Chapter 175 - Kakashi's Awakening!!!
Kazane was starting to feel a genuine pang of concern—if this kept up, Kakashi might really live up to the infamous nickname: Hatake Fifty-Fifty.
Once again, just like in their previous spar, Kakashi had carefully analyzed everything he knew about Kazane's abilities and habits, crafting a well-constructed strategy with precise timing and positioning. His approach was calm, methodical, textbook-perfect.
And against most shinobi, it would've worked.
Kakashi wasn't weak by any stretch. He had long since mastered the fundamentals—his kenjutsu was sharp, his ninjutsu repertoire vast, and he was proficient in all five nature transformations. Each of his attacks was thoughtful and refined, blending elemental change and chakra control into seamless executions.
But therein lay the problem.
Kakashi had no glaring weaknesses—but he had no overwhelming strength either.
He was balanced. Skilled. Safe.
And without Obito's Sharingan in this timeline, his chakra reserves were healthier than in the original, easily above average—even impressive by most standards. Maybe not quite at Uzumaki-tier, but certainly not lacking.
But when it came to raw pressure, to standing among the monsters who shaped the shinobi world...
That wasn't enough.
Because over there, calmly observing everything, stood Hiruzen Sarutobi—the legendary Professor, the previous Hokage. A man who had mastered all five elemental natures decades ago.
If Kakashi continued down this path, even if he eventually reached Kage-level with his clever composite ninjutsu, all he'd become was another version of Hiruzen.
Except... Hiruzen wielded a staff.
And Kakashi? Just a short blade.
Nothing truly different.
Nothing that could shake the world.
Kazane sighed inwardly.
Even if Kakashi poured all his knowledge and effort into his technique, Kazane could simply activate his Armament Haki, stand completely still, and neither Kakashi nor Hiruzen combined could break through his defenses.
Not him.
Not any Jinchūriki who'd achieved proper mastery.
Not the monsters that were soon to descend upon the world.
Without a trump card, without some unique ability that bent the rules—Kakashi wouldn't just be outclassed.
He'd be crushed.
And Kazane didn't want that for him.
But unless Kakashi himself chose to change—chose to evolve—no amount of training, encouragement, or even scolding would be enough.
~
"Big bro, I'm coming again!"
Kakashi's voice was firm, but a subtle tremor ran through it. His eyes—calm on the surface—betrayed a storm of self-doubt beneath.
Still, he pushed forward.
Kazane narrowed his gaze in disappointment. That charge—so similar to the last.
Empty.
"Again?" he muttered.
Smack!
With a swift movement, Kazane ducked under White Fang's arc and countered with a casual backhand using the flat of his blade. Kakashi was sent tumbling.
"That speed?" Kazane scoffed, turning to face him. "Any grandma off the street could dodge that!"
"Again!"
Kakashi clenched his teeth and rose, blood trickling from his lip. He charged again with fury in his steps—
Smack!
Crash!
This time, he slammed into a tree, cracking the trunk in half with the impact.
Kazane stood unmoved, blade resting on his shoulder.
"Kakashi, do you even understand what you're doing wrong?"
"At this rate... forget Jiriku. You wouldn't last against Guy."
"You think it's because they're geniuses? That they were born better than you?"
Kakashi winced. The words hit harder than the sword ever could.
He already knew. Deep down, he'd known for a while now.
In his spars with Jiriku, he could fool himself.
But Might Guy?
That guy couldn't even mold chakra when they were kids. He'd failed the academy's most basic techniques.
He was never a prodigy.
He was a dunce.
And yet now, Guy's power made the ground quake. His fists could shatter stone. He had caught up—and surpassed.
Kakashi could no longer pretend.
That's why he'd started training alone again. Skipping group exercises. Finding excuses to stay away.
He'd thought he could laugh it off. Pretend he didn't care.
But Kazane had ripped the curtain away—exposed the truth.
He was falling behind.
And it hurt.
"Enough!!"
Blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, Kakashi roared and surged into the air, chakra flaring wildly around him.
