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"So that brat is the disciple of that useless Kakashi?"
The moonlight was faint and hazy, casting a silver veil over the night.
Outside a quiet izakaya in Konoha, Uchiha Obito's figure emerged, half-concealed within the thick trunk of an ancient tree.
His long black cloak blended seamlessly into the night, while the swirling mask he wore lent him an eerie, almost otherworldly presence. Crimson Sharingan eye gleamed behind the mask, fixed upon the window of the izakaya with unwavering intensity.
Through the windowpane, he could clearly see the scene within. Though Kakashi still looked somewhat listless, there was a faint trace of a smile on his face.
Guy had his arm slung around Kakashi's shoulders, saying something animatedly. Meanwhile, Jiraiya lounged with casual arrogance, openly flirting with a beautiful waitress.
Seated opposite them was a strikingly handsome black-haired youth, head lowered as he and a blond-haired boy wolfed down their food with astonishing speed.
Obito recognized the boy almost instantly. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes, studying him intently. After a long moment, he slowly shook his head.
"Hmph. He doesn't look like anything special."
"Well now, who would have thought even you could misjudge someone, Obito."
At that very moment, a pitcher plant sprouted beside him. The white half of Zetsu's face surfaced, curling into a strange smile.
"That kid's chakra reserves are immense, you know. And when you were his age, you definitely weren't this strong. At the very least, you didn't escape Kakashi's curse."
"Shut your mouth."
For an instant, Obito truly had the urge to strangle White Zetsu then and there. Fortunately, he restrained himself.
In truth, part of the reason he had come tonight was because White Zetsu's remarks had struck a nerve.
He wanted to see for himself—what was so special about this brat?
Why had he escaped it, when he and Rin had not?
Why him, of all people?
Though he didn't blame Kakashi for what had happened in the past, he had long since decided that the fault lay with the world itself. That said, it didn't mean he could accept this outcome quietly.
"This boy just got lucky. Perhaps he has some talent, but that's all there is to it."
"Even so, it's best not to underestimate him. That child isn't as simple as he looks."
A voice colder and deeper than the others suddenly cut in. Black Zetsu, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, his brows slightly furrowed as he stared into the distance toward Kitagawa Gen.
"There's something off about his aura. I can't quite put my finger on it yet, but he warrants caution."
Black Zetsu was a being personally created by Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, and his powers of perception far surpassed those of any ordinary shinobi.
Though he was not a true Ōtsutsuki himself and thus could not fully discern the depths of Gen's bloodline—still only faintly awakened—he could sense enough to feel a faint but disturbing anomaly.
"Oh?"
Obito raised an eyebrow. His interest seemed to grow deeper, his eyes glinting with amusement and menace.
"Looks like it's worth testing this boy out when the opportunity arises."
"Hey, don't you have more important things to do?"
White Zetsu looked at Obito, half of his face puzzled.
"Weren't you planning to check on that Uchiha Sasuke kid? Maybe give Uchiha Itachi a little warning? Why the sudden change in focus?"
"This won't interfere with anything. It's just a small matter on the way."
Obito let out a cold snort, his voice deepening with gravity as his gaze darkened.
"Itachi pledged himself to Akatsuki in exchange for my promise to leave Konoha and Uchiha Sasuke untouched. But this time, he's broken that pact first."
"As a warning, I won't go overboard. Just a few small but genuine truths about Uchiha Sasuke should suffice."
"And this boy... he can serve as part of that warning. A convenient way to measure his worth."
"Oho? So it's a warning to Uchiha Itachi, is it?"
White Zetsu blinked in a mock surprise, then gave a gleeful snicker.
"At the end of the day, you still can't accept the past, can you?"
"If you keep flapping your mouth, I'll kill you right now."
"Whoa there, how scary, Obito. You really shouldn't be so impulsive."
"Shut up."
As White Zetsu and Obito began bickering once again, Black Zetsu said nothing. He continued watching Kitagawa Gen, his gaze deep and inscrutable.
"What exactly is with this boy? Why does he feel both so familiar and so utterly strange at the same time?"
Time passed swiftly. The full moon hung high in the sky by the time Gen and the others finally concluded their celebration.
"I can't believe it. We actually spent this much?"
Jiraiya stared at the bill in his hand, a pained expression on his face. He turned around and shot a fierce glare at Gen.
