บท 33: Chapter 33: Kakashi, I can see you
As Kakashi and Oden were the only ones left, silence took over the room.
Oden looked at Kakashi as Kakashi waited for Oden to speak... Until Oden simply walked towards the window and looked out towards the lovely streets.
"You're pathetic, you know that right?" Oden finally asked.
"...yes... I know." Finally, Kakashi answered, but his fists were clenched.
"..."
"... I won't be Hokage for long... but one thing is certain, as long as I am Hokage, I'm willing to put down my life to protect the village, just like the Hokages before, do you know why?" Oden asked, still looking down the streets.
"...Why?" Kakashi asked.
"So that the ones I care about can continue living. I wouldn't want them to be stuck living in the past, never moving forward. If I were to die and Konoha fell because of sadness, and enemies overtook the village, I would turn in my grave in anger... I think those that died, so you can live... feel the same." Oden said, making his point clear.
Kakashi just stared at the side profile of the young acting Hokage... aghast that someone so young could see through his most hidden feelings. The words had shaken up Kakashi as he suddenly had to face his worst fears, his trauma.
"I'm going to give you an assignment, if you can't clear this one then you're done as a shinobi." Oden said.
"What is the assignment? Kakashi asked, thinking it was an S-rank mission.
"After you're out of the hospital, I'll give you one week, to find yourself and overcome your guilt. If you can find your purpose and move on, then good for you, if you can't... then I'll have to retire you as a shinobi." Oden said, his voice slightly severe, as if he hadn't said those words lightly.
"What, Hokage-sama you can't be serious?" Kakashi straightened up and got serious.
"I'm very serious." Oden said, stubborn as ever.
"Why?" Kakashi asked, wanting to know the reasons.
"You're not as weak as you make yourself out to be... you can blame the fact that you haven't trained in long, or the fact that your chakra reserves are small but we both know you're lying... the real reason you're so weak is because you're driven by guilt. You can't move forward in life as you are... furthermore..." Oden stopped speaking as he wanted Kakashi to really understand what he had said.
"Furthermore... you're a burden on those around you." Oden stated.
Kakashi looked down in shame, hiding his eyes.
Odens saw that Kakashi had really felt those words... so he continued.
"Today was proof of it, you should've been able to handle at least one of the enemies, we both know that, yet your past weighed so heavily that you were the first to gas out, even before the others, that are weaker than you by miles." Oden said with a slight lie as he knew Might Guy was no weakling, and Asuma was also not weak by any means.
Kurenai was a bit more specialized.
"If you hadn't been there, Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai could have worked together... But instead, Kurenai had to take care of you... if you continue like this you'll one day cause more harm than good. I'm giving you one week to sort out your past and overcome your nightmares. Find your purpose...." Oden said seriously.
"How will you know when I've succeeded..?" Kakashi asked, still looking down. His question was more to himself than to Oden, yet Oden still answered.
"Chakra is made by physical energy spiritual energy... What's making your chakra so low is that the spiritual energy is obstructed... because of your mentality. Whenever you resolve your trauma, that obstruction will disappear and your chakra will skyrocket." Oden explained.
Kakashi finally raised his head in surprise and shock. He always knew that he should have more chakra than he has, even with the Sharingan... but he never understood why he was so... weak.
But the answer for Oden had been so simple, straightforward yet reasonable. Kakashi simply nodded in understanding.
"... Then how do I start...?" Kakashi asked in a humble tone. Even though Oden was younger, his wisdom was not represented by his age it seemed.
"First you have to find your purpose. Go and meet your friends, those close to you, and realize how much they care and worry about you. When you finally understand that point, you'll realize how foolish you were for living in the past, looking only at the dead, when the living was right In front of you... when you've come to that point, find me and I'll help you with the second step. " Oden explained as he opened the window and jumped out.
Kakashi needed to think for himself, Oden had already given him most answers.
Kakashi was left alone, he laid down again and dragged up his facial mask to cover his eyes as well...
Oden arrived at his house and let out a breath he had been holding in. Being Hokage was too tiresome. He had to take care of the civilians, the shinobi, the infrastructure, the economy, children, academia, taxes... He let out another deep breath.
"Welcome back." A happy voice sounded out, surprising Oden.
'Hinata?' Oden recognized the voice.
As he walked inside he found that Hinata had cooked warm food and was waiting for him with a warm smile.
"Ehh What's going on?" Oden asked.
"Erm, I-I- thought you wanted me to wait for you...." She said, half lying. Her head was slightly turned away from Oden as she felt shy.
"I see.... well then, let's eat.." Oden said as he sat down to eat.
Neither spoke yet the room was harmonic. Both had a slight shade of pink on their cheeks as they ate.
Seeing Hinata pick up a morsel of food and putting on his plate, Oden felt his heart warm up, so he also picked up a morsel of food and put it on Hinata's plate. The air was so sweet that the three oldies hiding and watching almost got diabetes.
"I knew the young master had it in him." Migoto whispered.
"Of course, don't you know that he inherited my genes, when I was his age I already had five kids." Akai lied.
"... Kawaii." Mina simply stated as she watched the younglings develop their relationship.
For Oden, this was a perfect way to relax, since he had used a lot of "tough love" to handle both Tsunade and Kakashi, he felt slightly drained.
It wasn't until 5 days later, on a Thursday that Kakashi finally arrived in his office, two days before his wedding and asked for help.
"I've... done what you asked me, now what?" Kakashi said. He really couldn't lose his life as a shinobi as it was all he had, at least that's what he thought until Oden had given him this assignment.
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