation will be.
A sufficiently high evaluation can earn you up to one random S-rank reward.
Warning: Your actions must not interfere with the classified mission currently being carried out.
Doing so will result in the failure of all scenario missions.
Kakashi’s expression gradually became serious.
There were secrets behind what happened back then?
He frowned.
He carefully went over the mission in his memories.
Minato leaving.
Rin being captured.
His argument with Obito.
Their rescue attempt.
The cave-in.
Obito’s apparent death.
No matter how carefully Kakashi searched his memories, nothing stood out as suspicious.
But if the system issued a mission specifically asking me to uncover hidden truths…
Then something happened that I never knew about.
A shadow fell over Kakashi’s thoughts.
For the first time, he began to wonder whether there had been more to that mission than he had ever realized.
A short distance behind him, four figures suddenly appeared.
Itsuki.
Naruto.
Sasuke.
Sakura.
Naruto spun around in shock.
“How did we suddenly end up in a forest?!” Sasuke was staring at the surroundings just as intently.
“Are these trees even real?” Naruto immediately reached out and tried to touch one.
His hand passed straight through the trunk.
“Whoa!” He quickly turned toward Itsuki.
Itsuki explained, “This is the scenario—an independent space created by the system.” “Since the three of you entered as observers, you can’t affect anything inside it.” “You also can’t communicate with Kakashi.” The three genin looked toward their teacher.
Sure enough, Kakashi gave no indication that he could see or hear them.
Itsuki stopped paying attention to their reactions and focused on Kakashi instead.
He could see the missions the system had assigned to Kakashi as well.
That made him particularly interested in what was about to happen.
After all, Kakashi still believed Obito had died during this mission.
Itsuki knew otherwise.
He couldn’t wait to see Kakashi’s reaction when he discovered the truth.
“This should be interesting.” A smile slowly appeared on Itsuki’s face.
At that moment, a countdown appeared in front of Kakashi.
Scenario begins in: 10…
9…
8…
Kakashi’s expression changed.
He immediately lowered his center of gravity and prepared himself.
This time— He would save Rin.
And he would save Obito.