"Back then, Konoha—the Uzumaki clan's most trusted ally—failed to come to their aid in time."
"Kakashi-senpai," Shiki said with a bitter smile, "do you really think it's right for you, as a Jonin of Konoha, to talk to me this way?"
He truly hadn't expected Kakashi to be this direct. Although he himself hadn't taken part in what happened years ago.
His mother had also been quite young at that time.
Thinking about it, his mother must have been about ten years older than Kushina Uzumaki.
She gave birth to him in her early thirties.
Shiki estimated that when the Uzumaki clan was massacred, his mother had only been around twenty-two years old.
But to keep him safe, his mother never even mentioned the Uzumaki massacre to him.
"So, what's your conclusion?" Kakashi still stared straight into Shiki's eyes, determined to get an answer.
"Well… I won't stop investigating this matter."
Kakashi showed some disdain. So this kid was still driven by hatred after all?
"The path you're on now doesn't really allow you to become a strong ninja."
"No, I will become strong. Seeking the possible within the impossible—that's exactly it. Master Guy himself should have already shown you this truth."
Shiki spoke confidently.
"But you can't even use the Eight Gates." Kakashi pointed out a fact.
Shaking his head, Shiki replied, "No, you misunderstood my point. What I mean is seeking a path within desperation. It's not about complete imitation. In this aspect, I deeply admire Might Duy, Master Guy's father!"
He remained stuck at the Genin level for decades, until he defeated the Seven Swords of the Bloody Mist alone to protect his son.
What an incredible feat!
Although opinions on the origin of the Eight Gates Opening technique vary across different worlds, instinctively Shiki believed it absolutely had to be created by Might Duy.
Because how could someone as naturally gifted as Might Duy, Guy, or Lee need to put in so much effort?
"That sounds pretty passionate," Kakashi replied coolly, "but in the end, are you really just chasing revenge?"
So far, Kakashi felt increasingly disappointed with Shiki's words. Earlier during dinner, he'd thought Shiki was like Obito—an optimistic and bright child.
But never expected he would still be driven by vengeance.
Straightening his posture forward, Shiki met Kakashi's cold and slightly mocking gaze.
"No! Rather than revenge, it's about protection!"
"Protection? I'm curious why you developed such a strange idea."
Kakashi's look turned somewhat colder.
Without hesitation, Shiki replied, "I've seen many people who think they've witnessed the darkness in this world, believing that human relationships exist solely for personal gain, and every action is driven by self-interest. Thus, they constantly curse others while mocking those who try to do good, calling them naive. In the end, they're nothing but losers themselves!
Life only has real meaning when you protect what truly needs protecting."
"But that doesn't mean light will retreat—light alone can pierce through darkness!"
Kakashi hesitated. Shiki's long-winded speech reminded him of something.
He couldn't help but let out a sigh. "You're truly an unexpected kid. Those who rigidly stick to the belief that a ninja's only duty is to complete missions would probably dislike you quite a bit."
Shiki shrugged nonchalantly.
But Kakashi narrowed his eyes again and smiled. "Still, you're precisely the kind of kid I recognize."
With that, Kakashi handed Shiki a scroll. It looked quite worn—clearly something left untouched for years.
Chapter 69: [Five Elements Seal]
"These things might be useless to you now," Kakashi said casually, "but I think it's better to leave them with you. They aren't particularly useful to anyone anyway."
Shiki raised his eyebrows in surprise and couldn't help asking, "What exactly is inside this?"
Kakashi stood up. "It's already very late; you should go back and sleep. Come to think of it, you haven't even passed the Genin qualification test yet."
Shiki emphasized once more, "Can't you just answer my question seriously?"
"That? You'll find out when you open it. But trust me—you'll probably regret it." Kakashi suddenly said with a mysterious tone. Then, moving faster than Shiki could possibly follow, he vanished on the spot.
Should I take a look myself?
Shiki felt slightly anxious. Considering how devious Kakashi was, maybe this was another Heaven and Earth Scroll from the Chunin Exams designed to trick him into some sort of hypnosis?
Or perhaps it contained Explosive Tags?
That afternoon talk with Kakashi had already put Shiki on edge, and now those final words only made things worse. Something definitely felt off.
If Kakashi used the Taijutsu ultimate art—One Thousand Years of Death—on Naruto, who's to say he wouldn't try something similar on me?
"Whatever. If I can't even dare to open something as trivial as this, then I really would be pathetic as a man."
Thinking thus, Shiki untied the thin rope binding the scroll.
Slowly unrolling it, there were no explosions or hypnotic effects as he had imagined.
However, the writing on the scroll instantly captured Shiki's attention.
Instantly, Shiki understood why Kakashi said these things were useless to him right now—and why he warned that opening it would lead to great regret.
Because what lay within was a Sealing Technique!
[Five Elements Seal]!
"Kakashi, what do you think of that child, Shiki?" The Third puffed on his pipe, his expression revealing nothing.
"I believe Shiki Uzumaki can become one of the cornerstones of Konoha," Kakashi replied.
"Oh, you have high expectations for him."
"Yes, I think he deserves them."
The Third sounded doubtful. "Still, you know about his injury."
"I don't think his injury will hinder him from becoming strong. That kid has his own reasons for striving toward strength."
Kakashi seemed lost in thought.
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