No matter how you looked at it, seeing Obito bickering with Kuugetsu like that, Hoshiyomi felt that as long as he could prevent the boy from falling into Madara's hands, Obito's fate would completely shift.
Before Obito turned dark because of Rin, his personality had been one hundred percent Naruto-like. Without Madara's influence, he should grow into another Naruto—or perhaps an Iruka-type character—someone you didn't need to worry about going astray.
The only real issue would be Rin.
That was something Hoshiyomi had always wanted to rant about when reading Naruto: destroying the entire world just because of a woman? Isn't that a bit too over the top?
Speaking of Rin, Hoshiyomi felt conflicted. In the original story, their love triangle never really made it clear—before her death, did Rin like Kakashi more, or Obito?
In the end, the best way to handle it was probably to start with Kakashi. Now that Sakumo was still alive, Kakashi wouldn't be as closed-off. If Hoshiyomi could directly ask him how he truly felt about Rin, that would settle things.
If Kakashi did have feelings, then Hoshiyomi could persuade Obito not to throw away the whole forest for a single tree.
If Kakashi didn't, then why not push Rin and Obito together? After all, in the original story their feelings were so dramatic—if Hoshiyomi could help them actually end up together, it would be quite the merit.
Anyway, Rin's "feelings" for Kakashi at that age couldn't really be called love—just girlish admiration at most. Once everything was laid out clearly, with Obito persistently chasing after her, chances were high it would all work out.
As Hoshiyomi was mulling over all this, he had also managed to build a decent rapport with Obito, that little chatterbox. Hoshiyomi didn't feel any real aversion toward him.
In his eyes, the only truly unforgivable thing Obito had done in the original story—like Nagato—was killing his sensei. But both had fallen under Madara's step-by-step manipulation when they blackened, so Hoshiyomi didn't fully blame them.
After spending some time together, Obito proved tactful enough not to overstep. He didn't beg Hoshiyomi or Kuugetsu to teach him more, but instead cheerfully ran home for dinner. That made Hoshiyomi like him even more.
A kid who was optimistic, perceptive, and knew his place—that was hard not to like.
Once Obito had left, Hoshiyomi turned to Kuugetsu and asked:
"I can tell you're pretty fond of Obito. Once he graduates, how about you take him in as your official student?"
Kuugetsu's expression wavered at that, clearly tempted, but in the end she shook her head.
"Better not. After that gathering the other day, I thought about it carefully. I realized the reason I applied to be a jonin instructor was mostly because Minato and Kushina dragged me into it. Honestly, my personality doesn't really suit being a sensei.
Besides, my own training focuses mainly on swordsmanship, and Obito doesn't have much talent for that. So I think it'd be better to leave him be. I remember Minato hasn't picked any students aside from Kakashi yet. I was actually considering recommending Obito to him.
As for myself, I won't continue down the jonin-instructor path."
Hearing this, Hoshiyomi wasn't sure whether it was the worldline convergence at work, or if Kuugetsu really meant it.
So he asked reflexively:
"Then what are your plans? If not teaching, will you join the ANBU, or step into politics directly?"
Kuugetsu hesitated for a while before shaking her head again.
"To be honest, I'm not sure. I don't have a clear vision of my future path yet. Maybe I'll try both the things you mentioned—walk down different roads and see which one really suits me. Who knows, maybe I'll find what I truly love along the way."
Hoshiyomi nodded in agreement.
That was, after all, how most people were. Not everyone was like Minato or Yahiko—born with grand ideals and determined to dedicate their whole lives to them.
For most people, short-term goals and a hazy sense of the future was normal. In fact, hadn't Hoshiyomi himself once been the same way?
Before his strength reached its current level, Hoshiyomi's ultimate goal had simply been to survive well in this dangerous world.
He chatted with Kuugetsu for quite a while longer, even sparring a bit with her in swordsmanship. Only after that did Hoshiyomi step onto the Kusanagi Sword and leave the Uchiha compound.
His next destination was the Hatake household. Just as he had thought earlier, he wanted to deal with the budding love triangle problem ahead of time.
The Third Great Ninja War could break out at any moment, and once war began there might be no time to deal with such matters. Who knew if there would even be a "Kannabi Bridge incident" later?
So Hoshiyomi decided it was best to cut through the mess now and prevent problems before they ever arose.
When Hoshiyomi arrived at the Hatake residence, Sakumo—still serving as captain of the ANBU—had not yet returned from work. Hoshiyomi himself was very good at playing the hands-off boss in such matters.
His relationship with Sakumo needed no explanation, so there was no need for formalities here. After greeting Sakumo's wife, Mayu, Hoshiyomi sat down to wait for Sakumo to come home.
Thanks to Hoshiyomi, who had crossed into this world, and Tsunade's attentive care, Mayu had given birth to Kakashi without complications and remained in good health to this day.
This had also meant that Kakashi, instead of becoming the withdrawn child of the original timeline, grew up with a complete family and a healthy childhood.
Because of Hoshiyomi's ties with Sakumo and Kushina's family, Mayu had developed close relationships over the years with Tsunade, Kushina, and the wives of other major Konoha clans.
They were essentially the "first generation of Konoha's wives' circle." Once Tsunade eventually stepped down, if something like a "Konoha Women's Federation" were ever established, these women would certainly all be core elder members.
After years of chatting and socializing with those ladies, Mayu herself had changed a lot. She still carried the air of a virtuous, gentle wife and mother, but her speech and bearing were no longer those of the bold young girl who had once pursued Sakumo so fearlessly.
After Hoshiyomi spent some time talking with Mayu, Sakumo finally returned home together with Kakashi.
It was worth noting that Kakashi was quite different from the gloomy, bitter youth of the original story. With both parents alive and well, he was noticeably more cheerful.
At the very least, he didn't walk around wearing a mask every day trying to act like some brooding cool guy. When he saw Hoshiyomi, he even bowed politely and greeted him with, "Uncle Hoshiyomi."
That "Uncle Hoshiyomi" gave Hoshiyomi an odd little thrill of satisfaction, and his smile had the faint air of a shady old man's smugness.
Sharing a glance with Sakumo, Hoshiyomi silently conveyed the gist of his intentions. Sakumo understood, sent Kakashi off to train, and then asked directly:
"All right, tell me. Why did you suddenly come over about Kakashi?"
When Hoshiyomi briefly explained about Obito, Rin, and Kakashi, Sakumo's expression turned… peculiar.