Kakashi's Delay, the Coming Storm

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

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

"I know your hands are fast, but you can't keep me from even forming seals! Damn it... go easy on me, Hideki!"

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

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After a flurry of punches and kicks, Obito lay sprawled on the ground, panting heavily as he stared at Hideki with a face full of resentment.

"You've changed, Hideki."

"You used to be this ruthless only with 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 sad story behind it.

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

The three of them trained like madmen. After all, they had experienced an enemy like Uchiha Retsu, especially Obito, who deeply understood the importance of becoming stronger.

At the time, Hideki's chakra had been 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.

With the fighting on the front lines intensifying, Konoha Hospital had already begun operating at full capacity.

So many young nurses had even started using [Shadow] Clones, and Miss Kumi no longer had time to fuss over Hideki's little head.

Since the wound was small, the trainee nurse Nohara Rin was assigned to treat Hideki.

Their movements had been so intimate. Their relationship had probably long surpassed mere classmates, perhaps even...

Actually, 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.

With Obito's rate of growth, graduating early was a certainty. He was doing this for Obito and Rin's sake as well.

After all, if Madara dared to give him a Three-Tails in a few years, he would be more than happy to take it~

Rin could not suppress the Three-Tails because she was a professional medical ninja. It was not her specialty.

For something like this, it had to be Hideki!

Hydrogen Release was, in the end, a relatively complex composite ninjutsu. Multiple people could use it, and having one more Tailed Beast helping out did not seem to conflict with that.

But that was all for later.

What Hideki was considering now was not his future battle of wits with Madara, 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 while, Obito climbed to his feet and asked in puzzlement.

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

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

After all, making a Kage Rank powerhouse choose suicide under unbearable pressure required some preparation.

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

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

But Kakashi's continued absence gave Hideki a faint sense of foreboding.

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 a companion, Hideki still made his decision.

"Come on, Obito. Let's go check on Kakashi at his place. What if he's sick?"

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

There were simply fewer ninjas in green flak jackets around, but 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 with blood," but something still felt strange in his heart.

He could not help glancing at Obito.

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

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

The main thing was that it was quiet here, while still being relatively close to Konoha's central district.

This was one reason Obito was often later than Kakashi.

The two finally arrived before a large estate in the forest. It was not exactly antique and elegant, but compared with Hideki's little house, it was absolutely a luxurious mansion.

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

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

"That's the situation. Please prepare yourself mentally."

Hideki vaguely heard some of what they said to Kakashi, but unfortunately, his lip-reading was not good enough. The old man had only taught him the basics, and he had yet to master them.

Still, Hideki managed to make out "Lord Hokage," "Lord White Fang," and "do not leave Konoha."

The ANBU members left the Hatake Estate under Kakashi's escort. Obito and Hideki silently stood to one side, only looking toward Kakashi after they had gone.

"What's going on?"

Obito asked curiously. His impression of the White Fang was limited to "a strong man," "an important figure," and "the man closest to becoming Hokage." In short, he was incredibly formidable.

As for the 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 hide the worry and loneliness in his eyes.

That made Hideki frown.

He had the broad, godlike view of events. The White Fang had abandoned a mission to save his comrades and returned to Konoha, only to be met with everyone's blame and abuse. In the end, unable to bear the pressure, he took his own life.

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

Rumors throughout the village were about to begin. A vortex aimed at 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 very seriously, seriously enough that even Obito became solemn.

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

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

"Maybe there are things Obito and I can't help with, but one more person means one more source of strength. You should understand that."

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

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