He channeled everything—anger, shame, desperation—into White Fang, and with both hands, brought it down in a powerful overhead slash, a cry tearing from his throat.
A final strike. A desperate howl from the edge of pride.
Smack!
Kazane didn't flinch.
He met the strike with an open palm, his body wrapped in glossy black Haki.
The clash echoed with force—and Kakashi crumpled to the ground.
His body trembled as he tried to rise.
Once.
Twice.
He failed each time.
Even the onlookers—ninja known for their stoicism—felt their hearts clench.
Was Kazane pushing too far?
But no one said a word. They knew Kakashi. To ask for mercy now would only deepen the wound.
Kazane stood over him, expression unreadable.
"Kakashi... do you know?"
"I saw Obito yesterday."
A pause.
"He's awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."
The name Obito cut through Kakashi's daze like a blade.
Kakashi froze.
The image of a loud, clumsy boy with a heart bigger than his head flashed across his mind.
Obito—the fool who shouted about being Hokage.
The fool who never gave up.
And now, he'd awakened power Kakashi had only heard of in whispers.
His fingers clenched, nails digging deep into the soil beneath him.
Blood seeped from his hands, dark and hot, soaking the earth.
Tsunade, watching nearby, dropped her skewer and drink. Her face paled due to her Hemophobia. But she couldn't look away.
Kazane's voice was low and cruel.
"Maybe Rin chose wrong. Maybe it was Obito who truly deserved her."
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Kakashi's heart pounded in his ears. Kazane's words echoed and twisted.
A fog settled over his vision.
But amidst it all... something held him upright.
Something ancient. Something buried deep.
The hum of White Fang in the wind. His father's will. His own pride.
Something was stirring.
Something that refused to die.
"SHUT UP!!!"
Whoosh!
A flash of silver screamed through the air—Kakashi, eyes wide and glowing with raw defiance, unleashed a slashing arc of chakra straight at Kazane.
CRACK!
Kazane didn't dodge.
He raised his left hand, now encased in gleaming black Haki.
The blade of energy struck, splitting the air—but Kazane crushed it between his fingers.
Still, a thin line of blood formed on his palm.
However, Kazane didn't flinch. He simply lowered his hand, hiding the wound behind his back.
A soft smile touched his lips.
That's the Kakashi I know.
~
Kakashi didn't move.
Even after the clash, he remained standing—barely.
Only when Kazane stepped closer did everyone realize—
Kakashi had lost consciousness while standing.
Kazane exhaled quietly and turned to the others.
"I'll take him to the medical corps. I'm done for today."
With a small, apologetic smile, he picked up the unconscious Kakashi and disappeared into the forest.
The leaves rustled gently in their wake.
---
Nightfall – Hatake Residence
In the moonlit courtyard, Kazane and Jiriku were working up a sweat in their usual training routine.
"One thousand one hundred fifty-four... one thousand one hundred fifty-five!"
"Two thousand five hundred eighty-one... two thousand five hundred eighty-two!"
Kazane did handstand reps with a massive weighted barbell balanced on his legs. The sweat pooled around him was a silent testament to his effort.
Not far away, Jiriku was doing deep squats with a boulder nearly his own size strapped to his back.
Whoosh.
A breeze stirred the air—and a figure appeared atop the two-meter-high courtyard wall.
Bathed in pale moonlight, it was none other than Kakashi, just released from the hospital.
Kakashi quietly walked inside. But instead of joining the training like usual, he went straight to his room without a word.
Jiriku, who had just stepped aside to make room for him, froze awkwardly, then glanced worriedly at Kazane.
Would this cause a rift between the brothers?
But Kazane continued his reps like nothing happened. Still, where Jiriku couldn't see, Kazane wore a faint, helpless smile.
Not long after, Kakashi emerged from his room, holding a book.
He walked over to Kazane, placed the book on a nearby table, and spoke quietly.
"Kazane... thank you. I know everything you've done for me. I'm sorry for always making you worry."
