In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi held a report...
Seated behind his desk, he felt slightly weary from the string of recent events.
As he quietly studied Kakashi standing before him, an indescribable sense of comfort and reassurance stirred deep within him.
"Kakashi."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke softly, his tone kind and gentle...
"I heard from the Anbu that you took the initiative to visit Naruto Uzumaki today?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
After a brief pause, he drew a short blade from his waist and gently placed it on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.
The desk lamp shone upon the blade, its sharp edge reflecting a glint of cold light.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly taken aback. He carefully examined the long-unseen short blade and murmured, "This is... White Fang's blade?"
Kakashi nodded softly, his eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Since I regained my confidence, this Sharingan has gradually become something I can close and control on my own. Now, I can finally pick up this blade again and inherit my father's will."
At this, Hiruzen felt a flicker of relief in his heart.
Of course, he knew how long and painfully Kakashi had struggled. This blade represented more than a weapon—it was a symbol that Kakashi had finally made peace with his past.
"Was it because you picked up the blade that you thought of Minato?"
There was a trace of wistfulness and emotion in Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice, and Kakashi's actions now made sense...
Kakashi nodded, his voice calm and sincere. "Yes. Picking up this blade reminded me of Minato-sensei... and the child he left behind, Naruto Uzumaki. That is why I went to visit him."
Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help falling silent for a moment.
He sighed, his eyes filled with deep guilt and self-reproach. "I have been too neglectful in my daily life. I failed to take proper care of Naruto and allowed that child to suffer."
"Lord Hokage, you do not need to blame yourself. This is not your fault."
"There is an extraordinary Will of Fire within Naruto. Though his life is difficult now, one day, that will shall burn brightly and illuminate all of Konoha."
At that point, Kakashi hesitated...
However, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not notice the detail in Kakashi's words...
He merely revealed a gratified smile.
He had not expected that, after enduring so many setbacks and trials, Kakashi would view Naruto's future with such maturity and foresight.
He had even begun to consider matters from a perspective close to that of a Hokage.
"It seems, Kakashi, that the way you think is becoming more and more like that of a Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled kindly, his eyes overflowing with satisfaction.
Kakashi nodded slightly. "That is precisely why I want to approach Naruto myself, to give him a chance to form real bonds."
When Hiruzen Sarutobi heard the word "bonds," his gaze flickered slightly, and the smile on his face immediately took on a meaningful air.
He nodded thoughtfully, clearly agreeing deeply.
In truth, Hiruzen Sarutobi had always believed that Kakashi was one of the most suitable teachers in all of Konoha to guide Naruto's growth.
Kakashi had once studied under the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. Not only was he exceptionally capable, but he also possessed abundant experience and a profound Will of Fire.
This aligned perfectly with Naruto's special identity and needs as he grew.
However, for various reasons, the Kakashi of the past had never voluntarily made such a request.
Now that he had cast off the shadows of the past, pulled himself together, and even taken the initiative to approach Naruto, this was undoubtedly excellent news for Konoha.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded inwardly, and the worries in his heart gradually faded.
"Kakashi, naturally, I will not oppose this. There has always been a natural bond and connection between you and Naruto."
"For you to step forward of your own accord to care for him and guide him would be the best possible outcome for Naruto."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's response, Kakashi quietly breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you for your understanding, Lord Hokage. From today onward, I will do everything I can to protect Naruto and accompany him as he grows. I will never betray the trust you and my teacher have placed in me."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled in satisfaction and gently patted Kakashi on the shoulder. "The road ahead is still long, and Konoha's future will ultimately rest upon the shoulders of young people like you."
"No matter how difficult or dangerous the road ahead may be, you must hold firmly to your original heart and convictions. Only then will you truly be qualified to become a Hokage who possesses the Will of Fire."
"Please rest assured. I will never disappoint your expectations."
Just as Kakashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi continued their conversation, several figures suddenly appeared at the entrance to the Hokage's office with hurried footsteps.
"Lord Hokage!"
Several Anbu appeared in a tense rush, their voices carrying a hint of urgency.
"What happened?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately wiped away his earlier smile. His expression turned grave as he fixed the Anbu with a sharp gaze.
"Lord Hokage, Uchiha Sasuke has gone missing!"
"What?"
Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed drastically, and his brow instantly furrowed...
"What exactly happened? How could he suddenly vanish?"
The Anbu lowered his head and reported quickly, "We have carefully examined the scene."
"Uchiha Sasuke never left Konoha Hospital. From his ward to the outside, there were no signs of forced entry or struggle. He vanished as if into thin air, leaving behind no trace at all."
Upon hearing the Anbu's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned grim...
Kakashi, standing to one side, sank into deep silence.
Obito had already succeeded...
Kakashi's feelings were complicated.
It was as though...
Some unseen force was guiding everyone's fate, irresistibly pushing it toward a certain predetermined direction.
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly calmed down from his shock. With his brows tightly knit, he said in a low voice, "Vanished into thin air... Could it be that mysterious masked man who attacked Kakashi last time?"
Clearly, the first suspect to surface in his mind was that mysterious Masked Man who possessed space-time ninjutsu and could easily pass through Konoha's barriers.
Within Konoha, the only ninja capable of silently taking someone away so easily without leaving the slightest trace was that man.
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.
He suddenly recalled the secret agreement between himself and Uchiha Itachi, and the worry in his heart deepened.
Now that Itachi's younger brother Sasuke had been taken away, it would inevitably stir up even more unpredictable variables on Itachi's side. The situation was becoming increasingly troublesome.
After a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally issued his order in a deep voice. "Increase the intensity of the search. Do everything in your power to find Sasuke's whereabouts."
However, with a crisis in the Shinobi World drawing near, Konoha could not commit too much manpower.
If they truly could not find him, they could only set the matter aside for now and deal with it after the situation became clearer.
"Kakashi, go to Amegakure once more and contact Jiraiya... Sasuke should have been taken to Akatsuki..."
Because Kakashi's intelligence had misled them, the Masked Man's actions were still regarded as Akatsuki's actions...
After handling all this, the Third Hokage glanced at several documents in his drawer...
For a moment, his expression became exceptionally bitter...
Before you continue