Qiyun's words that day had delivered quite a shock to Kakashi, causing him to drift off in thought every now and then.
Sakumo flicked the blade out of Kakashi's hand, then stood with his hands on his hips, watching in silence as Kakashi picked the sword up from the ground.
"Kakashi, has something happened lately?" he asked.
"Dad," Kakashi looked up, "An older brother asked me a question."
"Oh? What kind of question?" Sakumo sat down on a bench beside the training ground, resting his hands on his knees, and asked with a curious look.
"How on earth should one choose between a mission and someone precious...?" Kakashi lowered his head, staring at his own palms.
This question... Sakumo was momentarily stunned, and then burst out laughing.
"Dad?" Kakashi looked at Sakumo in confusion.
Sakumo gently patted Kakashi's head and asked softly, "So, how did you choose, Kakashi?"
"I..." Kakashi clenched his fists, "I chose the person who matters to me."
"Heh..."
A heavy warmth settled on his forehead; before him was his father's look of gratification.
"Well chosen," Sakumo said softly.
A warmth bloomed in Kakashi's heart. The knot that had troubled him for so long finally untied—so Dad thought that way, too...
"Why would Qiyun suddenly bring up a topic like this with you?" Sakumo continued to ask.
Both of his sons far surpassed their peers, being genuine geniuses. Kakashi was a genius in ninjutsu, while Qiyun excelled even more in taijutsu and kenjutsu. Yet, compared to raw combat power, what made Qiyun truly special was his sharp observation and mature mindset. At times, Sakumo even suspected that an adult soul resided inside that small body.
Kakashi recounted everything Qiyun had said to him after running into Uchiha Obito that day.
"That's how it went." Kakashi looked at Sakumo, unable to help asking, "Dad, do you think everything Ani-ja said could really happen?"
Sakumo fell silent for a moment, then wore a wry smile. "Sometimes I really wish that child Qiyun weren't so sharp."
"...So, everything Ani-ja said is true?" Kakashi said with a sense of dejection, "The village is targeting the Uchiha."
As a child born within the village, Kakashi naturally held a deep yearning for Konoha. Confronted all at once with Konoha's dark side, a sense of disillusionment was only natural.
Sakumo sighed. "This matter is complicated to explain. I can only say both sides have their problems... Ah, I never wanted you boys to be exposed to the scheming and political maneuvering of adults at such a young age."
"Yet whether you tell us or not, those things are still there; they won't just vanish." Qiyun's voice sounded as he stepped out from the shade of a tree, smiling at the father and son.
He emerged from the shadows, walking step by step toward his younger brother and his father.
"Between precious people and missions, I don't see why it has to be an either-or choice." The silver-haired, blue-eyed boy smiled, confident and matter-of-fact. "Naturally, I will protect the people I want to protect, and I will also accomplish the missions that need to be done. Only the weak obey rules; the strong make them."
Kakashi's eyes widened, his dark pupils reflecting Qiyun's figure. The backlight made his features somewhat blurry, yet he shone as dazzlingly as the sun.
This is... Older brother. Older brother is just like the sun.
Sakumo looked at his eldest son in astonishment as well. After a long moment, he gave a light chuckle and said gently, "It seems you've already made your choice, Qiyun."
"Hmph, mere rotting rules of the shinobi world can't bind me." Qiyun crossed his arms and curled his lip. "I'll tell you this first: I'm going to turn the shinobi world completely upside down."
"If you have the ability to do it, then go ahead and try." Sakumo smiled slightly.
The expression on Qiyun's face receded a fraction. He gazed intently at Sakumo for a moment, then abruptly changed the subject. "Old man, you've been drawing a bit too much attention lately."
During the Shinobi World War, Sakumo had slain the son and daughter-in-law of Chiyo of Sunagakure, making his name shake the world. He was currently Konoha's most prominent shinobi.
Thinking back to the boundless adoration for the White Fang in Obito's eyes that day, Qiyun furrowed his brows slightly. If even the secluded Uchiha clan had produced a fanboy of the White Fang, one could imagine just how terrifying his father's reputation was in Konoha during this lifetime.
Yet right now, that was far from a good thing. The Third Hokage showed no signs of abdicating yet, but rumors were already circulating through the village that Sakumo should become the Fourth Hokage.
When a subject's achievements overshadow the ruler, it never ends well in any world.
Sakumo was no fool; he immediately grasped the subtext of Qiyun's words. He offered a reassuring smile. "Rest assured, I have no intention of becoming the Hokage."
