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"Ten, nine, eight..."
At six o'clock in the morning, Kitagawa Gen counted down softly.
"Three, two, one!"
The moment the countdown ended, he reached out swiftly and pressed the alarm clock off before it could ring.
If he had the freedom of not being bound by missions, he would have smashed this cursed alarm clock that had been annoying him for years.
He dressed quickly, then stood in front of the mirror, giving a satisfied nod at his reflection.
After all, appearance was a crucial part of one's combat power. Whether he could someday explore the charming depths of a beautiful kunoichi depended heavily on this face.
Once everything was in order, Kitagawa Gen stepped out the door. Although Kakashi had said that going early was mostly useless, Gen knew exactly where to find him.
"Eh? Naruto?"
What he hadn't expected was to catch sight of Naruto just as he was climbing out of a window.
"Why are you up so early?"
"Tch, I have to work hard!"
Naruto let out a proud huff and clenched his fists with determination.
"I'm definitely gonna graduate and become Hokage — ah, ah, aaahhh!"
Before he could finish his declaration, his foot slipped. Under Kitagawa Gen's stunned gaze, Naruto toppled straight out of the second-story window, headfirst.
"Oww oww..."
Watching Naruto sprawled out on the ground and still managing to shout in pain, Kitagawa Gen couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Ninja might be considered a fragile profession, but even within that, people varied.
Some would fall from a single kunai stab, others could survive having their hearts torn out, and then there were those who just refused to die no matter how many times they were hit.
"I think you'd better just enjoy the journey for now."
Kitagawa Gen shrugged and turned to leave, tossing a reminder over his shoulder.
"And don't forget to water the plants on the balcony after I'm gone. Don't let them die on me."
"You jerk, I'm going to become Hokage for sure!"
Naruto shouted back with all his might, refusing to back down, completely unaware that a trace of regret had appeared on Kitagawa Gen's face.
"Shame there's no mission yet..."
In order to obtain the chakra of Indra and Asura, Kitagawa Gen knew he would eventually have to rely on the system.
Still, he wasn't particularly worried. After all, time was on his side.
"Kakashi-sensei, good morning!"
At the Konoha Cemetery, before the memorial stone dedicated to Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin, Kitagawa Gen greeted Kakashi with a bright smile. But Kakashi's expression was a little caught off guard.
"How did you know I'd be here... Forget it, it must've been that guy Gai again."
"..."
Kitagawa Gen simply shrugged with a faint smile, saying nothing.
He had discovered that ever since he'd built a good relationship with Gai, many things no longer required explanation. Kakashi just filled in the blanks himself.
"Kakashi-sensei, what are we going to do today?"
"It's all been arranged."
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, Kakashi pulled a few scrolls from his ninja pouch and gave them a shake before speaking.
"Five C-rank missions, one B-rank. They're all on the way, so we'll handle them in one go."
"Although I believe you're capable of handling B-rank or even more advanced missions, your experience is lacking. So let's take it step by step."
"Also, I'll be giving you some essential training along the way, so make sure you're mentally prepared."
To be honest, Kakashi had hesitated to include more B-rank missions. For him, such tasks posed little difficulty.
But this was his first time acting as an instructor, and the mindset he had from his time in the ANBU still lingered. He wasn't here to babysit, but to forge a proper shinobi.
This kid was someone Gai had personally vouched for, and even Kakashi had to admit he was quietly impressed. Still, no matter how talented he was, he was just a fresh Genin out of the academy. So a bit of caution wouldn't hurt.
"No problem!"
Gen wasn't the type to be picky. Once he was out in the world, the opportunities would show up on their own.
"By the way, what's our route?"
"..."
At that question, even Kakashi paused for a moment before letting out a quiet sigh.
"We're headed to the Land of Waves. But don't go stirring up trouble."
"Oh?"
Kitagawa Gen nodded, though inwardly he couldn't help but grumble. Was he really just going to let all that easy money slip away?
