Sakumo's Response

"Are you really that happy? Haha." Caught up in Koki's excitement, Hatake Sakumo burst out laughing too.

"Yes! Of course I am!" Koki's cheeks flushed with excitement.

"I... I'll protect you too!" Kakashi said, summoning his courage. Then his tone shifted, and his voice fell. "Although I'm still not strong enough, I'll definitely work hard! You have to believe me."

Although everyone praised Kakashi as a genius, he was still only a Chunin. He understood that he wasn't strong enough yet! He had to work hard and grow stronger.

Koki's arrival had brought a tender flower bud to the long-barren soil of Kakashi's heart. He was willing to protect this little flower and watch it bloom.

"Okay, but you're already amazing, Kakashi-senpai! Every Konoha Ninja knows you graduated at five and became a Chunin at six. My dad tells me to learn from you every day at home!" Koki gave Kakashi a thumbs-up.

Kakashi was the perfect example of someone else's child. The Uchiha Clan revered the strong, and Fugaku was no exception. He often told Koki about Kakashi and urged him to learn from him. Ever since Shisui came to live with them, it had gotten even worse; now Fugaku talked about both of them.

How did that saying go? The worst thing was when someone more gifted than you worked even harder than you did. Koki only wanted to say one thing to those geniuses: stop working so hard, stop working so hard! He still wanted to sleep another two hours.

Sure enough, he had to bring Obito home. At least then he'd have someone below him!

"Not really." Koki's praise made Kakashi's ears feel a little hot, and he answered in embarrassment.

On this relatively peaceful night, the three of them found comfort and support in one another. They knew that no matter how many hardships and challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

"Then, Uncle Sakumo, how are you planning to deal with this?" Koki suddenly asked.

"Do nothing!" Hatake Sakumo thought for a moment before answering.

"Do nothing?" Kakashi and Koki looked puzzled and asked in unison.

"That's right, nothing. Starting tomorrow, I'll step down from all my duties, claim I'm bedridden with illness, and refuse all visitors. Kakashi, if anyone asks, tell them the truth: I've suffered a devastating blow like Tsunade, and I'm disoriented and dispirited, no longer able to use Ninjutsu." Faced with their confusion, Sakumo answered calmly.

He had risked his life for Konoha long enough. Now he decided to put everything down and leave at his leisure. Since they had played out the act of killing the donkey after it had finished grinding the grain to perfection, why should he struggle to hold on?

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was probably feeling too guilty to speak up right now.

Didn't Shimura Danzō want to kill him? With what? The members of Root? If they could kill him, they were welcome to try!

At the end of the day, he had completed countless difficult S-rank missions for Konoha, and this was the only mission he had ever failed.

Even if he deserved no credit, he had earned recognition for his hard work. As long as he didn't drive himself into a dead end, no one could shake his position. At least, no one could touch him openly.

As for the Konoha villagers' opinions and criticisms, who would take them to heart now? They were nothing but fleeting clouds of smoke.

The villagers' memories were the shortest and the easiest to manipulate!

Having lived his life over again, Sakumo understood it all. He had experienced life and death and seen through the ways of the world.

He knew that this world was not as simple as he had imagined. In a world full of plots and betrayal, everyone had their own goals and interests.

He had once mistakenly believed that if he gave his all and fought hard, he could earn the village's recognition and respect. But reality had left him profoundly disappointed.

Now, his only wish was to protect Kakashi and Koki.

The rest had nothing to do with him anymore.

Having thought it all through, Sakumo felt as if a massive stone had been lifted from his heart. He felt much lighter, and his face beamed with a smile.

In a flash, Koki grasped it all and blurted out, "Isn't that exactly my strategy?"

"Hm?" Hatake Sakumo looked at Koki in surprise, not understanding what he meant.

So Koki told them both in detail about the grievances between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, everything that had happened at the clan meeting, and the situation with the Uchiha Military Police Force.

"You came up with all those plans?" Sakumo was amazed. This child was truly exceptionally gifted!

Koki nodded.

Kakashi, on the other hand, didn't think that far. His face grew grave as he looked at Koki with heartache. So his clan's situation was actually that difficult? Compared to Koki's troubles, the little things I've been agonizing over are hardly worth mentioning.

Sakumo spoke solemnly. "If there's anything I can do to help, just say the word."

"No problem!"

Sakumo smiled faintly. "All right, it's getting late. You two should head back."

"Okay, goodbye, Uncle Sakumo! You have to come visit my house when you have time."

"I will!"

Koki stepped forward and took hold of Kakashi, who was still in a daze, then hurried out of the alley.

They said nothing on the way and soon returned to the barbecue restaurant. The two walked straight inside.

Koki made a point of checking and noticed that the group of ninja who had been sitting in the middle were nowhere to be seen.

As soon as they entered, Obito spotted Kakashi and shouted in shock, "Idiot Kakashi? What are you doing here?"

Kakashi shot Obito a cold glance but didn't answer.

"Damn it! What's with that look? Are you looking down on me? You're only a tiny bit better at Ninjutsu than I am! Don't think you're so great just because Rin likes you! Just you wait, I'll..."

"Idiot!" When Kakashi heard Obito mention Rin, he quickly cut him off and rolled his eyes at him. Then he glanced cautiously at Koki. Seeing no change in his expression, he felt a little relieved.

"Damn it! You!" Obito jumped to his feet in anger.

"All right, all right." Seeing the two on the verge of a fight, Shisui hurriedly stepped in to mediate.

"Big brother..." He rubbed his sleepy eyes, looked around in confusion, and instinctively reached for Koki's embrace.

"Big brother..." Itachi's voice still held the sweetness of a dream.

"Baby, you're sleepy, aren't you? We'll go home right now." Seeing Itachi's sleepy face, Koki felt a surge of affection.

"Stop arguing! Uncle Sakumo asked Kakashi-senpai to come. He said he wanted us to be friends." Koki glanced at the large amount of barbecue left on the table and settled the matter. "How about this? Itachi's sleepy, so we'll pack it up and eat at home. Kakashi-senpai, Brother Obito, you don't mind, do you?"

Both of them froze, then shook their heads.

"Great, let's go!"

The night grew darker, and Koki watched his steps carefully. His little brother lay on his back, his arms wrapped tightly around Koki's neck and his little face resting against his back. Itachi wore a smile as he slept soundly and peacefully.

With his beloved little brother on his back and Kakashi, Shisui, and Obito at his side, Koki felt truly happy in that moment.