As night fell, Kakashi bought a lot of ingredients at his own expense.
In the evening, a delicious meal was served inside the Mihoko Clothing Store.
"I'm starting to eat!" Xiao Tian quickly brought over all his favorite foods, while glancing at Kakashi out of the corner of his eye as he watched how he ate.
The bowl of pork rib noodles placed in front of Kakashi remained untouched.
" Kakashi-sensei, you should eat!" Xiao Tian said, wolfing down his food while keeping a close eye on it.
Sasuke and Naruto were also curious about just how 'safe' Kakashi looked, given that he always wore a mask.
"Oh, no rush, you guys eat more." Kakashi picked up his bowl, turned around, and the bowl of noodles was empty.
Xiao Tian, Naruto, and Sasuke were dumbfounded. They finished the pork rib noodles, soup and all, in a second. Is this even human?!
"Mieko, I'm leaving now."
"Okay, thank you for your help today, Kakashi."
Oh, I'll be quite busy from now on.
Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi with his hands clasped in a fist salute, elbows propped on the table, looking at the organized information sheet that Kakashi handed him.
"Mieko's child is quite something."
Kakashi nodded and said, "Right now, he's almost at the level of a Jonin, and his sensory perception and reaction speed are even comparable to mine."
He recalled the time he subdued Xiao Tian by choking him, and felt that Xiao Tian had intentionally slowed down the pace, which allowed him to succeed.
"He's a bit of a prodigy. Three-Tomoe Sharingan, able to copy your Lightning Blade. At this level, he'll achieve extraordinary things in the future." Hiruzen pondered.
"Indeed, with such a monstrous student, I'm starting to feel a bit of pressure. Perhaps he can reach the level of a fourth-generation master."
Hiruzen glanced at the information about Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
"They trust each other a lot, and have a very strong team spirit..."
" Kakashi, I'll be relying on you from now on."
"Alright, then I'll be going now, three generations."
Shortly after Kakashi left, a suppressed voice echoed in the Hokage's office.
" Hiruzen, Xiao Tian is such a good seedling, he is most suitable to be in my Root."
The Third Hokage said firmly, " Danzo, this child has his own path to follow. Don't overstep your bounds!"
" Hiruzen, Xiao Tian is so young yet he's already hiding his true nature. Can you be sure he'll still be loyal to the village after he learns about his parents' situation? Don't forget how big of a scandal Mieko caused back then. According to intelligence, Xiao Tian is very dependent on Mieko. If he finds out about those things..."
"Enough! This child has the right to know those things in the future, and besides, this child may not necessarily become the kind of person you're describing!"
" Hiruzen, you're still so indecisive. Are you trying to cultivate a second Orochimaru? Heh heh... Think it over carefully. My Root is best suited to nurture such a seedling, and besides, the existence of our Root is for the sake of Konoha."
" Danzo, I know you're rebuilding Root and are eager to find talent, but I will absolutely not entrust this child to you!" The Third Hokage said resolutely.
"Is that so? Then let's wait and see!"
Having eaten and drunk his fill, Xiao Tian, accompanied by a Jonin from the Anbu, arrived at the Hokage's office building.
Xiao Tian looked around, realizing that the level he and Kakashi had displayed had aroused some suspicion in the old man, who was probably going to give him another infusion of Konoha's Will of Fire.
" Lord Hokage, Xiao Tian, Genin Team 7, has arrived."
"Okay, you can go now."
Xiao Tian walked into the Hokage's office, looked at the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and quickly greeted him.
" Xiao Tian, please sit down. The battle information between your Team 7 and Kakashi has been compiled and submitted by Kakashi. I've reviewed it."
Xiao Tian knew that the crucial moment had arrived.