Chapter 8: Kakashi, You Wastrel!
With the creak of the heavy, massive door, a wave of ancient history and the smell of ink washed over them.
Fugaku Uchiha, carrying an oil lamp, walked with a grave expression between the rows of ancient bookshelves, searching for the Uchiha clan's migration records from before Konoha's founding.
He had not lied to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He was, indeed, searching for any Uchiha clansmen who might have been lost to the outside.
It was just...
A thousand years. Even if the Uchiha clan had only migrated a few times, it wasn't an easy task to find the records.
If an Uchiha clansman really had been lost and it was recorded, then they could use the location of the loss to investigate, follow the clues, and find the identity of this unknown Uchiha and which branch they were a descendant of.
"This is a huge undertaking..."
Fugaku Uchiha arrived at his destination. Looking at the rows of bookshelves reeking of history, he felt a headache coming on.
...
Kakashi bid farewell to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Having received Hiruzen's approval, the matter of the Ninja Cats forging his sword was now set in stone.
After this incident with Obito Uchiha, Kakashi knew his life wouldn't be peaceful.
Even if he hadn't changed his eye, even if his Sharingan hadn't been destroyed, his identity destined him to be unable to escape the series of events, present and future.
Now, he was Kakashi.
Hatake Kakashi.
"Guy, when my sword is forged, train with me for my rehabilitation."
Kakashi and the green-clothed boy walked on the bustling Konoha street. The evening sun cast its glow on them. Kakashi stared at the road ahead, his voice calm but with an inexplicable trace of determination.
He had abandoned his sword skills for two years. Even with his past foundation, getting it all back wouldn't happen overnight.
"Train with you for your rehabilitation, Kakashi?"
"Of course! Leave it to me!"
"It's a promise! A hot-blooded, youthful promise between men!"
Hearing his friend's request, how could Might Guy refuse? He pounded his chest, gave Kakashi a thumbs-up, and flashed his pearly-white teeth.
[Emotional Fluctuation from Might Guy +1]
[Chakra +1%]
Guy, you...
"Maa, it's just rehabilitation training, but I think it's better if we don't get too hot-blooded."
Looking at the overly enthusiastic Might Guy, Kakashi subconsciously felt a non-existent bead of cold sweat.
Although Guy was strong, and someone you could absolutely trust your back to against an enemy, this hot-blooded-youth personality...
Kakashi really couldn't handle it sometimes.
Not that he disliked this passionate personality.
"I'm heading to the Uchiha compound now."
"Guy, want to come?" Kakashi said slowly, his hands in his pockets.
"I'll pass!"
"I haven't finished my daily training yet!"
"Run 500 laps around Konoha on my hands!"
Hearing Guy's words, Kakashi was speechless.
He just hoped that during the upcoming rehabilitation training, this guy wouldn't actually try to kill him...
Uchiha Library
Under the lamplight, Fugaku Uchiha flipped through one ancient book after another. With his Sharingan, he was practically reading ten lines at a glance.
His speed for reading one page didn't exceed three seconds.
So, even though it had only been an hour or two since he left Hiruzen, a thick pile of ancient books was already stacked beside him.
But even so, there were still several bookshelves waiting for him.
As Fugaku Uchiha closed the book in his hand and prepared to pick up the next one, the library door was suddenly pushed open.
Fugaku frowned.
"Didn't I say not to disturb me unless it was important?"
However, the Uchiha clansman who entered had a strange look on his face.
"Fugaku-sama, that Kakashi is here."
Fugaku frowned.
Hatake Kakashi...
What does the Yondaime Hokage's student want with me?
"I understand. Have him wait for me in the tea room."
Putting down the ancient book, Fugaku Uchiha stretched his back and stood up to receive the famous Hokage's student.
...
Tea Room
Kakashi watched the man in front of him preparing tea.
Warming the cup, adding the tea, rinsing the tea, pouring the water, serving the brew.
Although Fugaku Uchiha was a shinobi, he had been deeply influenced by the Uchiha's thousand-year-old clan history. Even in tea tasting, which was useless to a shinobi, he knew a thing or two.
Kakashi wasn't surprised. The Hyūga clan was even more traditional.
The white-haired boy sized up the man making tea, and the man sized him up as well.
At age five, his father, Sakumo Hatake, committed suicide at home due to rumors.
At age twelve, he witnessed the death of his friend, Obito Uchiha, and received his Sharingan.
At age thirteen, he was forced to kill his teammate due to a Kiri plot.
At age fourteen, just half a month ago during the Nine-Tails attack, his sensei and sensei's wife both died. He himself lost the Sharingan given to him by his friend in the chaos.
Although his talent was extraordinary, becoming a Jōnin at twelve, these short nine years had been full of pain and torment.
Such heavy blows would be hard for anyone to bear, but the Kakashi before him had endured.
At least, this white-haired boy showed no signs of world-weariness or despair.
"Kakashi-kun, please try this new tea."
A cup of fragrant, hot tea was pushed in front of Kakashi by Fugaku Uchiha.
Kakashi didn't understand tea. He simply picked up the cup, blew on it, and drank it all in one go.
Fugaku Uchiha wasn't surprised by Kakashi's unrefined display. Few shinobi studied this sort of thing.
"Fugaku-sama, I have a favor to ask."
After the hot tea warmed his stomach, Kakashi looked at the man seriously.
"What is it?"
"If it is within my power, I will do my best to help."
Fugaku Uchiha didn't over-promise, glancing at Kakashi's dark left eye.
As long as he doesn't ask me for a Sharingan, it should be fine.
Hearing the Uchiha clan head's words, Kakashi took out the broken White Fang and placed it on the table.
"Please, Fugaku-sama, ask the Ninja Cat clan to help me reforge the White Fang."
Fugaku Uchiha breathed a small sigh of relief. He then picked up the broken sword Kakashi offered and examined it closely.
He was clearly very interested in the White Fang.
The Uchiha clan was a clan extremely skilled with swords. Even Fugaku himself was no exception.
This was the famous Sakumo Hatake's personal sword. It was a rare sight.
"To think it's a ninja sword made entirely of chakra-conductive metal..."
Hearing Fugaku Uchiha's murmur, Kakashi's expression changed slightly.
Chakra-conductive metal?
No one ever told me that.
In my memories, it seems I just... used it to hack at people.
Kakashi, you wastrel!