So, emotionally and logically, Kakashi hoped that Minato would become the Fourth Hokage.
Because only if Minato, who didn't have too many close confidants, became the Fourth Hokage, could he get close to the core of Konoha as quickly as possible.
He wasn't just Minato's student and subordinate, but also a trusted aide of the Third Hokage, an undercover spy for Root Leader Danzo, and he was also entangled with three S-Class Renegade Ninja.
Calling him a double agent or even a triple agent was not accurate—he was more of a quadruplicate spy.
Kakashi paid no attention to any of this.
It had already been a week since he returned to Konoha from the Land of Hot Water.
Today was a special day—a memorial service.
As a member of the Konoha Jonin, Kakashi naturally had to attend the memorial at the Ninja Cemetery to mourn the thousands of Konoha Ninja who fell in the war.
Konoha had suffered massive losses in this war. Though Kakashi hadn't counted, he could estimate that the number of Konoha Ninja left probably didn't exceed ten thousand; nearly a third of their ninja had died on the battlefield.
The casualty numbers were even more terrifying than those of the Second Great Ninja War.
Kakashi arrived at the Ninja Cemetery. Row after row of graves stood here, perfectly aligned.
So far, all the Konoha Ninja who have died were buried here.
Including his own father, Hatake Sakumo, the Konoha White Fang, who was also laid to rest here.
But many ninja graves were empty, because the bodies were too mangled, and there was no way to find enough remains.
The Third Hokage and other high officials also took part in the memorial. Danzo and the two Advisors were present as well. Unintentionally, Danzo and Kakashi's gazes met, as if confirming they were on the same side.
Kakashi quickly turned aside with a blank expression, then stood among the crowd as if nothing had happened, grieving for the fallen heroes of Konoha.
The funeral ended after about one hour.
Many people left one after another. After the remembrance, Kakashi walked over to his father Hatake Sakumo's grave, stood in a daze for a while, and was about to leave when he noticed there were still two people remaining in the Ninja Cemetery.
One was Orochimaru, one of the Sannin; the other was Uchiha Itachi, whom he had encountered several times on the Land of Hot Water battlefield.
One was a renowned and powerful ninja in the Ninja Realm; the other was an unknown, still-young child not even a ninja yet.
"What is the meaning of life?"
Itachi was talking to himself, the question drifting in the air, pondering something.
"Mourning the dead is meaningless. Life has value only when living,"
Orochimaru found it amusing—a four-year-old child asking such a question struck him as interesting.
Still, he explained his own view, considering it a lesson for this boy from the Uchiha Clan.
"When we're alive?"
Itachi looked at Orochimaru, confused.
This man, whose whole body gave off a chilling aura, had a pale face and serpent-like vertical pupils.
Itachi was not afraid to meet his gaze, his eyes showing a look of inquiry.
Orochimaru looked at Itachi thoughtfully.
This child seemed a little different, he thought to himself.
Most kids would have already burst into tears and hid away if he stared at them like this.
And... was he really exploring the meaning of life with a four-year-old?
Discussing life's meaning with a four-year-old, Orochimaru couldn't help but think something was off.
But seeing Itachi's serious and curious eyes, Orochimaru's gaze softened, and he smiled as he answered:
"Yes. To me, if life has meaning, it's found in the pursuit of eternal life."
With that, Orochimaru left without any hesitation.
Before leaving, he cast a subtle glance in Kakashi's direction.
Itachi watched Orochimaru's departing back, a serious expression settling on his young face as he pondered Orochimaru's answer.
On the other side, Kakashi noticed Orochimaru's glance before leaving—a silent invitation to come over as a guest.
Is he trying to make me a quintuple agent now? Kakashi mocked himself inwardly.
As long as you're a genius, everyone wants a piece of you.