Night
Hatake Residence
At this moment, Hikari was taking inventory of the various gifts sent by numerous individuals for Kakashi's inauguration as Hokage today.
"Your old friend is really a strange one. He actually sent a barbell set," Hikari marveled, pointing at the extremely bright barbell set within the pile of gifts.
"Don't say that. Gai had good intentions."
Kakashi, tired from the day's events, replied, lying on the sofa with his eyes closed, resting.
"I didn't say anything bad about him."
Hikari glanced at Kakashi on the sofa and continued to curiously examine the rest of the gifts.
Seeing all the wrapped presents, Hikari felt the anticipation of opening a mystery box.
There were special-effect Military Rations Pills, Ninjutsu scrolls, a small golden statue, and many other assorted, valuable objects.
Hmm?
Who sent this little 'Gentleman' [euphemism for adult material]?
Looking at the latest, unreleased volume of Icha Icha Paradise in her hand, Hikari felt a little disdain.
She checked the signature.
The Graceful Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku.
Hikari curled her lip and secretly glanced at the inattentive Kakashi, then stealthily tucked the volume of Icha Icha Paradise into her pocket.
"Kakashi, that old woman named Koharu Utatane didn't send you a gift."
It wasn't long before Hikari finished unwrapping all the gift boxes and called out to Kakashi.
Kakashi didn't even open his eyes when he heard that.
He had already expected it—how could that old woman who disliked him possibly send a congratulatory gift?
However, this really looks bad...
She couldn't even bother to conceal it.
Does she think that because of her seniority and status, I wouldn't dare move against her?
Kakashi had long intended to deal with Koharu Utatane, so whether she sent a gift or not was irrelevant.
He clearly understood what this elder was truly seeking.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were not greedy for money; their lives were relatively modest.
What they sought was not an extravagant lifestyle.
It was the desire for power.
The ability to command the world, second only to the Kage.
The power to make countless people exert themselves merely by his or her word.
If such people possessed the corresponding ability or strength, then it would be one thing.
Kakashi would naturally choose to ignore them, letting them immerse themselves in their own world.
But unfortunately, they did not.
With this thought, Kakashi sat up from the sofa.
"What is it?"
"Are you going to go cause trouble for that old woman now?"
Hikari, now eighteen years old, looked at Kakashi and teased him.
Kakashi looked at the Uchiha Great-Grandmother, who was actually five hundred and eighteen years old.
Three years had passed, and in terms of appearance, this Great-Grandmother—who was outstanding even among the Uchiha Clan—had reached a level that was practically beyond reproach for any man.
"What are you looking at?"
Softly glancing at the man, Hikari raised an eyebrow.
Ever since she displayed her Mangekyō Sharingan to Kakashi three years ago, their relationship naturally developed into a couple.
After all, they saw each other all the time, coupled with Kakashi's almost undisguised desire to possess her.
It was just...
Sometimes Hikari wondered if there was something wrong with Kakashi.
She was already eighteen years old, yet Kakashi still hadn't made a move?
Alright... I'm actually five hundred and eighteen.
It should be known that in the era Hikari was from, it was common for people to marry and have children at thirteen or fourteen, and even have multiple wives or concubines.
Given Kakashi's strength and status, he was still single aside from her.
He hadn't even crossed that final line with her.
It was simply too abnormal.
Is there something wrong with him in that department?
Kakashi naturally didn't know what Hikari was complaining about in her heart, but if he did, he would definitely say:
Is it because I don't want to?
I'm afraid of the system censoring it!
After all, under eighteen is a forbidden zone.
Kakashi stood up and looked out the window, contemplating which person he should choose to make his first move against.
Koharu Utatane? Danzō Shimura? Or the Hawk Faction of the Uchiha Clan?
In this brief moment, Kakashi already had a plan in mind.
Koharu Utatane was dispensable and insignificant; she was merely one of the opposition and not a cause for concern.
Rather than picking someone useless, it would be better to strike down the most harmful one first.
Killing a chicken to scare the monkeys would also serve to deter the other two factions.
However, while deterrence was possible, such a move had both advantages and disadvantages.
There was a risk that the remaining two would feel grief over the misfortune of their kind and band together.
As Kakashi pondered, a pair of slender arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
"What are you thinking about?"
Hikari embraced Kakashi from the back, her voice carrying a lazy, kitten-like quality.
"I'm thinking about how to deal with a few mice."
Fondling Hikari's hand, Kakashi chuckled softly.
"Mice?"
Hikari was slightly puzzled, then looked at the cat yawning in the corner of the room:
"Koko, go catch the mice."
However, Koko ignored her, rolled over, and continued to sleep.
"Hmph, lazy cat," Hikari couldn't help but curse.
Kakashi thoughtfully watched Koko rolling over, and suddenly an idea flashed in his mind.
For a cat to catch a mouse, the mouse needs to leave a trail and show itself willingly.
Otherwise, it would be like Koko—if there are clearly no mice, what mice are there to catch?
A trail...
There were simply too many.
Kakashi could easily pick out an instance of Danzō Shimura's overstepping.
As for the Uchiha Clan, the issue was glaringly obvious right in front of Kakashi.
After Fugaku Uchiha entered the Elder Council three years ago, not only did he fail to use his increased voice to suppress the Hawk Faction within the clan, but he allowed it to develop freely.
This resulted in the Uchiha Military Police Force becoming increasingly reckless due to Fugaku Uchiha's "promotion," leading to skyrocketing resentment from the villagers.
The villagers grew more and more hostile toward the Uchiha Clan, and because of the villagers' cold attitude, the Hawk Faction within the Uchiha Clan grew increasingly agitated.
Talk of a coup d'état escalated.
And after Fugaku Uchiha realized that the so-called Elder Council merely assisted the Hokage with daily political affairs—having virtually no real power apart from being respectfully addressed as an Elder—he became even more passive, even turning a blind eye to complaints against the Uchiha Military Police Force.
This left Kakashi feeling helpless regarding Fugaku Uchiha's actions.
As a member of the Elder Council, if he had handled things well, his personal reputation would have significantly increased along with the position.
Even without that ambition, the influence it brought was in no way inferior to a department with actual authority.
But unfortunately, Fugaku Uchiha clearly hadn't realized this.
Or perhaps, even if he had, it was useless.
From the period when he failed to use his increased voice to suppress the Uchiha Hawk Faction members, he had already lost his choice.
"Your chakra has increased again..."
Hikari rubbed against Kakashi, a hint of infatuation flashing in her eyes.
After carving the Eight Thousand Spears, Hikari could perceive Kakashi's chakra reserves.
Although she didn't know why Kakashi's chakra was increasing so quickly, Hikari didn't care about that at all.
Kakashi smells so good...
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