Chapter 4
"I want to kill him." From his seat, Kakashi had quietly drawn the short wooden sword from his back, his face dark as he glared at Obito.
This late idiot cutting in line? He didn't care. But he absolutely could not tolerate the look Obito had just given Hefeng.
However, the carefree Obito completely failed to notice the eager-to-strike Kakashi beside Hefeng. He plopped down right next to him.
"Classmate, what's your name?" Obito asked with a lovesick grin.
Hefeng didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gently pressed down on Kakashi's hand and said, "Nii-san, it's your turn for self-introduction. The teacher and everyone else is waiting."
Seeing Hefeng stop him, Kakashi sheathed the wooden sword, shot Obito one last glare, and nodded to Hefeng.
"Brother and sister, huh? That's good." Obito let out a relieved breath in his heart—he'd worried his love story was over before it even began.
"Obito, don't be so reckless next time. If you really piss off my brother, he'll actually make a move."
At this point, Kakashi's strength far surpassed his original timeline counterpart. After all, one person working hard couldn't match the mutual rivalry and improvement of two.
"Tch, I'm an Uchiha. Under the Sharingan of our clan, everyone else can only run away." Obito brushed off Hefeng's warning. No matter the timeline, Obito's attitude toward Kakashi was always the same: stubborn and mouthy.
Hefeng didn't call him out. Instead, he put on an exaggerated expression of admiration. "Eh? You awakened your Sharingan right on the first day of school? That's amazing!"
[Uchiha Obito Favorability +1] [Uchiha Obito Favorability +1] [Uchiha Obito Favorability +1] [Obtained Uchiha Obito's Basic Space Ninjutsu Talent]
In an instant, Obito's favorability flooded Hefeng like a screen full of notifications. After all, in every sense, Hefeng was the first opposite-sex person to praise him—and the kind he actually liked.
But Obito didn't keep pretending. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, adjusted his goggles, and declared firmly, "Of course not yet... but as a genius of the Uchiha clan, I'll awaken the Sharingan soon!"
Looking at such an innocent Obito, Hefeng found it impossible to imagine that in the original timeline, this boy would one day betray his teacher and massacre his clan.
Truly worthy of the clan known as the "Clan of Love"—the deeper the love, the more extreme the darkness after losing it.
Thinking this, Hefeng suddenly hesitated.
If he really got close to Obito, wouldn't that old man Madara turn his eyes on him later?
Though his talent was excellent, he still needed time to grow. With his small arms and legs, how could he possibly contend with the God of Shinobi, the world's number one butcher?
Shaking his head, Hefeng pushed down his worries. Soldiers come, generals block; water comes, earth covers. For now, take the immediate benefits.
Even if the Third War broke out later, he still had his father.
With his thoughts cleared, Hefeng gave Obito a sweet smile. "Mm, I believe in you."
[Critical Hit Triggered] [Uchiha Obito Favorability +5] [Obtained Advanced Space Ninjutsu Talent] [Kamui Space Experience Card x1] [Kamui Space Experience Card: Upon use, allows free entry/exit to Kamui space for 30 seconds with no chakra cost]
"My name is Hatake Kakashi. I like training with my family, especially with my little brother. I hate anyone who interrupts my time with my brother. My dream is to become as strong as my father and protect my little brother with the sword in my hand."
Hearing Kakashi's introduction from the podium, Obito's eyes widened as if something unbelievable had happened. Nervously, he asked Hefeng, "...Um... do you maybe have a little sister or big sister?"
Seeing Obito's expression, Hefeng couldn't help but laugh mischievously and explained in detail, "Nope. The 'little brother' Nii-san is talking about is me."
Obito felt his world collapse. But then he looked up again, staring at Hefeng's silver-white long hair, porcelain-doll-like skin, and that flawless, delicate face.
"...A boy seems... okay too?" The thought flashed through Obito's mind.
"I'm going up now." Hefeng said to Obito, then stood and walked to the podium.
At the same time, Kakashi expressionlessly took the seat Hefeng had just vacated.
"Hi everyone. You can call me Hatake Hefeng. Hatake Kakashi is my older brother. Yes, that's right—though I look like a girl, I'm actually a boy."
"As for likes... I love eating Father's grilled fish with my brother the most. I hate weird, creepy old uncles. My dream is... to work hard, become strong, and protect everyone in the village."
Hefeng thought for a moment and gave his dream a more "Will of Fire" flavor. After all, he wasn't sure if the "weird, creepy old man" he mentioned was watching him through a crystal ball right now.
Their teacher, Sarutobi Mada, nodded with arms crossed. Among all the dreams he'd heard, Hefeng's was the one that truly aligned with the Will of Fire.
"Excellent! Now that everyone has introduced themselves, two of you come with me to pick up the textbooks. Today's lesson is on Konoha's Will of Fire."
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at his desk, with Hatake Sakumo and Shimura Danzō standing beside him.
"How about this year's students? It seems my academy policy gets better every year—more and more little ones are truly grasping the Will of Fire."
Hiruzen was quite pleased, smugly boasting to Danzō. After all, this edition of the Will of Fire teachings had been personally overseen by him.
"Sakumo, you've raised two fine sons. They'll be Konoha's next pillars after Minato."
Hatake Sakumo replied modestly, "Hokage-sama flatters us. Those two brats are still far from becoming the new generation's pillars. Minato, on the other hand, is improving wonderfully under Jiraiya's guidance."
Hiruzen laughed. "Indeed. Minato and Kushina's relationship has been getting better lately. Maybe in a few years, I'll get to hold Minato's child."
Danzō snorted coldly. "I've said it before—the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki should have been handed to Root. Only then could its true power be utilized. Now look—we're left cleaning up the mess from the Jinchūriki's pregnancy."
"Hiruzen, that child Hefeng is perfect for Root. He's naturally gifted at gaining others' favor. Hand him over to me. I'll train him into Konoha's finest spy—a nail driven into other villages. I'm sure Hatake Sakumo would agree."
Hiruzen shot Danzō a sharp glare—clearly meaning don't even think about it.
With Sakumo right there, he didn't want to discuss this further.
"Danzō, Sakumo—I'm handling official business now." Hiruzen adopted the Hokage's authoritative tone and lowered his head to the pile of paperwork.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Sakumo nodded. Before leaving, he gave the calm-as-ever Danzō one last look, then vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.
Danzō, as Hiruzen's old friend, knew the man wouldn't budge anytime soon. He pushed the door open to leave but couldn't resist one last stubborn remark:
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
"Danzō—I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen replied coldly without lifting his head.
Bang—
The sound of Danzō slamming the door echoed as he departed.