The Darkness in Kakashi's Heart

Rin Nohara, an ordinary civilian girl, did not know exactly how Hatake Sakumo had died, but his name had appeared on the Memorial Stone.

"I'm applying for Early Graduation."

Kakashi kept it brief. His steps paused for an instant before he continued forward.

"Wouldn't that be dangerous?"

Rin Nohara spoke up.

She caught sight of the time on the application form: five o'clock this afternoon.

She knew Kakashi was exceptional.

If she had heard about Kakashi graduating early before, she would have felt nothing but admiration.

But ever since Kiyoshi had made those ambiguous remarks, Rin Nohara had deliberately gathered a great deal of information about Kakashi's father.

There were many things she had never known before, and her sources were limited to her parents and other companions, making the information incomplete and restricted.

At that moment, Rin Nohara was deeply worried that Kakashi's emotions would affect his ability to carry out missions.

With Kakashi's talent, he certainly would not waste time on simple D-rank missions like finding lost pets, conducting character investigations, helping villagers dig sweet potatoes, or looking after children. He would take on more difficult missions.

If missions like those failed, lives could very well be at stake!

They might encounter wild beasts, bandits, or even enemy shinobi.

This was no longer child's play. This meant facing the cruelty of the Shinobi World head-on!

"No. I'm not the kind of person who fails missions. Besides, there's no point in continuing to waste time."

After saying that, Kakashi walked off alone.

Rin Nohara remained where she was, the worry on her face deepening.

She went alone to the resting area of the training ground and found Obito.

"What? Kakashi's graduating early?"

When Obito heard from Rin Nohara that Kakashi had gone to submit his application form, he immediately rose from his chair in disbelief.

He had originally wanted to rest for a while and slack off a little, but that thought vanished completely, replaced only by a sense of urgency.

"Isn't he the same age as us?"

Obito could not understand.

Why was the gap between people of the same age so huge?

Even that foreigner who had just arrived, Kiyoshi Uchiha, had been improving rapidly all along.

Did that mean he was the only one standing still?

At that thought, Obito clenched his fists.

Why did those two always happen to be so close to Rin?

"I don't know. Maybe it's because of his strength, or maybe because of his father."

Rin Nohara hesitated for a moment before answering.

"When's the test?"

"Five o'clock this afternoon."

"Let's go watch later."

Since they had nothing to do after school anyway, Obito decided to go see whether Kakashi could pass.

Rin Nohara nodded, agreeing with Obito.

Hokage's Office Building.

"Kakashi applied for Early Graduation?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke that drifted over the application form.

"It is Kakashi's application, Third Hokage-sama."

The Chunin instructor, Umino Iruka, knelt on one knee and answered respectfully.

The names of all students wishing to graduate early had to be submitted to the Third Hokage for review.

Not to mention that Kakashi was the Son of the White Fang.

Not much time had passed since the White Fang incident. Umino Iruka did not dare delay even a moment. With Kakashi applying for Early Graduation at such a sensitive time, it was best to notify the Third Hokage as soon as possible.

"The time is five o'clock this afternoon?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down the application form and tapped the desk with his pipe.

Umino Iruka lowered his head and silently waited for Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision.

"Go gather the other examiners now. Come with me to conduct Kakashi's Early Graduation assessment."

"Yes, Third Hokage-sama!"

Umino Iruka immediately refined Chakra into his feet and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained, gazing out the window, his thoughts unknown.

Five o'clock in the afternoon.

Inside a room with vermilion doors and a large character for "Ninja" hanging above the frame.

Kakashi wore a light green scarf embroidered with circular patterns. He began forming hand seals, quickly blending his spiritual energy and physical energy.

Ram—Snake—Tiger.

Kakashi formed the seals quickly, completing them in no time.

Poof.

The smoke dispersed, revealing a clone almost identical to Kakashi standing before him, maintaining the Tiger hand seal.

When Kakashi lowered his hands, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly.

As expected of Sakumo's only son.

The afterimage created from Chakra was nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. His understanding and proficiency in this ninjutsu were both extremely high.

But the coldness in this child's eyes was a true reflection of the darkness in his heart.

"Congratulations, Kakashi. You have passed the assessment and become a fresh green leaf of Konoha. In the future, become a great shinobi like your father."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking.

An examiner beside him handed Kakashi a brand-new Ninja Headband.

Kakashi stepped forward, accepted the Ninja Headband, and tied it around his forehead.

"We are also deeply saddened by what happened to your father. However, he died a hero and will forever be engraved upon the Memorial Stone. I hope you can be like him and protect the 'King.'"

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Kakashi nodded.

"King" carried different meanings.

What Hiruzen Sarutobi meant was the "King" piece in shogi.

In other words, those who inherited the Will of Fire.

But Kakashi no longer wanted to care about any of that.

He only wanted to become a shinobi who followed the shinobi rules. That was where a shinobi belonged.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flickered faintly as he watched Kakashi, now wearing his Ninja Headband, push open the door and walk out.

"So amazing."

"That's the headband only shinobi can wear!"

"Kakashi really passed."

Quite a few students who had caught wind of the news had gathered outside the door, crowding together as they watched Kakashi emerge.

Kiyoshi was among them as well.

He stood toward the back, watching Kakashi.

This scene took place in episodes 580 and 581 of the anime.

Kakashi applied to graduate, and Hiruzen Sarutobi personally came to assess him.

The White Fang's death was merely the beginning of Kakashi's descent into darkness.

Afterward, the deaths of Rin Nohara and Obito, along with Kakashi's time adapting to the Anbu, would turn him completely cold-blooded.

Many Anbu comrades who had grown accustomed to the darkness of the Shinobi World could not even accept Kakashi.

Kakashi had even nearly been swayed by Danzo into betraying the Third Hokage.

In the end, Hiruzen Sarutobi moved Kakashi and talked him back in time.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted Kakashi to become a jonin squad leader, hoping that teaching disciples would erase the darkness in Kakashi's heart.

That was also why he became the jonin leader of Team Seven.

"Your headband..."

Obito stepped forward and pointed at Kakashi's Ninja Headband.

"You passed. Congratulations, Kakashi."

Unable to change Kakashi's mind, Rin Nohara could only congratulate him.

"Mm."

Kakashi nodded.

Obito turned his head and saw Rin Nohara, who had been watching Kakashi all along.

Hearing Rin Nohara's sincere words of congratulations, Obito clenched his fists.

"What, you're not going to congratulate me?"

Kakashi asked casually. His gaze shifted, and he noticed Kiyoshi standing behind and to his left, watching them.

"Who wants to congratulate you? Just watch, I'll catch up to you soon enough."

After leaving behind that declaration, Obito hurried away.

"Obito..."

Rin Nohara watched Obito run off, feeling helpless.

Obito really was as easily emotional as a child.

That meant the only person she could count on next was the steady Kiyoshi.

Although she could not change the fact that Kakashi had already graduated, Rin Nohara still wanted to try soothing Kakashi's state of mind.

This book used a mixed version of the setting, combining elements from the manga, anime, official novels, and so on. Every version had plot holes, so the author could only try to make the logic flow smoothly. However, everything was taken from official sources and had a basis.