“I understand.”Kakashi didn’t question Miketsuki’s reasons—there was no need. If his strength alone wasn’t enough, then believing in his comrades would have to be. The current Kakashi understood that all too well.

  The group arrived at their final pnned destination—the Hatake residence.

  Kakashi led everyone into the reception room.

  “Phew…” He took a deep breath. “Alright, I’m going in.”

  “Smug Kakashi, you’ve got this!”

  “Good luck, Kakashi.”

  “Don’t worry, even if the worst happens, you can just flop down and throw a tantrum. Sometimes being a kid means you don’t have to act too mature, you know?” Miketsuki gave him a meaningful look.

  “…I’m not going to pull an Obito-style tantrum,” Kakashi replied, though deep down, he thought Miketsuki’s idea might not be half bad if things got desperate.

  No wonder this guy would one day read adult books right in front of his students.

  With firm steps, Kakashi turned and headed off to face his father, Hatake Sakumo.

  ———

  The remaining three sat on the tatami floor in the reception room.

  Watching Kakashi leave, Obito couldn’t help asking, “Hey Miketsuki, how did you know Uncle Sakumo might try to off himself?”

  Rin looked equally curious, her pretty brows furrowing slightly as she turned to Miketsuki.

  “You guys… I think you’re seriously overestimating Mr. Sakumo’s emotional resilience.”

  “But Uncle Sakumo’s the White Fang of the Leaf! A ninja like that would never commit suicide.”

  “And he has Kakashi—he’d think about his son, right?”

  “That’s just your rose-tinted view of adults talking. A ‘nice guy’ like Sakumo is actually really sensitive on the inside.”

  Just like Kenjin—always thinking he knows best.That thought fshed through Miketsuki’s mind, but he didn’t say it out loud.

  He didn’t expin further. Things like this—people just don’t believe them until they happen. Honestly, if he didn’t already know the story, he wouldn’t have believed the White Fang of Konoha would kill himself either.

  Even after everything he’d done so far, Miketsuki wasn’t sure he’d changed the ending. But he’d done his best.

  He leaned back and sprawled out on the tatami floor.

  “Hey, Miketsuki, I didn’t get that at all. Say a bit more? Next time I’ll totally understand. Right, Rin, you didn’t get it either, right?”

  “I did get it!”

  “Huh?”

  He ignored their chatter. Rin’s father had died on the battlefield before she could even remember him. Obito was an orphan. And Miketsuki—well, his case didn’t even need saying.

  Right now, he could only hope Kakashi would manage to get through to Sakumo. Otherwise, their little squad might as well rename themselves The League of Dad Trauma.

  ———

  Meanwhile, outside the Hatake cn’s shrine—

  Hatake Sakumo had been holed up inside for days. Kakashi gathered his thoughts, raised his hand, and knocked on the door.

  “…Kakashi?”

  “It’s me, Father.”

  Hearing the voice inside, Kakashi opened the door without hesitation. Sunlight streamed into the room for the first time in a long while.

  In the past, Kakashi had only seen his father’s usual warm smile—he’d never noticed the disheveled white hair, the sunken eyes, and the hollow cheeks.

  “Father, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

  ———

  “Aaahhh, what’s taking him so long! Maybe Kakashi didn’t even find Uncle Sakumo!” Obito, ever the impatient one, started to squirm.

  “Obito, could you quiet down? We are guests in Kakashi’s house,” Rin finally snapped, unable to take his fidgeting anymore.

  “Miketsuki, don’t just lie there! Kakashi’s probably messed it all up by now—it’s time for the great Obito-sama to step in!”

  Miketsuki stayed lying ft on the tatami, eyes closed to the world—but he wasn’t sleeping. He was using his Six Eyes to observe Kakashi in real-time.

  Not long after he made a wish and obtained the Six Eyes, Miketsuki had taught himself lip reading. Right now, it was like he was watching a live broadcast.

  Nice one, Kakashi—yeah, that’s the way to say it.Didn’t think you’d actually go with that route.Resolving it like this? The Third Hokage’s gonna have his hands full…

  Only after he saw the conversation between father and son conclude and the two start heading back did Miketsuki sit up.

  “It’s done. Looks like Kakashi pulled it off.”

  “Huh?”

  Just then, Kakashi and Hatake Sakumo pushed open the door to the reception room.

  “I heard everything from Kakashi. Thank you all for what you’ve done. I’ve been a poor father, and I’ve caused you trouble.”The first thing Sakumo and Kakashi did was bow deeply to the three of them.

  “No need to thank us—we just did what comrades should do.” Miketsuki was the first to respond.

  “Hehe, no need to be so formal, Uncle Sakumo. Kakashi’s the one who should be thanking me properly.” Obito grinned ear to ear at the sight of Kakashi bowing to him—who knew what was running through that head of his.

  “Please stand, Uncle Sakumo—it was mostly Miketsuki who came up with the ideas,” Rin said modestly. She didn’t think she had done much, but once again, she was struck by just how incredible Miketsuki was. Not just as a ninja—he had something more.

  Sakumo and Kakashi straightened up.

  Sakumo looked over the three one by one, pausing a little longer on Miketsuki. Then he turned to Kakashi and said:

  “You’re lucky to have comrades like them. Make sure you treasure them, Kakashi.”

  “Of course, Father.” Kakashi beamed.

  “It’s getting te. Why don’t I treat everyone to dinner? Order anything you like.” Sakumo smiled warmly.

  To be continued! Click to the next page for more exciting developments!

  “Yay! I want yakiniku!” Obito threw up both hands in excitement.

  “Of course.” Sakumo certainly didn’t mind footing the bill for a few kids.

  And so, the group set off for the nearest barbecue joint.

  On the way, there were still a few whispers and pointed stares, but Sakumo now had a new reason to keep living.Simply put—he’d grown a thicker skin.

  Well, humans evolved from monkeys after all. Growth is only natural.

  ———

  Konoha had plenty of barbecue pces, but when it came to taste and fame, none could match the one they were headed to now. Of course, it was also the most expensive.

  “Oh! Lord White Fang! Long time no see! You’ve brought quite the group of kids today!” The shop owner greeted them with surprise and familiarity.

  Not unexpected—he was a former ninja himself, and of course he knew the famous White Fang of Konoha.

  “That’s right. These are Kakashi’s friends. We’ve got a big group—could we get a private room?” Sakumo responded just as warmly.

  Once they sat down, Obito, who’d been holding back questions the whole way, immediately unched into them.

  “Retirement!?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Uncle Sakumo’s retiring!?”

  “No way! With strength like yours, isn’t that a waste? You could even become the Fourth Hokage!”

  Maaaan, Obito, you're really dancing on a minefield here, Miketsuki thought. But if even Obito realizes Sakumo had the potential to be Hokage, it’s no wonder things turned out the way they did.

  “I actually think retirement is a good choice,” Miketsuki chimed in. He already knew this back at the Hatake house—after all, he’d watched the whole conversation py out live.

  “Alright, Obito, Rin. Since Mr. Sakumo’s made his decision, our job is just to support him. Power only matters when it’s used to protect the people we care about—it doesn’t always have to be wielded as a ninja.”Miketsuki realized he was starting to sound like a kindergarten teacher, constantly expining things to a bunch of kids like he was some kind of magic conch shell.

  ———

  Dinner ended with full bellies and happy faces. None of them were bottomless pits, so luckily there was no dreaded empty-wallet incident. The shop owner even gifted them two extra ptes of meat out of goodwill.

  Turns out, there were still plenty of people in the vilge who respected Hatake Sakumo.

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