(In Japanese, "mumei" (無名) means "anonymous," "nameless," or "unknown".)
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Night.
The white-haired youth sat alone on the wooden veranda by the house. Not far away, a bamboo tube by the small pond rose and fell with the flowing water, making a crisp sound.
Pakkun was curled up in his dog bed by the veranda, sound asleep.
Warm lamplight fell on Kakashi. His dark eyes gazed at a novel he had found at home.
"The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi"
Author: Jiraiya.
Minato Namikaze had given it to him previously.
Flipping through the pages of the book in his hand, Kakashi waited for Jiraiya to arrive.
The novel's plot was cliché: the protagonist, Naruto, with his innocent dreams, defeated enemy after enemy, converting them with so-called love.
Even the final boss was moved to tears by the protagonist.
What a naive story.
Reaching the last page, where the protagonist, along with everyone else, built a beautiful and dreamlike world, Kakashi closed the novel in his hand.
"How does it feel?"
"Isn't it wonderfully written?"
A voice suddenly rang out in the night.
At some point, a tall man with long white hair and red tear-like markings on his face had sat down beside the veranda.
Jiraiya.
"A vulgar story."
Kakashi looked up at Jiraiya.
"Well, you're still as unlikable as ever, you brat."
"But your face should be very popular with girls."
Jiraiya chuckled helplessly, leaned in front of Kakashi, stroked his chin, and spoke with a mischievous grin.
"Lord Hiruzen must have told you, right?"
Kakashi placed the vulgar novel on the floor by his feet and looked at Jiraiya.
"He did, he did. What a hassle."
Jiraiya seemed quite bothered that Hiruzen Sarutobi had called him back to Konoha, but he still took out a scroll from his pocket and placed it in front of Kakashi, continuing to speak:
"He's an old zombie from hundreds of years ago; can't he just stay buried?"
"And he still insists on going to see it. For all we know, the bones might have rotted away."
Ignoring Jiraiya's complaints, Kakashi picked up the scroll in front of him. With a soft 'Release', five scrolls of different colors appeared in his vision.
Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, Earth.
"These are the Old Man's insights into his five nature transformations. Keep them safe."
Jiraiya glanced at the scrolls in front of Kakashi and chuckled softly.
"He values you greatly," Jiraiya added at the end.
Kakashi, an unprecedented genius ninja who became a Jonin at twelve, and at that age could even create an S-rank Chidori.
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes, he was almost the next pillar of Konoha.
Naturally, whatever Kakashi needed would be fulfilled as much as possible.
If it weren't for the original Kakashi becoming disheartened by various events, Hiruzen Sarutobi would never have let Kakashi serve as an Anbu ninja.
Anbu might seem prestigious, but ultimately, they are beings who dwell in the shadows.
To become a pillar on whom everyone places their hopes, one must bask in the light.
Just as the current Hiruzen Sarutobi has never mentioned Kakashi joining Anbu.
"I know."
Kakashi wasn't a block of wood; he could naturally discern Hiruzen Sarutobi's goodwill and high regard.
"For this period, I'll have to trouble Lord Jiraiya to guide me in Wind Release."
Kakashi looked at the man before him.
"Well, well, I get it, I get it. What a hassle."
"The old one won't let me off, and now the young one won't either."
Jiraiya sighed and complained, then fell silent.
The atmosphere seemed to fall into an awkward silence at this moment.
"Have you… gone to see Naruto?"
Suddenly, Jiraiya broke the silence, looking at Kakashi with a deep gaze.
"…Not yet."
Kakashi silently replied to Jiraiya.
"While I'm back this time, go see him."
Jiraiya stood up, patting his backside without any pretense of a powerful figure's dignity.
"Okay."
Seeing Jiraiya stand up, Kakashi also put away the scrolls, put on his shoes, and followed Jiraiya towards the main door.
"Pakkun, watch the house."
Kakashi glanced back at the soundly sleeping Pakkun.
However, Pakkun ignored him.
Kakashi didn't mind, simply locked the door, and followed Jiraiya.
The autumn night was a bit chilly. Kakashi and Jiraiya walked side-by-side on Konoha's roads.
The warm streetlights stretched their shadows to the end of the road.
"I originally thought you would be disheartened after this."
"But now it seems I was overthinking."
Jiraiya looked at the silent young man beside him.
"Lord Jiraiya, have you ever experienced hunger?"
Kakashi walked beside Jiraiya, step by step, moving forward.
"Hunger?"
Jiraiya was somewhat puzzled as to why Kakashi would say that.
"When a person is hungry, they tend to view many things pessimistically."
His dark eyes reflected the lamplight in the night, shining brightly.
"The Sharingan previously kept my body in a long-term state of chakra hunger."
"And now…"
Gently touching his left eye, Kakashi's tone, though somewhat cold in the night, carried a hint of vitality, much like Might Guy's.
"Indeed, it's best not to force what doesn't suit oneself."
Jiraiya had understood Kakashi's meaning and looked ahead with a hint of melancholy.
A figure he yearned for but couldn't have appeared in his heart.
"The departure of the deceased is not for the living to lament and grieve."
"The living should carry the hopes of the deceased and walk this arduous and long path of life."
Kakashi paid no mind to Jiraiya and continued speaking.
"You brat, you're even lecturing me now…"
Amidst Kakashi and Jiraiya's casual conversation, the two also reached their destination.
A seemingly ordinary residential house.
It was only seemingly ordinary; Kakashi could sense at least two Anbu squads hidden nearby.
Considering Naruto had just been born, Hiruzen Sarutobi specifically arranged for two nannies to care for Naruto twenty-four hours a day.
With Jiraiya leading the way, after a simple procedure with the Anbu, Kakashi entered the house unimpeded.
"Lord Jiraiya."
The nanny on night duty, seeing someone approach, respectfully bowed to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya waved his hand and softly asked:
"Is Naruto asleep?"
Hearing Jiraiya's question, the nanny quickly replied:
"Naruto had some milk; he should be a bit sleepy now. If Lord Jiraiya wishes to see him, there should still be time."
The nanny was a member of the Sarutobi Clan, carefully selected by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even if she didn't know why this baby named Naruto was so highly regarded, adhering to the principle of not asking what shouldn't be asked, the nanny simply cared for him meticulously like a normal child.
"In that case, take me to see him."
Jiraiya nodded upon hearing this, then motioned for Kakashi to follow.
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