"Victory goes to Kyosuke Uchiha!"
As the referee's voice fell, thunderous cheers suddenly erupted throughout the arena.
"Yay~ We won~" Nagisa cheered, jumping up and down.
The Second Elder was so pleased that he could not be bothered to restrain her.
"Not bad. Kyosuke truly has not wasted the Clan's efforts in nurturing him." The Second Elder stroked his beard, thinking smugly.
It was not only the Uchiha Clan cheering. Many ordinary villagers were also applauding Kyosuke with all their hearts.
After all, Kyosuke had become acquainted with many villagers during his previous patrol missions.
And given the "truth, kindness, and beauty" he displayed on the surface, it was only natural that the villagers liked him.
The "people's support" was often useless.
But once turmoil broke out, public opinion became extremely important.
Kyosuke looked at the loudly cheering crowd before him and smiled mysteriously.
"Father, I... lost." Kakashi, having awakened from unconsciousness, came before his father with a face full of shame.
"It is nothing. Just keep working hard." After comforting him, Sakumo did not even look at the surrounding crowd and merely said flatly, "Let's go home."
"Okay." Kakashi replied absentmindedly, lowering his head again as he thought about something.
In his depressed state, he did not notice the strange look on his father's face.
Just as the two were about to leave, Kyosuke's voice suddenly sounded behind them.
"Are you just going to 'leave' like this?" Kyosuke asked, staring straight into Hatake Sakumo's eyes.
"If I don't leave, what else can I..." Kakashi frowned and turned around. He had intended to say something, but abruptly stopped.
Because he realized Kyosuke was not speaking to him. He seemed to be speaking to his father?
Filled with confusion, Kakashi turned to look at his father, and his pupils suddenly contracted.
Th-this pale-faced man with lifeless eyes... was he really the invincible father Kakashi knew?
"Father, you..." Kakashi looked at him in panic, stammering without knowing what to say.
At that moment, he already sensed that something was wrong.
In his panic, Kakashi instinctively turned to glance at Kyosuke.
"Can you really rest easy leaving Kakashi behind?" Kyosuke ignored him and asked Hatake Sakumo again, looking straight into his eyes.
Is this child's perception really this sharp? Sakumo silently thought.
But Sakumo did not answer Kyosuke's question. Instead, he turned around once more and walked toward his "home."
His heart had already become a stagnant pool. It could not be saved by a few words from Kyosuke.
Still no good? I can only do so much... Kyosuke helplessly wanted to abandon this seemingly futile attempt at saving him. But when he saw the look Kakashi inadvertently revealed, he paused slightly, then lowered his head and sighed.
Come to think of it, we're not even that close. Seriously... Kyosuke grumbled inwardly before quickly running toward the Hokage Building.
"Hey~ Where is Kyosuke going?" Nagisa watched Kyosuke's figure gradually recede, then turned to ask her grandfather.
At the same time, her lips puffed out slightly. She had originally planned to celebrate properly today.
"Something must have happened." The Second Elder frowned and spoke, then made a subtle hand signal toward the shadows.
In an instant, an almost imperceptible figure chased after Kyosuke.
Uneasy, the Second Elder had dispatched a Secret Ninja from the Clan to follow him and see what was happening.
Inside the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage had just put away his crystal ball when his office door was knocked on.
"Come in." The Third Hokage lit his smoking pipe, took two light puffs, and only then spoke calmly.
The door opened, and Kyosuke walked in expressionlessly.
"Oh, little Kyosuke." The Third Hokage smiled kindly and praised him. "As expected of my grand-disciple. To defeat that boy from the Hatake Clan at such a young age is truly remarkable."
After saying that, he opened his mouth and laughed heartily.
But Kyosuke was in no mood to put on a hypocritical act with him.
Noticing this, the Third Hokage stopped laughing and asked with an odd expression, "What is it? Did something happen?"
Seeing that the Third Hokage had finally asked, Kyosuke recounted Sakumo's mental state in detail.
The Third Hokage remained silent for a long time. Only after relighting his extinguished pipe did he slowly ask, "Then according to your assessment, how serious is Sakumo's condition?"
"I estimate that he has developed suicidal tendencies," Kyosuke said in a low voice.
The Third Hokage's hand holding the pipe shook violently, and his voice suddenly dropped as well. "It is... already this serious?"
Watching Kyosuke nod, the Third Hokage could not help taking two deep puffs.
Then he slammed his pipe hard against the desk.
Instantly, an Anbu operative appeared before them, kneeling on one knee.
"Go. Summon Hatake Sakumo to see me," the Third Hokage ordered.
"Yes."
"Wait." The Third Hokage suddenly stopped the Anbu operative.
After hesitating for a moment, the Third Hokage suddenly said to Kyosuke, "You and I will personally make a trip to the Hatake Clan."
"Yes." Kyosuke nodded.
Soon, the two of them set out together with the Anbu operative.
Kyosuke is truly different from the other Uchiha. Seeing him is like seeing Kagami back then. As he hurried along, the Third Hokage thought with relief.
As long as the Uchiha Clan is guided properly, they can walk the right path. Looking at the slightly anxious Kyosuke behind him, he became even more convinced of this.
Danzo, I will not let you destroy this child so easily. At that moment, the Third Hokage made a certain resolve.
Just then, the Anbu operative scouting ahead suddenly appeared and reported, "Hokage Sama, something seems wrong with the Hatake Clan."
Hearing this, both the Third Hokage and Kyosuke felt their hearts sink.
After exchanging a glance, they ignored all rules and simply vaulted over the wall.
The moment they entered the Hatake Clan's courtyard, the three caught a faint scent of blood.
Damn it, were we still too late? Kyosuke sighed inwardly, then followed behind the Third Hokage as they headed toward the source of the bloody smell.
Pushing open the door, Kyosuke and the Third Hokage saw expressionless Kakashi, and...
Hatake Sakumo, kneeling there with a tanto plunged into his chest.
"Sakumo!!!" the Third Hokage cried out.
Before you continue