["Hmm... even I can hardly recognize myself." Kakashi touched his chin, and his voice was adjusted to be a bit more raspy and measured than usual.]
[Walking onto the streets of Konoha, mixed in with the early-morning crowd, he deliberately slowed his pace, mimicking the carefree, look-around gait of a wandering samurai.]
[He ran into a few acquaintances: the vegetable-selling granny on early shift, the patrolling Chunin squad, and even Tenten from the ninja tool shop.]
[Their gazes swept over him without lingering for a second, just like looking at a complete stranger.]
[Sure enough... Kakashi felt a complex ripple of emotion in his heart, not knowing whether to feel relieved or to wryly smile.]
[Wearing a mask for so many years, it seemed the effect was outstanding.]
[There were probably quite a few people who knew Hatake Kakashi, but across the entire Shinobi World, those who had seen this face and could recognize it immediately after its vibe changed were likely very few.]
[As for Kumogakure, the appearance hurdle was considered passed.]
[What needed to be considered next was the issue of identity.]
[How could a wandering samurai legitimately move about in Kumogakure, and even get close to areas that might involve intelligence?]
[Just as he was pondering, a vibrant voice and the sound of rolling wheelchair wheels came from ahead.]
[He saw Lee pushing Might Guy, who was sitting in a wheelchair, along the street doing their "morning youth patrol".]
[Although Guy's body was inconvenient, his spirits remained high, and he was loudly encouraging Lee.]
[Kakashi instantly reined in his thoughts, cast his gaze toward the sign of a roadside shop as if attracted, and prepared to brush past them like a true passerby.]
[However, just as the wheelchair was about to glide past him—]
["Stop!"]
[A full-throated