The False Veil of Peace Would Eventually Be Torn Apart

"Kenichi, you seemed a little absent-minded today." Kakashi gave his friend a puzzled look. Kenichi Amamiya's performance tonight had been rather poor.

Yesterday, they had still been evenly matched in their game, but today, Kenichi kept getting distracted.

"Ah, sorry, sorry, Kakashi. I was thinking about something just now." Kenichi Amamiya shook his head and smiled apologetically at Kakashi.

His apology was so genuine, and his manner so sincere, that Kakashi felt a little embarrassed instead.

As Kenichi Amamiya looked at Kakashi before him, his expression remained apologetic. The only reason he had been distracted was because today was a special day.

Yes, after the beautiful days of peace had passed one by one, Konoha's turning point had finally arrived. Today was Kushina Uzumaki's due date.

Kenichi Amamiya should not have known about it. After all, he was merely one of Konoha's many Chunin. Fortunately, his teacher had hinted at it, allowing him to learn of today's special circumstances.

"Naruto Uzumaki..." Kenichi Amamiya smacked his lips. Today was the day Naruto Uzumaki would be born—the absolute protagonist of Naruto, the Child of Prophecy.

Though in the more distant future, there would be Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, whose early story had been criticized as utterly dull, the protagonist now was indeed Naruto Uzumaki.

And from this point onward, the story Kenichi Amamiya knew was about to begin moving forward.

But those were matters for later. Right now, Kenichi Amamiya had other problems to deal with.

"Kakashi, have something to drink." Kenichi Amamiya brought out a bottle of beverage with a cheerful smile and opened it right in front of Kakashi.

Kakashi did not think much of it. Ever since he started visiting his friend's home recently, he had noticed that his friend seemed to enjoy drinks very much, having a bottle every night.

Kakashi glanced outside. The sky had not completely darkened yet, but it was almost time. Before long, he would have to leave for the Anbu.

If his teacher had not known that he and Kenichi Amamiya had become close lately and specifically given him half a day off, he would already be wearing a mask and carrying out missions.

"Kenichi, sorry, but I have to leave soon." Kakashi forced out a slight smile. Kenichi was his friend, so he still wanted to explain.

"Ah, I know. It's fine, it's fine. Finish your drink before you go." Kenichi Amamiya's smile became even more natural.

Kakashi found nothing strange about it. He took the bottle and drained it in one gulp. It was the same familiar taste. Then he stood, bid farewell to his friend, and left Kenichi Amamiya's home.

Kenichi Amamiya also smiled as he saw Kakashi out. The instant Kakashi turned his back, Kenichi Amamiya struck without hesitation.

At that moment, Kenichi Amamiya refined his immense Yang Release Chakra to the utmost limit, then drove all of it into Kakashi's body with a single palm strike.

Caught completely off guard, Kakashi shuddered all over. He only felt a blow land on his back, followed by an enormous surge of Chakra pouring into him. At the same time, a heavy, dizzy feeling welled up from within.

Under the combined effects, Kakashi did not even have time to turn around before collapsing unconscious at Kenichi Amamiya's doorstep.

"Sorry, Kakashi." Kenichi Amamiya looked at the unconscious Kakashi and revealed a faint smile.

The Mystical Palm Technique was a unique form of Medical Ninjutsu that required precise control over Chakra output. If too much Yang Release Chakra was released, it would instead cause unconsciousness.

And after inheriting the First Hokage's Sage Body, his Yang Release Chakra reserves were quite considerable.

Combined with the anesthetic Kenichi Amamiya had smeared on the bottom of the cup, it was hardly strange that Kakashi had fallen victim to it while completely unguarded.

"What a hassle. If the research had been completed by now, I wouldn't have needed to ask my teacher for this eye." Kenichi Amamiya scratched his head as he looked at the glass bottle in his hand.

An eyeball floated within it. It was a personal collection of his teacher, Orochimaru—a Three-Tomoe Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan that Orochimaru had collected during the Second Great Ninja War.

His teacher had two such eyes. Kenichi Amamiya had begged for a long time before finally obtaining one from him.

"Though there's a good chance Obito will see through this, it doesn't matter." Kenichi Amamiya dragged Kakashi into his home and placed him on the table.

Time was short and the task was pressing. He had no time for idle chatter.

Taking out a scalpel, Kenichi Amamiya carefully removed the Mangekyō Sharingan he had coveted for so long from Kakashi's eye socket, then swiftly installed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in its place.

The entire procedure took very little time. After all, replacing an eye in an eye socket was not particularly difficult.

It only required mastery of some basic Medical Ninjutsu. Since his earlier Cooperation with Danzo had required him to learn some Medical Ninjutsu, Kenichi Amamiya naturally knew how to perform it.

He had only used a scalpel because he did not want to be too rough.

"Mangekyō Sharingan... What a fascinating eye. I wonder if it can be researched?" Kenichi Amamiya studied the eyeball in his hand with great interest, then placed it inside a specially made glass bottle for preservation.

After wiping away the blood, Kenichi Amamiya dragged Kakashi onto the bed and let him lie there.

Kakashi would remain unconscious for a while, though not for very long.

As time passed, a frenzied roar resounded throughout Konoha. Kenichi Amamiya looked at the enormous figure outside the window and could not help smiling.

The Nine-Tails had ultimately been released. That meant the Fourth Hokage Couple's deaths were now certain—unless Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly rushed out to fight the Nine-Tails to the death.

But that possibility was about as likely as Kenichi Amamiya suddenly crafting a Nuclear Bomb with his bare hands.

Kenichi Amamiya supported Kakashi as he headed outside. People were running everywhere around them, and no one paid attention to the two of them, allowing Kenichi Amamiya to find a corner and toss Kakashi there.

"The streets are a complete mess..." Kenichi Amamiya casually picked up a mask from an unattended stall nearby and put it on.

Kenichi Amamiya remembered that the story had mentioned how, on the night of the Nine-Tails Attack, someone had collected a portion of the Nine-Tails Chakra. He wanted to try collecting some of it as well.

He could study it again later. After all, even that person who was not a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had been able to use this Nine-Tails Chakra to create a Tailed Beast Cloak.

"Kenichi, where are you going?" A gentle voice made Kenichi Amamiya stiffen all over. He turned around and saw his teacher, Orochimaru.