Kazane paused his reps, pushed off the ground, and stood up.
Wait... did Kakashi just say thank you?
Did the sun rise in the west today?
Kazane placed his hand on Kakashi's forehead.
Is he sick? Did Orochimaru swap his brain with a test subject or something?
Kakashi had been a prodigy since childhood—graduated at five, Chūnin at six, defeated an Iwa Jōnin as a preteen.
His pride was legendary.
The fact that this mini-adult was now bowing his head and expressing gratitude was... honestly shocking.
Normally, Kakashi hated being touched—especially on the head—but this time, though he flinched at first, he forced himself to stay still.
Kazane raised a brow.
Okay, what the hell is going on today?
"Big bro, after what happened today, I realized I can't keep living in your shadow."
"Baby birds must weather the storm to grow. If they're sheltered too long... it'll only hurt them. That's why—I want to join the Root Division."
Kazane rubbed his temples, sighing as he pulled a crumpled paper from Kakashi's sleeve.
This guy couldn't even recognize all his kanji when he graduated at five, and now he's spouting philosophy? Someone's been coaching him.
"Kakashi, are you sure?"
"You know what Root is. If you join, everything you enjoy now—will be gone."
"You may never return to normal village life."
Ever since Danzo died, Root had been under Kazane's control.
At first, Kazane considered disbanding it entirely. But after observation, he realized most of Root's members had been stripped of normal emotions.
They didn't serve Danzo out of loyalty—just a desperate need to give their existence meaning.
And since they posed no threat to Konoha, Kazane ultimately chose mercy. He tried integrating them into the ANBU or giving them freedom as ordinary ninja.
But only a handful managed to reintegrate.
Over 500 failed.
Trained to do nothing but kill and disguise themselves, they were broken.
Some even attempted suicide when left idle too long. Eventually, Kazane had no choice. He had Minato send some of them abroad for intel missions.
Others, those with higher combat ability, became the Assassination Corps—Konoha's shadowy sword, eliminating threats too dangerous to face openly.
They handled missions against foreign dignitaries, unsanctioned warlords, and threats no other team could face.
Kakashi, as an ANBU squad captain, surely knew most of this.
He wasn't asking to become a spy.
He wanted into the Assassination Corps.
"Kakashi... are you absolutely certain?"
Kazane narrowed his eyes.
Kakashi didn't respond. He just looked into Kazane's eyes—and nodded firmly.
Today's battle had made everything clear. He'd grown up in Kazane's shadow, thinking he'd earned everything on his own. Even his girlfriend had been arranged in advance.
He'd always thought: "As long as big bro's here, I'm safe."
But today's events shattered that illusion.
Even Obito had surpassed him.
What the hell had Obito gone through? How much had he trained?
Obito: ~ (￣▽￣～)~ "I worked really hard!"
Kakashi couldn't afford to stay in his comfort zone any longer.
At his current level, even S-rank missions posed no real challenge.
Only Root... could forge him further.
Looking at Kakashi's unwavering resolve, Kazane sighed.
Outwardly, he looked reluctant. But deep down... he was proud.
A baby bird must weather the storm to fly?
Yeah, yeah... screw that poetic crap.
He tore up the letter in Kakashi's sleeve and said:
"Report to Minato at the ANBU office tomorrow."
And with that, Kazane wiped his sweat and left to get some sleep.
Honestly, if not for what happened today, Kazane would've never agreed to this.
Root missions were dangerous—most agents were Jōnin-level at minimum.
Trained by Danzo, they feared nothing, had no morals, and were masters of forbidden and sealing techniques.
Even when facing defeat, they could usually trade their lives for their target's. Yet even with such fearsome power, casualties still happened.
But this morning, Kakashi had finally stepped into the realm of Swordmasters.
Once he fully mastered Iron-Cutting Techniques, even among elite shinobi, he would be considered top-tier.
With that power—and his razor-sharp mind—Kazane no longer feared for his safety.
"Big bro, wait—!"