The Triangle is the Most Stable Shape

After reporting to the Third Hokage, the Kakashi Squad received permission to leave the village and officially set off for the Grass Country.

After leaving the village, Youhu noticed that Yamato was not participating in this mission and asked curiously:

"Captain Kakashi, why didn't Senior Yamato come along?"

Kakashi did not hide anything from Youhu and explained the reason: "Yamato must remain in the village. His Wood Style is best suited for protecting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki; even if the Jinchuriki goes on a rampage, he can forcibly suppress it."

"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, is that the brat who was fishing at the back mountain last time?"

"So he is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I thought he was just a homeless orphan. No wonder he had a few Anbu protecting him..."

"That's a bit excessive to say. Naruto is not an orphan."

Facing Youhu's sharp sarcasm, Kakashi's tone was somewhat weak.

Naruto had indeed lived like an orphan all these years, and he didn't know if the Third Hokage had actually been raising Naruto properly.

However, they themselves had come up the same way in the past.

He, Teacher Minato, and Ancestor Jiraiya had all become orphans in their childhood, yet they all grew up healthy. In this era where the turmoil had only recently ended, just staying alive was already quite good.

After a pause, as if remembering something, Kakashi said: "Youhu, did you really not know before that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"I really didn't. If I had known Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, I would have gone over to give him gifts long ago. That way, after he becomes Hokage in the future, I could latch onto his success."

Youhu shook his head and sighed lightly: "Who would have thought that a brat on the side of the road was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Naruto just can't seem to shake the "orphan" label, can he?

Kakashi rubbed his forehead. He felt that Youhu was being snide toward him, blaming the Fourth Hokage's old guard for their inaction, but what could they do?

Were they supposed to guard Naruto every day and stop working or eating?

At this moment, Youhu glanced quietly at Itachi, then leaned into Kakashi's ear and whispered:

"Captain Kakashi, you must be careful of Itachi and his father. They might be just like Obito, wanting to use Naruto's identity as a Jinchuriki to seize an opportunity to launch a coup."

Youhu, you really want to be the Guard Captain that badly.

To think you'd even go as far as framing the head of your own clan...

"Mm-hmm."

Kakashi chose to be selectively deaf and quickened his pace to overtake Youhu. He didn't want to listen to Youhu anymore; there was no telling what other heaven-defying remarks he might hear.

The more you know, the faster you die.

He was only a minor Jonin, with a bit of fame in the ninja world as the "Konoha Technician," but in front of the big shots of the ninja world, he wasn't even worth mentioning.

Youhu had no intention of letting Kakashi off the hook, gathering his energy to give chase.

"Captain Kakashi, don't you want to hear me tell a story? But I want to hear Captain Kakashi tell one. You still haven't told me the story between you and Senior Rin after Brother Obito's fake death."

How is Youhu's speed even faster than mine... Kakashi was secretly shocked.

He remembered that just a few days ago, Youhu's speed hadn't been this high. At the time, he had estimated Youhu's strength to be near that of a Jonin, or at least the combat power of a Special Jonin.

But now, he felt that Youhu's strength had already surpassed a significant portion of Jonin.

When they sparred for him to join the Anbu, could this kid have been hiding his true strength?

That would be a bit terrifying.

It wasn't unheard of to have a fifteen-year-old Uchiha Jonin, but a fifteen-year-old Jonin capable of holding his own against Obito was rare and precious—especially since Obito was also an Uchiha.

Kakashi could only sigh at the sheer number of geniuses in the Uchiha clan; no wonder Danzo always harbored some inexplicable malice toward them.

"Captain Kakashi, why did you stop talking? You and Senior Rin didn't, you know, do that, did you?"

Hearing this, Kakashi's expression changed instantly. He stopped in his tracks, sighed softly, and said, "Since you want to know so badly, I'll tell you what happened after Obito's fake death."

Kakashi was genuinely a bit afraid of Youhu and felt compelled to explain those painful events from the past.

He worried that if he didn't speak up and allowed Youhu to let his imagination run wild, who knew what kind of scandals might be fabricated about him and Rin.

He could handle it himself, but if Obito found out, he would probably try to kill Youhu in a fit of rage.

Watching Kakashi and Youhu whispering to each other up ahead, Itachi felt heavy-hearted and deeply uncomfortable. He felt like he was being subjected to cold violence within the squad; these two were definitely isolating him.

Especially Uchiha Youhu—this guy wouldn't be badmouthing his father again, would he?

Although his father was a bit pedantic and inflexible, and his actions were sometimes indecisive—even going so far as to believe rumors at the clan meeting and trusting that a coup could bring a future to the Uchiha—those were issues of capability. Itachi believed his father was flawless in terms of morality.

Yet, Youhu never attacked his father's capabilities; it was always personal attacks. Things like suggesting his father should sacrifice himself, or suspecting his father would secretly make a move against the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

His father shouldn't be capable of such things.

Nightfall arrived.

The Kakashi Squad found a picturesque spot by the water to rest.

Having talked until his throat was parched, Kakashi used the excuse of fetching water to step away for a moment. Upon returning, he was met with Youhu's burning gaze.

"Youhu, I've already finished telling you about the past between me and Rin. Please, stop pestering me."

"Understood, Captain Kakashi..."

Youhu pondered for a moment, then asked with a curious expression, "I just find the relationship between you, Brother Obito, and Senior Rin a bit strange."

"Brother Obito has a crush on Senior Rin, Senior Rin is interested in you, but you have no feelings for Senior Rin."

"According to the love triangles written in books, could there be something between you and Brother Obito?"

"He even gave you his Sharingan."

Kakashi's face turned livid, and he nearly crushed his water bottle. "My relationship with Obito is innocent, and it's the same with Rin. Stop letting your imagination run wild. Besides, Rin is already dead."

"Is Rin really dead?"

Ignoring Kakashi's broken composure, Youhu continued to himself, "Why do I get the feeling that your accidental killing of Rin was like a trial set for Brother Obito by someone?"

"Senior Rin wasn't even that strong. Why would those Mist Ninja make her the Three-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"After you passed out back then, who was it that saved you both from the Mist Ninja's encirclement? Could all of this have been to force Brother Obito to awaken his Mangekyo?"

"Captain Kakashi, I'm just guessing wildly, don't take it to heart."

He always knew how to drop a bombshell.

Youhu's casual remark was like a boulder crashing into a lake, causing ripples in Kakashi's heart that refused to settle.

Was Rin's death truly not an accident, but a conspiracy targeting Obito? If this were true, did Obito see with his own eyes that he had killed Rin back then?

Would Obito know that it was a conspiracy?

If Obito had guessed the truth, why would he be unwilling to return to the village, choosing instead to inherit the name and will of Uchiha Madara?

Is Obito truly still Obito?