Am I… slowing everyone down?
The battlefield had already split into separate fights. Among them, Kakashi was up against the most troublesome opponent—Mito.
Lightning crackled in his palm as he held Raikiri, its powerful energy surging. But as he looked toward the enormous Susano'o in the distance, a strange feeling of helplessness washed over him.
Black markings spread through the air like a sealing technique descending upon him, attempting to lock him in place.
The Sharingan could see through the opponent's movements, but even so, Kakashi couldn't break the sealing jutsu in a short time. The difference in their understanding of sealing techniques was too big—Kakashi was like a grade-schooler trying to solve advanced math.
He recognized every symbol, but together, they might as well have been in a foreign language.
He couldn't take it head-on. His only option was to dodge.
Lightning flickered as Kakashi's speed kept increasing under the effect of Lightning Release chakra, but he still couldn't land any effective attacks. His Sharingan saw the layers of defenses Mito-sama had set around herself—getting too close would be walking into a trap.
Watching her sealing jutsu miss, Mito sighed softly and looked toward the distant trees. "Your name is Kakashi, right?"
Hidden in the thick foliage, Kakashi didn't answer. He didn't want to give away his position.
Mito seemed to understand and chuckled. "No need to worry about that. Everyone here has pretty strong sensory skills. No matter how well you hide, you won't escape our detection."
In other words—there's no point in hiding. I can see you.
Hearing that, Kakashi sighed, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "Yes, Mito-sama. My name is Hatake Kakashi."
"Kakashi… A 'scarecrow left behind'? That's not exactly a great name." Mito started moving slowly as she spoke. "Back when I passed away, the Hatake clan still had some strength. The most talented one at the time was… Hatake Sakumo, I think? Do you know him?"
"Hatake Sakumo was my father."
It had been a long time since Kakashi heard someone mention his father's name. Most people in his memory referred to him as "Konoha's White Fang" instead.
It wasn't that he had forgotten his father's name—it was just that most people only remembered what his father had done. The name itself seemed less important.
"He seemed like a good guy. I just don't get why he gave you such a name," Mito said with a nostalgic smile.
It had been so many years. Looking back, it really did feel like a lifetime ago.
Kakashi stayed silent.
Mito stepped to the edge of the forest, looking toward where Kakashi was hiding. "From your chakra, I can sense exhaustion…
but at the same time, there's this strange energy, like you're always holding onto something."
"You look like someone who doesn't care about anything, but I feel like there's something you do care about."
"Why is that? If you don't mind, would you tell me?" Mito's smile was warm and inviting.
A kind old lady, speaking gently, her expression full of hope—someone completely opposite to Kakashi.
"Sorry, I just…" Kakashi didn't know how to respond. He didn't even know what to say. He could only sigh. "Maybe you're right."
He shifted, moving out of Mito's attack range. Lightning crackled as he slashed forward with a kunai.
Mito dodged effortlessly with a simple step and formed a hand seal. She placed her palm on a nearby tree.
Dark markings spread across the bark, forming chains that lashed toward Kakashi.
Mito watched the scene unfold and sighed. "I know this isn't really the time for this conversation, but sighing too much will make you age faster, you know."
This Kakashi… he felt like an old man.
He didn't fight for anything, didn't chase after anything, as if he had seen through everything and no longer cared.
"I just… sometimes feel like I'm not a very good teacher."
Kakashi landed lightly on a tree branch, crouching as he looked down at Mito. His face was calm, his tone lifeless—just like an old man.
"Sighing… maybe it's just my way of letting out frustration," Kakashi said with a faint smile. "Don't mind me."
He wasn't weak. He was a famous ninja, listed in foreign intel reports, known as the Copy Ninja with over a thousand techniques under his belt. He had even created his own powerful Lightning Release jutsu and possessed one of the strongest Kekkei Genkai—the Sharingan, which had evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
But somewhere along the way, he started feeling like he didn't matter.
He was Naruto and Sasuke's teacher, but every time something happened, it was his students who saved the day. And now, even when protecting Konoha and fighting enemies, he had to consider whether he would get in Sasuke's way.
"We came here to help… but honestly, I feel like we're just getting in the way." Kakashi looked discouraged. "If we weren't here, maybe Sasuke could go all out against you and end this fight much more easily."
Compared to this battle, where he had to worry about the people around him, fighting without holding back probably suited Sasuke more.
Kakashi… couldn't help but think this way.
Mito just stared at Kakashi, her hands suddenly pausing. She didn't attack, just watched him, lost in thought for a moment.
Then, after a few seconds, she suddenly laughed.
"You actually look pretty good when you smile."
"Huh?" Kakashi was stunned, not understanding what Mito-sama meant.
"I mean, you look good when you smile—better than that blockhead Hashirama." Mito's old face creased with a smile. Her deep wrinkles didn't make her look bad—on the contrary, they made her seem warm and kind.
She looked at Kakashi with a lighthearted tone, almost like a child. "You know, that idiot Hashirama almost kneeled in front of the other four Kage at the first Five Kage Summit. He even started crying! If Tobirama hadn't stopped him, he probably would've been sobbing on the ground."
"He never cared about the title of Hokage. Honestly, Tobirama acted more like a Hokage than he did."
Kakashi wasn't sure what to say, then gave a wry smile. "Mito-sama, isn't it a bit inappropriate to share the First Hokage's embarrassing moments like this? I respect both him and the Second Hokage."
"I was his wife. Why wouldn't I say it? And you're part of the village—Hashirama wouldn't mind at all." Mito waved her hand dismissively, then sighed. "Back then, Hashirama actually wanted Madara to be Hokage. But unfortunately… Madara refused."
That's right—Madara rejected the Hokage position himself.
If he had really wanted it, no one could have stopped him. Hashirama fully supported the idea, even with all his heart. But Madara still refused.
"Uchiha Madara… turned it down?" Kakashi was stunned. He had never heard this before.
"Yeah. Do you know why?" Mito's eyes carried a hint of amusement. "Because Madara thought his expression was too scary—he didn't think he was fit to be Hokage, someone who had to lead the whole village. To avoid suspicion, he even suggested Tobirama as Hashirama's assistant instead."
"Funny, isn't it?" Mito's smile was full of nostalgia. "Maybe Madara would've been better suited for the job—Hashirama could've been a symbol, and Madara could have led. Maybe that would've been the best choice… but he still refused."
"For the village."
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