Kinoe of Root

Root Headquarters

Not long after returning from Hokage Headquarters, Danzo received an official document from the Third Hokage removing him from his position as Advisor Elder.

Danzo picked up the document and glanced over it.

Then he flung it heavily to the floor.

Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed through his Right Eye.

"Ugh... ah..."

Danzo clutched his Right Eye and groaned in pain. "Someone!"

Medical personnel from Root quickly stepped forward to examine Danzo.

After working for quite a while and injecting Danzo with two types of medicine,

the pain in Danzo's Right Eye gradually subsided, becoming much milder.

"What is going on? Why does my Sharingan hurt?"

The medical personnel answered with great seriousness.

"My lord, this transplanted Sharingan is deteriorating. It is expected to lose its ocular power and become useless within a week."

"Why is this one deteriorating so quickly?"

It was not as though Danzo had never encountered deteriorating Sharingan before, but every Sharingan he had used in the past had lasted for years.

Yet this one had begun deteriorating immediately after being installed.

"My lord! Every Sharingan has a different constitution. Some have high compatibility and remain very stable."

"Others, like this one, deteriorate especially quickly when implanted in someone outside the Uchiha Clan."

"Oh?" Danzo had not expected the only Sharingan he had left to be one with such poor compatibility.

The Uchiha Clan was like a hedgehog now; there was simply no way to make a move against them. Where was he supposed to find another Sharingan?

Danzo's thoughts shifted. "How compatible is Kakashi's Sharingan?"

The medical personnel froze for a moment. Seeing Danzo's icy gaze, he hurriedly replied,

"Kakashi's Sharingan was implanted years ago. Its compatibility is extremely high, and it is very stable."

Danzo snorted coldly. "Call Kinoe."

Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage summoned Kakashi.

"How has Naruto been lately?"

Kakashi still looked lazy and listless, but at the mention of Naruto, his expression changed slightly.

"Naruto has been doing quite well lately. Sasuke, Hinata, Neji, Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba often spend time with him."

"No one bullies him at school, either."

Hearing Kakashi's answer, the Third Hokage nodded.

"Have you gotten to know Naruto?"

"I got acquainted with Naruto while eating at Ichiraku Ramen. Now, whenever we run into each other, we chat for a while."

Kakashi was still in poor spirits—dejected and numb.

But he still cared deeply about Naruto.

The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe. Ever since Uchiha Natsuki appeared, the entire Uchiha Clan had changed drastically.

Meanwhile, the Hokage's side was short on talent. His disappointing son was rebellious to the bone and impossible to straighten out.

Among those with greater talent, there was only Kakashi Hatake before him.

The Third Hokage intended to cultivate Kakashi further, helping him grow quickly so that he could share some of the burden in the future.

If only back then... sigh...

The Third Hokage sighed inwardly.

Then he said to Kakashi, "Orochimaru has been a fugitive for some time, but he left behind quite a few research bases in Konoha."

"The Anbu discovered one of Orochimaru's research bases yesterday. Go investigate it and see if you can find anything."

"Yes!"

Outside Konoha Ninja Academy.

Sasuke walked at the front with his hands in his pockets. Sakura followed behind him, with Naruto and Hinata behind her.

Naruto walked behind Sakura with both hands clasped behind his head.

The Naruto of this world was much healthier in both body and mind. He no longer had a crush on Sakura; they were merely ordinary friends.

On the contrary, Hinata, who followed behind him, was much closer to him.

"Sasuke, you got first place again. You're amazing." Sakura praised Sasuke with a lovestruck expression.

Sasuke was deeply annoyed by girls like this. They clung to him like flies every day.

No matter which route he took, girls would follow him. At first, they came in groups, causing quite a commotion.

Later, he did not know whether they had discussed it or what, but different routes meant different girls.

Sasuke ignored her coldly. Turning his head, he saw Naruto walking with his hands behind his head.

"Hey! Naruto, if you don't work harder, you're going to become the Dead Last."

Naruto lowered his arms. "You smug Sasuke, this time was just an accident. Next time, I'll definitely score better than you."

Sasuke gave an arrogant snort. "That's impossible. The Uchiha Clan is the strongest."

"Stop bragging, Naruto. You can't even beat Choji. How could you surpass Sasuke?"

Hinata stood behind Naruto and said softly, "I believe in Naruto. He'll definitely do well next time."

Naruto burst into happy laughter. "See, Sakura? Someone believes in me."

As he spoke, he gave Hinata a thumbs-up. "Hinata has the best eye for talent."

A visible flush spread across Hinata's face.

"Huh? Hinata, what's wrong? Your face is so red. Do you have a fever?"

The oblivious Naruto moved closer to Hinata and reached toward her forehead.

He's so close. What to do? What to do?

Hinata trembled all over with nervousness, looking as if she were about to faint.

"You idiot, Naruto!" Sakura yanked Naruto away and stood beside Hinata herself.

If Naruto had actually reached over, Hinata would have fainted. After all, this was not the first time.

"Hey, I'm not an idiot!" Naruto protested.

The several people quickly began fooling around together.

Youth really is wonderful, Natsuki mused from atop a tree, only to spot Kakashi entering his Line of Sight.

"Yo, Naruto. You're here." Kakashi was fully equipped, looking as though he was about to carry out a mission.

Even dressed like that, he had insisted on coming over to say hello and make his presence known. He was really trying hard.

"Kakashi, are you going on a mission?" Naruto waved happily. He had very few friends, let alone someone who had taken the initiative to get to know him.

That was why he had a good impression of Kakashi.

"Yeah, I have a mission. I need to get going. I'll treat you to ramen another day." With that, Kakashi hurried away.

"That person... was that Kakashi?" Sakura asked with a shocked expression.

"Naruto, how do you know him?" Sakura asked incredulously.

"Huh?" Naruto looked confused.

"You mean Kakashi?"

Naruto asked in puzzlement,

"We met at Ichiraku Ramen. We ran into each other a few times and got familiar. He even said he wanted to be friends with me."

"Do you even know what Kakashi represents?" Sakura grabbed Naruto's clothes and shook him over and over.

"No, I don't."

Seeing Naruto still wearing an innocent expression,

Sakura looked in the direction Kakashi had disappeared and said,

"That was Kakashi Hatake, a super genius. Kakashi graduated from the academy when he was five."

Hmm!? Sasuke's attention was instantly drawn over.

At that age, they had only just entered the academy, while someone else had already graduated.

"What!?" Naruto was stunned!

"Kakashi is that strong!?"

"He never told me!" Naruto looked equally shocked.

Sakura rolled her eyes, no longer wanting to pay him any attention.