Chapter 56

Inside the Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

Uzumaki Naruto and Akihara Kagura were slurping down their ramen.

Akihara Kagura finished a bowl of ramen and even signaled the hand-pulled noodle chef for another one, as if he hadn't just said something significant to Hatake Kakashi.

"Chef, another bowl please."

Akihara Kagura glanced at the motionless Hatake Kakashi next to him and took the initiative to express concern for his superior: "Captain Kakashi, you've been fighting for so long, aren't you hungry?"

"..."

Hatake Kakashi had no appetite.

Hatake Kakashi even felt uneasy sitting there.

Once Akihara Kagura, this little imp, revealed that Uchiha Obito was the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' rampage, Hatake Kakashi somewhat regretted letting Obito go so rashly. He should have questioned Obito about this first.

"Naruto, eat faster!"

Akihara Kagura urged Uzumaki Naruto, saying, "We still have to meet with the Third Hokage after we finish eating. We should tell him about tonight's events as soon as possible, so we don't disturb his rest..."

"Hmm hmm hmm..."

Uzumaki Naruto nodded repeatedly.

"... You two don't need to rush."

Hatake Kakashi reassured them softly.

Now, Hatake Kakashi hadn't yet figured out how to report tonight's events to the Third Hokage, and if the Third Hokage learned about what happened tonight, would the old man be able to sleep at all?

"Um..."

The hand-pulled noodle chef glanced at the ravenous Akihara Kagura and Uzumaki Naruto, then at the Hatake Kakashi who was unable to eat on the side, "What happened?"

"Nothing..."

Hatake Kakashi shook his head, not wanting to elaborate.

"We found the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' rampage!"

Akihara Kagura nonchalantly bragged about their accomplishments tonight.

"What?!"

The hand-pulled noodle chef widened his eyes in shock!

Ayame, standing next to the chef, couldn't help but lean in, her face filled with astonishment as she looked at them, "Did you catch that person?"

"No."

Akihara Kagura shook his head, continuing to pass the blame onto Kakashi, "But the culprit seems to be Captain Kakashi's former companion, and Captain Kakashi let him go..."

"..."

The hand-pulled noodle chef was even more shocked!

Ayame also opened her mouth in surprise!

"Akihara Kagura..."

Hatake Kakashi's forehead twitched involuntarily.

This guy shouldn't oversimplify things when he speaks!

It was clear that he did it to protect Naruto, but when it came from this imp's mouth, it turned into him bending the law for personal gain!

"Akihara Kagura."

Hatake Kakashi leaned in close to Akihara Kagura, warning him quietly, "Don't just tell half the story when you speak! And don't casually reveal the Anbu's information!"

Hatake Kakashi looked at the still shocked and curious chef and his daughter and started to explain, "The truth about this matter is still unclear, it's not what you think..."

"...Oh."

The hand-pulled noodle chef slowly nodded his head.

Having watched Hatake Kakashi grow up over so many years, he trusted Kakashi's character, so he didn't press for more information.

However, while Hatake Kakashi could hide from the villagers, he could not hide from the Third Hokage, because he had no way of stopping Akihara Kagura from reporting up.

The residence of the Third Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was already awake.

Because of the chaotic battle zone of Hatake Kakashi, Akihara Kagura, and Uchiha Obito, someone had already reported this matter to Hiruzen Sarutobi ahead of time.

Among the matters, the most concerning was naturally the leakage of the Nine-Tails' chakra.

By the time Hatake Kakashi arrived with Uzumaki Naruto and Akihara Kagura, a group of Anbu was already waiting at Hiruzen Sarutobi's front door.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, under the guise of a body check, examined the Nine-Tails' seal on Uzumaki Naruto, and after confirming that the little guy's seal had no issues, ordered the Anbu to send him home first.

What followed...

Was the inquiry about the events of tonight.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was calm, seeming as if no matter what big incident occurred, he couldn't be shocked, "What happened? Did an enemy infiltrate the village tonight, trying to kidnap Naruto?"

"No..."

Hatake Kakashi slowly shook his head, reported methodically, "The rogue ninja from the village, Uchiha Obito, sneaked into the village tonight, intending to take the opportunity to kill Uzumaki Naruto. Fortunately, Anbu Akihara Kagura detected his trail, thus ensuring Naruto's safety..."

"Uchiha Obito..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was speaking while picking up his pipe.

The old man had just lit a match when his palm abruptly stopped, his eyes involuntarily widened, "Uchiha Obito! I remember that child from the Battle of the Kannabi Bridge..."

"Obito didn't die."

Hatake Kakashi shook his head, explaining solemnly, "I personally buried his body, I don't know why Obito resurrected. His Sharingan has developed a miraculous eye technique, able to avoid any attack, and he even mastered Wood Release Kekkei Genkai..."

"There's one more thing..."

"It's said that when Naruto saw Obito, the Nine-Tails' chakra suddenly leaked out..."

"Also, Anbu Akihara Kagura claimed that Obito admitted the Nine-Tails' rampage that happened in the village six years ago was his doing..."

"We can't determine the truth of this matter yet."

After explaining, Hatake Kakashi continued, "Because based on age, Obito would have been around thirteen or fourteen at the time..."

That was the most suspicious point.

After all, in theory, a thirteen or fourteen-year-old wouldn't necessarily have the power to cause such a large disaster as the Nine-Tails' rampage, especially considering the Leaf Village had people like the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, at the time.

"It's indeed difficult to determine the truth."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, agreeing with Hatake Kakashi's words, and continued to ask, "Kakashi, you were once Uchiha Obito's companion, do you know why he didn't return to the village after his resurrection, but instead became a rogue ninja?"

"It might be..."

"Because of Rin."

Hatake Kakashi slowly bowed his head.

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, comforting his subordinate, "We already know what happened with Nohara Rin back then. Rin chose to sacrifice herself to protect the village, this wasn't your fault, Kakashi..."

"Hokage-sama."

Hatake Kakashi knelt down on one knee, making a request, "I would like to personally investigate Obito's whereabouts..."

"You may."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, agreeing with the proposition.

Uchiha Obito is a rogue ninja with dangerous ideas, even attempting to assassinate the village's Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. This matter indeed can't be ignored.

In all of Konoha, it would probably be impossible to find someone more suitable than Hatake Kakashi to investigate Uchiha Obito, because there are past bonds between the two.

"I'll go too!"

Akihara Kagura stood behind Hatake Kakashi, his fist suddenly tightened, "That guy escaped from my hands, I must kill him..."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly fell silent.

The old man pondered for a while, his voice gradually becoming somewhat calm, "Kakashi, let Kagura be your assistant, he happens to be your subordinate..."

"..."

Hatake Kakashi raised his head in some confusion.

However, Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude gradually became determined, he even actively provided a lead to investigate Uchiha Obito.

"Wood Release awakened in Uchiha Obito..."

"In theory, only the cells of the First Hokage have the chance to awaken Wood Release. You can look up the records of Wood Release experiments in the village..."

"When Orochimaru defected, the Anbu sealed all of Orochimaru's underground laboratories in the village, as well as the records of Orochimaru's unauthorized experiments..."

Towards the end of what he was saying, Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze revealed a profound meaning, "You go and check those records, find some clues!"

--x--

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