Sakumo Leaves

At Konoha's entrance, two unnamed ninja stood firm at their posts.

Not far away, Sakumo carried a travel pack on his back. Looking at the two children who had come to see him off, he smiled and crouched down. "Kazashiro, while I'm gone, I'm leaving Kakashi in your care."

"Don't worry, Uncle Sakumo. I'll work hard to turn this brooding guy into someone more cheerful." Kazashiro patted his chest as he promised Sakumo.

"Who are you calling brooding?!" Veins bulged on Kakashi's forehead. If Kazashiro hadn't helped his father this time, he would have kicked him already.

"And besides, I'm obviously the one taking care of this kid, okay?" Kakashi corrected his father.

Watching the two get along so "harmoniously," the last trace of worry in Sakumo's heart vanished.

He wasn't afraid of going to the border. If anything, heading to the front lines was a good thing for him.

Sakumo had already decided to prove to the people of the village through his actions what the Will of Fire truly meant. The border was the perfect stage for that.

There, he could better protect his comrades according to his own beliefs without being criticized.

After all, in a chaotic region like the border, ninja placed greater importance on their comrades' safety.

"All right, it's almost time for school. Hurry back." As the sun gradually rose, Sakumo raised a hand to shield his eyes and urged the two to leave.

"Don't worry, Uncle Sakumo. No matter how late we are, Obito will cover for us." Kazashiro wasn't in a hurry. Obito was always the last one to arrive at school anyway. Even if they were punished by being made to stand, all three of them would be punished together.

Everyone knew that one boy being punished by standing alone might be a little awkward. Two boys meant brothers united, their strength enough to cut through gold. Three boys meant the Oath of the Peach Garden. As for a whole group being punished to stand...

That would be an all-star gathering of outlaws at Liangshan.

"Okay, Dad. We're leaving now." Unlike Kazashiro, Kakashi deeply disliked being punished by standing, especially with those two idiots.

So, although he was reluctant to see his father leave, Kakashi still said goodbye to Sakumo. Then he forcibly grabbed Kazashiro by the collar and headed for school.

"Hey, Kakashi, don't grab me there! You're going to strangle me!" Kazashiro, seized by the neck of fate, tried to break free, but failed. He could only be dragged away by Kakashi.

Sakumo smiled and waved, watching their figures gradually recede until they disappeared beyond the horizon.

"You've come, Third Hokage-sama." Turning around, Sakumo looked toward the forest beside him and respectfully bowed. "I've caused you trouble."

"Don't worry. I'll keep a close eye on that child too." Hiruzen emerged from behind the trees and walked over to Sakumo with a smile. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Do well on the front lines, and before long, you should be able to come back and visit Kakashi."

Looking at this important subordinate before him, Hiruzen's eyes were filled with warmth.

"Yes, please rest assured. I definitely won't disgrace Konoha's name. I'll devote everything I have to carrying out the Will of Fire!"

"Hahaha, all right, enough with the mushy farewell. Seeing that you're still so full of drive makes me very happy." Hiruzen patted Sakumo on the shoulder and raised his voice slightly, signaling that he could leave.

"Yes!"

A year passed just like that.

According to the original timeline, Kakashi should have chosen to graduate early by now and officially become a ninja.

But because Kazashiro had intervened, Sakumo had not committed suicide, and Kakashi had lost the desire to leave school. Every day, he followed Kazashiro to class with a lazy attitude.

"Kazashiro, let's go eat dango together after school!" During the break, Anko came to Kazashiro's desk as usual and extended her invitation.

"How should I put this, Anko? I think you should eat less high-sugar food. You'll gain weight." Looking at Anko, who had become a little more rounded than when he had first met her, Kazashiro kindly reminded her.

"What does it matter? My daily training always meets the standard. Or do you think I've gotten fat lately?" Anko draped an arm over Kazashiro's shoulder and refused to let up, determined to drag him to the dango shop with her.

"Fine, fine, we'll go. Kakashi, Obito, are you two coming?" Feeling the weight on his shoulder and unable to endure Anko's pestering any longer, Kazashiro quickly raised his hands in surrender and dragged his other two troublesome friends into it as well.

"I'm not going." Kakashi rolled his eyes and refused.

"I'll g— Ah! Who kicked me?!" Hearing there would be dango, Obito was just about to agree when Kakashi kicked him in the shin. He clutched his leg and howled.

"Idiot, can't you read the room?" Kakashi glanced at Obito, who was rolling around while holding his leg, and quietly mocked him.

It was obvious that Anko had come looking for Kazashiro. What was the point of an idiot like you tagging along?

"What room? Ow!" Obito didn't understand Kakashi's implication and was about to ask further when Might Guy, who happened to be passing by, stepped on him, making him howl even louder.

"Sorry, sorry! I was too busy sweating and burning with youth to notice you! Uh... Obito?" Might Guy, with weights strapped to his legs, had no idea how much damage he had caused Obito. He looked at him with an apologetic expression.

But who was Obito? They had been classmates for over a year, and he still hadn't remembered everyone's faces?!

"Oh, Kazashiro! Next class is combat practice. Let's have a passionate showdown!" Seeing Kazashiro nearby, Might Guy issued a challenge in a bold tone.

"I refuse." Kazashiro rejected Might Guy's invitation without even thinking.

Are you kidding? Other people might not know, but how could I not? Those leg weights of yours are so heavy that one casual kick would send me straight to a new life.

"Eh, why?! Aren't we friends and rivals who strive forward together?!" Hearing Kazashiro's refusal, Might Guy became flustered.

"Be rivals with Kakashi. I'll pass." Kazashiro decisively sold Kakashi out.

"Why is it me again?" Kakashi, who was always used by Kazashiro as a shield, sighed helplessly.

I really want to beat him senseless if I ever get the chance.

Kakashi had already decided that if Kazashiro turned out to be his opponent in the combat exercise, he would definitely beat him with everything he had.

"Everyone, the teacher told us to gather at the training field and prepare to draw lots for opponents." At that moment, Rin ran into the classroom and called for the students to head to the training field for class.

"Hmph, just wait, Kazashiro." Kakashi snorted, glanced at Kazashiro, and chose the coolest possible way to leave: the Body Flicker Technique.

You show-off bastard!

Watching Kakashi vanish from where he stood, Kazashiro refused to be outdone. He pushed Anko's arm away, opened the classroom window, and jumped out.

Well, being on the first floor was convenient. He could jump whenever he wanted.