Chapter 56: Just Do it
In the Ichiraku Ramen shop.
Uzumaki Naruto and Akihara Kagura are slurping ramen noisily.
After finishing a bowl of ramen, Akihara Kagura even signals the handmade shop owner to serve another bowl, as if he hadn't just had a conversation with Hatake Kakashi.
"Shop owner, another bowl, please."
Akihara Kagura glances at Hatake Kakashi, who is motionless beside him, and proactively shows concern for his superior: "Captain Kakashi, after battling for so long, aren't you hungry?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi can't eat.
Kakashi even feels restless.
When the young Akihara Kagura mentioned that Uchiha Obito was the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' disturbance, Hatake Kakashi somewhat regretted letting Obito go too easily, thinking he should have clarified this matter with Obito first.
"Naruto, eat quickly!"
Akihara Kagura urges Uzumaki Naruto, saying, "We have to meet the Third Hokage after this, let's inform him about tonight's events early, so as not to disturb the old man's rest"
"Uh-huh, uh-huh"
Uzumaki Naruto nods repeatedly.
"...You two don't need to rush."
Hatake Kakashi speaks softly, comforting them both.
Hatake Kakashi still hasn't decided how to report tonight's events to the Third Hokage. Moreover, if the Third Hokage learns about what happened tonight, will the old man even be able to sleep?
"Um..."
The handmade shop owner looks at Akihara Kagura and Uzumaki Naruto, who are devouring their food, and then at Hatake Kakashi, who is unable to eat: "Did something happen?"
"Nothing much"
Hatake Kakashi shook his head, not wanting to bring it up.
"We found the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' disturbance!"
Akihara Kagura was nonchalantly boasting about their achievement tonight.
"What!"
The handmade shop owner widened his eyes in shock!
Standing next to the handmade shop owner, Ayame couldn't help but lean in, looking at them with a face full of surprise: "Did you catch that person?"
"No."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and continued to pin the blame on Kakashi: "But it seems that the culprit was a former comrade of Captain Kakashi, and Captain Kakashi let him go..."
"..."
The handmade shop owner was even more shocked!
"This matter is still uncertain."
After Hatake Kakashi explained, he continued, "Considering the age, Uchiha Obito was probably around thirteen or fourteen years old at that time"
This was the most doubtful point.
After all, theoretically, a boy of only thirteen or fourteen might not have the capability to create a disaster as massive as the Nine-Tails' rebellion, especially since Konoha had such formidable figures as the Fourth Hokage, Minato, at that time.
"It's indeed hard to judge the truth of this matter."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in agreement with Hatake Kakashi's words and continued to ask, "Kakashi, you were once Uchiha Obito's comrade. Do you know why he didn't return to the village after his resurrection and instead became a rogue ninja?"
"Possibly because of"
"Rin's incident."
Hatake Kakashi slowly lowered his head.
""
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and comforted his subordinate, "We already know the whole story about Nohara Rin's incident. Rin chose to sacrifice herself to protect the village. This isn't your fault, Kakashi"
"Lord Hokage."
Hatake Kakashi knelt on one knee and made his request, "I want to actively pursue Uchiha Obito's whereabouts"
"That's fine."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in approval.
Uchiha Obito was a dangerously ideologically rogue ninja, intending to assassinate the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki in the village. This matter indeed could not be ignored.
In the entire Konoha, there might be no one more suitable than Hatake Kakashi to track down Uchiha Obito, because of the past bonds between them.
"I'll go too!"
Akihara Kagura stood behind Hatake Kakashi and clenched his fists tightly, "That guy escaped from my hands, I must kill him"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately fell silent.
After pondering for a while, the old man's voice slowly became somewhat calmer, "Kakashi, let Kagura be your assistant, it just so happens that he is your subordinate"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi raised his head in confusion.
However, Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude gradually became more resolute, even proactively providing them with a way to investigate Uchiha Obito.
"Uchiha Obito has awakened Wood Release on his body..."
"Theoretically, only the cells of the First Hokage have the chance to awaken Wood Release. You can go and check the village's records of Wood Release experiments again"
"When Orochimaru defected, the Anbu sealed all of Orochimaru's underground labs in the village, as well as the records of his unauthorized experiments"
Toward the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes revealed a deeply meaningful look, "Go look at those records, find some clues!"
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