Morning.
Hikawa stood outside with his eyes closed.
A moment later, his body trembled slightly as lightning coursed across him.
Only when he could no longer endure it did he withdraw his Chakra.
Hikawa let out a breath.
After so long training, his C-Rank Entry, "Lightning Release Chakra Mode," had reached 70% progress.
The A-Rank Entry, "Super Strength," was progressing even more slowly, at only around 20%.
Just then, footsteps sounded.
Hikawa turned his head and could not help but freeze slightly.
It was Hatake Kakashi.
But the cool expression he usually wore had been replaced by worry.
That was clearly unusual.
Moreover, he had come alone, without Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara.
"What happened?"
A thought stirred in Hikawa's mind. Had Hatake Sakumo committed suicide? But if he had, Hatake Kakashi would not be this calm.
"Have you heard the recent rumors?"
After hesitating for a moment, Hatake Kakashi finally asked.
"What rumors?"
Hikawa paused, then said, "I've been interning at Konoha Hospital lately, so I haven't paid attention."
"They're about my father."
Hatake Kakashi explained, "Quite a few ninja think that my father violated the village's rules by saving his comrades before completing the mission."
As expected. The rumors had finally come, and this was only the beginning.
Hatake Sakumo was currently too powerful. He could entirely manage to save his comrades and complete his mission at the same time.
But if you walked by the river often enough, your shoes would eventually get wet.
What if Konoha assigned him an exceptionally difficult and important mission, and he failed it because he chose to save his comrades first?
Then, just as in the original story, he would be condemned by everyone, and Hatake Sakumo would ultimately commit suicide.
There was no doubt that someone was pulling strings behind