It wasn't anything serious. The Green Hills and Flowing Clouds would appear at the same time.
Across the four battlefields, the total number of Konoha ninja was around seven to eight thousand.
Over ten thousand had originally participated in the war, but now only seven or eight thousand remained.
The cruelty of war was clear.
As they returned to Konoha, Aoyama Ryuun suddenly noticed Kakashi Hatake.
Normally, this wouldn't have been an issue, but seeing Kakashi's perfectly intact eyes left Aoyama Ryuun astonished.
Are you blind?
"…,"
Kakashi blinked and fixed his gaze on Aoyama Ryuun.
Is this an insult directed at me?
The tone made it sound like he should be blind.
For a moment, Kakashi wondered if he had offended Aoyama Ryuun in the past.
If not for the vast difference in strength, he might have already struck him.
Can't you speak properly?! If not, don't speak at all!
"Uh! Cough cough!"
Qingshan Liuyun noticed immediately that his words had caused offense and cleared his throat.
He glanced at Kakashi and asked,
"Where's that Uchiha boy with the goggles?"
"Obito… he…"
Kakashi fell silent, sorrow filling his eyes. The memory left him lost.
Minato Namikaze spoke on his behalf.
"To be honest, it's my fault as his teacher."
He gave a bitter laugh.
Minato realized how far he had fallen short as a ninja.
Not only had he been a poor commander, causing many to die, but he had failed to protect even his students.
Even with the Flying Thunder God Technique, known as the fastest in the ninja world, he always seemed just a little too late.
Later, Aoyama Ryuun learned from Minato that Obito was already 'dead.'
During a battle, he had sacrificed himself to protect Kakashi Hatake. Subsequently… his body was buried under rocks and never found.
"I see."
Qingshan Liuyun nodded knowingly.
Obito Uchiha really dead? Impossible! Aoyama Ryuun didn't fully believe it.
He's probably already taken by Uchiha Ban.
This matched Qingshan Liuyun's own recollection.
The only difference: Obito hadn't passed one of his Sharingan eyes to Kakashi.
In Qingshan Liuyun's eyes, this had both pros and cons.
In the future, there would be no Kakashi with Sharingan—no Copy Ninja.
Yet Kakashi inherited Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship perfectly.
Previously, the Sharingan had prevented him from fully training with a blade.
Now, unburdened, and with his natural talent, Hatake Sakumo's skill could reemerge in Kakashi Hatake.
"Work hard! If you don't understand swordsmanship, you can come to me!"
Aoyama Ryuun patted Kakashi on the shoulder as he spoke.
"Why!"
Forgetting his grief, Kakashi stared at him in astonishment.
Who was Aoyama Ryuun? He severed the Third Raikage's arm, the Fourth Mizukage's arm, and the Third Tsuchikage's leg.
Among the Five Kage, he alone had killed three.
Ultimate weapons like tailed beasts were mere toys to him.
Konoha Hero, Golden Lion Aoyama Ryuun—was this a title to be trifled with?
And yet, he offered to guide Kakashi if needed.
Kakashi felt like he was dreaming.
"…Alright, we'll discuss the details when we get back to Konoha."
With a wave of his hand, Qingshan Liuyun offered no further explanation.
"Understood!"
Kakashi didn't dare ask more.
As he stepped back, Rin Haruno smiled at him.
"Congratulations, Kakashi! If Obito knew, he would definitely congratulate you too!"
"…Um."
Kakashi nodded seriously.
Having witnessed the death of Konoha's White Fang, he had adopted a more self-centered ninja philosophy.
Completing the mission was paramount, but abandoning comrades was never acceptable.
Obito Uchiha's death slowly reshaped his perspective.
Sometimes, comrades were more important than the mission.
Perhaps… his father had made the right choice.
Kakashi was beginning to understand why Hatake Sakumo had saved his comrades at the cost of the mission.
As Aoyama Ryuun approached again, Tsunade gazed at him curiously.
She wasn't the only one. Many around her looked with interest.
Why did he choose to teach Kakashi? Did he see potential?
"Well… well… I had a good relationship with Hatake Sakumo back then."
Simply put, he was curious how far Kakashi could go without the burden of the Sharingan.
"Oh, I see!"
Everyone silently realized the reasoning.
Yet those unfamiliar with Qingshan Liuyun would believe every word at face value.
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
If you really were so close to White Fang… how could you have ignored Bai Ya's suicide?
Clearly, this was just a way to mislead them.
The specifics were unknown.
Since Aoyama Ryuun wouldn't elaborate, Tsunade didn't press.
In short, he was just teaching Kakashi Hatake.
---
Beneath the battlefield where the Hidden Cloud and Hidden Leaf Villages had clashed,
Just like beneath the Kannabi Bridge before, a secret base lay hidden.
Obito Uchiha, present on the Kumogakure battlefield, had been brought here.
Madara Uchiha had ordered Zetsu to construct the base.
"Here it is?"
On a rock, Obito Uchiha, his lower body entirely modified by White Zetsu, slowly regained consciousness.
Unlike before, where his right half was smashed, this time it was the lower body that was destroyed.
But to Madara Uchiha, with Hashirama's cells, it made no difference.
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