Eight Inner Gates, I accept them

At the gate of Konoha Village, the tip of a pen paused slightly. Kakashi turned his head to look, his left eye already concealed by his forehead protector.

Beside him, when Nohara Rin heard Hanazuki's voice, she had intended to offer a cheerful greeting, but her expression dimmed the moment she heard the words "good eye."

"Hanazuki, this isn't Kakashi's, it's Obito's..."

"What a pity. Uchiha Obito—his eyes contain immense talent. My eye for talent is more accurate than anyone else's; cherish the treasure within that left eye."

"Furthermore, do not wait until you have lost it to feel regret, Senior Kakashi. Whether it is Obito, or..."

The pointed remark made Kakashi recall the day they headed to the Land of Grass and the inexplicable look Uchiha Hanazuki had given him.

"This is Obito's will. I will not hesitate to use his eyes to see the arrival of peace. I will not lose anything again, nor will I feel regret. This is my..."

Kakashi's eyes were like a stagnant pool, his expression unreadable beneath his mask, as if he were speaking of a trivial matter—as if his own life were equally insignificant.

"The small talk ends here. I have a mission to report, so I will take my leave."

The few ninjas who had stopped to watch hurried toward the Hokage's office to file their reports. Nohara Rin looked at that retreating figure in black robes, her heart filled with complex emotions.

At high noon, Hanazuki left the Hokage's office and looked up at the sky, lamenting the state of his life.

"Low pay, too much work, far from home, no holidays all year round. One day, I will change this damned world. I will climb to the very top, step by step, and I will become..."

A weight on his shoulder interrupted his grand ambitions. He turned his head to find two bowl-cut heads gleaming black under the refraction of the sun.

"Long time no see, Captain! You're as spirited as ever! Today is a great day to burn with youth!"

Might Duy laughed heartily, the bandages wrapped beneath his green spandex unable to contain his youthful passion. Beside him, Might Guy nodded, his gaze falling on the cold, stern figure slowly approaching behind Hanazuki.

"Oh, my eternal rival! Let's settle the score today! A contest!"

He darted forward in an instant, clinging tightly to Kakashi's side. Might Guy was fired up, and the two soon vanished into the distance.

"Still as hot-blooded as ever. Duy, your son is cut from the same cloth as you. How are your injuries?"

Tilting his head slightly, Hanazuki removed his Demon Fox Mask and asked with a smile.

"Thank you for your concern. If you hadn't seen through the chakra points of the Formation of the Eight Inner Gates in time and suppressed that chakra, my body would have been burned to ash by the excessive heat. Lady Nonou told me as much."

Might Duy was filled with emotion. He had originally opened the Formation of the Eight Inner Gates with the resolve to die, and it was a miracle he had managed to save his life.

"Think nothing of it. I have already received my payment, and I am quite satisfied. Live well, and watch the day your child becomes a Jonin."

Waving a hand behind him, Hanazuki turned and walked away. Despite having survived, Might Duy—whose chakra meridians were severely damaged, rendering him unable to continue life as a ninja—still maintained a brilliant smile.

"Oh! Thank you, Captain! The elegant spring has passed, and now comes the scorching summer. Good luck with your missions!"

"A scorching summer? That doesn't suit me at all."

[Character Check-in: Might Duy]

[Ability Acquired: Formation of the Eight Inner Gates]

[Check-in successful. Today's reward: Formation of the Eight Inner Gates!]

"I've received my payment in full. Now, where should I go to slack off?"

"Um, excuse me, Hanazuki. Do you have anything to do next? If not, could you walk with me? You and Obito were friends, right?"

Hanazuki, who had been planning to wander around the entertainment district outside Konoha, turned his head. Nohara Rin, who had hurried to catch up, looked earnest, her tone firm.

"I want to know more about Obito. Please."

Looking at the determined Rin, who seemed ready to face death, Hanazuki scanned his surroundings and finally locked onto a direction.

"I understand. Then, I'll have to trouble you to treat me. I will tell you everything I know about Obito."

Rin looked up to see Ichiraku Ramen nearby, emitting an enticing aroma. She hurriedly took out her wallet and nodded solemnly.

Before long, two steaming bowls of ramen appeared.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Special seafood ramen and tonkotsu ramen. Please, enjoy."

The man at Ichiraku Ramen turned to greet other customers. Just as Hanazuki was about to enjoy his meal, he noticed the look of astonishment in the eyes of the person beside him.

Turning to look, he saw Nohara Rin's cheeks flushed red from the steam of the ramen. Hanazuki grew thoughtful, only then remembering that she had likely never seen his true face.

"Now, to the point. Honestly, I don't know much more about Uchiha Obito than you do. But because we were both orphans and our families lived relatively close, we inevitably crossed paths."

"Come to think of it, that rainy day, he rushed out in high spirits, only to arrive at my place looking utterly dejected. I suppose he must have confessed to you, right? Hahahaha..."

As his laughter faded, Nohara Rin couldn't help but lower her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. The man at Ichiraku, seeing this, instinctively stared at Hanazuki, his face full of suspicion.

He looked as if he suspected this guy was cheating on his girlfriend and had just been caught by the real one.

"That day, I..."

"You rejected Obito with encouragement and stated that you liked Senior Kakashi, right?"

The sobbing stopped abruptly. Rin looked stunned, a hint of curiosity and inexplicable shyness on her face. Had Obito even told Hanazuki that?

"He didn't! That was just a reasonable deduction based on your personality. Besides, you were calling out 'Kakashi, Kakashi' the moment you walked in. Isn't it obvious?"

With clear eyes and a fresh smile, he exuded an inexplicable sense of comfort. It made Rin subconsciously feel as if she were facing the gentle Minato-sensei, though his young face resembled Kakashi's more.

"Hanazuki, can your eyes see through people's hearts?"

"It's just that you are too easy to read. Wearing your heart on your sleeve isn't a good habit. Don't do that during missions. Thank you for the treat. Goodbye."

Huh? Rin froze for a moment, looking at the empty ramen bowl beside her, and couldn't help but gasp.

"So fast! When did he finish? And this comforting aura is..."

Suddenly, she felt a weight on her shoulder. Rin looked up blankly to see a familiar, pretty face, faintly tinged with concern.

"Rin, are you okay? I heard about Obito from Orochimaru-sensei. Are you alright?"