Rewards × Kakashi

Uchiha Fugaku looked at the wounds on the man's body with lingering fear. As the captain of the Police Force, he knew exactly what kind of terrifying injuries this man had sustained.

His bones were shattered irregularly throughout his body, and most of his internal organs were barely recognizable. It took the medical team a full three hours of stitching just to barely pull this person back from the brink of death.

"So, it was that guy from the Nara clan."

A trace of realization appeared on the face of Yamanaka Lin.

"Then this must be the result of him holding back."

"Indeed."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded in deep agreement. Unlike his relationship with the typical Hokage faction, he and Nara Dan were actually quite familiar with each other, having frequently sparred in the past.

He knew all too well the strength and speed of Nara Dan, not to mention that unreasonable, steel-like physique of his.

"Let's begin. We shouldn't let Dan-kun's efforts go to waste."

Yamanaka Lin nodded in approval and began to weave hand signs.

"Ninja Art, Mind Reading Technique!"

Standing to the side, Uchiha Fugaku watched the scene, but his thoughts were elsewhere; he was thinking about the person who had inflicted such heavy injuries on the man before him.

What a fearsome power, Dan-kun.

Uchiha Fugaku recalled the days when he often sparred with Nara Dan. Even back then, Nara Dan had displayed astonishing talent in taijutsu.

Whether it was taijutsu, ninjutsu, or genjutsu.

For a physique like that, their effects were extremely limited.

Even the copying ability of the Sharingan was completely useless; after all, the prerequisite for any taijutsu is the physical fitness required to support its movement.

Uchiha Fugaku remembered clearly that starting a year ago, he could no longer keep up with Nara Dan's speed at all.

Even with the Three Tomoe Sharingan activated, it was like trying to put out a burning cart of firewood with a single cup of water.

Fortunately, Dan-kun's political stance isn't obvious. Even toward the Uchiha clan, which everyone treats like a pariah, Dan-kun seems completely indifferent.

Or perhaps, Dan-kun only believes in his own strength and cares for nothing else.

Thinking of this, a faint smile appeared on Uchiha Fugaku's face.

Perhaps the change in the Uchiha clan's situation can start with Dan-kun.

Meanwhile, Nara Dan was currently receiving commendations in the Hokage Office.

"Thanks to you, Dan."

The Third set down his pipe and spoke kindly to the Nara Dan standing before him.

"If you hadn't stepped in when you did, those classified intelligence reports would likely have been leaked. The consequences would have been unimaginable."

"Indeed. With Jiraiya and the others currently out of the village, we need you more than ever to deter those petty villains."

"You are too kind, Lord Third. It was merely my duty."

Nara Dan humbly declined the praise, but inwardly, he was calculating the Third's subtext.

He wants me to deter the villains? It seems he intends to spread word of my capabilities—on one hand to draw attention toward me, and on the other to serve as a deterrent for the coming war.

After all, Konoha is, strictly speaking, not at its peak.

The death of the White Fang and the illness of Tsunade had both dealt significant blows to Konoha's high-level combat strength.

This time, the Third didn't just offer empty promises. With a wave of his hand, he credited Nara Dan with an A-rank mission and asked if there were any materials or secret techniques he required.

"Whatever materials or secret techniques you need, I will approve them for you right here."

The Third was uncharacteristically generous. One had to know that many materials and secret techniques were not open to ninjas below the rank of Jonin.

Even Jonin couldn't access certain things, so the Third's offer was undoubtedly giving Nara Dan immense convenience.

Hearing this, Nara Dan's expression flickered slightly. He stared fixedly into the Third's eyes, not moving.

It was as if he were trying to read the Third's psychological state, or perhaps contemplating what he should demand from him.

The Third, however, squinted his eyes and took a puff of his pipe, seemingly oblivious to Nara Dan's gaze, lost in the tobacco.

After a moment, Nara Dan finally spoke.

"Lord Third, I would like to exchange for some Chakra Metal."

"Including the shares from my previous missions."

"That is naturally fine. A typical Jonin is entitled to one jin of Chakra Metal. With your previous merits added in, I will authorize a share of five jin for you."

The Third nodded, appearing very magnanimous.

"Then many thanks, Lord Third."

"If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Nara Dan bowed slightly, his expression as indifferent as before.

"Dan."

"I heard you are meeting with Kakashi and the others today. Is that true?"

The Third brought up the previous mission.

"Yes, I am indeed meeting with those little ones today."

"Being a Jonin instructor, it is indeed better to be young."

The Third sighed with some emotion, his gaze seemingly looking into the depths of time and space, not knowing if he was recalling the days under Tobirama Senju, or the time he spent leading the Sannin.

After a long while, the Third belatedly remembered Nara Dan.

"Hehehe, apologies. When one gets old, one becomes like this, fond of idle chatter."

"You should head off quickly, lest you be late for your first meeting, which wouldn't be good."

The Third was always so kind and benevolent, without the airs of a superior; perhaps this was the charm that made him the Shinobi Hero.

Meanwhile, on the streets of Konoha, Hatake Kakashi walked along with an expressionless face, or rather, even if he did have an expression, it was hidden beneath his mask, invisible to others.

But the people around him did not care what expression lay beneath Hatake Kakashi's mask, whispering among themselves, "Isn't that the child of the Hatake family?"

"Yes, I heard he is being ostracized in his ninja squad and even had his Jonin captain file a complaint against him."

"I heard it's because he completely disregards the lives and feelings of his teammates during missions, causing all of them to be dissatisfied."

"Is that so? Could it be because of his fathe—"

"Shh! Orders have come from above; this matter cannot be discussed freely in public."

"It seems it really is because of that."

Although such "whispers" were no different from speaking directly into the ears of a ninja with keen senses, Hatake Kakashi seemed completely indifferent to the words of others, his pace not faltering in the slightest, but his tightly clenched, bleeding fists betrayed his true state of mind; he was not indifferent to these rumors at all, and in fact, could not calm down in the slightest.

The death of the White Fang had dealt him a deep blow and left him confused, not only because of the death of his only kin, but also because his father had committed suicide, and for the reason that he had prioritized protecting his comrades over completing the mission.

The simultaneous collapse of such an ideal world and emotional world was far too cruel for a child not yet seven years old.

Slowly, he arrived at the designated training ground, and at this moment, the training ground was empty; he was the first to arrive.

The current Kakashi was not yet the "King of Tardiness" he would become later; having not yet experienced the death of his teammates, he was still exceptionally punctual.

Before long, the other two squad members arrived one after another.