Chapter 187 The Most Important Thing

Asuma Sarutobi couldn't help but recall that one day after that time, Sarutobi Hiruzen came home early after a long absence. Seeing him standing there in a daze, he waved at him and motioned him to come over to play chess.

That game of chess was a scene he had been looking forward to for a long time and had never thought about it before. But on an ordinary day, it came true with his father's calm greeting.

When the game was decided, Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke slowly, "Don't be arrogant or impatient. 'Jade' means more than what you understand now."

Asuma Sarutobi clenched the chess piece in his hand. Although he was rejected again, he strangely did not feel angry. He calmly asked back: "What exactly is that 'Jade'?"

“This may take you a lifetime to pursue.”

……

"What's the meaning of 'jade'?" Matt Guy touched his chin, unable to figure it out.

Asuma Sarutobi nodded, "Well, what do you think the meaning of 'Jade' is?"

"Isn't the jade the king in shogi?" Uchiha Obito didn't quite understand, "Should we lose if we lose it?"

Hatake Kakashi snorted and laughed, "It's not that simple."

"Then what's the point?" Uchiha Obito pointed at him angrily.

"Asuma's father must have his own intentions when he said that." Hatake Kakashi thought for a moment, "Because Jade is the king of shogi, he must be protected even at the cost of sacrificing other pieces. Does that mean he is not afraid of sacrifice?"

"It's not a good idea to encourage the spirit of sacrifice," Haruko raised her hand in rebuttal.

Nohara Lin tentatively said: "Maybe it refers to something that needs to be protected? Because jade needs to be well protected!"

"Protect the most important thing..." Xihi Hong pondered for a while, "What is the most important thing to you?"

Meeting Kurenai's gaze, Sarutobi Asuma scratched his head, "Protect the Hokage?"

"Asuma is too old." Haruko sighed, "You are just a child now. Protecting the Hokage and the world should be left to the adults."

"No, Asuma is right." Hatake Kakashi looked at her seriously and said coldly, "In the world of ninja, you have to fight for your leader and for your village. Even if you have to sacrifice, it is worth it."

As soon as he said this, the lively atmosphere cooled down slightly.

It is indeed as Kakashi Hatake said, in this war-torn era, there are many ninjas who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield, and even their young generation is a reserve force of combat power.

But they were still under the protection of Konoha, and the cruelty and brutality of the battlefield had not erased their innocence.

"Then Kakashi, don't you have anything else that's important to you?"

Haruko's slow question broke the silence and struck Hatake Kakashi's heart with great penetrating power.

Hatake Kakashi opened his mouth, but didn't know what to answer for a moment.

Before he thought about it too deeply, he subconsciously agreed with Haruko's words. He could feel that there were other important things in his life.

But after deep thought, he was confused again.

To him, what else could be as important as Konoha?

This was the education he received, that for Konoha, he, his father, and everyone in the village could sacrifice heroically.

But is that really all?

Seeing that he had fallen silent, Haruko spoke again, "There are many important things for me."

"There's Fugaku, Mikoto, the Uchiha clan members, the cats that linger around Rin's house, the deep-fried pork cutlets that Obito likes, the newly opened Ichiraku Ramen, the pan-fried river fish that Kakashi makes, the thick eyebrows that run passionately under the scorching sun, Kurenai and Asuma, and many, many more..."

"Although they all belong to Konoha in the final analysis, it is different from pure Konoha. It can be said that what I want to protect is not Konoha, but everything I cherish in Konoha."

"What about Kakashi? Is Kakashi only protecting Konoha because he wants to? And not because of other things that exist in Konoha?"

Haruko's questions one by one ground down Kakashi Hatake's stubborn thoughts. His mind was in a mess, but gradually, under her calm gaze, he broke down his long-held cognition and pieced it together again.

So the Konoha he always said he wanted to protect was actually not just Konoha?

Asuma Sarutobi was also lost in deep thought, even though what Haruko said was too fragmented, as if she was describing happiness in a fanciful way.

But for some reason, Asuma Sarutobi vaguely grasped the meaning of "Jade" from it.

"Why is it that the fried pork cutlet that I like to eat is important, not me?" Uchiha Obito still asked childishly.

Haruko really wanted to throw out this guy who was ruining the atmosphere, but thinking of his competitive personality, she finally answered him in a nice tone.

"Because seeing tonkatsu reminds me of Obito, tonkatsu is important."

"So I am the most important one!" Uchiha Obito was satisfied now.

Haruko: ...Open the door! Throw this narcissistic guy out!

Not wanting to pay attention to him, Haruko looked at Hatake Kakashi again, "So Kakashi has an answer?"

"The most important thing to me is..."

Hatake Kakashi was hesitant, but under the encouraging gazes of the people around him, he said unconsciously, "Seeing dad every day, watching you guys quarreling, occasionally thinking about my vision for the future, and... frying fish."

"Fried fish?" Nohara Lin's originally touched mood was suddenly disrupted by the fried fish. She laughed dumbly, "Kakashi really likes to eat fish."

Hatake Kakashi didn't shy away and simply admitted, "Yeah, fried fish is delicious."

"Hmph, you're just like a kid!" Uchiha Obito finally felt that he had turned the tables, and he didn't have the same self-awareness as him.

Haruko mercilessly pierced through his pride, "Obito is obviously a more childish child."

"How can I not!"

They started arguing again, surrounding Kakashi Hatake without any explanation.

They talked and pointed with smiles, all of them showing joy and excitement.

I didn't feel as irritated as before, or rather, it was strange that I didn't feel irritated when I was around them in the past.

Kakashi Hatake has always held the indifferent attitude towards the relationship of "friends". He doesn't have to make friends, nor does he have to exclude friends from his world.

He always thought he didn't care...

It was not until now that he finally understood that his indifferent thoughts were because he had never understood the existence of friends.

Friends can have the same personality as you, different personalities, or even be as shameless as someone else, but when you are with them, you will unconsciously relax and will not feel lonely even if you don’t talk.

When he finally understood the existence of friends, the constantly changing experiences and companionship made him redefine them.

It turns out that friends can be important, even the most important, and they need to be protected by you just like Konoha.

Hatake Kakashi slowly touched his heart. It was beating at a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow. But why did he feel like it was heating up and making him feel warm...

With a long sigh, Hatake Kakashi's casual tone revealed the determination after he had figured it out.

"There's no other way. It seems that I have to protect not only Konoha, but you as well."

"Kakashi what are you talking about?"

Haruko's doubtful voice made Hatake Kakashi pause. When his mind was blank, Haruko smiled and added -

"Kakashi is also someone we need to protect!"

After being stunned, Kakashi Hatake felt an indescribable strange joy and couldn't help but chuckle.

Now he understood that friends were still reassuring and trustworthy people.

So... protect me, Haruko.