The Gift

Not long after...

Sarutobi Ryo was sitting in the living room, getting treatment from Nohara Rin.

Yamanaka Hui stood nearby, watching with growing surprise.

A gentle, green light glowed.

Wow, she's already B-rank... that's Jonin level!

Seeing Yamanaka Hui's amazed look, Sarutobi Ryo thought, This is nothing. In a few years, Nohara Rin will even learn the A-rank Mystical Palm Technique.

The A-rank Mystical Palm Technique appears often in the manga, but the official data book, clearly states that even in Konoha, with its advanced medical system, only a few elite medical ninjas can master it! It's incredibly rare!

From this alone, you can see how truly talented Nohara Rin is!

A-rank Mystical Palm Technique is basically the highest level of normal medical training.

Above that, only Tsunade's S-rank Creation Rebirth, Chiyo's Reincarnation Through One's Own Life, and Senju Hashirama's Sealless Self-Healing are more powerful.

For a medical expert, mastering the A-rank Mystical Palm Technique is enough to be a top ninja in the world.

What's more, Nohara Rin also has the talent to become a host for the Three-Tails…

In some ways, Nohara Rin is even more important than Kakashi.

After all, there are always plenty of fighters, but skilled medical ninjas are highly valued.

Even Orochimaru in the original story needed Yakushi Kabuto, who was skilled in medical ninjutsu, as an assistant to solve many difficult problems.

Medical ninjas do far more than just treat illnesses.

With a little guidance, they can achieve great things in the study of the human body.

"Young Master Ryo, you'll be fine after resting for a few days..."

Nohara Rin finished her treatment and wrote out a few prescriptions for Sarutobi Ryo.

Watching her speak with such knowledge, Sarutobi Ryo couldn't help but nod, even more impressed.

To become a medical ninja, you first need to be smart, and then you need a lot of knowledge - in other words, wisdom.

Among their classmates, Nohara Rin, Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, Ibiki, Ebisu… Nohara Rin probably has the highest Wisdom score.

Obito's is the lowest, only Wisdom "2."

"Kakashi, congratulations on becoming a Genin~!"

Obito said, stating why they were there.

When they found out that Kakashi had left the academy because he had graduated early, the classmates were all shocked. Obito felt even more like he had been left behind.

But still, congratulations were in order.

"Hn."

Kakashi, with his proud attitude, accepted the gift from Obito. He had already received Rin's gift earlier.

Casually putting the gifts down, Kakashi looked at Sarutobi Ryo, who was chatting with Rin, and thought about something.

"Young Master Ryo, today I even met Lord Jiraiya, one of the Sannin."

Kakashi looked very proud. He was still bothered by Sarutobi Ryo's words from earlier.

"Lord Jiraiya taught me all day long."

This kind of showing off and desire to compete is common at this age.

Kakashi, whose father was still alive, hadn't experienced the coldness of people, or the reality of life and death, and was still very immature.

"You're not good enough."

Sarutobi Ryo glared at him, directly disagreeing with Kakashi again.

Kakashi immediately got upset, and someone was even more upset than him: Obito.

How can you say that about Kakashi?! Kakashi is a genius that all the teachers agree on!

Obito gritted his teeth. Even though he didn't like Kakashi either, it was true that Kakashi was an amazing genius.

"Obito will surpass you in the future."

Sarutobi Ryo turned his head, pointed at Obito, and declared Obito's future achievements.

Obito was immediately overjoyed: "Haha, Rin, did you hear that? Young Master Ryo is praising me! I knew it... I will definitely become very powerful in the future..."

"Hmph!"

Kakashi's cheeks turned red.

"Worse than Obito? Impossible!"

Right now, Kakashi didn't believe that Obito could ever surpass him. He got up and walked toward the courtyard, thinking Sarutobi Ryo was talking nonsense.

"Kakashi~." Nohara Rin saw that Kakashi was unhappy, her expression changed slightly, and she immediately chased after him.

"Rin~!" Obito followed close behind.

From this, you can see the relationship between the three of them.

Nohara Rin admired Kakashi, and Obito secretly loved Nohara Rin.

As for Kakashi… even though he's clueless now, he'll gradually understand things later.

In the official manga, Kakashi's relationship with Nohara Rin grew closer, even to the point where they were shoulder to shoulder, and Kakashi put his hand on Nohara Rin's shoulder. Until Obito "died," Kakashi refused Nohara Rin's confession because he felt guilty, ending with Nohara Rin choosing to run into Kakashi's Chidori.

The three of them were closely connected, and three good kids ended up on a tragic path.

Actually, things didn't have to be so difficult...

"Young Master, you seem to care a lot about these two children?"

The noise faded away, leaving only Yamanaka Hui and Sarutobi Ryo in the living room.

The smell of food drifted from the kitchen. Hatake Sakumo was making dinner.

Sarutobi Ryo: "Both of them have great potential."

Hearing his Young Master say such high praise about two children, Yamanaka Hui was speechless for a moment.

"That little girl, Nohara Rin, has excellent medical talent, I can understand that, but that one named Obito..."

To be honest, the Uchiha were disliked by everyone in the Konoha higher-ups and had always been rejected and treated unfairly.

Normal people wouldn't want to have close ties with them.

