This Has Nothing to Do with You
Xu Fan had been waiting for Kakashi's return for a long time. In the meantime, he decided to train, activating his Byakugan.
His vision expanded in all directions—360-degree perception without blind spots.
Not only could he see everything around him, but he could also observe the chakra flow within his body and pinpoint the exact locations of his acupuncture points.
"I remember Neji Hyuga mastering techniques like the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven (Hakkeshō Kaiten) and the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms (Hakke Rokujūyon Shō), abilities traditionally reserved for the main branch of the Hyuga clan. Through sheer talent and determination, he made them his own."
"By the time of Naruto: Shippuden, he had refined the technique further, increasing the strikes to 128 palms."
"In terms of chakra reserves, I surpass Neji. If I can master Revolving Heaven, I wonder if I can expand its defensive radius several times over."
Xu Fan began mentally reconstructing Neji's technique.
Revolving Heaven was a defense unique to the Hyuga clan. Most shinobi could only emit chakra from their hands or feet, but Neji could release chakra from every tenketsu in his body. By expelling chakra while spinning rapidly, he created an impenetrable shield.
Even Tenten had called it an absolute defense, different from Gaara's sand barrier.
"High-speed rotation to defend and counterattack at multiple angles… If I can refine it…"
Just as Xu Fan was lost in thought, his eyes landed on a photo frame resting on the table.
His curiosity piqued, he walked over and picked it up.
"This picture…"
He sighed as he examined the photo. It resembled the famous Team 7 group photo, except the faces were different. Instead of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, it featured Minato Namikaze, Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara.
"So that's why Kakashi insisted that Team 7 take a group photo as soon as he became their leader… Was he trying to give the next generation something he had lost?"
For Kakashi, nothing was more important than his comrades.
Yet, time and again, he had been powerless to protect them.
Rin's death had devastated him, pushing him into a life consumed by Anbu missions, existing more like a ghost than a man.
Xu Fan's gaze shifted from Rin to the boy standing beside her—Obito Uchiha.
People interpret stories in different ways, but Xu Fan once saw an interesting take on Obito from a content creator on Bilibili.
Obito was like a gamer who had reached the worst possible ending and was desperate to start a new game. To rush toward victory in the next playthrough, he no longer cared about what happened in his current life.
At first, Xu Fan dismissed the comparison as ridiculous.
But then…
During the mission to capture the Three-Tails, Deidara had remarked that a Tailed Beast without a Jinchūriki was nothing more than a powerful wild animal.
Obito had fallen silent at those words.
When Deidara called out to him again, Obito had laughed it off, saying, "Sorry, I must have dozed off, haha."
That moment had always stuck with Xu Fan.
"What are you doing?"
Kakashi's voice snapped Xu Fan out of his thoughts.
He looked up to see Kakashi standing in the doorway, holding two freshly caught fish—clearly his dinner for the night.
But Xu Fan also noticed something else.
Kakashi's expression was guarded, his dissatisfaction clear.
"This girl… she's beautiful. Who is she?" Xu Fan asked casually, still holding the frame.
Kakashi said nothing. Instead, he strode forward, snatched the frame from Xu Fan's grasp, and set it face-down on the table.
"It has nothing to do with you."
His voice was cold, distant—like a winter storm.
Xu Fan met Kakashi's gaze head-on. This was the first time he had seen such an expression in the legendary Copy Ninja's eyes.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room, thick with unspoken emotions.
Then, Kakashi's tone softened ever so slightly as his eyes drifted toward the back of the frame.
"She really was… beautiful."
Without another word, he turned and walked into the kitchen.
Xu Fan remained where he stood, watching his retreating figure.
Kakashi had been ordered to house him by the Third Hokage. And as a member of the Anbu, Kakashi would obey orders—nothing more, nothing less.
That was the only purpose left in his life.
Xu Fan considered saying something but ultimately chose to stay silent.
After being interrupted, he no longer felt like dwelling on Rin and Obito. Instead, he sat back down on the tatami mat, waiting for Kakashi to finish cooking.
———
"Let's eat."
Before long, Kakashi returned, having turned the fish into a simple but well-prepared meal.
As they sat down, Kakashi spoke without looking up.
"The Third Hokage wants you to report to him tomorrow."
Xu Fan frowned slightly. "Did he say anything else?"
"No."
The reply was brief and emotionless.
Though the Third Hokage had assigned Kakashi to house Xu Fan, he didn't see Xu Fan as a comrade. He had no intention of forming any kind of bond with him.
To Kakashi, Xu Fan was simply a guest—a temporary presence.
Before long, he would leave, and things would return to the way they were.
"Alright."
Xu Fan nodded and focused on his food.
As expected, Kakashi never removed his mask to eat. He simply waited for Xu Fan to finish, then quickly devoured his own portion.
Within seconds, his entire meal had disappeared.
"You eat too fast," Xu Fan muttered.
Without another word, he got up and returned to his room to rest, preparing for his meeting with the Hokage the next day.
If his own analysis was correct, then Danzo Shimura was probably still alive. The Third Hokage was likely dealing with the aftermath of whatever had happened.
But…
Danzo wouldn't live much longer.
———
The night passed in silence.
By the time Xu Fan woke up, Kakashi was already gone. He had left a simple breakfast behind before heading out.
Xu Fan's gaze drifted to the photo frame on the table. It was still lying face-down.
"It seems Kakashi can't bring himself to let go of the past… but he also can't face it."
After cleaning up the dishes and washing up, Xu Fan made his way toward the Hokage's office.
No one stopped him or spoke to him along the way—undoubtedly, the Third Hokage had instructed them to act this way.
Before long, he reached the office door.
He knocked once, then stepped inside.
The office was empty except for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself.
"Hokage-sama," Xu Fan greeted, "What did you call me for?"
Sarutobi stood up from his seat, his eyes studying Xu Fan carefully.
"Xu Fan," he said. "I want you to join the Anbu."