"Is that so—"
The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe, pondered for a moment, then nodded lightly. "As long as you know your limits."
"However."
"Your strength has reached this stage now. From here on, you need to build a combat system around the techniques you excel at."
"If you need help with that, I can assist you."
Uchiha Shingen naturally understood the Third Hokage's unspoken meaning and silently nodded.
"And you, Kakashi?!"
The Third Hokage turned to Kakashi, who fell silent for a moment.
After a long while.
Kakashi finally gathered his courage, raised his head to meet the Third Hokage's gaze, and said word by word, "Lord Hokage, I want to know: to a ninja, which is more important, the mission or one's comrades?!"
The Hokage's office instantly fell silent.
A trace of surprise appeared in Uchiha Shingen's eyes as he looked at Kakashi.
He could not help marveling inwardly at how gutsy this kid really was.
Shingen had long since learned about White Fang from Jiraiya and the others.
Several years ago.
During an operation, White Fang had abandoned his mission to save his comrades, resulting in mission failure. Konoha suffered enormous losses because of it, and it eventually sparked a huge controversy within the village.
Unable to endure the immense psychological pressure of being at the center of the incident, White Fang chose to take his own life.
White Fang's issue precisely struck at the rift between Konoha's inherited Will of Fire and the reality of treating ninja as tools.
It was far more sensitive than Kakashi imagined.
The Third Hokage also remained silent for a long time before finally giving his answer. "I acknowledge White Fang's will, and I acknowledge the choice he made."
"But rather than asking me whether missions or comrades are more