Why are you so narrow-minded?
Watching the man carry Hinata away, Akashō clicked his tongue in irritation.
At that moment, Hinata turned around in his arms and timidly waved at Akashō.
"Goodbye."
"Heh, the Hyūga clan actually produced a polite girl for once."
Back during the height of the Third Shinobi World War, Akashō had seen plenty of Hyūga clan members on the Lightning–Fire battlefield, including those twin brothers.
Their arrogance, it had to be said, was no less than that of the Uchiha clan.
Akashō shook his head and stepped out of the cemetery.
"Akashō."
Turning his gaze, Itachi stood by the roadside with a faint smile. Beside him was a boy about Kakashi's age.
"Well, well, a rare day off today, huh?"
Akashō walked over with a grin, patting Itachi on the shoulder, though his eyes lingered on the other boy.
"Yeah, Kakashi's taken over, so I get a break."
Uchiha Shisui scratched the back of his head with a smile.
"So… the usual?"
"Yep. Dango shop, assemble!"
Akashō led the two of them straight toward the dango shop.
Shisui had been introduced to Akashō by Itachi. By coincidence, he also worked in the Anbu and was fairly familiar with Kakashi. Over time, their relationship naturally grew closer.
Of course, Akashō's main interest in the two was their status within the Uchiha clan and their own talent.
Two prodigies of different eras in the Hidden Leaf Village—one, the son of the Uchiha clan head, barely seven or eight years old yet already possessing the strength of a jōnin.
The other, a descendant of the former Uchiha elder Kagami, about Kakashi's age, with comparable fame, position, and strength.
Both held considerable influence within the Uchiha clan. That might not have mattered before, but now the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was a scheming politician. If conflict ever arose between him and Akashō, then without resorting to brute force, Akashō would still need some degree of political backing.
That was why it was worthwhile to build good relationships with influential or powerful figures in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Of course, this was just a side benefit. If it required going out of his way or paying some cost, Akashō wouldn't bother.
...
"A rare sight—our Konoha F4 actually gathered together."
A few days later at noon, countless Hidden Leaf villagers gathered along the main road by the village gates, craning their necks beyond the barricades formed by Leaf shinobi maintaining order.
"Can you stop calling us Konoha F4? It's seriously embarrassing."
Wearing his Anbu mask, Kakashi glanced helplessly at Akashō, who was sitting on the rooftop edge with an umbrella, legs swinging. He tugged at his mask—every time he heard that name, he felt uncomfortable all over.
"Hahaha, I think it sounds great."
Also wearing an Anbu mask, Shisui cheerfully slung an arm around Kakashi's neck.
"Didn't Akashō once suggest calling us the Konoha Mafia? You shot that down."
"We're shinobi. How do you even come up with something like a mafia name?"
"Konoha F4 sounds way better—much more imposing."
Akashō closed his umbrella and poked Kakashi.
"Besides, didn't we give you the title of number two? What are you whining about?"
"Who wants to be number two…"
Kakashi muttered with a pout.
"Honestly, I don't really mind, it's just…"
Squatting beside Akashō, Itachi interrupted, "If we're forming an F4 and not including Guy-san, isn't that a bit unfair?"
Akashō reopened his umbrella and rubbed his nose.
"Well, I did think about that. Normally it'd be fine, but for something as important as forming a group… bringing him along would seriously lower the cool factor…"
"Like Konoha F4 isn't already a dumb name with zero cool factor."
"Kakashi, shut up!"
Just as Akashō and Kakashi were bickering, Akashō's eyes suddenly sharpened.
"They're here."
Kakashi and the others immediately frowned and turned toward the empty village gate.
After a while, a group wearing Hidden Cloud Village forehead protectors leisurely came into view.
"The Hidden Cloud Village envoy delegation…"
"Akashō, your sensory ability is impressive."
Shisui looked at him in admiration. They were nearly a kilometer away from the gate—neither he nor Kakashi had noticed anything, yet Akashō sensed them in advance.
"Well, he is from the Uzumaki clan."
Kakashi didn't even turn his head, completely unsurprised that Akashō detected the envoys early.
"Yeah, yeah—unlike you three with your Sharingan. If I didn't have any strengths, wouldn't I look pretty pathetic?"
Akashō joked with a grin.
But Itachi's face darkened slightly as he raised his hand.
"I haven't awakened my Sharingan yet…"