Kakashi's Confusion

Seeing how helpless he was, Koki turned away in disdain.

"One last thing. It's true that in this boring ninja world, people who break the rules are called trash. But those who don't cherish their comrades are worse than trash! You should thank heaven for having such a good comrade, get on your knees and thank White Fang for saving your worthless life, instead of slandering him here!"

Obito spoke up. "White Fang is a hero. You're the real piece of trash!"

The barbecue restaurant was so quiet that a pin dropping on the floor could have been heard.

With that, the three turned and returned to their table, paying no heed to the colorful expressions on the faces around them.

Whew, that felt good, giving those pieces of trash a piece of my mind. Sure enough, going crazy is the only thing that works!

"Did you see that? These people in the village are all ungrateful wretches. All that talk about giving everything for the village is bullshit! From now on, you need to put yourselves first in everything. Understand?" Koki looked seriously at the three Uchiha.

Koki's words were like a sharp sword, piercing straight through Shisui's heart. His face instantly turned pale.

He had originally resolved to give everything for the village and devote himself to it completely.

But from the moment he met Koki, his world had been turned upside down.

"Okay!" Shisui looked just as seriously at Koki. After a long moment, he gave his solemn reply, his gaze firm.

Obito seemed to have grasped something and fell into silent thought.

Even the exceptionally clever Itachi was only a little over a year old and could not yet fully understand it all. But hearing Koki say this, the young, innocent boy made a promise that would stay with him for life: "I'll only protect my big brother!"

At that moment, a ninja among the restaurant's patrons watched their retreating backs, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Dad, they're right. Uncle isn't trash!" A child tugged at the man's sleeve.

"Don't talk nonsense. Hurry up and eat," the man scolded in a low voice.

The child looked the man straight in the eye and said firmly, "Dad, I want to become someone like Konoha's White Fang too!"

The man froze for a moment. His lips moved, but in the end he said nothing.

Outside the barbecue restaurant, Kakashi Hatake and his father, Hatake Sakumo, stood quietly listening to the conversation inside. Their two figures, one tall and one small, seemed rather weighed down in the dim yellow light.

"Dad, are we still going in?" A stern-looking boy in a tight black outfit, with a mask covering half his face, tilted his head up slightly to look at the tall, silver-haired ninja.

Hatake Sakumo bent down slightly and looked his son in the eyes. "There's no need to go in anymore. Kakashi, remember the people inside. They'll become your friends someday." He glanced again at Obito by the window. "You have an excellent classmate."

The stern boy remained expressionless, staring with his trademark dead-fish eyes. He said nothing, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"All right, Kakashi, let's go. You'll understand someday." Sakumo patted Kakashi on the shoulder, and the two turned to leave.

By coincidence, Uchiha Kōki, sitting by the window, felt inexplicably compelled to look outside and happened to catch sight of Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi walking away.

There was no mistaking him! The short blade White Fang on Hatake Sakumo's back revealed its owner's identity.

Well, I searched everywhere without finding him, and now he's appeared without any effort on my part! If he hadn't come, I would have gone looking for him!

Koki had no time to think. He sprang up and hurried out the door.

"Koki, what's wrong?"

"Big brother!"

"Koki!"

Watching the figures who were about to disappear, Koki had no time to explain further to the other three. As he ran, he casually called back, "It's nothing. Wait here for me!"

"You haven't eaten your barbecue yet!" Obito shouted.

"Wait for me!" Koki shouted to Sakumo and Kakashi.

Hearing Koki's call, Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi stopped. Sakumo turned around, and after a moment's hesitation, Kakashi also turned to look at Koki, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

"Who are you?" Kakashi asked.

Koki finally caught up with them. He stopped in front of the two, bent over, and panted as he said, "My name is Uchiha Kōki."

Once his breathing had settled, Koki straightened up and repeated himself. "My name is Uchiha Kōki."

But as he looked at the man before him, Koki was a little stunned. Was Sakumo this good-looking in the anime?

The upright ninja before him looked to be only around thirty. His face was resolute and his features were deep-set, and his eyes shone like stars, as though they held countless secrets and stories.

His beautiful silver hair fell loosely down his back, and even a simple ninja outfit looked especially dashing on him.

Though he was not exceptionally handsome in appearance, his distinctive bearing made him unforgettable at first sight.

Unlike the beautiful Uchiha, Sakumo exuded the bearing of a mature man.

As expected of an absolute powerhouse who had swept through the battlefield without equal!

But the dark shadows beneath his eyes alone revealed that he had not recently been able to enjoy the peaceful rest he desired.

"What can I do for you, young man?" the silver-haired ninja asked. He had already recognized the boy as the one who had spoken up for him in the barbecue restaurant.

Koki's curious gaze traveled over Sakumo several times before he finally restrained himself and looked away.

"Uncle Sakumo, I heard about what happened to you, and I really admire you!" Koki gave him a sweet smile.

"Oh? But everyone now says that I abandoned my mission to save my comrades and became a sinner in the village," Sakumo replied in surprise.

"I don't think that's true. I think comrades are always the most important. In my heart, you're a true warrior, a trustworthy companion, and a ninja worthy of admiration!" Koki's words rang out, every one of them heartfelt. He meant what he said.

Kakashi stood woodenly to one side, unable to speak. Koki's earlier words echoed in his mind, impossible to shake off like a curse.

Kakashi had been tormented in recent days. Before this, he had learned from people with ulterior motives what his father Sakumo had done: he had abandoned the village's S-rank mission to save his comrades.

As Kakashi understood it, such conduct was unquestionably wrong! Everything he had been taught at the Ninja Academy demanded that he give everything for the village, even his life! He believed in Lord Hokage's "Will of Fire," passed on by the teachers and treasured by the students.

Reason told Kakashi that his father was wrong, but his feelings made him believe his father had done nothing wrong. What was wrong with saving his comrades?

For the past few days, Kakashi had not known how to face it all. His heart was full of confusion and pain.

Every night, he lay awake, not knowing how to face his father, torn and struggling.