Kakashi

The burst of power had felt great for a moment, but afterward, Guy had to carry him back. Something that humiliating could never happen again.

The main problem was that Guy had been watching the whole time, and his body had been so exhausted and sore that he could not move. He had not even been able to drink some medicine to recover.

And on the way back, Guy had carried him back in broad daylight, wearing a proud, smug expression that drew the attention of every bystander.

If he had opened the Fourth Gate, would he be in Konoha Hospital right now? It really was dangerous.

When he had opened the Third Gate, his body had clearly told him there was nothing wrong. Was this weakened state not a problem? Or did his body only consider crippling injuries or death to be actual problems?

Lying in bed, Uchiha Qingfeng silently summarized his experience with the Eight Inner Gates Formation.

Hearing voices downstairs, he wondered who had come over.

Once they came upstairs, Qingfeng saw that it was once again the Inuzuka Clan's human-and-dog combination.

After hearing that Qingfeng had been severely injured, could not even walk, and might already be crippled, Inuzuka Hana had hurried over riding a dog, bringing several bottles of medicine from the family veterinarian along the way.

Qingfeng was an orphan, after all. As his friend, she absolutely had to help him properly at a time like this!

The moment she arrived, she lifted Qingfeng's blanket without a word.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking your body."

She immediately began stretching his arms and legs. After finding nothing wrong, she still refused to give up and shook Qingfeng's head several times.

"Looks like you have internal injuries."

Qingfeng was speechless. He simply let the little girl fuss over him.

Beside them, Black Maru was still bouncing around. Perhaps because Qingfeng could not move and posed no threat now, it had started feeling tough again.

Following the treatment methods of the old veterinarians in her clan, she forcibly checked Qingfeng's pupils and tongue coating. Finally, she placed a hand on Uchiha Qingfeng's chest and felt his heartbeat.

"The veterinarian said that if you can't find the problem, that means the problem is serious. We can only try everything."

After saying that, Inuzuka Hana pulled several bottles and jars from the little bag she carried with her.

Uchiha Qingfeng turned to look and spotted one labeled, "Special Heat-Inducing Medicine for Adult Ninja Hounds."

???

"Damn it, Inuzuka Hana, calm down! I'm fine! Don't mess around with that dog medicine!"

Qingfeng could not imagine what would happen if his six-year-old body consumed something made for dogs. The Ninja World really ought to be destroyed.

Inuzuka Hana gave an embarrassed laugh. "Ninja Hounds and people are pretty similar, right? It should be fine if you take it, shouldn't it? Maybe it'll even cure you?"

"Inuzuka Hana, listen to me carefully. I just overtrained and am temporarily weak. There's nothing wrong with my body. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

After speaking, he laboriously raised one hand. "Look, I can already move my arm. I'll be better soon!"

Only heaven knew how much effort Qingfeng had put into that simple act of raising his hand.

Inuzuka Hana finally put away the Ninja Hound medicine she had taken out, though she did so reluctantly.

Afraid that Inuzuka Hana might come up with some other nonsense, Uchiha Qingfeng hurriedly thought of a solution. "Inuzuka Hana, if you really want to help me, go buy me a bowl of ramen. That would be a huge help. I'd be endlessly grateful."

"You really just need a bowl of ramen?"

"Really. A bowl of noodles is enough!"

Inuzuka Hana looked back every three steps as she finally headed downstairs with Black Maru.

Now that no one was around, Qingfeng used his barely mobile hand to quickly take out the Body Strengthening Secret Medicine and a Master Potion, taking a sip of each.

This feeling was incredible. Body Strengthening Secret Medicine was forever the best!

It felt so good to be able to walk on his own feet again! He absolutely could not overdraw his body like that ever again.

He heard the door open. Inuzuka Hana should not have returned so quickly, right?

Before the person even arrived, Guy's booming voice carried upstairs. "Qingfeng, look what I brought you!"

No, there were two sets of footsteps!

Kakashi had finally come. Uchiha Qingfeng had not figured out how to face him yet. After all, he was only an outsider here.

Sure enough, it was Guy and Kakashi!

Guy had gone to Konoha Hospital to buy two bottles of stamina-restoring medicine, something probably similar to glucose. There, he happened to run into Kakashi, who was visiting a teammate.

Kakashi heard that Qingfeng had opened three gates of the Eight Inner Gates Formation on his very first attempt, while Guy kept praising Qingfeng as a genius.

"This is utter nonsense! He's only six years old. This technique is far too dangerous for him!"

Worried about Qingfeng's condition as well, Kakashi hurriedly grabbed two bottles of recovery medicine with no side effects and rushed to Qingfeng's home with Guy.

When the two arrived at Uchiha Qingfeng's room, they found Qingfeng already standing before them completely unharmed.

"Didn't they say he couldn't move right now?"

"Was this really the Eight Inner Gates Formation after opening three gates for the first time?"

"He couldn't move when I carried him back! What happened?"

Kakashi did not remain frozen there. He set down what he was carrying, reached out, and grabbed Qingfeng's wrist, performing a simple check for any hidden internal injuries.

"Looks like there really isn't anything wrong."

Qingfeng still felt rather awkward. Kakashi had suddenly appeared before him, and he did not know what to do or say, so he simply let Kakashi hold his wrist.

"It's good that you're fine. Qingfeng truly is a super genius among Taijutsu Ninja! This level of physical strength is what every Taijutsu Ninja dreams of!"

Kakashi withdrew his hand. The three of them looked at one another, and the atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Even Guy noticed it.

For a moment, none of them knew what to say.

After coming to the Ninja World, if one lacked strength, one had to watch one's words and actions. Disaster came from the mouth, and he absolutely could not speak carelessly. Even if he told Kakashi that Obito was not dead, what would it change?

The village had classified him as a Rogue Ninja of genin rank. Other than Kakashi, no one cared whether Obito was dead or alive.

And Obito was currently acting under the identity of Uchiha Madara. Even if Qingfeng told them, not only would no one believe him, he would bring disaster upon himself.

It was better for everyone to take a step back and pretend nothing had happened. Qingfeng could continue lying low and developing in Konoha, while everyone else could go do whatever they were supposed to do.

A set of footsteps broke the silence between the three.

"Qingfeng, I bought the ramen!"

Inuzuka Hana came to the second floor and discovered that Qingfeng was not only already recovered, but there were two more people present.

She often saw Guy in green clothes, so she knew him. But who was this silver-haired Ninja wearing a mask?

Qingfeng stepped forward and took the ramen. "Let me introduce you. This is Kakashi Hatake. He may only be a few years older than us, but he's already a Jonin."

"A Jonin?"

Inuzuka Hana was genuinely shocked. Her mother, Inuzuka Tsume, had only become a Special Jonin through the clan's secret techniques. This was the first time she had ever seen such a young Jonin.

The awkward atmosphere vanished, and Guy instantly became lively. "So you all have to keep working hard! Becoming Jonin is just around the corner!"

Kakashi took his leave. The two had not exchanged a word from beginning to end in the room.

Qingfeng went downstairs to see him off.

Inuzuka Hana, riding her dog, wanted to follow them down too. Unfortunately, Guy gave the big black dog a kick, and the man and dog instantly began tangling with each other.

Black Maru still remembered that this man in a bodysuit had kicked it the first time they met. This time, it was settling both old and new scores together.

After they stepped outside the pharmacy, Kakashi finally said, "I'm sorry."

"As a Ninja, you should always be prepared to die. You weren't the one at fault. War was."

Kakashi did not say anything further. Qingfeng's words were enough.