Kakashi returned home after shaking off Might Guy, changing into his usual clothes.
He had already requested half a day off from the Hokage. It made no sense for Cloud Village to cause trouble the moment he took leave!
"This should be enough!"
Kakashi rarely looked in the mirror, and he was quite satisfied with his "disguise." Only his conspicuous white hair remained so noticeable.
"Speaking of which, was I discovered just now?"
Kakashi recalled how Ian had glanced back at the small grove. Although the direction was slightly off, it wasn't entirely wrong.
Was that person a sensory type ninja?
"Never mind, I'll report it to the Hokage after the meeting!"
Kakashi composed himself, put on a thick multi-layered mask, and left his house.
...
As Kakashi "joyfully" headed towards the commercial street, in room 408 of the Konoha Inn, over ten Cloud ninjas surrounded Ian, their faces filled with determination and resolve.
"Is the plan clear?"
"Clear!"
"This plan must succeed, and failure is not an option!"
Ian also wore a cruel expression. He had deliberately exposed his intentions to buy time and observe Konoha's patrol layout.
He hadn't expected Konoha to send a fool to be their guide. He had never heard of Might Guy. Was he just a clown of a genin?
If he had the chance, he would definitely teach this green-clad watermelon-headed ninja a lesson!
"Execute!"
...
Konoha Dessert Shop.
"Long time no see, how have you been?"
Kakashi greeted the masked figure sitting in the booth.
"Alright, what's with the getup...?"
The masked person was Obito. He had rushed back to Konoha immediately after escorting Mei Terumi and the other four to the Land of Rain.
He had even taken a quick shower on the way!
Kakashi observed the surrounding crowd. They were all civilians, no ninjas. He then lowered his sunglasses and said with annoyance,
"It's all because of you, I have to disguise myself so no one recognizes me!"
Obito glanced at Kakashi's white hair and swallowed his mitarashi dango in one gulp. He really wanted to say, "At least dye your hair."
Anyone could recognize him with just one look. In Konoha, besides the Hatake clan, who else had white hair?
There was also a certain perverted uncle, but Obito wasn't very familiar with Jiraiya.
Also, Kakashi, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, seemed to have become much dumber. Was it his imagination?
Obito reached under his mask and wiped his mouth, saying carelessly, "Any recent intel?"
"None at all!"
"How are you even a spy?"
"What spy! I'm just helping you out because we're former classmates!"
Obito pouted, "Still not a spy!"
"You!"
After a while, Kakashi suddenly smiled and said, "Obito, you've changed so much these past few years, I almost didn't recognize you."
"The more you see and understand, the more your mindset naturally changes."
Obito sighed. In recent years, he had traveled almost all over the ninja world and seen many civilians who had lost their homes due to war.
Initially, Obito offered assistance. But later, there were too many. A small country suffering from war would have at least a hundred thousand victims. He couldn't save them all, let alone the entire ninja world.
But what made Obito most numb was an incident where he saved people and provided them with food and money. It should have been a good deed.
However, the next day, he saw that family dead in the street, their money and food robbed.
From then on, Obito became indifferent. He knew that mercy couldn't save people. The world itself was sick, and it needed to be overthrown and rebuilt with a new order!
"Kakashi, we might see each other less often from now on."
Kakashi paused slightly with the rice ball in his hand, then said, "I know."
"But I truly hope to see the day you return to Konoha."
"When that day comes, you, me, and Guy can all get together again!"
"Kakashi, you..."
Obito was momentarily speechless, but then suddenly said, "Kakashi, are you and Might Guy very close?"
"Guy?"
Kakashi thought for a moment and said, "Guy is a good person. Enthusiastic and energetic, always full of passion. Although he's annoying sometimes, overall he's a pretty good guy!"
A good person, enthusiastic, energetic, and full of passion!
Obito's expression under his mask became somewhat gritted. He felt his position had been replaced!
But Kakashi seemed completely oblivious and added, "Overall, being with Guy makes me feel very relaxed. I don't have to think about all those scheming things!"
So, you think being with me, Obito, is all about scheming?
Obito abruptly swallowed the mitarashi dango in his bowl and said coldly, "I'm done eating!"
Kakashi was surprised. He didn't expect Obito's appetite to have grown as well. He said, "Remember to pay. You invited me this time."
"Ka!"
"Ka!"
"Shi!"
Obito gritted out each word, the Sharingan on his mask becoming increasingly mesmerizing. He really wanted to unleash Kamui on Kakashi right now.
No! That would be too easy for Kakashi. He would suck Kakashi into the Kamui dimension and torment him at will!
Kakashi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were being stared at by some primordial beast. When he looked up again, Obito was already gone.
Only a few silver notes were left on the table. Kakashi pouted, "I was just joking, do you have to be so serious?"
"Kakashi! I've finally found you!"
Kakashi's body stiffened. That voice was...
Might Guy spun like a whirlwind and landed opposite Kakashi, striking a pose. "Kakashi, accept my challenge!"
Kakashi's dead fish eyes looked helpless. "Guy, didn't I tell you I had plans today?"
"But didn't the other person already leave?"
Kakashi was shocked and nervous. "You were following me?"
It's over. Would Might Guy discover Obito's identity? What should I do now!
Might Guy scratched his head. "I was just observing from a distance because I was curious who Kakashi would be meeting that you'd even postpone my challenge!"
Kakashi was speechless. Anyone who asked him out would make him postpone!
Who would want to compete in your rock-paper-scissors match!
"Then Kakashi! Let's have a decisive battle!"
Kakashi originally wanted to refuse, but seeing that the customers in the dessert shop were all looking at them with curiosity, he quickly grabbed Guy and whispered,
"I'll accept, just don't draw so much attention!"
"Great! Then today, let's start with handstand dumbbell curls to warm up, and then..."
Kakashi listened to Might Guy's endless talk about the competition's procedures, and helplessly lowered his head and sighed.
If only he hadn't taken the day off!
On the rooftop outside the dessert shop, Obito silently watched Kakashi and Might Guy below.
After a long while, his figure disappeared into a vortex...