"I understand." He didn't question Mitsuki's reasons, nor was there any need to. Since his own strength wasn't enough, then trusting his companions was sufficient. Kakashi now understood this deeply.
The group arrived at their final planned destination—the Hatake residence.
Kakashi led everyone into the reception room.
"Phew~" Kakashi took a deep breath. "Then, I'm going."
"Stinky Kakashi, you can definitely do it."
"Go, Kakashi."
"Don't worry, Kakashi, in the worst-case scenario, you can just lie on the ground and throw a tantrum. Sometimes, as a child, it's better not to pretend to be too mature," Mitsuki said with a profound expression.
"...I would never act like Obito and throw a tantrum," Kakashi refused verbally, but deep down, he thought that if things really didn't work out, using Mitsuki's suggestion might not be a bad idea.
He truly lived up to his future self, the man who would read adult books in front of his students.
Kakashi turned and walked with firm steps to find Sakumo Hatake... The remaining three sat on the tatami in the reception room.
After Kakashi left, Obito couldn't help but ask Mitsuki, "Mitsuki, why do you think Uncle Sakumo might commit suicide?"
Rin was also very curious, her two cute brows furrowed as she looked at Mitsuki with confusion.
"I say, aren't you overestimating Mr. Sakumo's endurance?"
"But Uncle Sakumo is known as Konoha's White Fang! How could a Ninja like him commit suicide?"
"And with Kakashi there, Uncle Sakumo should also consider him, right?"
"That's just your idealized view of adults. An old good guy like Mr. Sakumo is actually very sensitive deep down."
'Just like Kento, always so self-righteous,' a thought flashed through his mind, but he didn't voice it.
Mitsuki didn't offer further explanations. Before such things happen, most people wouldn't believe it. If he hadn't known the plot, he also wouldn't have believed that Konoha's White Fang would commit suicide.
And even after doing all this, Mitsuki couldn't guarantee that he could change the original outcome, but he felt he had done his best.
Mitsuki leaned back and lay down on the tatami.
"Hey, Mitsuki, I didn't understand. Say a few more words. I'm sure I'll understand next time. Rin, you probably didn't understand either, right?"
"I understood!"
"Huh?"
He ignored the noise in his ears. Speaking of which, Rin's father died on the battlefield before she could remember him, Obito's parents were both dead, and Mitsuki's own situation was even worse.
Now, he only hoped Kakashi could successfully counsel Sakumo Hatake, otherwise, their four-person team might as well be renamed the 'Father-Troubled Alliance'... On the other side, outside the Hatake residence's ancestral shrine.
Sakumo Hatake had been staying inside recently. Kakashi organized his thoughts, then raised his hand and knocked on the door.
"Is that Kakashi?"
"It's me, Father."
Hearing the response from inside, Kakashi directly pushed open the door, and the long-awaited sunlight streamed into the room.
Previously, Kakashi had only noticed his father's usual smile, but he had overlooked the dry, messy white hair, the sunken eye sockets, and cheeks.
"Father, I have something to tell you."
..."Ah, ah, ah, that guy Kakashi didn't find Uncle Sakumo, did he? It's been so long!" The impatient Obito started to get restless.
"Obito, be quiet for a moment. We are guests at Kakashi's house right now," Rin finally couldn't stand Obito's jumping around anymore.
"Mitsuki, stop sleeping! That guy Kakashi must have messed up. Now it's time for Grandpa Obito to step in!"
Mitsuki lay on the tatami, oblivious to the outside world, but he wasn't asleep. He had been observing Kakashi's actions with his Six Eyes.
Not long after he acquired Six Eyes through a wish, Mitsuki had already taught himself lip-reading. Now, it was like he was watching a live broadcast.
'You really are something, Kakashi. Yes, say it just like that.'
'I didn't expect it, Kakashi, you actually used it.'
'Is this really the solution? The Third Hokage will be busy.'
Mitsuki only sat up after watching the father and son's conversation end and seeing them walk towards him.
"It's over. Kakashi should have succeeded."
"Eh?"
At this moment, Kakashi and Sakumo Hatake also pushed open the reception room door and walked in.
"I've heard everything from Kakashi. Thank you for everything you've done. I'm an incompetent father, and I've caused you trouble."
The first thing Sakumo Hatake and Kakashi did upon entering was to bow deeply to Mitsuki and the other two, thanking them.
"You're welcome. We just did what partners should do," Mitsuki replied first.
"Hehe, Uncle Sakumo, no need to be polite. Kakashi is no good, but you really should thank Grandpa Obito!" Obito looked at Kakashi bowing to him, and he didn't know what he was thinking, his grin almost reaching his ears.
"Uncle Sakumo, please get up quickly. Mitsuki was the one who came up with most of the ideas." Rin truly didn't feel she had played much of a role, but she once again realized how amazing Mitsuki was, not just in Ninja strength, but in many other areas.
Sakumo Hatake and Kakashi straightened up.
Sakumo Hatake's gaze swept over Mitsuki and the other two, lingering on Mitsuki for a few seconds, and finally spoke to Kakashi.
"Kakashi, it's truly your good fortune to have companions like them. Kakashi, you must also cherish your companions."
"Of course, Father," Kakashi said proudly.
"Well, it's getting late. I'd like to treat you all to dinner. Feel free to say whatever you'd like to eat," Sakumo Hatake said with a smile.
"Yay! I want to eat barbecue!" Obito was the first to raise both hands in agreement.
"Of course," Sakumo Hatake certainly wasn't short on money to treat a few children.
So, the group headed towards the barbecue restaurant.
Along the way, they could still hear some gossip, but Sakumo Hatake now had a new reason to live. In short, Sakumo Hatake had grown a thicker skin.
Well, humans evolved from monkeys, so they always grow... Konoha has many barbecue restaurants, but the most outstanding and famous in terms of taste is the one Mitsuki and his friends were currently at, though it was also the most expensive.
"Oh my, it's Lord White Fang! It's been a long time since I've seen you out. You've brought quite a few children today!" The barbecue restaurant owner seemed to know Sakumo Hatake.
This was not surprising; the barbecue restaurant owner was once a Ninja himself, so he naturally knew the famous Konoha's White Fang.
"Yes, these are all Kakashi's friends. We have quite a few people, so please arrange a private room," Sakumo Hatake also responded warmly to the owner.
At the dinner table, Obito, who had been holding back the entire way, asked Kakashi many questions.
"Retire!?"
"That's right."
"Uncle Sakumo is going to retire?"
"Really? But if that's the case, wouldn't Uncle Sakumo's immense strength be a waste? Uncle Sakumo might even become the Fourth Hokage!"
'You're really treading on thin ice, Obito. But even Obito realized Sakumo Hatake had the potential to compete for Hokage, which explains why things turned out this way today,' Mitsuki thought to himself.
"I actually think retiring is a good choice," Mitsuki expressed his support. He had known about this since they were at the Hatake residence, as he had watched the entire live broadcast.
"Alright, Obito, Rin. Since Mr. Sakumo has made his decision, our support is enough. Strength is only meaningful when used to protect important people, not necessarily in the capacity of a Ninja." Mitsuki realized he seemed to have become a kindergarten teacher, constantly having to act as a magical conch for a group of children...
The meal was enjoyed by all. Mitsuki and the others weren't huge eaters, so there was no delightful incident of an empty wallet. The owner even enthusiastically gave them two extra plates of barbecue.
It proved that there were still many people in the village who respected Sakumo Hatake.
