However, Naruto wasn't buying it at all. After hearing Kakashi's words, he looked at him with a face full of suspicion.

  "So, Big bro Kakashi, do you have a teacher too?"

  "Of course I do! I definitely have a teacher!"

  "Then, is your teacher like your parents?"

  This time, it was Kakashi's turn to be Shocked. Naruto's question hit the nail on the head, leaving him almost speechless.

  If he said yes, then Naruto, as the son of his teacher, should indeed call him "big brother," and there would be nothing wrong with that. But if he said no, he would be contradicting himself, and his earlier statement would become a complete joke.

  Seeing Kakashi frozen in pce, Naruto's lips curled into a barely noticeable smile.

  'Heh heh! Kakashi, you think you can out-talk me? Naive! I was born with max-level talk no jutsu!'

  "Well, whatever. If you want to keep calling me 'big brother,' then go ahead."

  In the end, Kakashi compromised, and Naruto nodded in satisfaction, quickly grabbing a tissue to wipe his eyes.

  [Damn, the chili in this barbecue is delicious, but it's killing my eyes. It's so spicy!]

  Kakashi was so close to losing his temper, almost wanting to sp Naruto. He had genuinely panicked earlier, but it turned out to be an act. Still, as angry as he was, he knew he couldn't show it, or he'd give himself away. He took a deep breath to calm himself down and then changed the subject.

  "By the way, Naruto, when I was checking your chakra earlier, I noticed that besides your own chakra, there's another chakra inside you. That chakra is very votile, so you need to be careful. I'll also look for ways to help you control it."

  "Huh? Really? Okay, I'll be careful. Thanks, Big bro Kakashi."

  Naruto nodded while tossing the used tissue into the trash and continued devouring his food.

  [Pfft! As if I don't know about the Nine-Tails' chakra inside me. You're going to tell me? And find a way to control it? Who do you think you are? With that half-baked Sharingan of yours? If you're so capable, why don't you bring Sasuke back? Wait, it's already the 57th year of Konoha, which means Shisui should be already dead. So, Itachi should have already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Maybe I should ask Itachi...Ugh, why am I even thinking about this?]

  Kakashi's pupils constricted, and he could no longer maintain his composure. Fortunately, his mask hid his expression, so Naruto, who was busy eating, didn't notice.

  He had only intended to find a way to solve the Nine-Tails' chakra issue through Naruto, but not only did he get a method, he also stumbled upon some shocking news.

  'The Mangekyō Sharingan! So, Itachi Uchiha has already reached that level?'

  "Naruto, actually, i already have some clues about this. The Uchiha cn has methods of controlling nine tails. I'll ask around when I have time."

  "Is that true? That's great, Big bro Kakashi!"

  Naruto's mouth was busy, but his hands didn't stop eating meat for a second. In his heart, he was even more disdainful.

  [Kakashi, do you really think you're that important? Even the Uchiha cn wants your Sharingan back. And you think you can ask them about how to control the Nine-Tails? Besides, the Uchiha cn is pnning a rebellion. Do you really think they'd bother with someone from the Hokage's faction?]

  Rebellion!

  Kakashi's face changed drastically, and his hand trembled, causing his chopsticks to fall to the ground.

  Hearing the sound, Naruto paused his eating and looked at Kakashi with confusion.

  "Big bro Kakashi? What's wrong?"

  "Nothing, nothing. It's just that I've been swinging my sword too much tely, and my hand cramped up."

  "Oh, I see."

  Naruto nodded and continued eating without a second thought.

  Kakashi bent down to pick up the chopsticks, his face calm, but his mind was in turmoil.

  "Sigh—"

  Kakashi pced the chopsticks on the table and let out a long, deliberate sigh. Naruto had never seen Kakashi like this before and couldn't help but feel curious.

  "Big bro Kakashi? What's going on with you?"

  "Ah! Actually, I'm not too confident about asking the Uchiha cn. Although I know a man named Itachi Uchiha from the Anbu, the Uchiha cn has always been dissatisfied with the vilge. I'm not sure if Itachi can withstand the pressure."

  "Oh, I see. It's really no big deal, Big bro. Don't push yourself too hard. It's better not to make things difficult for others. I don't want to trouble you either. If it's too much, just forget about it."

  [Heh! So you do know the Uchiha cn is dissatisfied with the vilge? It's not just dissatisfaction—they're pnning a coup soon. If Shisui, who had the Mangekyō Sharingan, hadn't died st year, they might have already rebelled. If Itachi could withstand the pressure, he wouldn't have massacred his entire cn on the eve of the coup, leaving only Sasuke alive.]

  Naruto's words were polite, but in his heart, he was already mocking Kakashi.

  "Kakashi" had deliberately brought this up to fish for more information about the Uchiha cn. Although he had mentally prepared himself, he was still shocked. He hadn't expected the Uchiha rebellion to be so imminent, nor that Itachi would go to such extremes—sughtering his own cn. That must have taken an immense amount of resolve.

  "So that's how it is...I never expected it to be like this..."

  Kakashi couldn't help but murmur to himself, an unconscious reaction. But to Naruto, it seemed sudden.

  "Huh? Big bro? What do you mean?"

  "Ah! Oh! Nothing. I just remember there's something I need to take care of. I've already paid the bill, so you can keep eating."

  With that, Kakashi stood up and left in a hurry, as if he really had something urgent to attend to. Naruto was puzzled but didn't say anything. After all, there was still plenty of meat in front of him, and he was more than happy to keep eating.

  Kakashi didn't leave because of any urgent matter. He realized he was starting to lose control of his emotions. Staying with Naruto might have allowed him to extract more information, but it also risked exposing his ability to hear Naruto's thoughts, that would be a loss greater than any gain. Besides, there would be plenty of other opportunities to gather information. It was better to leave now, avoid exposure, and calmly process the intel he had just received.

  As Naruto stepped out of the barbecue restaurant, the sun was nearly setting. He whistled a tune and walked with a spring in his step, feeling absolutely wonderful.

  At that moment, Hinata happened to be walking by, accompanied only by a guard in his twenties. Both of them noticed each other immediately.

  "Hey! Hinata, it's so te. Where are you headed?"

  Naruto's face lit up with a bright smile as he greeted her first. Hinata was startled and immediately lowered her head, too shy to meet his gaze, nervously pying with her fingers.