Over the next few days, Sōkyū Hatake kept up with his daily missions and check-ins.
[Ding!] [Daily mission refreshed!] [Mission: Swing a sword 1,000 times, perform 1,000 frog jumps!] [Mission reward: Basic proficiency in Six Powers: Soru!]
Looking at the system notifications, Sōkyū Hatake's expression did not change at all. He picked up the wooden sword beside him and headed toward the training ground.
"Sōkū, off to train again?" Kakashi, who had just gotten up, saw Sōkyū Hatake picking up his wooden sword. Lately, Sōkyū Hatake had gone to train whenever he had any free time, so Kakashi was used to it.
"Yeah. Do you have a mission today?" Sōkyū Hatake stopped and looked at Kakashi, who was about to have breakfast.
"We took a B-Rank Mission today. We might be out of the village for a few days." Kakashi did not say much more. Mission details were generally confidential.
"Okay, take good care of yourself. Though with Rin there, I imagine everything will be fine." Sōkyū Hatake began his daily probing.
"I can take care of myself." Sōkyū Hatake did not know whether he was imagining it, but he felt that Kakashi's face beneath his mask seemed to have reddened a little.
"Yes, yes, you'll take good care of yourself." Sōkyū Hatake shrugged. Wasn't it just an awkward teenage romance? Although neither of them had broached the subject yet, Sōkyū Hatake felt that the two had feelings for each other.
What? Obito Uchiha?
Judging by Rin Nohara's behavior, Sōkyū Hatake felt that the one she actually liked more was Kakashi.
"You take care of yourself too." Kakashi was not very good at saying things like that, so it sounded a little stiff.
"Yes, yes, go on once you've finished eating," Sōkyū Hatake said, somewhat speechless. Why did Kakashi always sound so stiff??
Tap, tap, tap.
"Hey! Stuck-up Kakashi! Why haven't you left yet?" Just then, Obito Uchiha's voice came from outside the Hatake Clan compound.
"Well, this is a surprise, Obito Uchiha. You're actually earlier than Kakashi?" Sōkyū Hatake opened the gate with some curiosity and looked at Obito Uchiha, who kept shouting outside.
"Damn it! Sōkū, you won't even call me Big Brother Obito Uchiha anymore?" Obito Uchiha said unhappily when he saw Sōkyū Hatake.
"I don't even call Kakashi 'big brother.'" Sōkyū Hatake shrugged. Were you really that important?
"Damn it! You brothers really were cast from the same mold! Kakashi! Come on, hurry up! We're going out of the village on a mission today!" Obito Uchiha shifted targets and addressed Kakashi, who was taking his time over breakfast.
"Coming," Kakashi replied flatly, then wiped his mouth, got up, and walked toward the gate.
"Kakashi, aren't you excited at all? This is a mission outside the village! It'll be my first time leaving!" Obito Uchiha said excitedly.
The only reason he had come over so early today was that it would be his first time leaving the village. He had been so excited last night that he could not sleep a wink.
"Leaving the village? Is that so unusual? I've been out plenty of times." Kakashi looked at Obito Uchiha, a smile curling his lips beneath his mask.
"Hmph! I don't care. It's my first time leaving the village. Come on, come on, don't be late. Sōkū, your brother and I are off!" Obito Uchiha left in the same headlong rush in which he had arrived.
Of course, when he left, Obito Uchiha did not forget to close the gate for Kakashi...
"What a noisy guy. That's Obito Uchiha for you." Sōkyū Hatake shook his head. Obito Uchiha really was a talkative person.
A true chatterbox.
Still, only someone with Obito Uchiha's personality could help Kakashi escape the shadows in his heart, right?
The truly healing type?
Maybe I should just pair Kakashi and Obito Uchiha up instead?
Sōkyū Hatake began entertaining these slightly devious thoughts...
After Kakashi left, the Hatake Clan compound, which had been somewhat lively just moments before, held only Sōkyū Hatake. It was the perfect time to do his daily mission.
Picking up the wooden sword, Sōkyū Hatake began swinging it over and over.
[Ding!] [Mission progress: Swing a sword 1,000 times, currently 1/1,000]
The system's mission requirements were rather strict. A swing only counted if he met the system's specified point of force application-in other words, he had to complete a full swing.
Thus, Sōkyū Hatake had to put real care into every swing to better complete the system mission.
As he trained, Sōkyū Hatake thought about how this mission's reward was basic proficiency in Soru, one of the Six Powers.
That meant this system could very well grant skills from various anime series, which put Sōkyū Hatake much more at ease.
In particular, this would be Sōkyū Hatake's first time obtaining a skill, and that had fully fired up his enthusiasm.
"Kakashi Hatake has left?" Danzo studied his subordinate's report, a smile appearing on his lips.
"Yes. Just as you planned, Team Minato took that mission and left. They aren't expected back for about five days," the Root ninja said, down on one knee.
"What about Orochimaru?" Danzo narrowed his eyes. All these people were accounted for in his plan.
"As you ordered, we delivered a batch of experimental material. Lord Orochimaru will likely be in his laboratory in the Forest of Death for the next few days."
"Very good. Then we'll go take a look today. That brat goes to Hokage Rock every day, doesn't he?" A cold gleam appeared in Danzo's eyes.
This was all part of his plan. Although Sōkyū Hatake had yet to display any talent, the Hatake Clan did hold a seat on the Council of Elders.
As long as Kakashi was dealt with directly, the Hatake Clan's seat on the Council of Elders could only fall to Sōkyū Hatake.
Then Danzo would gain more influence within the Council of Elders. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, had to think twice about anything the Council of Elders agreed to approve.
Under Konoha's original laws, decisions made by the Council of Elders could even override some of the Hokage's decisions.
That was why Danzo paid so much attention to Sōkyū Hatake.
"Lord Danzo, Sōkyū Hatake usually arrives at Hokage Rock around eleven in the morning." The Root ninja took out a scroll recording the times Sōkyū Hatake had appeared at Hokage Rock over the past few days.
"Understood. Go summon the members of the first and third squads. They'll come with me." After thinking it over, Danzo ultimately decided to bring some people along.
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
Before you continue