A challenge!

The evening breeze slipped through the gaps between the lanterns along Konoha's shopping street, sending warm yellow light and shadows swaying across the wooden walkway outside the barbecue restaurant.

Hatake Sakumo had picked up on something in the quiet atmosphere between Uchiha Gen and Kakashi. He gave up urging the two to get acquainted and simply continued tending the meat with a smile, leisurely recounting amusing stories from missions to keep the atmosphere from growing too awkward.

He probably would not have many missions now, so he had plenty of patience to wait for the two little fellows to slowly get to know each other.

Things stayed that way until the end, when all three had eaten their fill.

The meat at Yakiniku Q was not cheap, but the cost was nothing to Hatake Sakumo.

After paying for the meal, Hatake Sakumo smiled and chatted casually with Uchiha Gen for a little while. Just as Uchiha Gen silently rose to say goodbye and leave, Kakashi, who had remained quiet all this time, finally spoke softly, stopping him in his tracks.

"Wait a moment."

His mild voice was not loud, yet for some reason, a trace of amusement flashed in Hatake Sakumo's eyes.

Knowing his son as he did, he could roughly guess what Kakashi wanted to do.

Kakashi Hatake raised his eyes, his gaze passing through the thin smoke rising from the extinguished coals and locking precisely onto Uchiha Gen. His tone had shed its usual casual indifference, taking on a rare gravity and seriousness.

"Uchiha Gen, something... has been troubling me for a long time."

As he spoke, Kakashi Hatake stood up, his figure straight, his usually loose, languid back straightening slightly.

The indifference in his dead-fish eyes vanished completely, leaving a serious gaze filled with the purest fighting spirit unique to fellow geniuses.

"Ever since we first entered the Ninja Academy, I've been paying attention to you because Father said, 'You'll become my lifelong rival.'"

Kakashi spoke slowly, his voice clear.

But at those words, Uchiha Gen's gaze turned a little strange.

Uchiha Gen turned to glance at Hatake Sakumo, who awkwardly rubbed his nose beside them, then looked back at the utterly serious Kakashi Hatake.

So I've got Might Guy's script? And how come I never knew you were paying attention to me?

"But... judging from our school life since then, I've been disappointed. I haven't seen your growth, your strength, or the qualities Father spoke of that would make you my lifelong rival.

"But Father's judgment is never wrong. You definitely possess strength I haven't noticed. That's why I challenged you two years ago, only for you to refuse. No, it wasn't refusal... you ignored me completely.

"It felt... as though my strength hadn't earned your acknowledgment, as though I couldn't even enter your field of vision... though Father did say that you Uchiha tend to treat people weaker than yourselves that way..."

At that point, Kakashi Hatake paused.

"To be honest, I'm very curious about what exactly Father saw in you... so I want to find out for myself."

Kakashi Hatake focused slightly, his dead-fish eyes opening wide as he stared intently at Uchiha Gen's face. There was no hostility in them, only utter seriousness.

At those words, Hatake Sakumo was a little surprised. He had not expected Kakashi to remember an offhand remark from back then for so long.

Still... he did not think he had said anything wrong. He could sense that Uchiha Gen would indeed become Kakashi's lifelong rival... or rather, a goal he would spend his entire life striving to catch up to.

Ever since birth, Hatake Sakumo's eyes had been able to see through many things. It was not anything tangible; what he saw was a sense of something called "talent."

And Uchiha Gen possessed the greatest "talent" he had ever seen. Even the Sannin and the renowned Minato Namikaze could not compare.

That was also why Hatake Sakumo thought so highly of Uchiha Gen.

At this point, Kakashi Hatake kept his gaze fixed steadily on Uchiha Gen, his tone frank and open.

"So."

He leaned forward slightly, his bearing solemn-the unmistakable posture of someone issuing a formal challenge.

"Uchiha Gen, I challenge you. Let's choose a day, beneath that waterfall, with Father as our witness, and have... a fair fight. Do you dare accept?"

As his words fell, silence returned to the private room. Kakashi Hatake's gaze remained locked on Uchiha Gen as he waited for an answer.

Seeing this, Hatake Sakumo also turned to look at the Uchiha boy he thought so highly of.

After a moment of silence, the corners of Uchiha Gen's lips lifted slightly, and he slowly rose.

He looked at the boy's serious face.

"Dare? Using a word like that to issue a challenge-Kakashi, you certainly know how to provoke an Uchiha. Then... see you tomorrow."

Inside the Hokage Building.

"Was this your doing?"

His expression cold, Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed a file onto the desk in front of him. Across from him, Shimura Danzō sat with an unruffled expression.

"Monkey, you didn't stop it."

"The White Fang is a hero of Konoha!"

"Heh."

"As a hero of Konoha, he shouldn't be treated this way. You are not to take any further action against the White Fang. Do you understand?"

"Stop pretending to be the good guy, Hiruzen. You should know perfectly well that, before this, his prestige had already led many people to look forward to him becoming the Fourth Hokage.

"Although you never mentioned it, as your friend, how could I possibly fail to see what you were thinking?

"Now it's settled. His reputation is tarnished, and the Hokage position will forever be beyond his reach. Can you... really say that doesn't give you the slightest bit of joy?

"Hiruzen, as your shadow, I understand you better than anyone. So go ahead and fool those idiots, but don't fool yourself too."

As his words fell, Shimura Danzō's figure slowly faded, as though he had never appeared in the Hokage's office at all.

Looking at the spot where Shimura Danzō had vanished, Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked with an unreadable expression. Soon, smoke filled the entire office.

"Can Danzo's Dream Release already create a Dream Clone in reality without Baku's help...? That man."

"And... this matter of Hatake Sakumo meeting with the Uchiha boy... the Uchiha Clan, huh. Sakumo, now that this has happened, what will you think?"