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!
Ayame also opened her mouth in amazement!
"Kagura..."
Hatake Kakashi's forehead twitches uncontrollably.
This guy shouldn't make things sound so simple when he talks!
It was all for protecting Naruto, this little guy. How could it be twisted into him abusing his power for personal gain when coming from this kid's mouth!
"Kagura."
Hatake Kakashi moved closer to Akihara Kagura and warned in a low voice, "Don't just tell half the story when you speak! And also, don't casually disclose Anbu's intelligence!"
Hatake Kakashi looked at the still shocked and curious handmade shop owner and his daughter and added, "The truth of this matter is still unclear, and it's not as you imagine..."
"...Oh."
The handmade shop owner slowly nodded his head.
For many years, the handmade shop owner has watched Hatake Kakashi grow up and trusts in Hatake Kakashi's character, hence he did not pursue the matter further.
However, while Hatake Kakashi could conceal things from the villagers, he couldn't hide them from the Third Hokage, as he couldn't prevent Akihara Kagura from reporting to higher-ups.
At the residence of the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had already awakened.
Due to the chaotic battle zone caused by Hatake Kakashi, Akihara Kagura, and Uchiha Obito, someone had already reported the matter to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Of particular concern was the trace of the Nine-Tails' chakra leakage.
When Hatake Kakashi arrived with Uzumaki Naruto and Akihara Kagura, a group of Anbu were already guarding the entrance of Sarutobi Hiruzen's house.
Under the guise of a physical examination, Sarutobi Hiruzen checked Uzumaki Naruto's Nine-Tails seal and, confirming there were no issues with the seal, ordered the Anbu ninjas to escort the young boy home.
What followed was the inquiry about the night's events.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, with a calm demeanor, seemed unshakable by any major event, "What happened? Did enemies infiltrate the village tonight, wanting to abduct Naruto?"
"No..."
Hatake Kakashi slowly shook his head, reporting in a standard manner, "Tonight, the village's rogue ninja, Uchiha Obito, secretly infiltrated the village, attempting to kill Uzumaki Naruto. Fortunately, Anbu Akihara Kagura noticed his presence and protected Naruto's safety..."
"Uchiha Obito, eh..."
As Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, he picked up his pipe.
The old man had just struck a match when he suddenly stopped, his eyes widening in disbelief, "Uchiha Obito! I remember that child from the Battle of the Kannabi Bridge..."
"Obito is not dead."
Hatake Kakashi shook his head, explaining solemnly, "I personally buried his body, but somehow Obito came back to life. His Mangekyo Sharingan has acquired a miraculous Dojutsu, able to evade any attack, and he even mastered Wood Release Kekkei Genkai..."
"There's another matter..."
"It's said that when Naruto saw Obito, the Nine-Tails' chakra suddenly leaked out..."
"Additionally, Anbu Akihara Kagura claims that Obito admitted to being responsible for the Nine-Tails' rampage in the village six years ago..."
"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!"