Escape from Konoha.

Solving the Caged Bird Seal and recruiting a Jonin subordinate like Shingo Hyuga was a great help to the organization.

Although they cannot show their faces in public, guarding the organization's headquarters is of paramount importance.

After all, Shiraishi was very worried about those strange white creatures, which were very similar to the Earth General's abilities. They could move quickly within the target object, and ordinary sensory ninjutsu could not detect their presence.

With the help of the white eye, this problem can be avoided.

After all, no matter how stealthy one moves, becoming one with the earth, one still moves using the body. The Byakugan, a bloodline limit that can see the substance clearly, far surpasses the sensory ninja in terms of observation ability.

Furthermore, Shiraishi conducted a detailed comparison between the list of Hyuga branch family ninjas provided by Hyuga Shingo and the list of branch family ninjas provided by Ayane.

He discovered that the proportion of ninjas in the Hyuga branch family who were dissatisfied with the main family was different from what he had expected.

Some completely sided with the main family, while others remained in a wait-and-see attitude, their resolve wavering, but most of the time they leaned towards the main family's decisions.

What remains are the branch family ninjas who are dissatisfied with or hostile to the main family. There are not a few such branch family ninjas, but there are not many either.

Shiraishi has no intention of contacting these people right now.

The more people there are, the greater the chance of being exposed, and he doesn't want to be targeted by Konoha right now.

This is very unlikely, but we must prevent it from happening.

Anyway, Konoha isn't lacking in anything, so we might even find some useful seedlings.

Research on immortal arts is progressing well. According to statistics, after several months of hard work, the probability of success has increased by several percentage points again.

In his spare time, Shiraishi continued to live the life of a proper Konoha ninja, conducting research at home and working as a teaching assistant at the school.

As a Konoha ninja, he was of impeccable lineage.

He just started going to the police station more often to ask Ruri out.

Of course, it was a very innocent date.

◎

Around mid-April, Shiraishi walked briskly through the streets of Konoha.

You can tell he's in a good mood right now.

It's not just because it's Saturday and I don't have to go to the ninja academy as a teaching assistant, so I have free time.

"Yo, Kakashi, long time no see."

Bai Shi saw a familiar figure on the street.

A boy with a full head of silver-white hair.

He wore a mask on his face and carried a white dagger on his back that was exactly the same as the one used by Sakumo.

This kid still idolizes his father so much.

"Isn't this Genin Shiraishi-senpai? What brings you here?"

Kakashi turned around and replied indifferently, without much variation in his tone.

"When did you start talking like that, like Liuli?"

Shiraishi placed his hand on Kakashi's head and roughly ruffled his silver-white hair, only stopping when he had completely messed up his hairstyle.

"What?"

"This is retaliation for what you just said. You brat are really annoying, just like Sakumo-sensei."

Shiraishi said frankly.

"So, what do you want from me? I don't believe this is just a chance encounter."

Kakashi, despite his young age, started mimicking an adult's tone of voice, holding a recently popular book in his hand. He must have been reading it with great interest while walking.

He put the books into his ninja tool bag and tidied his hair, which Shiraishi had messed up.

"How is life like a genin?"

Instead of explaining his purpose, he inquired about Kakashi's feelings after becoming a genin.

"What else can we do? The tasks are all very simple, and there's basically nothing to worry about."

Kakashi thought for a moment and then expressed his thoughts very frankly.

"You're not humble at all."

Shiraishi patted Kakashi on the shoulder.

"Senior, you should explain your purpose for coming."

Is Professor Sakumo home?

"No, he went out on a mission and shouldn't be back for a few more days."

"What a pity."

Shiraishi sighed.

"what happened?"

"Today is my big day!"

Kakashi looked at Shiraishi with some confusion.

"Are you getting married? Who's your fiancé? Ruri-senpai or Ayane-senpai?"

"..."

"Isn't that so?"

"Of course not, why would you think of that?"

"The senior's words are very misleading."

Kakashi said helplessly.

Shiraishi had no choice but to take out a piece of paper from his ninja tool bag. It was a letter of appointment personally signed by the Hokage.

"See that? From today onwards, I'm a Chunin in the village."

Kakashi glanced at the somewhat smug Shiraishi and knew what was so pleased about him.

Is this something to be happy about?

Shouldn't we feel sorry for them?

Those who were in your team are already Jonin. Kakashi still didn't utter those hurtful words.

"From today onwards, I will be your superior."

Shiraishi said this.

Kakashi sighed helplessly again and took out a similar appointment letter from his ninja tool bag.

"I'm sorry, senior, I didn't mean to discourage you, but this morning I also became a Chunin."

"..."

Shiraishi's smile froze on his face.

Then, he realized something and looked at Kakashi with great surprise.

"Wait, Kakashi, you're only six years old, right? And you're already a Chunin?"

There must be something wrong here.

She's only six years old.

When he was six years old, Shiraishi had just started attending the ninja academy.

Although Kakashi entered the academy at the age of four, which was considered early education, it was unprecedented in Konoha for him to graduate from the Ninja Academy in just one year at the age of five.

Now another year has passed, and he's already a Chunin?

Shiraishi knew that Kakashi's strength surpassed that of his peers, but becoming a Chunin wasn't just about strength; it was a position like a squad leader within a team.

Having sound psychological qualities and outstanding leadership skills are of paramount importance.

"This was signed by the Hokage himself. If Shiraishi-senpai thinks it's fake, I have nothing to say."

"Sigh, I was actually planning to show off a bit."

Thinking that he only became a Chunin at seventeen, while Kakashi accomplished this at six...

Yeah, I feel a little sorry for myself.

"As expected of Sakumo-sensei's child, it seems I can't treat you like a brat anymore."

Shiraishi laughed with a sigh.

Kakashi was pleased to hear Shiraishi's praise, especially since he had lived up to his father's reputation.

"Then, senior, you've come to see me..."

"Let's celebrate me becoming a Chunin, but now we should also celebrate you becoming a Chunin, Kakashi."

"..."

I knew it would be like this.

However, becoming a Chunin is nothing to celebrate.

But the other person was, after all, one of his father's former subordinates, and they could chat together when they met, so their relationship was quite good. Kakashi nodded in agreement.

Follow Shiraishi to the familiar barbecue restaurant.

Ruri and Tsunade were sitting there waiting. Next to Tsunade sat a cute girl with short black hair, who was a little older than Kakashi.

"Isn't Ayane-senpai here?"

Kakashi couldn't see Ayane, which made him wonder.

"She can't come today because of something, but it's fine as long as the gift arrives."

"What a pity, we won't be able to see such a spectacular battle."

Kakashi said this.

Shiraishi gave a forced smile, somewhat regretting bringing the kid along.

She looks exactly the same as when she was a child, not cute at all.