Sakumo harbored zero ambition to be Hokage. Compared to becoming a busy Hokage, he much preferred his current life of taking missions on a fixed schedule and watching his children slowly grow up.
Hearing Sakumo's reply, Qiyun's expression turned somewhat subtle. *Heaven help me, why is this cheap old dad so naive about this? The point isn't whether YOU want it! The point is whether OTHER PEOPLE think you want it!*
Still... unlike Kakashi, Sakumo was already an adult; he didn't need a child meddling in his affairs.
"Fine. As long as you know what you're doing."
Sakumo smiled, patted Qiyun's head, and winked. "Thanks for your concern, Qiyun."
Qiyun pressed his lips together. Although Sakumo didn't spend a great deal of time with him and Kakashi, he truly was a gentle father...
*Smack.*
Qiyun batted Sakumo's hand away, widened his bright blue eyes, and said with dissatisfaction, "Old man, you are not allowed to pat my head anymore! It'll stunt my growth!"
"Yeah, yeah~"
Today was the enrollment day for the Academy, and the reason Sakumo had asked Qiyun earlier whether he had made his choice was because of this.
Considering Qiyun's previously displayed aversion to becoming a shinobi, Sakumo had given him a choice. If he didn't want to go to the Academy, Sakumo had the connections to send him to the capital of the Land of Fire to study martial arts under a samurai. However, if he chose that path, he would undoubtedly cut all ties with Konoha entirely.
Qiyun was certainly tempted, but in this life, he was no longer alone. Sakumo's soaring reputation and the plight of the Uchiha made him deeply wary of Konoha's higher-ups. If he were to journey far away now, lacking any influence or intelligence network of his own, how could he guarantee the safety of Sakumo and Kakashi? So, Qiyun had little choice but to step up himself.
A minor episode occurred during registration. At the school gates, the Hatake father and sons ran past a green-spandex-clad father and son who were shouting about youth as they sprinted away.
"Are they weirdos?" Kakashi muttered speechlessly.
"That kid looks to be about our age. Maybe he'll be in our graduating class," Qiyun said, glancing at the retreating backs of the pair.
"That boy..." Sakumo's gaze lingered on the slightly younger Might Guy, then he smiled as he looked at Kakashi. "He might just turn out to be a rival for you, Kakashi."
Hearing this, Kakashi deeply furrowed his brows. "Him?"
Kakashi genuinely failed to see any possibility of that strange guy in green spandex ever becoming his rival.
"Mm... Indeed, it's quite possible," Qiyun rubbed his chin.
"How come Ani-ja is saying that too?" Kakashi looked discontentedly at Qiyun.
"Didn't know, did you?" Qiyun raised an eyebrow. "Those two run dozens of laps around Konoha every single day."
"Do... dozens of laps?!" Kakashi's eyes widened as he couldn't help confirming, "Really?"
"Really," Qiyun patted his chest, a brow lifting slightly. "Don't doubt your brother's sources."
Kakashi immediately turned serious. Since both his dad and his brother said so, that strange kid must surely be his formidable rival at the Academy—he couldn't afford to lose to him!
Even his usually lackluster, deadpan eyes gained a glimmer of highlight.
This state lasted all the way until the entrance ceremony.
Might Guy felt a sudden chill down his spine. He turned his head and locked eyes with a deadpan stare.
"Whoa! You scared me!" Guy jumped backward in fright.
"Hmph, you don't look like much either," Kakashi crossed his arms.
"Hah?" Guy wore a puzzled expression, though that didn't stop him from picking up on Kakashi's condescension. "Are you saying you're something special?"
Guy threw a punch. "Then how about a youth showdown?"
"Just as well, I wanted to see what you can do." Kakashi slipped one hand into his pocket and lifted his proud little chin.
"Th—that... Lord Third is watching you two..." a girl with purple face paint on her cheeks couldn't help reminding them.
Only then did Kakashi and Guy snap back to reality. The background hum of speech continuously extolling the Will of Fire had somehow vanished, and everyone was staring at them.
"Heh heh, it seems everyone is very excited about entering the Academy." Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't mind the squabbling of the two children, instead stroking his goatee with a gratified expression.
Even without a scolding from the Third Hokage, the two boys ceased their confrontation. Guy awkwardly scratched the back of his head, while Kakashi wished he could bury his entire head inside his mask.
"Pfft—" A familiar muffled laugh sounded beside him.
