Kakashi's Tardiness, the Coming Storm

"Fire Release... damn it! Hideki, that's fighting dirty!"

Obito, who had been forming hand seals, was forced to stop by several water bullets. He dodged while crying out in misery.

"I know your hands are fast, but you can't just not let me form any seals at all! Damn it... go easy on me, Hideki!"

"An enemy will only be faster than me, Obito!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After a barrage of punches and kicks, Obito lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily and staring resentfully at Hideki.

"You've changed, Hideki."

"You used to be this harsh only on Kakashi, but now... hmph!"

Obito haughtily turned his head away. He did not want to look at that handsome face.

Speaking of that face, there was a painful story behind it.

Some time ago, during a sparring session between the three of them, Obito accidentally cut Hideki's arm with a kunai. The injury was not serious, but it still needed treatment.

The three of them trained like maniacs. After all, they had faced an enemy like Uchiha Retsu, and Obito especially understood the importance of becoming stronger.

At the time, Hideki's chakra was too depleted for him to use the Mystical Palm Technique, so Obito and Kakashi could only take turns carrying him to the hospital.

Then Obito witnessed a scene that filled him with grief and indignation.

Because the fighting at the front had intensified, Konoha Hospital had begun operating at full capacity.

So many of the pretty nurses were even using [Shadow] Clones, and Miss Kumi did not have time to knead Hideki's little head anymore.

Since the wound was small, the trainee nurse Nohara Rin was put in charge of treating Hideki.

The way they acted together was so intimate. Their relationship had probably long surpassed mere friendship between classmates, perhaps even...

In truth, Hideki had grown familiar with Rin because he had not neglected his medical ninjutsu training over the past month.

First, it was for Yang Release. Second, it was for team assignments.

At Obito's rate of growth, early graduation was certain. Hideki was doing this for Obito and Rin's sake as well.

After all, if Madara dared to send him a Three-Tails in a few years, he would gladly accept it~

Rin could not suppress the Three-Tails because she was a professional medical ninja. Her specialty simply did not match.

For something like this, it had to be Hideki!

Hydrogen Release was, in the end, a relatively complicated composite ninjutsu. Multiple people could use it, but having an extra tailed beast helping out did not seem to conflict with that, did it?

But that was all for later.

What Hideki was considering now was not battling wits with Madara in the future, but Kakashi.

"Come to think of it, why hasn't Kakashi shown up today? Don't tell me he overslept?"

Seeing that Hideki had not reacted for a long time, Obito climbed to his feet and asked in confusion.

He still preferred the feeling of beating Kakashi up together with Hideki.

"Let's wait a little longer." Hideki wanted to wait a bit more. After all, there were no rumors spreading through the village yet, so perhaps 'that incident' had not happened.

After all, making a Kage-level powerhouse buckle under the pressure and choose suicide required some preparation.

The two continued sparring, while Hideki tried to use everything he had learned from the old man on Obito.

It would deepen his own understanding, and Obito could learn from it too.

But Kakashi still had not arrived, and a faint sense of foreboding rose in Hideki's heart.

Although the three of them had only trained together for a month, Kakashi had truly become part of their little group.

With the principle of never abandoning or giving up on a companion, Hideki made his decision.

"Come on, Obito. Let's go check on Kakashi. He might be sick."

They walked along Konoha's streets at noon, when the village was at its liveliest.

There were just fewer ninja in green flak jackets around, though that did not affect Konoha's prosperity.

Hideki had never been to the front lines, so he could not say things like, "This prosperity was built on blood." Still, something felt off to him.

He could not help glancing at Obito.

Once this guy became a little more reliable, they should be able to go to war, right?

At last, the bustling streets were left behind. The Hatake Clan's "territory" was somewhat remote, though not as remote as the Uchiha district.

The place was mainly quiet, but it was still relatively close to Konoha's central areas.

There was a reason Obito was often later than Kakashi.

The two finally arrived before a large estate deep in the woods. It was not exactly antique and elegant, but compared to Hideki's little cabin, it was absolutely a mansion.

Obito was just about to press the doorbell when several people emerged from Kakashi's courtyard.

They all wore masks. Hideki felt that they were ANBU rather than Root, and Kakashi stood among them.

"That is the situation. Please prepare yourself mentally."

Hideki vaguely heard them say something to Kakashi, but unfortunately, his lip-reading was not good enough. The old man had only taught him the basics, and he had not mastered it yet.

Still, Hideki made out the words "Lord Hokage," "Lord White Fang," and "do not leave Konoha."

The several ANBU departed from the Hatake Estate under Kakashi's escort. Obito and Hideki silently stood to one side, only turning to look at Kakashi after they had left.

"What happened?"

Obito asked curiously. His impression of the White Fang was limited to "powerhouse," "adult," and "the man closest to becoming Hokage." In short, he was incredibly formidable.

As for ANBU, that was something they would only learn about in the second semester of their first year at the Ninja Academy.

"It's... it's nothing." Kakashi's gaze shifted evasively, but he could not conceal the worry and desolation in his eyes.

That made Hideki frown.

He had a rough, godlike overview of things: White Fang had abandoned his mission to save his companions before returning to Konoha, only to be met with everyone's accusations and abuse. In the end, unable to bear the pressure, he had taken his own life.

But Hideki did not know the details. Still, judging from Kakashi's state and the timing, it seemed to have happened.

Rumors throughout the village were about to begin, and a storm targeting the White Fang was about to arise.

And Hideki felt that he should be able to do something.

"You don't look like you're fine, Kakashi." Hideki crossed his arms and watched Kakashi with a scrutinizing gaze.

"No matter what you think, Obito and I consider you our companion. That day, Obito was nearly beaten to death by Uchiha, and you didn't leave. Now, no matter what happens, we'll stand behind you too."

Hideki spoke with great seriousness, so serious that even Obito became solemn.

Kakashi slowly raised his head, his eyes gradually turning complicated. Even with the mask on, Hideki could see Kakashi's inner struggle.

"You don't have to bear this alone, Kakashi," Hideki continued when he saw that.

"Maybe there are things we can't help with, but an extra person means extra strength. You should understand that."

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, Hideki." Kakashi looked up at the sky, his tone full of helplessness.

"I'm afraid that even if the three of us join together, we still won't be able to do anything..."