Haku left the house early in the morning.
Because of the war, Danzō hadn't returned home for a long time, and Takeshi, due to training, hadn't appeared before him for quite a while either.
And there was Uchiha Hikari. The wooden hut Yamato built for her had become dusty and bleak after being unoccupied for so long.
In the huge Shimura residence, for quite a long period, only Haku, Kimimaro, and Yamato had been living there.
However, the situation had recently changed a little.
Shin and Sai had been working under Yamato, and after getting familiar with everyone, the two of them naturally moved into the Shimura residence as well, becoming part of the large Shimura family.
Of course, they weren't qualified to change their surnames.
...
"Obito, what are you doing here?!"
Just as Haku was about to reach the Research Bureau, Kakashi's startled shout came from somewhere ahead.
Hearing the shout, Haku instinctively looked over and saw Obito—whom he had met a few times—standing with several members of the Police Force, blocking Kakashi who was preparing to leave the village on a mission.
"Takeshi's friends are still as entertaining as ever."
Letting out a faint laugh, Haku stepped into the Research Bureau.
Outside, surrounded by the Police Force, Kakashi pulled open his vest, revealing the black shirt beneath.
"I haven't had contact with Jiraiya for ages. Can't you guys let me go? I'm at least a jōnin of this village..."
Kakashi's voice even carried a hint of grievance.
He had long had enough of the Police Force using him as an easy target to boost their performance numbers. He no longer carried those little yellow books within the village.
Realizing Jiraiya's products drew too much attention, Kakashi had switched to working with a certain publishing house outside the village.
He earned less this way, but at least it was safe.
"Alright, go back to your patrol."
Obito coughed lightly and dismissed the subordinates beside him.
Before Kakashi could say anything, Obito grabbed his arm and pulled him to a secluded spot.
As the captain of the Police Force, he knew this area wasn't monitored by the Police Force or the ANBU—perfect for discussing what he needed with Kakashi.
"Um, Kakashi..."
Obito's voice turned hoarse from nervousness, and a shy blush crept onto his face.
"What is it?"
Seeing Obito like this, Kakashi reflexively tightened his buttocks.
"Well, I heard that you and Terumi Mei from Kirigakure..."
Before Obito could finish, Kakashi—face flushed red—covered his mouth.
He clamped Obito's neck with his arm, looking as though he might suffocate him on the spot.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Obito? There's nothing between me and Terumi Mei..."
Obito was caught off guard by the sudden assault and momentarily forgot he could escape with Kamui.
Fortunately, a moment later he remembered he had the Mangekyō and slipped out of Kakashi's hold.
"Don't lie. I already know. You were laughing and chatting with Terumi Mei from Kirigakure. And Hyūga Iroha even testified. You can't deny it!"
Hearing that someone with the Byakugan had discovered his secret, Kakashi completely gave up resisting.
"We're just friends. Don't—"
"I just thought... since the three of us are so close, maybe we could hold our weddings together."
Obito's words left Kakashi mentally frozen.
It took him a full half minute to grasp what Obito meant.
"You—you and Rin..."
Under Kakashi's shocked stare, Obito blushed and nodded.
Obito, you've grown up!
Kakashi had thought it would take a few more years of awkward back-and-forth between them, but now he felt a sense of vertigo.
This quiet, slow Obito had actually confessed?
And now he wanted Kakashi to have a joint wedding with him?
Well, theoretically it was possible...
Except it wasn't—Kakashi and Terumi Mei didn't have anything even close to a relationship.
From Kakashi's perspective, they were purely friends, nothing more.
But from Obito's point of view? Totally different.
Even someone as dense as Obito could see the red heart-shaped glow practically bursting from Terumi Mei's eyes whenever she looked at Kakashi.
"So... when you say 'the three of us,' you mean just the two of us...?"
Kakashi tried to steady his emotions.
"What are you talking about? We obviously can't forget Takeshi."
Obito waved his hand dismissively.
"The three of us are Konoha's Iron Triangle. We've been friends since childhood. Of course the wedding should be for all three of us together."
Obito spoke easily, but Takeshi had never shown even the slightest hint of romance toward any girl.
Plenty of people liked him—enough to line up across three blocks of Konoha—but he had never responded to anyone.
"Obito, I get how you feel, but where's Takeshi supposed to find someone to marry?"
Kakashi placed a hand on Obito's shoulder and began thinking about who might be the most suitable person standing beside Takeshi.
"Huh? Hasn't Anko liked him for years—"
"Alright, stop." Kakashi cut him off.
Anko definitely liked that boy, but she had never taken any real initiative.
When they were kids, she used to cling to Takeshi constantly.
Thinking of Takeshi, Kakashi immediately pictured Uchiha Hikari.
As a kid it was Anko, later it was Uchiha Hikari.
But judging from Takeshi's behavior, neither one mattered to him.
"Anyway, we'll talk to Takeshi about this later. For now, you should discuss the date with Rin and start preparing for the wedding."
After all, it was wartime. Some things needed to be arranged early.
The Akatsuki Organization's attacks were still ongoing. Even though several Inner Circle members had already been killed, Jigen had not ordered them to stop.
Even heavily guarded Konoha wasn't spared. Since its interior was difficult to infiltrate, the Akatsuki Organization instead targeted the convoys transporting aid outside the village, launching several attacks.
"We must locate the Inner Circle's hideout as soon as possible."
Those were Sakumo's exact words after learning the Akatsuki Organization had both Inner and Outer Circles.
Unfortunately, although several Inner Circle bases had been discovered and destroyed, Jigen's location remained a complete mystery.
...
"Too slow."
Inside an Inner Circle base of the Akatsuki Organization, Jigen spoke coldly.
Sasori and Amado had yet to find him a suitable vessel.
This made him begin doubting their loyalty.
At the same time, he began to reflect.
Had he been too obsessed with perfection? Perhaps there were candidates already available in the ninja world.
For example, the so-called Fifth Hokage.
It was because he pursued the perfect vessel that Jigen had been using cultivation tanks to keep this body barely intact, preventing it from collapsing.
But now it seemed it was time to make a change.
Ever since encountering that useless Uchiha Yōwan, his luck had taken a dive.
Making a change now might actually bring him better fortune.
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