Hiruzen Sarutobi walked into the room, ignoring Lin Yu's teasing gaze, and quickly walked to Sakumo Hatake's side, helping him up.
Sakumo Hatake's face was a little pale. He said, "Hokage-sama, I..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand and said to him, "Sakumo, first of all, I apologize to you. The public opinion that arises in the village is my fault."
Sakumo Hatake was stunned and quickly said, "No, this is my fault. Everyone in the village has the right to know. I, I just..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. He reached for his pipe but missed. Realizing he wasn't in his office, he stroked his beard and said, "Sakumo, from the Hokage's standpoint, I do not represent myself alone. I cannot be the first to break the ninja rules, nor will I tolerate a ninja who breaks them!"
Sakumo Hatake's expression dimmed and he said, "I understand, Hokage-sama."
"However... from my personal perspective, I support your actions, Sakumo, because I would do the same!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was serious, without a trace of pretense.
*Boom!*
Sakumo Hatake felt as if he had ascended to heaven, enveloped by the source of life, with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and colorful rainbows all around... His mind echoed with those four words: "I support Sakumo"!
The Hokage actually approved of my beliefs!
This is truly... truly wonderful!
Sakumo Hatake's eyes suddenly turned red. The nearly forty-year-old man couldn't help but shed tears, thinking that it was good that the Hokage approved of him, it was good!
"Sakumo, this is wonderful! The Hokage-sama approves of you, so don't be so dejected." Might Duy lightly patted Sakumo Hatake's back, excited.
This is so youthful, so passionate! Even I, Might Duy, am moved by the Hokage-sama's burning youth. Today, I will run 10,000 laps around Konoha! And I'll bring Kai along!
Sakumo Hatake, his eyes brimming with tears, said, "Duy! Thank you!"
Rin Nohara beside them said happily to Kakashi, "Kakashi, did you see? The Hokage-sama also approves of Uncle Sakumo's actions!"
Kakashi had naturally heard what Hiruzen Sarutobi said. His heart was greatly shaken. This was fundamentally different from the education he had received since childhood, but he felt that it was good, an indescribable feeling, perhaps more... humane.
Obito, seeing Rin's concern for Kakashi, said with some annoyance, "Tch! I thought you only had that tsundere expression. You can cry too!"
Kakashi instinctively turned his head, rubbed his eyes, and said, "Idiot! What are you talking about? I just got sand in my eyes! I'm not crying!"
Obito followed Kakashi's gaze and teased, "You say it like it's true, do you think I'll believe you?"
Kakashi's face turned red with anger. "You dead last! What are you saying!"
How dare he call me dead last in front of the Hokage, that hateful Kakashi!
Obito's cheeks also flushed. He stepped forward and got close to Kakashi, saying loudly, "Tsundere white-haired boy! Who are you calling dead last! I will be Hokage one day!"
Kakashi regained his usual composure, crossed his arms, and said, "Tch, if you become Hokage, our village will be doomed!"
"Son of a b*tch! Kakashi, say that again!" Obito rolled up his sleeves, ready to have a "friendly match" with Kakashi.
Rin Nohara quickly stood between them, trying to mediate, "Okay, you two, stop arguing..."
Kakashi's gaze went over Rin's head, fixing on Obito, and he said, "Rin, thank you for coming to see me. But Obito and I..."
"Rin! Get out of the way, I'm going to settle this with this dead white-haired guy!" Obito pulled down his goggles, bypassed Rin Nohara, and lunged at Kakashi.
At this moment, Might Kai, who had just finished running 1,000 laps around Konoha, burst through the door. Due to his speed, he couldn't stop and crashed directly into Obito and Kakashi.
*Bang!*
The three rolled on the ground. Might Kai said, "Kakashi, Kakashi, are you alright? I rushed over as soon as I heard about Uncle Sakumo's situation. Are you okay?"
Hearing his friend's concerned words, Kakashi could only rub his head and say, "Kai, thank you for your concern. I'm fine."
"Wuwuwu, that's good! I knew it, the only rival I, Might Duy, acknowledge wouldn't be so easily defeated!" Might Kai cried tears of joy.
Obito:?! This watermelon head wants to steal Kakashi from me?
Rin Nohara: Why do I feel like I'm the third wheel...
Might Kai: You're wrong! I'm the third wheel!
Lin Yu stood aside, silent from beginning to end. He believed in Obito, or rather, he firmly believed that the sunny, cheerful, and helpful Obito of today could help Kakashi recover.
It was a bit unexpected that Hiruzen Sarutobi would come in person, but it wasn't too hard to accept. Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed a lot. Perhaps he also had the same concerns as Sakumo Hatake in his heart!
At this moment, Lin Yu felt like an outsider, somewhat out of place.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sakumo Hatake, and Might Duy sat on mats in a group, chatting about their experiences or their thoughts on the battles. Whenever Might Duy spoke, he would blush and stutter, making Hiruzen Sarutobi shake his head with a wry smile.
On the other side, Kakashi and Obito had already started arguing with red faces and bulging necks, neither willing to back down, their faces almost touching.
Rin was trying to break up the fight, while Kai, looking as if his "beloved" was being stolen, hesitated whether to challenge Kakashi.
Lin Yu watched the scene from the sidelines, feeling it was good and warm. He felt this was Konoha, the place where the Will of Fire burned. Although the path had its twists and turns, it would eventually warm you.
Though darkness existed, the flame had never disappeared. One day, it would shine upon you.
Lin Yu looked at Obito and the others, their faces filled with youthful smiles. Although they disliked each other, whenever one encountered difficulties, the other was always the first to arrive. This was their bond.
Lin Yu suddenly had a realization. Why had he been so fixated on the dark Obito understanding him? Why did Obito have to become dark?
What was wrong with Obito being cheerful and helpful now? Was he, Uzumaki Lin Yu, so lacking in confidence that he needed Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan to deal with Uchiha Madara? Or the Otsutsuki clan?
Could it be that he, Uzumaki Lin Yu, knowing the plot, would watch Rin die? If he had the ability to stop it but did nothing, wouldn't he be a greater enemy to Obito than Black Zetsu, or Uchiha Madara?
By then, could he truly guide Obito? It was likely that once Obito knew the truth, the first person he would kill would be Uzumaki Lin Yu.
Lin Yu understood. He wasn't following the plot. He had already changed a lot of the plot. Then why not change it more thoroughly? Even Jiraiya could... Orochimaru, is it strange for our Obito, who starts with double Mangekyo Sharingan, to be like that!?