Chapter 288: More and More People Are Gathering
"Woof woof."
Akamaru had eaten his fill, and his work efficiency skyrocketed.
The moment Kiba gave the order, he had already leapt to a spot and started barking.
"There's the same kind of thing in the trash can beside Kakashi-sensei's bed?"
Kiba understood what Akamaru meant and hurried over, preparing to collect the evidence.
"That's not right. This chakra scent isn't Naruto's. It's Kakashi-sensei's own."
Kiba looked extremely disappointed.
"But this still counts as evidence. Why would there be both Kakashi's and Naruto's in the same house? What kind of battle happened in this place?"
Shino adjusted his glasses as he spoke.
"Exactly. Shino, your brain really works well, wait, did we forget something? The most crucial evidence is still downstairs!"
Kiba suddenly realized the problem and rushed to the windowsill to look down.
Fortunately, no passerby had taken those things away.
(Konoha villagers: Why the hell would we take that?)
But another problem immediately arose.
Spilled water cannot be gathered again.
"How are we supposed to collect that stuff?"
Kiba was troubled.
"What if we let Akamaru go roll around in it and use his fur to absorb the liquid? Then when we need to present it as evidence, he can just shake it out."
Shino came up with a suggestion.
"No!"
Kiba was startled and immediately refused.
He slept hugging Akamaru every night. If Akamaru rolled around down there, how would that be any different from him rolling around in it himself?
As for using a towel to soak it up, who would go?
After hesitating for a while, Hinata timidly offered a suggestion, "If we can't think of a solution, how about calling everyone to help?"
"That might not be a good idea. If too many people find out, won't Kakashi-sensei's reputation be ruined?"
Shino hesitated.
"What's so bad about that?"
Kiba looked unconcerned. "If Kakashi is innocent, then no matter how many people we call, it won't affect him in the end."
"If he's not innocent, then after doing something like this, wouldn't he deserve it?"
"If more people know, it can also help them avoid falling victim to Kakashi."
"…"
Shino had a vague feeling that the way Kiba was talking made it sound as if Kakashi being a pervert was already a settled fact.
"Alright, I'll notify everyone."
Shino released a swarm of insects, which flew out.
The three of them continued searching the house.
Before long, the younger generation who had been notified by Shino's insects gathered together.
From Kiba, they learned what had happened here.
"What? Kakashi actually…"
Ino looked at Sakura in shock.
"…Sigh."
Hearing the news, Sakura was unexpectedly not surprised. Instead, she sighed.
"It's completely possible. Look at Guy-sensei, being like that and still single makes sense. Kakashi-sensei is also still single. There must be a problem!"
Tenten stroked her chin and offered her opinion.
"Forget it. Let's gather evidence first. Ino, Tenten, let's go."
Sakura stopped overthinking it.
The three of them went downstairs. Ino and Sakura stood on either side, exchanged a nod, then each punched the ground.
For medical ninja, chakra control was fundamental. Their monstrous strength taijutsu also had excellent control, provided they consciously restrained it.
With that punch, Ino and Sakura precisely broke off a chunk of the ground.
"Tenten, it's up to you."
"Got it."
Tenten took out a large storage scroll and threw it toward the massive stone slab that Ino and Sakura had lifted, sealing it inside.
Since no one wanted to touch anything unclean, this was the only option.
After storing the scroll, the three returned upstairs.
The others also began searching.
"I… I found something."
Hinata suddenly raised her hand timidly again, pointing in a direction.
"Byakugan!"
Neji activated his Byakugan and looked where Hinata was pointing.
After spotting what she meant, he quickly walked over, rummaged around, and pulled out several books.
"…"
Seeing this, Kiba suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
A sense of dread washed over him.
Why did it feel like Hinata had deliberately waited until everyone arrived before saying anything?
That spot was nearby. If she had activated her Byakugan earlier, she should have discovered it long ago.
Could it be that Hinata was the hidden dark type? Saving the crucial evidence until everyone gathered, just to utterly ruin Kakashi?
While Kiba's imagination ran wild, Neji tossed the books onto the ground, and everyone began flipping through them.
"What are these?"
"Ah? Are these really things we're allowed to read?"
Kakashi's collection of special little books was thoroughly browsed through by the crowd.
Soon, however, they noticed that the book placed at the very bottom seemed to be a bit different.
"Ah!"
Sakura, who was the first to open it, was so startled by its contents that she dropped it onto the floor.
That's right. This book was one of the rare serious novels in the ninja world that described bonds between men.
Kakashi had bought this type of novel because he had learned from Shiromo about the necessary conditions for Sasuke's Sharingan to evolve. Knowing that the bond between the two could not be severed, Kakashi wanted to find some related material to draw experience from for future reference regarding their relationship.
It was something a qualified team leader would do.
The reason it had been hidden at the bottom was simply because he was afraid that guests visiting his home might accidentally see it and misunderstand him.
But now…
Still working hard for Shiromo at the border of the Land of Fire, Kakashi had no idea that his image was on the verge of total collapse.
Everyone had already begun imagining what kind of things Kakashi and Naruto had done in this very house.
[Kakashi: I have lots of good stuff in my room.]
[Naruto: Kakashi-sensei, you have so many dirty books.]
[Kakashi: That's nothing. Come, look at this.]
[Naruto: Kakashi-sensei, what is this?]
[Kakashi: Oh? You're blushing. Come here, let me see.]
…
Imaginings like that.
"We have to report this to Tsunade-sama!"
"Kakashi-sensei is too dangerous. No wonder he likes using One Thousand Years of Death so much. So he really does have that kind of preference!"
"But I remember Naruto used One Thousand Years of Death recently too. And it was on the jinchūriki from the Sand Village next door."
"Huh, that's strange. If both Kakashi and Naruto are tops, who's in front?"
"Hey, is now really the time to be discussing that?"
Everyone talked over one another until the matter reached Tsunade.
After Kakashi left on his mission, Tsunade had been forced back into her old position handling official business. Seeing so many kids barge into the Hokage's office together, she froze for a moment.
After hearing their explanations, Tsunade understood the situation.
"I more or less understand what's going on."
She first stopped Tenten, who was about to release the "evidence."
"I will have ANBU interrogate Kakashi after he returns to clarify the details. You don't need to worry. We will never let a villain go, nor will we wrongly accuse a good person."
Of course Tsunade knew what the real situation was.
Naruto had gone to Mount Myōboku to train. How could he possibly have been violated by Kakashi?
(End of this chapter)