For fifty years since Konoha was founded, the Uchiha hadn't been able to enter the core of Konoha and could only be in the police force, working as low-ranking officials and city security guards. Every day, they were using their wits to deal with vendors selling vegetables and setting up stalls…

What's more, that child named Obito looked silly at first glance…

...

After a while.

The three children who had been playing outside came back.

Obito was a little bruised and swollen, Nohara Rin looked disapproving, and Kakashi looked refreshed.

It was obvious what had happened. Obito, who felt confident because of Sarutobi Ryo's words, thought he was strong again, went to challenge Kakashi, and was beaten up. Kakashi, having released his anger, was even more disbelieving of Sarutobi Ryo's statement.

"Dinner is ready."

Just then, Hatake Sakumo brought out the last main dish, Grilled Saury.

Looking at the table full of food, Obito immediately got excited: "Wow~! So much delicious food... It's as good as Grandma's New Year's feast..."

Seeing Obito so happy with drool on his face, Hatake Sakumo was naturally very pleased: "You two... please take care of Kakashi from now on."

As Kakashi's childhood friends.

Obito and Nohara Rin had grown up playing with Kakashi.

Even though they were separated after graduation, Hatake Sakumo believed that the three of them would definitely become comrades in arms in the future.

"Hmph, Young Master Ryo, did you bring a souvenir?"

Just then, Kakashi looked over.

Coming here to eat without bringing a gift…

"..."

Sarutobi Ryo didn't say anything.

With a calm expression, he reached into his robes and finally took out a Scroll.

"Release."

Smoke appeared, and some things were released from it.

First, a Short Sword.

That freeloader Kakashi probably thinks he's getting Father's White Fang.

In the original story, taking the White Fang Short Sword, which wasn't enchanted, just a plain blade, and using it to fight the enemy's knife, resulting in a broken blade - only Kakashi would do something so stupid.

"This is a Knife from Kirigakure, a trophy Young Master got after killing an enemy."

Yamanaka Hui leaned over and quickly explained.

Kakashi's eyes lit up, and he immediately picked up the Knife and examined it.

The Short Sword had a cold glint, stained with blood.

Even though it wasn't a legendary sword, the material and crafting were unlike anything Konoha could make.

"Good Knife..." Kakashi muttered, very happy with his Genin graduation gift.

"Teacher, this is your Gift."

Sarutobi Ryo took out another item and gave it to Hatake Sakumo.

Someone as powerful as Hatake Sakumo, who had done countless S-rank missions, wasn't short of money. So, the gift was simple but meaningful.

A Teapot, Furniture, Ornaments… these things were all from the female Guardian Ninja.

Hatake Sakumo's home was a little plain, and these decorations would add a lot of life to it.

"Thank you..."

Hatake Sakumo accepted the Gift, his eyes narrowed, looking very happy.

...

After dinner.

The three children went to Kakashi's room to continue talking about training and everyday life.

In the living room, Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Ryo, and Yamanaka Hui continued to talk.

"My dream... is to live a peaceful life. I don't want to be involved in the political fighting..."

Hatake Sakumo sounded a little sad.

His earlier attempts had failed.

No matter what, the higher-ups wouldn't agree to move Kakashi away from Namikaze Minato's team.

Sarutobi Ryo thought, It seems the Konoha higher-ups are determined to harm Hatake Sakumo.

Thinking of Ringo Ameyuri's experience, Sarutobi Ryo felt he couldn't just stand by.

This was also the real reason he came here today.

Konoha was starting to set things up to harm Hatake Sakumo, and he needed to prepare to rescue him in advance.

"Teacher Sakumo, if the Village is in danger and someone is needed to step up and become Hokage, if that person... happened to be you..."

Sarutobi Ryo stared at the gentle man in front of him with burning eyes.

Hatake Sakumo seemed like just a nice guy.

But in terms of talent, he was the best person to be the Fourth Hokage.

Sarutobi Ryo's question surprised Hatake Sakumo, then he scratched his head and nodded slightly: "Then I can only take orders in a crisis..."

That was right.

Hatake Sakumo was that kind of man.

He didn't want to be Hokage.

But if the Village was in danger, even to the point where he needed to become Hokage temporarily, he would definitely stand up… for his comrades, for the Village that raised him.

"Teacher Sakumo, if in a mission, a comrade is in danger, and not completing the mission would cause significant losses to the country... then, what would you choose?"

Sarutobi Ryo asked the second question.

It was also… the problem that led to Hatake Sakumo's suicide.

Hatake Sakumo smiled, his eyes narrowed again.

He replied firmly: "I will never watch my comrades die in front of me..."

Of course, he would choose his comrades.

"..."

Sarutobi Ryo nodded.

This was the Konoha White Fang.

A man who would give everything for his comrades and the Village.

However, this man was plotted against and persecuted by the higher-ups, and eventually committed suicide to prove his innocence.

He would rather die than give up his beliefs.

For this reason, he waited for Kakashi for more than ten years on the road to the underworld. To show his feelings.

Kakashi eventually understood his Father's beliefs.

Comrades… are the most important thing.

And this is the true meaning of the Will of Fire.

"Teacher, someone might be listening, let's talk in the study."

Sarutobi Ryo got up and motioned for Hatake Sakumo to go to the study next door to talk.

It was quiet there, and no one would eavesdrop.

The following conversation wasn't for anyone to hear.