The 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 smiling greeting, but her expression dimmed instantly upon hearing the mention of "good eyes."

"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 something to feel regret, Senior Kakashi. Whether it is Obito, or..."

The pointed words made Kakashi recall the day they headed to the Land of Grass, and the inexplicable look in Uchiha Hanazuki's eyes.

"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 regret it. 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 just as insignificant.

"Enough idle chatter. I have a mission to report, so I'll be going first."

Several ninjas who had stopped to watch hurried toward the Hokage Office Building to file their reports. Nohara Rin looked at the retreating figure in the black robes, her heart heavy with complex emotions.

At high noon, Hanazuki left the Hokage Office Building 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 be..."

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

"Long time no see, Captain! You're as spirited as ever! Today is also a great time 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 as well, his gaze falling on the cold, stern figure slowly approaching behind Hanazuki.

"Oh, my eternal rival! Let's have a contest today! A contest!"

In a flash, he darted forward, clinging tightly to Kakashi's side. Might Guy was boiling with fervor, and the two soon disappeared into the distance.

"Still as hot-blooded as ever. Duy, your son is cut from the exact 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 stroke of immense luck that he had managed to survive.

"Think nothing of it. I have already received the 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 left. Despite having survived, Might Duy—whose chakra meridians were severely damaged, rendering him unable to continue life as a ninja—still maintained a radiant smile.

"Oh! Thank you, Captain! The graceful 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 you have obtained the Formation of the Eight Inner Gates!]

"I've received the payment in full. Now, where shall 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 Village, 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 Nohara Rin, who seemed ready to face death, Hanazuki scanned his surroundings and finally locked onto a direction.

"I understand. Then, I'll 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 gave a solemn nod.

Before long, two steaming bowls of ramen appeared.

"Sorry for the wait. Special seafood ramen and tonkotsu ramen. Please, enjoy."

The man at Ichiraku Ramen went back to greeting 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 his head, 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.

"So, let's get to the point. Uchiha Obito—honestly, I don't know much more about him than you do. But since we were both orphans and our families lived relatively close, our paths inevitably crossed."

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

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

He wore the look of someone suspecting that this guy was two-timing and had just been caught by his real girlfriend.

"That day, I..."

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

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

"He didn't! That's just a reasonable deduction based on your personality. Besides, you were calling out 'Kakashi, Kakashi' the moment you walked in; isn't that obvious at a glance?"

With clear eyes and a fresh smile, he exuded an inexplicable sense of calm that 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. Having your feelings written all over your face 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 in amazement.

"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, beautiful face, faintly tinged with concern.

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