Why Is Uchiha Chi Everywhere in the World? (Please Follow)

"Is that... Hatake Kakashi?"

Uchiha Fugaku scrutinized the white-haired youth in a mask with some uncertainty.

Although he had never met Kakashi, he knew Hatake Sakumo, who had been caught up in controversy and ultimately taken his own life two years ago.

And that head of white hair, along with the short sword at his waist, were indeed the standard features of Konoha's White Fang.

He never expected to see the Son of the White Fang here...

Thinking of Konoha's White Fang's fate, Uchiha Fugaku's gaze at Kakashi became especially complicated.

"That's right." Uchiha Chi nodded. "Kakashi and I have already agreed to train in ninjutsu together tomorrow, so we can be fully prepared for the upcoming ninja missions."

"I see." Uchiha Fugaku quietly looked at Hatake Kakashi.

"..." Kakashi stared expressionlessly at Uchiha Chi.

Uchiha Chi smiled and blinked.

A few seconds later.

Kakashi nodded stiffly. "Mm."

[Detected emotional fluctuations from Uchiha Fugaku!]

[Obtained 15 points and increased Damage Increase by 3%!]

"Since that's the case," Uchiha Fugaku turned back, nodding with a somewhat complicated expression. "Then train well... Don't disgrace the Uchiha."

With that, he gave Uchiha Chi a deep look, rose to his feet, and headed for the entrance.

Only after Uchiha Fugaku had left did Uchiha Chi pick up his chopsticks again.

He finished the ramen in his bowl in one go, then got up and walked over to Kakashi.

"Thanks." He thanked Kakashi in a light tone.

"I don't remember agreeing to train with you," Kakashi said coldly, casually stirring the steaming ramen with his chopsticks.

Uchiha Chi smiled. "Neither do I."

He had merely happened to spot Kakashi and casually made up a lie to deal with Uchiha Fugaku.

Even if Kakashi had not been there, he would have had other excuses to refuse.

But...

He chuckled as he looked at the expressionless Kakashi.

No matter what, this guy had helped him out.

"That means we're even, right?"

Even?

Kakashi raised a brow slightly, a trace of confusion flashing through his dead-fish eyes. "What do you mean?"

It was the first expression he had made other than his usual blank face.

However, Uchiha Chi did not answer right away.

He merely placed a hand casually on the table and tapped its surface in a steady rhythm. "Secretly looking into someone else's private affairs without permission..."

"That kind of behavior is called Peeping."

Hatake Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly.

But before he could react, Uchiha Chi waved his hand and turned toward the ramen shop's exit.

Just as his figure was about to vanish beyond the noren curtain, Uchiha Chi's voice reached Kakashi's ears once more.

"Consider it the bill for watching the show without paying."

After Uchiha Chi left.

Kakashi stared at the curtain hanging over the exit for a long time.

"Consider it the bill for watching the show without paying."

Those words kept echoing through Kakashi's mind, and the ripples in his eyes took a long time to settle.

As a ninja willing to use any means necessary to complete a mission, Kakashi naturally did not care whether Peeping was moral.

What surprised him was not that, but the fact that Uchiha Chi had actually noticed his presence.

It was truly difficult to understand.

He had remained in stealth the entire time. Even if Uchiha Chi had sensed Obito Peeping, he should not have been able to detect Kakashi's presence.

Unless the other party was an even more outstanding Chunin than him.

Or perhaps even a Jonin...

But that was simply impossible.

Why would someone with that kind of ability remain in a place where they could learn nothing but the Three Basic Jutsu and waste their time?

Kakashi frowned slightly and replayed the scene in his mind. Yet no matter how he thought about it, he could not figure out when or how he had been exposed.

"...Whatever."

After a while, Kakashi shook his head.

It did not matter what was going on with that weirdo who had proposed to Nohara Rin.

Since the other party had said they were even, then the matter was over. Kakashi did not possess the kind of moral conscience that would make him kill himself out of guilt.

Kakashi took off his mask and unhurriedly began eating the ramen in his bowl.

Yet, unconsciously, a smiling face with instant-noodle hair appeared in the soup.

"..."

Kakashi put down his chopsticks and gently rubbed his temples.

"...What a weirdo."

That middle-aged man who had spoken with Uchiha Chi earlier was clearly one of his elders. He seemed to have wanted to guide Uchiha Chi, but the latter had actually made an excuse to refuse.

Kakashi could not understand why Uchiha Chi would turn down such a good opportunity. It was simply too strange, and he could only conclude that the man really was a complete weirdo.

Kakashi closed his eyes and forcibly emptied his mind.

"...None of it matters."

There was no need to understand anything beyond training and missions.

Once he had eaten his fill, he should go train. His squad would be assigned in a few days, so he really did need to make some preparations, just as that guy had said.

...He only hoped his teammates would not be weirdos with such bizarre thought processes.

After making that simple wish, Kakashi finished the last mouthful of ramen, got up, and left the ramen shop.

He headed off in the opposite direction from where Uchiha Chi had gone.

As he passed Hokage Rock.

Hatake Kakashi suddenly stopped, squinting into the distance.

A green afterimage was actually sprinting straight toward him at full speed.

Kakashi's eyelid twitched, and he immediately turned to leave without hesitation.

However, before he had even taken two steps, a shout behind him rapidly drew closer and louder.

"My eternal rival, where are you running off to?!"

Might Guy leaped past Kakashi in a single bound, spreading Both Hands wide like a great roc's wings and blocking Kakashi's path.

Looking at Might Guy standing in his way, Kakashi shoved Both Hands into his pockets and said coldly, "Move."

"Move?" Might Guy tilted his head, then his eyes lit up. "Is that shorthand for, 'Let's begin our duel'? Kakashi, as expected of you! I accept! Come at me!"

"..." A slight ripple disturbed Kakashi's calm state of mind.

For some reason, he felt that his emotions had fluctuated rather often today.

"Another time." Kakashi shook his head in refusal. "I'm going to train now."

Another time—this was the method he had developed after being challenged by Might Guy hundreds of times.

As long as he brushed him off like this, Might Guy would compromise and give up.

After all, an idiot's brain could not think of the question, What if there is another next time?

However—

This time, Might Guy did not move aside.

"Then duel me! A Taijutsu clash is also a form of training!"

"?"

Kakashi examined Might Guy, then asked after a long silence, "Who taught you that?"

"How did you know?!" Might Guy sucked in a sharp breath.

Kakashi hit the nail on the head. "You couldn't have come up with that kind of twisted logic."

How could an idiot like Might Guy possibly think of something like that...

"That's not twisted logic!" Might Guy said. "It's called sophistry!"

Isn't that statement itself sophistry...?

If Kakashi had guessed correctly, Might Guy had only just learned that phrase too.

Kakashi let out a nearly inaudible sigh. "So, who was it?"

"Chi-san!"

Might Guy pointed a finger at his temple and shouted a name Kakashi had not expected.

"Chi...-san?" Kakashi asked uncertainly. "Uchiha Chi?"

"Yes, yes, that's him!" Might Guy nodded repeatedly, then asked curiously, "Kakashi, do you know Chi-san too?"

"..." Kakashi fell silent on the spot.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but he felt like Uchiha Chi was everywhere in the world.