Intervention
"Bang!"
As soon as Shirō finished speaking, Obito slammed the table and blurted,
"Don't worry! Rin and I will help him find one, right Rin?"
Rin let out a soft sigh. "Sit down, Obito. It's still too early for us to think about things like that."
"It's not too early! If we drag it on, someone else will snatch him away. The early bird catches the worm!"
Shirō glanced at Rin, Obito, Might Guy, and Kakashi. He couldn't help but feel sympathy for their tangled futures. Of course, for reasons he couldn't say aloud, he kept those thoughts to himself.
Cough, back to the main topic.
"That's why I said you don't need to mind him," Rin said, shaking her head at Obito. "He's always like this."
"Is that so?" Guy suddenly leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "But Shirō, can Kakashi really fight you to a draw? 'Fifty-fifty' should mean that, right?"
"Yes," Shirō nodded calmly. "This kid's strength is pretty good. Actually, I'm not much older than you all. The difference between us is only in Secret Skills and combat experience."
"In other words, if I don't use my trump cards, it's not too hard for him to fight me evenly."
"That's still amazing," Rin said sincerely.
"…"
Just like that, lunchtime passed.
Since Shirō had something to discuss with Sakumo, he didn't continue training with Might Dai. He had already occupied Dai's morning, and training with him benefited only Shirō. Out of courtesy, he decided to train alone that afternoon.
When he and Kakashi returned to the Hatake household, Sakumo was still absent.
Kakashi looked around the empty living room, shrugged, and said,
"Looks like you won't be able to see my father until evening. Unless you want to find him at Anbu headquarters."
"No need. Tonight is fine. It's not urgent." Shirō smiled and gestured toward the backyard. "Come on, let's talk about your situation first."
---
In the backyard, Shirō sat on the steps and patted the ground beside him.
"Sit. Now, tell me—why do you want to graduate early? Don't say it's to prove yourself. You know your teacher doesn't care about that."
"The reason?" Kakashi sat down, expression unreadable. "Nothing much. I just feel like I can't learn anything more at the Academy."
Shirō chuckled. "Can't learn anything, huh? I thought the same. Let me tell you my story—then you'll understand why I don't want you to graduate yet."
Kakashi looked at him curiously. He knew only fragments of Shirō's past and avoided asking too much, not wanting to touch painful memories.
Shirō exhaled slowly.
"As you know, I was forced to graduate by the Village. In simple terms, I was cannon fodder sent to the battlefield. I don't hate the Village, but I want you to hear this clearly."
"I only spent one year in the Academy. My situation was similar to yours—I felt the Academy couldn't teach me anything. So I skipped classes and spent my days training and messing around with Kushina. Honestly, besides her, I had no real friends at that time."
"After graduation, I was assigned to a team with Chong Jie. We had camaraderie, I suppose. But later, I was transferred to another squad with Tai Yi and the others. At first, we still kept in touch, but after I became a Chūnin, things changed. They grew distant. They avoided me sometimes, maybe because of pride, maybe awkwardness. Whatever the reason, the bond faded."
"So, Kakashi—you're actually very lucky. No one is forcing you to graduate. You have talent, yes, but more importantly, your classmates—Obito, Rin, Guy—these are comrades who can truly walk beside you for a long time."
"That's why I don't recommend you graduate now. You still have bonds worth treasuring."
"But… a shinobi's duty—"
"You are a person first, then a shinobi," Shirō cut in. "Times have changed. A ninja is no longer just a hired killer. Haven't you heard the Third Hokage say it? The Will of Fire is about protecting people, not just missions."
Kakashi fell silent, his expression complicated.
"As for learning," Shirō added with a smile, "don't forget—your father is one of the strongest in the world. Are you worried he has nothing left to teach you?"
"…Fair point," Kakashi admitted.
"Of course, this is only my suggestion. The choice is yours. I'll respect your decision."
Kakashi thought for a while, then said, "You're right. But I still—"
Before he could finish, Shirō's eyes narrowed.
"However, know this: if you insist on graduating, I'll be your examiner."
Kakashi's face fell. "…" His dead-fish eyes bored into Shirō.
"You want me to stay in school for another reason, don't you? Tell me."
"Haha, sharp as always. Yes. I want you to keep an eye on Obito—and if possible, become his friend. Don't force it, just… interact normally. That idiot is easy to get along with."
Kakashi frowned. "Why? What's so special about him?"
Shirō's expression turned serious.
"Because he's dangerous. The Uchiha Clan is a cursed clan. The Second Hokage wasn't wrong about that. Once their power awakens, it can overwhelm even elite jōnin."
Kakashi's eyes widened. "That's… impossible."
"Hard to believe, isn't it? But it's true. I found records in old, forgotten archives of the library. You can check them yourself."
"Although this power has strict conditions… Obito possesses them. And once awakened, the Uchiha are prone to emotional extremes. Easily manipulated, easily consumed. That's why, if such a moment comes, I want you to be there. Only you may be able to bring him back."
Kakashi was still reeling from the revelation about Obito's potential and barely registered Shirō's last words.
For Shirō, this was only one step in his preparation. The Third Shinobi World War was still some years away—but his presence in this timeline might hasten or delay it. Madara's plans would surely shift.
But some things would not change. Obito's nature—emotional, talented, reckless—made him a prime target. That was why this boy was the key to Shirō's battle against Madara… and perhaps even against the Sage's legacy itself.
Still, for now, the immediate concern was simpler: keeping Kakashi grounded and preserving his bonds.
Shirō exhaled and stood up. "Alright, that's all. Let's rest a bit. This afternoon, I'll go with you to withdraw your application. Let's take things step by step."
His gaze softened.
"Kakashi, I don't want you to repeat my mistake—living without the right life at the right time. You and I… we're different."
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