Chapter 59: The Kakashi Incident II

"What is going on?"

Genichi Shita halted his steps, his mind momentarily blank.

The rest of Kakashi's squad had all perished in battle, which meant that Yumaki Memura, the jounin who was destined to become the commander of Konoha's border defense force, was also gone.

What kind of dangerous mission could possibly result in such catastrophic losses?

Yumaki Memura was an elite jounin after all.

Aside from Kakashi, Sarutobi Fufū, and Hinata Haru within the team were also among the very best of the chuunin.

Shizune shook her head: "I don't know the specific details either, and Lady Tsunade hasn't disclosed them."

Genichi Shita took a deep breath to calm himself down: "I understand."

"I'll go check on Kakashi first. You don't need to come along."

Shizune nodded and watched as Genichi Shita departed.

Inside a hospital room, when Genichi Shita arrived, his teacher, Sakumo Hatake, was already there.

"Teacher!"

Genichi Shita greeted softly, then looked at Kakashi, whose gaze was vacant on the bed: "How are Kakashi's injuries?"

Sakumo Hatake replied, "There are no major issues."

"Let's go outside to talk."

The two turned around, stepped out of the hospital room, and closed the door behind them.

Standing in the corridor, Sakumo Hatake said, "During the mission, Kakashi and the team leader had a disagreement. Kakashi insisted on rescuing comrades who were surrounded by the enemy. After completing the mission, Memura stayed behind to buy time to save Kakashi and died in battle."

Hearing this, Genichi Shita felt a slight buzzing in his head.

So, he had altered Sakumo Hatake's fate, and Kakashi no longer became someone obsessed with blindly following ninja rules due to his father's death.

Instead, nurtured by Sakumo Hatake's influence, he came to view comrades as more important than missions.

Consequently, he went against the team leader during the mission, preferring to abandon the objective and go rescue his comrades alone.

Yet Kakashi himself had also gotten trapped, which ultimately led to Yumaki Memura's death in battle?

Sakumo Hatake continued, "The comrades were deep in enemy encirclement with no possibility of rescue, but Kakashi insisted on doing it, which ultimately resulted in Memura's death as well... Therefore, Kakashi is consumed by guilt."

"This is the statement Kakashi gave to the Third Hokage upon his return."

Genichi Shita couldn't help but scratch his head.

In matters like this, right and wrong were completely impossible to untangle.

Especially since the circumstances at the time were only known to the sole survivor, Kakashi. His statement was from his own perspective; while the course of events might be correct, the details might not be.

For instance, whether the surrounded comrades were truly beyond rescue.

If Yumaki Memura had also joined the fray at that moment, could they have been saved?

Of course, thinking this way showed a lack of respect for the fallen Yumaki Memura.

Perhaps precisely because of this, Kakashi blamed everything on himself.

"Teacher, have you tried to comfort Kakashi?"

Genichi Shita asked.

Sakumo Hatake shook his head: "There is no right or wrong in a matter like this. Kakashi has to figure it out for himself."

As a father, and given his own code of conduct, he naturally wouldn't think Kakashi did anything wrong.

Yet he could not say that aloud, because it would be unfair to the deceased Yumaki Memura.

That was something Sakumo Hatake simply could not bring himself to do.

"I believe in Kakashi; he will be able to pull through!"

Sakumo Hatake said with absolute conviction.

Genichi Shita smiled bitterly to himself.

He believed it too.

But how long would it take, and how long would Kakashi remain depressed because of this?

Especially since the Kannabi Bridge mission might still lie ahead in the future...

After pondering for a moment, Genichi Shita said, "Teacher, let me go talk to Kakashi!"

Sakumo Hatake smiled: "Alright!"

He had complete trust in this disciple.

Thus, Genichi Shita entered the hospital room alone, sat down by the bedside, and said with a solemn expression, "Kakashi, do you know where you went wrong?"

The dazed Kakashi turned his head.

Genichi Shita stated, "You didn't do anything wrong by not abandoning your comrades; your mistake was a lack of strength."

"If you were a little stronger, Kakashi, Senior Memura wouldn't have had to stay behind and die."

"Even better, if you were stronger still, you could have rescued your comrades yourself."

Kakashi's deadpan eyes stirred slightly.

Genichi Shita continued coldly, "Do you think Senior Memura saved you just so you could sit here and blame yourself?"

"Shouldn't you be striving to train hard, making yourself stronger, so that the next time you encounter the same situation, you won't suffer the same outcome?"

"Kakashi, ideals require power to be put into practice!"

With those words, Genichi Shita stood up and walked toward the door: "In this matter, no one was wrong."

"Everyone was simply acting upon their own ideals."

As he opened the door and was about to step out, Genichi Shita heard a voice behind him: "Thank you!"

Pausing his steps, Genichi Shita turned his head slightly: "Pull yourself together quickly, and don't let Senior Memura's sacrifice be in vain."

"Wherever the leaves dance, the fire is constantly burning."

"Senior Memura burned himself to grant you a future."

"You are a young leaf of Konoha; you should inherit the willpower of your predecessors."

He stepped outside and closed the door, only to see his teacher Sakumo Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi looking at him with approving eyes not far away.

"Lord Third Hokage!"

Genichi Shita quickly offered a respectful greeting.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly: "It is wonderful for Kakashi to have a friend like you."

"Go on with your work!"

Genichi Shita nodded, exchanged a glance with his teacher Sakumo Hatake, and then left.

However, he knew that although Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't said much, he had certainly earned high marks in the Hokage's eyes.

"I hope Kakashi really took those words to heart..."

Arriving at the laboratory, Genichi Shita gave a soft sigh, cast aside his distractions, and got to work.

Fortunately, Kakashi did not disappoint.

He was discharged the very next day and immediately began frantic training.

And so, the year 44 of Konoha came to a close.

"Combining two Four Symbols Seals, one nested inside the other, to form a more intricate seal—that is indeed a brilliant idea."

Kushina Uzumaki pinched her chin in deep thought: "However, pulling that off is definitely not simple!"

"Speaking of which, how is your brain wired, Genichi?"

"Is it any different from ours?"

As she spoke, Kushina reached out with both hands, grabbed Genichi Shita's head, and turned it left and right to inspect it.

Genichi Shita rolled his eyes helplessly: "Sister Kushina, would you like to slice my head open to take a look?"

"That's not a bad idea either."

With that, Kushina couldn't help but rest her hands on her hips and burst into laughter.

Genichi Shita sighed helplessly.

Her threshold for humor was truly too low.

"Sister Kushina, be serious; we are having a very serious discussion here."

Genichi Shita emphasized.

Kushina reined in her laughter and said, "Don't be so serious."

"I've already been thinking about it seriously."

At that moment, a voice came from the doorway: "Thinking about what?"

The two turned their heads to see Minato Namikaze walking in.

Kushina immediately went up to him: "Genichi just came up with an amazing idea—combining two Four Symbols Seals together to create an even more precise seal."

Minato looked at Genichi in surprise and smiled: "It seems our thoughts are on the same wavelength!"

"I've also pondered this question."

Genichi Shita said pleasantly, "That's wonderful! It seems our direction is correct."

Upon hearing this, Kushina instantly bristled, her red hair fluttering in the air: "Hey, Genichi, you brat, do you completely distrust me?"

Genichi Shita curled his lip: "Of course I trust you."

If he didn't say that, he feared getting beaten up.

Once those Adamantine Sealing Chains came out, he would really have no choice but to take a beating.