Still, barring any unexpected changes, he should encounter them again in three years. He could always plan then.
"In that case, let's set out."
Kakashi didn't waste more words. After casting one last glance at the memorial for Obito and Rin, he turned and led Kitagawa Gen away.
Their departure from the village was smooth. A simple form was all that needed to be filled out. With Kakashi's reputation, the rest went without a hitch.
Nowadays, the backbone of Konoha consisted largely of shinobi from Kakashi's generation.
Sometimes Kitagawa Gen wondered, if only he were the same age as Kakashi. Even if he couldn't outperform all his peers, surely he would have made a name for himself.
Of course, that assumed he wouldn't have died on the battlefield or been abducted by Danzo.
"The state of the ninja world has improved a lot. At least it's not constant war like it was back then."
Unaware of Kitagawa Gen's inner musings, Kakashi continued walking as he spoke casually.
"But one thing about the ninja world never changes. Danger is ever-present, no matter where you go. The great nations still compete, only now they do it in more subtle ways."
He paused briefly, then continued with quiet solemnity.
"And besides the villages, there are countless mercenary organizations and rogue shinobi scattered across the lands. Many of them are extremely dangerous."
"Yes, I understand, Kakashi-sensei," Kitagawa Gen replied with a nod. These were matters he had heard about in bits and pieces, not entirely unfamiliar to him.
Take, for instance, the Akatsuki—the organization Uchiha Obito, Kakashi's old friend, was associated with. That could very well be considered a newly emerging mercenary group in its own right.
As the thought of Obito crossed his mind, Gen tilted his head slightly and asked, his tone soft with curiosity.
"Kakashi-sensei, those two. They were your teammates, weren't they?"
"...Yes," Kakashi murmured after a moment of silence, eventually nodding his head.
"Didn't Gai tell you about them?"
"Guy-sensei didn't say much," Gen answered as he blinked slowly. His voice lowered respectfully. "Only that the title of "Copy Ninja Hatake Kakashi" came from your time with them."
"He also emphasized that they were heroes of Konoha, worthy of the highest respect. Just like you."
"I'm no hero," Kakashi said quietly, shaking his head with a weary sigh. "They were the true heroes. I am only living in the peace their sacrifices brought."
But then, as if sensing the heaviness of his own words, Kakashi quickly shifted the subject.
"I heard you and that kid Naruto are on pretty good terms?"
"Yes. We're neighbors," Gen answered without hesitation. He scratched the back of his head, his expression a little embarrassed.
"Although, there are always some nasty rumors floating around the village. I used to be scared too. But after spending some time with him, I figured out he might act like a bit of a goof, but deep down, he's actually a good guy."
He gave a small, sheepish smile.
"Besides, he gets a pretty generous allowance, so..."
"You're eyeing his stipend?" Kakashi gave him a look of half exasperation, half amusement. But in the end, he only shook his head, his gaze softening as he spoke with solemn conviction.
"Never mind. That kid wouldn't care either way."
"His situation is... complicated. As for the rumors, you need not concern yourself with them too much."
"What matters is that he's not a bad person. I believe he values your friendship deeply."
"And friendship, Gen, is something of immense importance to anyone. But for shinobi like us, it is even more so."
"I understand, Kakashi-sensei," Gen replied seriously, giving a firm nod. Whatever the reason might be, Naruto was his friend. Of that, there was no doubt in his heart.
"Hmm?"
But just then, Gen's brows furrowed slightly. His system had suddenly responded.
[You have received Kakashi's Exclusive Side Quest]
[This is My Dearest Comrade, My Brother in All But Blood]
[Help Kakashi find his lost friend, Uchiha Obito]
[Exclusive side quests will not interfere with your standard side quests]
[Do you accept?]
"..."
Gen stared at the prompt, momentarily dumbfounded. Meanwhile, Kakashi's visible eye narrowed into the shape of a crescent moon.
"As long as you get it. For now, keep your eyes on the road. Things won't be easy from here on out."
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[Chapter End's]
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