Night Talk
After nightfall, Naruto stood by the window of his hotel room, gazing at the distant Konoha forest.
His trip to the village had been eventful—he had gained the Yin chakra of Kurama and some of Shukaku's chakra, valuable power-ups in his journey. Yet, one thing remained unchanged: despite all his achievements, he still held the title of Konoha's "strongest Genin," never having officially been promoted to Chūnin.
Technically, he could leave Konoha now, as most of the visiting shinobi from other villages had already departed. However, there was still one important event he needed to attend—the funeral of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Watching Hiruzen's casket being lowered into the ground would mark the true conclusion of this turbulent visit.
As Naruto mused over these thoughts, he sensed a familiar chakra signature rapidly approaching the hotel. A knowing smile formed at the corner of his lips.
Moments later, Kakashi Hatake slipped through the open window, landing silently on the third floor. He saw Naruto sitting on a stool, seemingly occupied with something. Kakashi hesitated. Should he tell Naruto about what he had discovered regarding Obito?
Sensing the hesitation, Naruto turned to him with a calm smile.
"Something on your mind, Kakashi-senpai?" he asked.
Kakashi sighed and decided to speak frankly. "During Orochimaru's invasion, Guy and I found traces of Obito. He's been lurking near Konoha."
Naruto nodded, completely unfazed. "I know Obito's been around. So, how was your little reunion? Did he listen to reason and give up on his plans to destabilize the world?"
Kakashi's expression darkened. "His obsession runs deeper than I expected. I couldn't persuade him. Guy and I confronted him, but he escaped. I did manage to land a direct hit on him, though—it should take him months to recover."
Naruto shook his head. "You're underestimating him. Obito's wounds won't take months to heal."
Kakashi frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Half of his body is composed of Hashirama cells, enhanced by White Zetsu's regenerative abilities. His healing factor rivals that of the First Hokage. If anything, he'll be back on his feet in a matter of days." Naruto leaned back slightly. "You should be careful, Kakashi-senpai. If Obito decides to come for your Sharingan, things could get ugly."
Kakashi exhaled slowly, his mind racing. He had faced Obito multiple times, but every encounter left him feeling more powerless. If Obito were to obtain both of his Mangekyō Sharingan, the consequences would be dire.
For a fleeting moment, he even considered entrusting his Sharingan to Naruto. But just as Obito had hesitated to kill him, Kakashi found himself unable to take such a drastic step.
Naruto, reading his thoughts, smirked. "After the funeral tomorrow, you should consider joining us in Uzushio Village. You'll be safer there."
Kakashi shook his head but then hesitated. "Naruto… you're planning to attend the Third Hokage's funeral? Isn't it restricted to Konoha personnel?"
Naruto's eyes gleamed. "Have you forgotten? I'm the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. That alone makes me an exception."
After a brief pause, he continued, "Besides, Konoha is in no shape to defend itself right now. With the Uchiha clan gone, Danzo's Root either disbanded or defected, and the aftermath of Orochimaru's attack, the village has lost most of its military strength. If Kumo and Iwa decide to take advantage of this, Konoha won't be able to resist. That's why Jiraiya needs to stay—to deter them."
Kakashi considered this carefully and found himself agreeing. Konoha had suffered immense losses over the years—the Uchiha Massacre, the fall of the Third Hokage, the damage from Orochimaru's invasion. Even the internal power structure was fractured, with the Fire Daimyō involved in political turmoil.
Still, he had a nagging suspicion. He studied Naruto carefully.
"You're not planning to cause trouble at the funeral, are you?"
Naruto merely smiled, clapping his hands. A shadow flickered, and Uchiha Shisui appeared beside him.
Kakashi's gaze shifted between them. "Does your plan to attend the funeral have something to do with trying to recruit me into Uzushio Village?"
Naruto chuckled. "Of course. After the funeral, Jiraiya will no longer be able to shield you."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
Naruto's expression turned serious. "Tomorrow, at the funeral, Shisui will reveal certain truths—truths that have been buried for too long. The Third Hokage has carried many burdens, but not all of them were just. It's time for Konoha to confront its past."
Kakashi's breath hitched. "What do you mean by 'truths'?"
Naruto's voice was calm but firm. "For starters, the truth behind your father's suicide."
Kakashi stiffened. "I've already investigated that. My father took his own life. Danzo and his faction may have spread rumors, but they didn't actively push him to the edge."
Naruto gave him a sharp look. "And if it had been Asuma Sarutobi instead? If it had been Konohamaru held hostage by Kumo? Would Hiruzen have let them suffer the same fate?"
Kakashi's jaw tightened. He knew the answer. No. If it had been Hiruzen's own family, things would have played out differently.
Naruto saw the realization dawn in Kakashi's eyes and pressed further. "But that's not the main point. The important thing is that once these truths are exposed, I'll feel better. And that's what matters, right, Kakashi-senpai?"
Kakashi instinctively nodded, then caught himself. He glanced up to see Naruto grinning mischievously. He had been played.
It was absurd—Naruto was younger than him, yet time and again, he saw through Kakashi's thoughts with ease, manipulating situations effortlessly. Compared to this unpredictable force of nature, Kakashi barely felt like a genius at all.
At that moment, Shisui spoke up. "With Kakashi-senpai on board, tomorrow's plan will be much smoother. Mima-sama and I only know part of the truth, but Kakashi-senpai carries credibility."
Kakashi hesitated. Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan was still powerful, and he had personal grievances with the Third Hokage's rule. Even if Naruto did nothing, Shisui wouldn't let this opportunity slip.
After careful consideration, Kakashi agreed to aid their plan—but outright defection? That was another matter. He still had friends in Konoha, and his students weren't yet strong enough to stand on their own.
The discussion continued for another ten minutes, finalizing the plan for tomorrow. When all was settled, Kakashi left through the window, sparing one last glance at Naruto, his face troubled.
As he disappeared into the night, Shisui turned to Naruto, his expression uncertain. "Mima-sama, why do you keep trying to recruit Kakashi instead of just eliminating him? What if he betrays us?"
Naruto took a sip of his juice and smirked. "Kakashi isn't that type of person. And besides—" he set his drink down, his gaze sharp and calculating.
"With him around, we'll have an easier time finding Obito… and taking care of that lunatic once and for all."
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