Nara Clan.
Kakashi sat upright. Seeing Shikaku about to pour him tea, he hurriedly held out his cup with both hands.
He guessed Shikaku had called him here because of something, but he had no idea what it was.
"How are you finding the Anbu?" Shikaku asked.
"I've gotten used to it."
"The Anbu are all elite ninja of the village, but for someone like you to be assigned there is rather beneath your talents. Your brilliance shouldn't be hidden away."
"You flatter me." Kakashi lowered his head.
Shikaku lifted his teacup and took a light sip. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Kakashi, what do you think of the village's Fourth Hokage?"
Kakashi's heart skipped a beat. "What... do you mean?"
Shikaku spoke slowly. "As one of the Sannin, Orochimaru was a genius ninja like you in his youth. He made his name throughout the ninja world during the Second Great Ninja War and became a role model for countless ninja in the village."
"He saved the village from danger time and again. He is Konoha's hero, immensely powerful and exceptionally intelligent. Those are all the halos surrounding him."
"As a ninja alone, you couldn't find two people in the entire ninja world more outstanding than him."
"Am I right, Kakashi?"
Kakashi said nothing. Shikaku was completely right, but there was clearly more to these words.
He sat there stiffly. Thankfully, his mask hid whatever expression he wore.
"Mr. Shikaku... what exactly are you getting at?"
Shikaku's gaze shifted slightly. He swallowed the words he had prepared and said, "Kakashi, do you know about Minato and Kushina?"
"What happened to Minato-sensei?"
"Don't you think Minato and Kushina should have gotten married long ago?"
Kakashi considered it briefly. Thinking it over carefully, that was indeed true. Minato-sensei and Sister