Resisting the burning heat on his cheeks, Kakashi glared fiercely at Qiyun beside him. *Damn Ani-ja, he didn't even think to warn me!*
Qiyun smiled and mouthed words silently at Kakashi.
*Look at that, didn't you just make a new friend?*
A vein popped on Kakashi's forehead. *What kind of "making a new friend" is this?!*
Once the Third Hokage finished presiding over the entrance ceremony and departed, the crowd of little kids finally began interacting with one another.
"Hey, Deadpan! Didn't you say you wanted a youth showdown just a minute ago?" Guy hadn't forgotten their recent pact.
"Let's call it off for today." Kakashi turned his head away. His earlier impulsiveness had made a fool of him in front of everyone, and he really didn't want to become the laughingstock of the crowd. "Besides, my name is Hatake Kakashi."
"Oh! My name is Might Guy! Kakashi! Don't you forget our youth showdown!" Flames seemed to roar in the background behind Guy. "Yosh! To celebrate, let's run ten laps around Konoha first!"
Watching Guy's energetic retreating figure, Kakashi was left speechless.
"Um... thank you for reminding me earlier," he said, expressing gratitude to the girl from before.
"Oh, it's nothing, just a small thing." The girl smiled. "My name is Rin Nohara. I hope Hatake-kun and I get placed in the same class."
"Just call me Kakashi, because..."
A heavy weight landed on Kakashi's shoulder as Qiyun slung an arm around him, smiling warmly as he greeted Rin. "Hello there, Nohara-san. I'm Kakashi's older brother, Hatake Qiyun. No need to be so formal—just call us by our given names."
Qiyun blinked. "If you call him Hatake, we won't even know which one of us you're addressing."
"Eh? You're full brothers?" Rin asked in surprise.
"We are." Qiyun first answered Rin's question, then teased Kakashi with a grin. "It's all Kakashi's fault for insisting on wearing a mask. It keeps everyone from realizing we're twin brothers."
"This has nothing to do with my mask! Besides... we don't even look alike to begin with." By the second half of the sentence, Kakashi's voice dropped significantly, laden with a thick wave of dejection.
"Not alike? I think you two look at least fifty or sixty percent similar," Qiyun said, rubbing his chin. He genuinely felt they bore a strong resemblance, but eyes were the windows to the soul after all, occupying a huge portion of the face, so it was completely normal for people not to notice at a glance.
"There are plenty of twins who don't look alike, but Qiyun-kun and Kakashi-kun are obviously very close," Rin said softly.
Ever since the opening ceremony, Rin had noticed the pair of brothers. Qiyun had kept firmly anchored by Kakashi's side the entire time, keeping him tucked safely within his protective radius.
"Heh, Nohara-san certainly knows how to talk," Qiyun said with satisfaction.
Rin smiled, nodding to accept the compliment, before her large eyes continuously scanned the crowd gathered around. Failing to spot a familiar figure, her gaze filled with worry.
"Is Obito... late again?"
"Nohara-san knows Obito too?" Qiyun asked.
"Eh? Well, Obito helped my grandmother once, so that's how we met," Rin explained.
"The entrance ceremony is already over, and that guy still isn't here," Kakashi said speechlessly.
"Well~ he probably got held up by something," Qiyun shrugged. "We'd better go collect his enrollment forms for him first. Without those, he won't be able to enter the school anyway."
"Such a troublesome guy..."
"It's over, it's over! Of all days, I absolutely cannot be late today!" Obito ran frantically down the street.
The moment he thought about starting at the Academy last night—about going to school alongside Rin, Qiyun, and Kakashi—Obito had become so excited that he only managed to drift off in the dead of night. The consequence of that was oversleeping. The instant he caught sight of the clock on the wall, Obito had bolted straight out of bed, hastily cleaned himself up, and sprinted toward the school.
From afar, Obito saw that the "Entrance Ceremony" banner hanging at the school gates had already been taken down, and his peers were bustling out through the entrance in streams.
Clearly, the entrance ceremony had already ended.
Obito stood frozen in place, completely at a loss for what he should do.
"You really are something else, showing up fashionably late only after the entrance ceremony is already over," Kakashi said, his sharp eyes spotting Obito instantly.
Obito bristled with anger at his taunting tone, yet he had no counter-argument because he was indeed late—and ridiculously late at that.
"Th... then what am I supposed to do now...?"
Could it be that he wouldn't be able to attend school after all...? At the very thought, tears began welling up in Obito's eyes.