"You little brat. How the hell can you eat that much?"
"I don't know either. I was just hungry."
Gen gave an innocent shrug, though a thought struck him at that moment—he was starting to understand why Hinata could eat so much.
Hinata was a well-known glutton, and she was, after all, the true "Byakugan Princess."
In a way, her bloodline might have reverted to something more ancient. Considering that, Gen being a glutton as a "battle-type" Hyuga himself didn't seem so strange after all.
"If there's nothing else, I'll head back with Naruto first."
"Go on, go on. You two gluttonous little brats. Just don't get in the way of this great sage's nightlife."
Jiraiya waved them off with a dramatic look of disdain. Gen gave a polite bow, dragging Naruto along, who was holding his bulging stomach and groaning. Then the two of them finally left.
Though Jiraiya still wore that theatrical expression of exasperation, the moment the two boys vanished from view, a softness crept into his gaze.
And finally, a quiet smile appeared on his lips.
"That kid really is something."
Only once they had disappeared from view did Jiraiya turn to glance at Kakashi.
"You've taken in quite the student, haven't you, Kakashi?"
"Gen might have some truly outrageous ideas at times, but at heart, he's a kind child."
Leaning on Guy for support, Kakashi's exposed eye curved gently into the shape of a crescent moon.
"And what's more, he's exceptionally gifted. I fear it won't be long before I have nothing left to teach him."
"True, Gen picks things up remarkably fast."
Guy nodded in agreement. Recalling the time they had spent together since meeting Kitagawa Gen, even he couldn't help but smile.
"You're really lucky, Kakashi. I was thinking of applying to train him myself, but you beat me to it. How annoying. Why didn't you just send him back to the academy when you had the chance?"
"All right, that's enough out of you two. Honestly, Kakashi even came out in this state."
Jiraiya interrupted the two of them just in time, rubbing his chin as he spoke.
"But it really is fascinating. Who would've thought we'd end up meeting Naruto again in such a way?"
"Yes, it is."
Kakashi nodded as well. Though he had observed Naruto countless times during his time in the ANBU, this was the first time they'd truly met like this.
And now that the first step had been taken, the changes that would follow could only grow more and more profound.
"So full…"
Elsewhere, on the quiet streets of Konoha, Naruto walked alongside Kitagawa Gen, clutching his stomach with both hands as they made their way home.
"This is weird. You ate just as much as me and yet you're totally fine?"
"You think I'm like you?"
Kitagawa Gen raised hos eyebrows, then laughed softly and shook his head.
"Anyway, what did you think of today? I told you they might seem unreliable, but they'd never dislike you."
"Yeah… they were all really nice."
As Naruto recalled the events of the dinner gathering, he couldn't help but smile. But the next moment, another thought came to mind and he grumbled in protest.
"That white-haired old man is seriously just a perv!"
"Wrong."
Kitagawa Gen shook his head, his tone solemn and righteous.
"That's a super pervert. Get it right."
"…"
Naruto opened his mouth, but for a moment he was at a complete loss for words. Gen tilted his head and went on.
"But he's also a very powerful shinobi. If he ends up teaching you, your growth will definitely soar. Maybe you should create your own jutsu."
"Huh?"
Naruto pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Me?"
"Yes. You've already learned the Transformation Technique, right? So transform into a beautiful woman and use it to trick that pervert. It'll be insanely effective!"
Kitagawa Gen, after all, knew full well that Naruto had a frightening natural talent in this particular domain.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Ebisu… all of them had been "defeated by him" before. He even knew that, one day, Naruto would come up with something as outrageous as the "Reverse Harem Technique," which could bewilder even the likes of the fabled Goddess of Rabbit herself.
Wouldn't it be a terrible waste not to develop such potential properly?
"You're such a perv yourself!"
Naruto muttered with a pout, clearly displeased. But the way his eyes gleamed as they shifted back and forth betrayed that he was clearly tempted by the idea.
Just as he was still pondering, he noticed Kitagawa Gen suddenly come to a stop.
"What's wrong?"
Naruto looked over, puzzled. But as he followed Gen's gaze, he saw a lone figure walking away in the moonlight, their silhouette solitary and distant.
"Hey, is that… Sasuke?"
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[Chapter End's]
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