"Ahem, ahem. I say, you two little lovebirds, is it really okay to flaunt your affection right in front of me?"
"Where are your manners, huh?"
Ding! Congratulations, host has received 99 points of negative emotion from Kakashi!
Kakashi waved the grilled fish in his hand like a pointer, lazily gesturing in the air.
Seeing this, Hinata instinctively shrank her little head, clearly a little scared.
Ye Wudi, for his part, only pretended to look nervous but his hand never left Hinata's.
"..."
Faced with their innocent yet quietly defiant expressions, Kakashi eventually sighed and lowered his hand.
Sure, Ye Wudi was a bit of a troublemaker. Annoying, even.
But thinking about it, he was still just a thirteen-year-old boy who happened to stumble across Shisui's scroll and worked hard to grow stronger ever since.
No matter how eccentric he acted, how rotten could his heart really be?
Besides, the way he treated Hinata, it reminded Kakashi all too painfully of how much Obito once cared for Rin…
Thinking of Obito and Rin the friends he had lost Kakashi's heart grew heavy. He didn't want to linger here any longer.
At last, he asked the final question he'd been sent for.
"Kid, no one's trying to steal your food."
"But before I leave… can you tell me what your dream is?"
"My dream is…"
Ye Wudi furrowed his brow slightly.
But before he could even open his mouth
Naruto suddenly burst out from nearby, clutching a copy of "Island Teachers Living Their Best Lives: A Compendium."
"Kakashi-sensei! My dream is to be acknowledged by everyone, and become Hokage!"
"…This kid again."
Watching Naruto leap out of nowhere, Kakashi let out a long, weary sigh.
He reached out and grabbed Naruto by the collar, casually setting him aside.
"Kakashi-sensei! My dream is to become Hokage! Believe it! Hokage!"
"Yes, yes, I heard you…"
"Well then, Wudi. Naruto's declared his dream. Now it's your turn."
Kakashi turned back to Ye Wudi with a pointed look, his eyes clearly urging him to hurry up.
After all, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had specifically sent him here for this one question.
Once it was done, he could finally go home and continue reading Make-Out Paradise.
Make-Out Paradise was calling to him, damn it.
Why was he stuck here entertaining this little brat instead?
Just as Kakashi was silently lamenting his fate, a sharp gleam flashed through Ye Wudi's eyes.
Then, under everyone's watchful gaze, he suddenly drew in a deep breath.
"My dream is!"
Seeing this, Kakashi's eyes widened slightly, suddenly fully alert.
Finally. He could wrap this up and report back.
But why the hell was the kid yelling? Couldn't he just say it like a normal person?
Now the whole neighborhood was going to come over…
Ding! Congratulations, host has received 666 points of negative emotion from Kakashi!
Clack clack clack…
Sure enough, as if summoned by the commotion, a parade of uncles, aunties, and nosy neighbors all began converging on the street, chattering excitedly about Ye Wudi's dream.
"Wudi's dream? That kid's always been quick on his feet I say he's a natural-born delivery runner!"
"Delivery? Pfft! That's got no future. Wudi, come join our matron circle instead! You'll be in charge of choreographing all the songs and dances from now on!"
"You people are way too shallow. If you ask me, his dream has to be becoming a great ninja just like the Fourth Hokage!"
As the street erupted in chaotic speculation, a small smile tugged at Ye Wudi's lips.
Because he knew this was his moment.
With everyone watching, Ye Wudi stepped forward, baring a dazzling set of pearly white teeth.
"My dream… is to never have cavities!"
Nani?
NANI?!
Hearing the words Ye Wudi shouted so passionately only to land on that everyone present froze.
Ding! Congratulations, host has received 666 points of negative emotion from Neighbor XXX!
Ding! Congratulations, host has received...
Ding! Congratulations, host has received 999 points of negative emotion from Hatake Kakashi!
No cavities?
You've got to be freaking kidding me!
Kakashi's brain buzzed with pain the second he heard that answer.
This brat… truly couldn't stop stirring trouble.
Still, if he didn't get the real answer out of Ye Wudi today, and went back to report "no cavities" as the boy's dream…
His vacation was toast.
Worse, he might not even get another second to read Make-Out Paradise!
Come on! This kid had mastered Shisui Uchiha's Body Flicker Technique, and that's the dream he gives?
There's no way Lord Third would buy that. Hell, even he couldn't say it with a straight face.
No way.
He had to get the truth out of this kid today.
If only for the sake of some precious alone time with Make-Out Paradise.
Gritting his teeth, Kakashi locked eyes with Ye Wudi and slowly growled out four heavy words:
"I'm. Being. Serious."
Ding! Congratulations, host has received 666 points of negative emotion from Kakashi!
"W-Wudi-nii… Kakashi-sensei looks s-so scary right now…"
Seeing how tense Kakashi had become, Hinata trembled in Ye Wudi's arms, eyes full of fear.
Ye Wudi didn't hesitate he held her tighter and puffed out his chest, yelling back at Kakashi:
"I'M serious too! Serious as Ah Zhen!"
"And don't you go scaring my Hinata! Just 'cause you're older than me doesn't mean I won't punch you!"
"Wudi-nii…"
Hearing those words, Hinata felt warmth blooming in her chest.
She reached into her robes and clutched tightly at a thick bundle of explosive tags.
Her father, Hiashi, had told her these were a last resort, to be used only in life-or-death moments.
But now, watching Wudi-nii stand up for her like that, how could she just let him suffer while Kakashi-sensei picked on him?
Hmph! Kakashi-sensei, if you dare bully my Wudi-nii, I won't let you off easy!
He's always protected me this time, let me protect my Wudi-nii!
Eh? My Wudi-nii?
Ahhh Hinata, what are you thinking?! You can't just say stuff like that. You're not even married yet…
M-Married?
Ahh~ I can't keep thinking like this… My head feels dizzy~!
"Hinata, what's wrong?"
Seeing Hinata suddenly start steaming like a rice cooker, Ye Wudi blinked and gently ruffled her hair.
"I'm f-fine~ Ahaha~ So many Wudi-niis…"
Ding! Congratulations, host has received 666 points of negative emotion from Hatake Kakashi!
As Ye Wudi comforted Hinata, Kakashi on the side was now truly at his limit.
He was this close to sealing the brat into his Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall and mounting him there like a garden gnome.
Ah Zhen? What the hell was that?
Is there someone named Ah Qiang too?!
This brat completely lawless. Completely unhinged!
No, this couldn't go on.
He had to be pulled back onto the right path.
Letting a genius waste his talents like this was unforgivable.
"Wudi, listen to me…"