Chapter 124: The New Generation Kage

Konoha.

Outside Obito's room.

A loud knock echoed through the hallway.

"Obito! Open up already!"

Obito groggily crawled out of bed, his head still in a daze. He had stayed out until late last night, and now, just as he'd fallen asleep, someone had come to disturb him.

After taking a moment to gather himself, he jumped out of bed and trudged toward the door.

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

As soon as he opened the door…

"Hmph!"

Kakashi let out a sharp snort, stepping inside with his signature deadpan expression.

Obito scratched his head in confusion.

"What's up? Why are you here so early in the morning?"

Kakashi frowned, clearly displeased.

"Was it you who suggested to Minato-sensei that I leave the Anbu and become a jōnin instructor?"

Obito nodded nonchalantly.

"Yeah, it was me."

Kakashi leaned in closer, narrowing his eyes.

"Why?"

Obito shrugged, smiling.

"Because I think you'd make a great teacher."

Kakashi blinked in surprise, his expression softening slightly. Still, he scoffed.

"Hmph. That's just an excuse."

Obito yawned, throwing an arm around Kakashi's shoulder.

"I'm serious. When have I ever lied to you? Besides, we've both watched Naruto grow up. Don't you want to guide him personally?"

Kakashi turned his head to the side, his tone ambiguous.

"I… I'll think about it."

Obito raised an eyebrow.

"Wait a minute. Shouldn't you be on duty right now? Did you skip work just to find me?"

Kakashi's face darkened.

"Thanks to you, I'm no longer part of the Anbu."

Obito couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Pfft… Hahaha! Minato-sensei sure moves fast. Uh…"

The look in Kakashi's eyes made Obito immediately stifle his laughter.

A murderous glare was impossible to miss.

Quickly, Obito waved his hands.

"Alright, alright. Don't get mad. Since you're free today, let's go out and walk around the village."

After a moment of hesitation, Kakashi nodded.

"Fine."

Since joining the Anbu, he'd rarely had the chance to spend time alone with Obito.

"Wait here for a bit," Obito said, grinning.

Once Obito was dressed, the two of them stepped out onto the streets of Konoha. Spotting a convenience store, Obito's eyes lit up.

"Kakashi, let's grab some drinks and chat while we walk."

Kakashi rolled his eyes but nodded in agreement.

A short while later, each of them held a fizzy drink as they made their way to a quieter area. Some conversations were meant to remain between the two of them.

As they walked, Kakashi suddenly pulled down his mask, downed his drink in one gulp, and swiftly put his mask back on. The movement was so smooth and fast that not even a three-tomoe Sharingan could catch it.

With his drink finished, Kakashi began talking.

"Has the Third Hokage… been fully focused on his investigation recently?"

Obito nodded lazily.

"Yeah, and Minato-sensei's been supporting him all the way."

Kakashi's brows furrowed slightly.

The Third Hokage had willingly handed over the mantle to Minato, and now this was his only request. It was hard for Minato not to back him.

Obito patted Kakashi on the shoulder, smiling.

"Haha, it's pretty normal, really. If something happened to you, I'd investigate just as thoroughly."

Kakashi felt a warm twinge in his chest but still asked.

"Does he suspect you?"

The Third Hokage had run countless simulations, eventually narrowing his suspicions to Konoha itself. He believed Danzo's downfall was the result of an inside job colluding with Amegakure.

Obito shook his head, grinning mischievously.

"Nope. Right now, the Third suspects you more than he suspects me."

Kakashi froze, his face blank.

"What?! How did I end up with this blame?"

Obito snickered.

"Think about it. You're the son of the White Fang, and you'd just joined the Anbu before everything happened. If you accidentally uncovered the truth about your father's death, wouldn't you have the motive? Sure, you didn't know Flying Thunder God at the time, but the Third doesn't know that. Doesn't it make you look suspicious?"

After a moment's thought, Kakashi admitted reluctantly.

"It does… kind of make sense."

Obito added with a grin, "Besides, your father died at the hands of 'Amegakure' shinobi. Avenging him by orchestrating an attack using Amegakure? It's poetic."

Kakashi felt his composure crumbling.

"When did I start becoming your scapegoat?"

Obito thought for a moment and then burst into laughter.

"Probably when you started reading that book. I'll never forget the look on your face."

Remembering the embarrassing moment, Kakashi laughed too, eventually punching Obito lightly on the shoulder.

After a while, Obito looked up at the sky and said softly,

"The truth is, the Third has started questioning me about the Mangekyō Sharingan recently."

Kakashi's heart skipped a beat.

"Maybe we should tell Minato-sensei the truth. If he knows everything, he'll find a way to help us."

Obito shook his head, chuckling bitterly.

"It's different this time. I've already turned against my own."

Obito feared no one—truly. With his current abilities and dual Kamui, who could threaten him?

What worried him was how people would see him if the truth of Danzo's assassination came to light.

Kakashi couldn't help but argue.

"Danzo was corrupt and deserved what he got. You did it for the village!"

Obito met Kakashi's gaze, his tone laced with irony.

"You know, Kakashi, that's the most ironic part. Danzo also believed he was doing everything for Konoha's good."

He laughed, a hollow sound that sent shivers down Kakashi's spine.

Obito continued, "Tell me, how am I any different from Danzo?"

Kakashi couldn't respond, his mind reeling.

Obito had only shared this with him because he understood the fragile nature of trust. If the truth came out, people in Konoha would start to wonder.

Today, Obito eliminated Danzo for the sake of the village. What if one day, he decided they were the ones harming the village?

Would his blade fall on them too?

Trust would turn to fear. They would regard Obito with the same suspicion they once reserved for Danzo.

Obito smiled faintly at Kakashi's silence.

"Perhaps, back then, Danzo felt the same as I do now."

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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