The Child of Prophecy Has Changed

Genkawa Uchiha stood at the gate of the Old Clan Grounds, looking at Kakashi Hatake without any particular expression, as if he were merely looking at a slightly familiar stranger.

He did not speak.

Kakashi Hatake did not speak right away either. The two stared at each other for several seconds before Kakashi moved first, stepping out from beneath the tree and crossing the distance to stand before Genkawa.

"About that day..."

Kakashi was direct, without the slightest attempt at concealment, getting straight to the point.

His voice was slightly hoarse, as though he had not had water in a long time. "Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

At the same time, his eyes were red—not the red of someone who had cried, but the red of someone who had not slept well. The whites of his eyes were streaked with bloodshot veins, and the dark circles beneath them were far worse than usual.

Genkawa looked at him, neither agreeing nor refusing.

"How long have you been waiting here?" he asked.

Kakashi froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting him to ask that first.

He lowered his eyes, considered it, then answered, "I come every day."

Seriously? Was he really that persistent?

Was Obito Uchiha really that hard for him to let go of?

Genkawa could not understand it, but he respected it nonetheless and gave a slight nod.

He had not left the house these past few days, so he had not known about this.

Then again, it made sense. Once someone like Kakashi Hatake set his mind on something, he would keep at it. Waiting here was nothing—he could stand before the Memorial Stone for hours on end, let alone wait for news related to Obito Uchiha.

Genkawa did not ask why Kakashi had not entered the clan grounds to find him.

The Old Clan Grounds had effectively been sealed off. Other than Genkawa himself, no one entered.

Kakashi was Anbu. There was no way he did not know that, which was why he had chosen to wait outside.

"I can tell you what happened."

Genkawa finally spoke.

Kakashi's eyes abruptly lit up, like a drowning man clutching at his last straw.

"However..."

Genkawa changed the subject, the corner of his mouth curving upward slightly.

"You'll have to please me first."

Kakashi froze.

Please him?

For a moment, his mind could not process it. The one visible eye was filled with confusion.

Genkawa's gaze fell on the short sword strapped to Kakashi's back. Its design was simple, but the mark on its sheath revealed its identity.

It was a Hatake Clan blade—the weapon once carried by Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's White Fang.

"I'd like to witness the Hatake Clan's swordsmanship."

Genkawa said it casually, as though he were making the most ordinary request in the world.

He had discovered the joy of battle.

Though Obito Uchiha had been beaten rather badly in that fight, Genkawa had found the entire process immensely satisfying.

That feeling of going all out, of not needing to hold anything back, was genuinely interesting.

It was something he had never experienced before.

Fighting others truly brought endless joy.

The Hatake Clan's swordsmanship was famous throughout the Ninja World. Genkawa had heard plenty of Hatake Sakumo's legendary exploits, and now that he had a chance to see it for himself, he naturally did not want to miss it.

Kakashi's pupils contracted slightly.

Instinctively, he raised a hand and touched the hilt over his shoulder.

He had not used this blade in a long time. Ever since his father's death, he had rarely used a sword, relying more on ninjutsu and the Sharingan.

But he did not hesitate for long.

"Fine."

One word, clean and decisive.

Right now, he only wanted to understand Obito Uchiha's situation. That boy who had been crushed beneath the boulder at Kannabi Bridge and given him his eye. That person whom Kakashi had believed to be dead—why had he appeared in Konoha? Why had he worn a mask and called himself Madara Uchiha? Why had he fought Genkawa Uchiha like that?

There were too many questions in his heart, and too much he wanted to ask. He needed answers.

As for the price, Kakashi Hatake did not care.

"Then come with me."

No time like the present. Genkawa turned and headed out of the Old Clan Grounds.

After taking two steps, he seemed to remember something. His stride paused slightly as he casually lifted his head and glanced toward a point in the sky.

There was nothing in that direction, only blue sky and several white clouds.

But Genkawa narrowed his eyes slightly, then withdrew his gaze and continued walking.

Kakashi did not waste any words. He turned and followed, the two heading one after the other toward the northern part of the village, near the Forest of Death.

Hokage Building, Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk. In the Crystal Ball before him, the scene outside the gate of the Uchiha Clan's Old Clan Grounds was clearly reflected.

He saw Genkawa Uchiha meet Kakashi Hatake, saw their brief exchange, and saw the instant Genkawa looked up.

At that instant, the boy in the Crystal Ball seemed to look directly at him.

Not at the Crystal Ball, but at him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression shifted slightly.

He had been Hokage for so many years and had used this technique to observe countless people. The number of times it had been noticed could be counted on one hand.

Yet Genkawa Uchiha's glance clearly meant that he had discovered the technique and knew he was being watched.

"That's the Uchiha child?"

A deep voice sounded beside him.

A tall figure stood beside Hiruzen, broad and powerfully built, with long white hair spilling over his shoulders and a forehead protector engraved with the character for "oil."

Jiraiya.

Hiruzen nodded and swept a hand across the Crystal Ball, dispersing the image.

"Genkawa Uchiha," he said.

"He is thirteen this year, an exceptionally gifted child, and... he has already awakened those legendary eyes of the Uchiha Clan."

Jiraiya fell silent for a moment, his gaze still resting on the spot where the Crystal Ball's image had vanished.

"The Mangekyō?"

Hiruzen nodded. "Yes, the eyes Madara Uchiha once possessed."

At that, Jiraiya's brow furrowed slightly.

He had never seen Madara Uchiha's eyes, but he had heard Madara's fearsome reputation ever since childhood.

Anything connected to him was no simple matter.

Not to mention the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even Jiraiya found the very thought of it heavy.

"That moment just now... was he looking here?" he changed the subject.

Hiruzen did not answer, but his silence was answer enough.

Meanwhile, the two in the Crystal Ball had already begun moving swiftly, hurrying toward the Forest of Death.

"Huh."

Jiraiya voiced his surprise, because the two stopped at the edge of the Forest of Death.

It was still within the village's boundaries, though only barely. Because of the Forest of Death's dangers, few people came here in ordinary times.

What surprised Jiraiya was that, after stopping, the two immediately drew their blades and began fighting without hesitation.

"What are they doing?"

Jiraiya could see the danger in their swordsmanship exchange. It did not look like training at all, but rather a duel.

"Ah..."

Hiruzen sighed softly and said helplessly, "Ever since Kakashi learned about Obito Uchiha, he has wanted answers. Unfortunately, I cannot give him those answers, so he went to find Genkawa Uchiha. I only hope nothing goes wrong between the two of them."

Jiraiya watched the scene in the Crystal Ball and laughed heartily.

"Old man, there's no need to worry so much. It's only a battle between two geniuses. Nothing will happen."

After saying that, Jiraiya's expression turned solemn. Changing the subject, he said bluntly, "The moment I received word, I rushed back as fast as I could. But before that, I made a trip to Mount Myōboku. The Great Toad Sage told me that something has changed with the Child of Prophecy."