Chapter 35

"Thank you for the hospitality."

Ten-year-old Kagura Akihara nodded in thanks.

Perhaps it was because they were eating someone else's food, or because Hiruzen Sarutobi had allowed them to quietly finish their ramen, Kagura Akihara was unusually polite.

"Thank you for the hospitality."

Six-year-old Naruto Uzumaki still displayed excellent synchrony.

If you ignored their hair color, it would even seem like their synchronous actions were like a big brother leading a little brother.

"Go home and rest early."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe again.

This meeting wasn't without gain, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed he had understood Kagura Akihara, and wasn't overly intent on guiding him anymore, even feeling that this kid's character wasn't as bad as he thought from the way Akihara treated Naruto Uzumaki tonight.

"I'm going! Bye!"

Naruto Uzumaki happily patted his full stomach, waved goodbye to Kagura Akihara and Hiruzen Sarutobi, and headed back to his place.

"I can't see it at all..."

Kagura Akihara watched Naruto Uzumaki as he walked away.

"Oh?"

With his pipe in his mouth, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to look at Kagura Akihara who was still standing in place and asked, "Kagura, what are you trying to see from this kid, Naruto?"

"I can't see his sorrow at all."

Kagura Akihara's eyes became a bit dim, and he muttered, "If someone abandoned me, I would be so sad I'd want to kill."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a bit uneasy.

"I'm going."

Kagura Akihara didn't say anything more and headed towards the Root base.

"This kid..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head helplessly.

This man, who had held the power of the Leaf for decades, began to walk towards the Hokage building, his voice suddenly becoming a bit deep and cold.

"Kakashi, Yamato."

With the sound of his voice falling, Kakashi Hatake and Yamato appeared by his side in an instant.

They were supposed to be on vacation this morning, but while they were still resting in the evening, they were suddenly assigned to guard the Hokage.

"What do you think of Kagura Akihara?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was fixed on the Hokage Building, paying no mind to his two subordinates. He simply continued, "After the Chunin Exams are over, that kid will enter the Anbu. I'm planning to assign him to your team."

"..."

Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but glance at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The Third Hokage didn't turn his head and his steps were firm, he didn't seem to be intending to discuss it with anyone, this was an order from the Hokage.

"Yes."

Kakashi Hatake quickly bowed his head.

As for Yamato next to him, he usually doesn't have much say in such situations.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly stopped his steps, and continued seriously, "By the way, don't underestimate that kid. His Wood Release talent is strong, and from what we can see now, he has already been able to exhibit a quite powerful combat ability."

"Yes."

Kakashi Hatake and Yamato exchanged a glance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then mentioned Kagura Akihara's shortcomings, "However, that kid's basic ninja education is not quite up to par. His nature is a bit too extreme, and we can't let the leading Jonin in the village teach him. You and Yamato will have to guide him more in the future."

"This..."

Kakashi Hatake felt a bit troubled.

Because when he first saw Kagura Akihara, he felt that the kid was not a normal child, always ready to kill for Danzo Shimura and the like...

But no matter whether it was when he saw him at Ichiraku Ramen this morning, or when he heard that the kid had impersonated him to deceive the examinees almost causing a major accident, Kakashi Hatake felt that the child's personality must be worse than he had imagined.

However...

The Anbu must obey the orders from the Hokage.

"Yes."

Kakashi Hatake could only earnestly agree, and then proposed, "Since Kagura Akihara has Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, let's put him in Yamato's team..."

"..."

Yamato looked at Kakashi Hatake in disbelief!

Yamato was someone who earnestly believed that Kakashi Hatake was a reliable senior.

At this moment, Yamato suddenly heard that Kakashi Hatake was going to pass a big trouble onto him, his mind started to race uncontrollably.

Hey, hey, hey, are you kidding me, Kakashi-senpai!

You know perfectly well how awkward my relationship with Kagura Akihara is. That kid yells and fights with me every day, why would you put him in my team? You must know the kind of torment I will suffer!

"That's acceptable."

Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Kakashi Hatake's proposal.

After the Hokage had given his orders, he waved his hand at them, "Alright, you two can leave now, I will take a walk alone."

"Yes."

The two figures disappeared behind Hiruzen Sarutobi in an instant.

In a small alley by the street.

After leaving the Hokage, Yamato couldn't contain himself any longer, and anxiously said, "Hey, senpai, putting me and Kagura together..."

"I believe you can handle it."

Kakashi Hatake put his hand on Yamato's shoulder and continued, "Yamato, I've always believed that you too will become a reliable senior."

"But..."

"Yamato."

Kakashi Hatake interrupted him and said quietly, "The kid has the same Wood Release Kekkei Genkai as you. Perhaps this is a destined encounter. I hope you can make him someone who, like you, silently protects the Leaf in the darkness."

"Alright..."

Yamato could only helplessly scratch his head and propose his plan, "I will first teach him to gradually develop the Wood Release Ninjutsu. If there are any problems, I will come to ask you, senpai..."

"That's fine."

Kakashi Hatake agreed and put his hand in his pocket, "Since today's guard duty is over, let's go back and rest early."

"Okay."

Yamato, scratching his head with a troubled expression, headed towards home.

"..."

Kakashi Hatake, head bowed low, leaned against the wall.

This renowned and cold-hearted ninja, Kakashi Hatake's mind was slowly zoning out. Most of the time, he didn't even know what he was thinking about.

Kakashi Hatake's destiny seemed to be destined for loneliness.

As a child, his father suddenly committed suicide, leaving him an orphan while he was still in school; as he grew up, his close teammates died one after another in wars; later, his teachers, the couple, both died in the Nine-Tails' attack, giving Kakashi Hatake a feeling of being suffocated by fate.

Kakashi Hatake felt that his future life was muddled, always serving in the Anbu, carrying out endless tasks. He felt there could never be anything worth being happy about again.

After a long time.

Kakashi Hatake got up and left the alley.

It was only after Kakashi Hatake had left that a mysterious masked man in a black robe appeared silently, looking in the direction he had gone, and hummed coldly.

"Hmph, this waste..."

"Hehehehe..."

A creature resembling a Venus flytrap, made up of black and white bodies, slowly emerged from the ground. The white-faced half was laughing and said to the masked man, "Is there any point in keeping an eye on Kakashi Hatake now? Shouldn't we be more concerned about that little Wood Release user that has appeared in Konoha again?"

"Perhaps..."

"That kid could become an aid to the Eye of the Moon plan, don't you think?"

--x--

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