The Shimura Actually Has Ice Release

After sending Orochimaru away, Danzō got down to business.

He summoned a subordinate and asked if there had been any unusual activity from the Uchiha clan.

On this matter, he and Hiruzen happened to be thinking along the same lines.

Once he confirmed that Uchiha Fugaku was seriously investigating the situation, Danzō's perception of him began to shift slightly.

A standard appeasement-faction Uchiha, huh. Looks like it's appropriate to apply a bit more pressure.

Danzō rubbed his chin, secretly mulling things over.

...

"If I come out and play with you again, I'm a damn fool!"

Lying flat on the ground, Obito closed his eyes, completely resigned, with no desire to move.

"Huff... huff... O-Obito, y-you're way too weak..."

Takeshi was doing slightly better—he was bent over, clutching his legs and panting heavily.

Only Kakashi still looked calm and composed, not at all like someone who had just climbed halfway up a mountain with one arm and come back down.

This kid's only four?!

Takeshi glanced at his own trembling arms and then looked at Kakashi, who seemed completely unfazed. He could only attribute all this absurdity to the all-powerful chakra.

"So tell me again—why did what was supposed to be playing turn into training?!"

Obito struggled to roll over, felt uncomfortable, and rolled back again, grumbling non-stop.

"Didn't you say you wanted a competition? Well, a mountain-climbing race is still a kind of competition, isn't it?"

Kakashi put on a smug face, hands in his pockets, and walked over to stand in front of Obito.

In this three-person one-arm mountain-climbing competition, Takeshi came in last—he gave up once the soreness hit.

Obito, on the other hand, was too stubborn to quit, gritting his teeth and climbing higher until he nearly fell from exhaustion.

Luckily, Takeshi threw himself under Obito to catch him, preventing a premature ninja funeral.

"Besides, if you don't work hard now, you might not even pass the entrance exam for the Ninja Academy, Obito."

As if remembering something, Kakashi suddenly leaned down and gave Obito a disdainful look.

"You bastard..."

Obito really wanted to punch Kakashi in the face, but he didn't even have the strength to roll over, much less fight. He could only kill him with his eyes.

"Didn't Takeshi also fail to make it up? He bailed before reaching halfway. Why aren't you mocking him instead?"

Unable to stand the ridicule anymore, Obito pointed weakly at Takeshi.

Kakashi froze for a second, and so did Takeshi.

The two exchanged an awkward glance. After a moment, Kakashi cleared his throat and looked away before asking a deadly question:

"Do you think he might not get into the Ninja Academy?"

Obito fell silent.

Takeshi went even quieter.

Right...

No matter how weak he was, he still couldn't fail the entrance exam, right?

When it came time for his assessment, all he'd have to say was:

"My father is Shimura Danzō."

Automatic admission guaranteed.

Obito realized the cruel truth and shot the two of them a furious glare.

"You evil second-generation ninja bastards!"

After resting for a while longer, Obito finally managed to get to his feet, though he still couldn't walk properly.

As the sun began to set, the other two had no choice but to support Obito and help him back to the streets of Konoha.

"Had fun, Kakashi?"

Sakumo, waiting at their agreed meeting spot, was momentarily surprised when he saw Obito. Then he stepped forward to help and greeted Kakashi.

"Eh, it was okay. Would've been better without these two dragging me down."

Kakashi let go of Obito and handed him over to Sakumo.

"Sakumo-san."

Takeshi greeted him politely.

Sakumo nodded in return and crouched down to check on Obito's injuries.

"Your face isn't swollen anymore. The rest is just muscle strain from overtraining. A night's rest should take care of it."

Seeing that Obito was fine, Sakumo stood up, ready to escort him back to the Uchiha compound.

"Dad..."

Hearing that Sakumo was going to personally take Obito back, Kakashi frowned, about to speak up about what had happened earlier.

But Sakumo gently patted his head and smiled kindly.

"I know, Kakashi. The Third-sama already told me. It's just some childish roughhousing, nothing serious."

Since Sakumo already knew the context, Kakashi said nothing more.

The group laughed and chatted as they escorted Obito to the edge of the Uchiha district.

At this time, Konoha hadn't experienced the Nine-Tails Incident yet, so the Uchiha compound wasn't far from the village center.

It was only slightly more remote than other clans' territories. There were no neighbors nearby—only the Police Force Headquarters and a prison stood beside the compound.

"Sakumo-sama."

The two Police Force members standing guard at the gate straightened up the moment they saw Sakumo.

"I'm here to bring this child home."

Sakumo gestured toward Obito.

"Please allow me to take him."

One of the guards stepped forward to take Obito from Sakumo, clearly not intending to let the White Fang enter the Uchiha grounds.

Sakumo didn't push the matter—he simply released Obito and watched him get taken inside.

"Let's... let's play again tomorrow?"

Obito suddenly turned his head, struggling to lift his arm as he hesitantly bid farewell.

Kakashi looked away and ignored him.

Only Takeshi waved back with a smile.

"Sure. Same place as always."

"Yeah! Yeah!"

Obito visibly brightened at the reply, though the faces of the Police Force members nearby grew darker.

...

As the only adult present—at least openly—Sakumo decided it was necessary to escort the "all alone" Takeshi home.

Despite Konoha's excellent public safety.

Despite already sending off Obito.

Despite the fact that Konoha's top child kidnapper was Danzō himself.

Despite there being probably two full Root squads nearby.

With a sigh from Kakashi, Sakumo took Takeshi by the hand and prepared to walk him home.

"Sakumo-san, you seem pretty free these days. Don't you have ANBU missions anymore?"

Takeshi looked up curiously, surprised that Sakumo had time to walk him home.

"F-Free?"

Sakumo paused, clearly caught off guard by the question.

"Well, Takeshi... actually, I'm not in the ANBU anymore."

Sakumo glanced at him with a complicated expression, then sighed and explained:

"The Third-sama removed me from the ANBU roster. I'm now just a regular jōnin in Konoha. Mm, and just a normal father."

He added, glancing at Kakashi.

A regular jōnin?

If the legendary White Fang of Konoha, whose fame overshadowed the Sannin, was a "regular" jōnin...

Then wouldn't old man Danzō be a regular village elder?

And the Third just your average village head?

"Wow, Sakumo-san, I didn't expect someone like you to be so good at humblebragging."

Takeshi couldn't help but mutter.

----------------

Pls Drop some Power Stones

+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo