At this moment, in Kakashi’s home, the little white-haired boy was tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
During the day, he hadn’t told Hiruzen Sarutobi what Genya had shown him in the Genjutsu.
But for something to move Kakashi, whose heart was as cold as a fishmonger who had been killing fish for ten years, it definitely wasn’t anything simple.
He couldn’t help but recall the scene he saw in the illusion earlier that day: amidst the villagers’ gossip and rumors, his father, Sakumo Hatake, committed seppuku, unable to endure the disgrace.
This event cast a massive psychological shadow over the young Kakashi, even influencing his future behavior for a long time.
“Ninjas who cannot complete their missions are trash…” This had even become one of the creeds of his life at one point.
Before meeting Minato-sensei, Obito, and Rin, Kakashi had always lived like a heartless tool for completing missions; whether it was Root or Anbu tasks, he performed them excellently.
Of course, those who died by his hand were mostly rogue ninjas who had deserted the village.
But during the battle at Kannabi Bridge, after Rin was kidnapped, a single sentence from Obito had completely awakened him.
Ninjas who cannot complete their missions are trash, but those who do not cherish their comrades are even worse than trash.
He didn’t know which of these two viewpoints was correct, because not long after, something happened to Obito, and Rin also died by his own hand.
Logically speaking, it wasn’t considered despicable for a ninja to use such psychological tactics.
However, in a spar between ninjas of the same village, using something like rubbing salt in someone’s wounds to provoke them was somewhat excessive.
Yet Kakashi did not resent Genya.
Because at the very moment the Genjutsu was about to be released, Genya had conveyed a message to him.
If you want to know the truth about your father’s suicide, come find me.
Reason told Kakashi that Genya was just putting on an act and that everything in the Genjutsu was fake.
Since Genya was about the same age as him, when his father committed suicide, the other boy might not even have graduated from the Ninja Academy.
How could he possibly know the truth behind his father’s death?
It was even more impossible for the Uchiha clan, as the Konoha higher-ups had always been very wary of them, even keeping them from participating directly in many major events.
But this thought was like a seed; once planted, it would take root and sprout, making it very difficult to remove.
If Genya was just being mysterious and intended to tell some baseless lies, that would be one thing.
The fear was that Genya truly knew some unknown secrets.
Feeling restless, Kakashi got up, dressed, and wandered through the streets of Konoha under the moonlight.
Unconsciously, he arrived at the Konoha Hero Memorial Park, in front of the tombstone of his best friend, Uchiha Obito.
Uchiha Obito was ultimately buried by a rockfall and had even gifted him his Sharingan.
Although they went back afterward to search for Obito’s body to bury him in the Cemetery of Martyrs, they found nothing.
Given that half of Obito’s body had been crushed at the time, it was impossible for him to have survived; Kakashi was absolutely certain of this.
Therefore, he collected Obito’s personal belongings and built a cenotaph for him next to Rin’s grave.
Stroking the cold stone monument, a sense of confusion once again appeared in Kakashi’s exposed eye.
Without knowing when, he had developed such a habit.
Whenever he didn’t know the answer, he would come to the grave of his former friend to pour his heart out.
“Obito…
how great would it be if you were still here?”
“Now the war is over, Minato-sensei has become the Hokage, and Kushina-nee-san’s child is about to be born.
How great would it be if you could have lived to see this day…”
“The relationship between the village and the Uchiha is becoming more and more strained.
If you were still here, you would surely be able to act as a mediator between the village and the Uchiha, right?”
“Someone told me he knows the truth about my father’s suicide.
He’s a member of your clan.
Do you think I should go see him?”
…
Kakashi leaned against Obito’s grave alone like this, speaking many words from the bottom of his heart.
He said everything, both things that should be said and things that shouldn’t.
Kakashi wasn’t usually this talkative.
Finally, finding that he had nothing more to say, Kakashi remained silent for a while longer, placed fresh flowers before Obito’s grave, and turned to leave as usual.
He had made up his mind; perhaps he could go see Genya and hear what he had to say.
Because of his close friend, unlike most people in Konoha, he didn’t hold a prejudice against the Uchiha.
The Uchiha were a clan of love, and they awakened powerful abilities because they lost that love; they were not born evil.
But if Genya intended to use his father’s matter to toy with him, then Kakashi would definitely make him pay the price.
…
It was originally just a simple visit to pour his heart out at his friend’s grave, something that had happened many times before.
But after Kakashi left, a strange distortion suddenly appeared in that spot.
A man wearing a black robe with red clouds and a swirl-patterned mask on his face appeared out of thin air.
He only took one look at the flowers in front of “Obito’s” grave before looking away.
To him, Obito was already dead.
At the moment he saw Kakashi kill Rin with his own eyes, he had completely died; what remained was only a shell despairing of the world, wanting to create a world where Rin existed.
Following behind Obito was a fellow whose body was half-black and half-white, looking very eerie.
In contrast to Obito’s silence, Black Zetsu, who was currently possessing Tobi, had an unstoppable excitement in his voice.
“Obito, I didn’t expect us to hear such incredible news on this visit to Konoha!”
“Tsk tsk tsk, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki giving birth—this is major news!”
“That’s when the Nine-Tails’ seal is at its weakest.
If handled correctly, the entire Konoha could be destroyed in an instant!”
Obito gave a cold snort: “I don’t need you to meddle in whatever I do.”
Regarding Black Zetsu, the product of Uchiha Madara’s will, although Obito had intentions of using him, he was even more wary.
Black Zetsu, rebuffed, shrugged his shoulders and didn’t get angry.
He didn’t possess human emotions, so naturally, he wouldn’t be provoked.
Looking at the lights of thousands of homes in Konoha in the distance, a trace of ferocity appeared on Obito’s face under the mask.
“This world was originally this illusory.”
“Why is it that my Rin is no longer here, yet you can still enjoy such a peaceful life!”
“I will definitely create a world where Rin exists!”
…
The Hokage Building.
It was very late by now, and even Minato had finished work and gone home.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi had been summoned out of his bed.
He had previously given orders to the Anbu that if Shisui came to see him, he must be notified no matter how late it was.
After putting on his clothes and arriving at the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Shisui’s figure.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled gratifiedly.
Kagami’s descendant…
If all Uchiha were like Shisui, then Konoha wouldn’t have such a great hidden danger, would it?