"It's over, Shiki."
Suddenly, a slightly cold voice reached Shiki Uzumaki's ears.
Instinctively turning his head, he saw it was Kakashi.
Shiki frowned. "Kakashi-sensei, you're still as fond of arriving late as ever."
Kakashi scratched his head. "I got lost on the path of life, so I arrived late."
Shiki glanced around and realized he was alone with Kakashi.
They were the only two standing in the rain.
"No one even came to call me—what a failure."
Kakashi shook his head. "No, I told them not to disturb you. It seems you have something on your mind."
Shiki sighed deeply. "Nothing really troubles me anymore. No matter what happens, things keep moving forward. After all, I can't afford to fall behind."
Kakashi fixed his visible left eye on Shiki Uzumaki. The boy's red hair had been soaked by the rain.
He looked pretty down.
"Come on, how about we find a tavern and have a drink or two?"
Shiki showed slight surprise. "Alcohol? I didn't expect you to make such an offer, Kakashi-sensei. That's quite unexpected."
"Just this once. You see, your thoughts are far too mature. As for Naruto, a bowl of ramen would've been enough to cheer him up."
Kakashi rubbed his chin, speaking confidently.
"If that's the case, then I won't decline."
Shiki didn't refuse Kakashi's suggestion. It seemed like since being reborn into this world, he hadn't had any alcohol at all.
His memories of his past life had grown hazy, though he vaguely recalled drinking quite a lot back then.
So the two walked through the rain-soaked streets, both dressed entirely in black mourning clothes.
They looked like grim reapers wandering through the gloomy streets.
The reason Kakashi arrived late to the Third's funeral was because he had gone to visit Obito's grave.
Only there could he recall so many memories from long ago.
It was also strange—he was the only one left from Minato-sensei's team.
Obito was dead, Rin was dead, and even Minato-sensei was gone.
Back then, he had truly gotten lost on the path of life.
Now, though, it was more just an excuse for being late. Because now, he had found new hope.
Due to the rain and the war having just ended, very few shops were open along the road.
So Kakashi and Shiki Uzumaki walked silently for a long time without speaking.
Finally, at the end of a street, they found a dimly lit tavern with its doors open.
"This place should work."
Without hesitation, both walked inside and ordered two bottles of sake, beginning to sip slowly.
"I heard you've already mastered the Five Elements Seal?" Kakashi asked after a drink.
Shiki nodded. "Didn't I used to simulate it when my chakra was low before? Besides, this is just the start. These past few years, I've lacked a lot of ninjutsu techniques. Eventually, I'll need to catch up on them all."
"Honestly, I really don't get how your mind works sometimes," Kakashi said. "Out of all your peers, you're pretty much already the strongest."
Kakashi shook his head with a bitter smile. "Shiki Uzumaki, what exactly are you carrying on your shoulders?"
"What I carry... it's a lot. I've told you some of it before, and I'm sure you already know most of it anyway."
"Then what are your plans next?"
"I'll learn the necessary ninjutsu. After all, time shouldn't be wasted. Compared to taijutsu, ninjutsu offers more combat options. As for the Eight Gates Formation, unless reaching Master Guy's level, it usually causes serious physical damage."
As he spoke, Shiki Uzumaki picked up the small porcelain wine bottle and drank it all in one gulp.
He then walked over to the counter and brought back four or five more bottles.
"Ninjutsu? Why not learn from me instead? From what I know, Hayate truly excels in Sword Training. Trying to teach it to you would be stretching his capabilities. It'd be like asking Master Guy to teach you Genjutsu."
Kakashi's voice was low, ending with a joke. However, neither of them smiled — because this day seemed destined for gloom.
Shiki Uzumaki didn't refuse. He simply gave a slight nod. "Alright, but there's something I need to ask, Kakashi-sensei — do you know the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier?"
"Why are you asking about that?"
[Chapter 220] The Strategist
"Why are you asking about that?" Kakashi looked perplexed at the young man before him.
Shiki Uzumaki lifted his gaze toward Kakashi. "I have some thoughts regarding the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier."
In the quiet little pub, only Shiki Uzumaki's voice echoed.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Shiki Uzumaki. Finally, he sighed and downed his cup of sake in one go.
And in a flash, his ninja mask shifted rapidly up and down, like lightning.
"You always come up with so many ideas — just like that chakra scalpel trick."
Thud!
Kakashi placed his drinking cup on the table and looked at Shiki Uzumaki. "Although I don't know exactly what you're thinking, I happen to know this barrier ninjutsu technique since it originally belongs to Konoha."
In the original story, the four Hokages could combine to perform a more advanced form of the Four-Corner Sealing Barrier — [Four-Red-Sealing Formation]. This clearly shows how powerful this technique is.
"That makes sense. Suddenly I remembered your nickname, Copy Ninja. They say you've mastered hundreds of jutsu."
Following this, Shiki Uzumaki and Kakashi had a brief conversation.
Then Kakashi said,
"By the way, you'll need to go to the Hokage office soon."
The Hokage Office?
What for?
Shiki Uzumaki was quite surprised that Kakashi would say this at such a moment.
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