A Challenge

"Is that so? What a shame. Everyone was really hoping you'd come." Shuichi's expression did not change at all, as if he was not worried in the slightest.

"Oh, there's one more small thing I forgot to mention. Recently, I became the apprentice of Orochimaru, one of the Sannin." Just as Kakashi thought Shuichi was showing off, Shuichi shifted his feet as though he were about to leave.

"As for your father, I happen to know a few inside details. If you don't come tomorrow, I might forget them after a while." Shuichi spoke with a hint of regret, then casually headed toward his home.

"Wait! What do you know about my father?" Kakashi, whose face had been expressionless until then, immediately sounded somewhat anxious upon hearing Shuichi's words.

"Oh dear, I've been waiting for you for over an hour. I'm so tired now that I just want to sleep. If you come tomorrow, we can find some time to have a proper chat! For now, I'm going home to rest." Shuichi spoke in a somewhat flippant tone, paying no mind to what Kakashi thought.

"Where?" Kakashi had no way of dealing with Shuichi right now. It was the middle of the night—he could hardly start fighting him.

"Oh? Looks like you've changed your mind. Fine, then. Tomorrow at five in the afternoon, at Fujiwara BBQ Restaurant. Don't be late." Having achieved his goal, Shuichi said nothing more.

The next afternoon, Shuichi left home a little early. Before heading over, he planned to see what kind of birthday gift would be suitable.

As he wandered through Konoha's central district, Shuichi's gaze drifted over the shops on both sides of the street. When he spotted a bookstore, he stopped, thought for a moment, and went inside.

The bookstore was not very large. Various bestselling books were displayed on the wooden racks outside the entrance. Shuichi looked them over and found none of them suitable, so he went inside to keep searching.

After looking around for quite a while, Shuichi's gaze settled on a book: The Story of Love.

Thinking of Kakashi's secretly perverted personality in the original story, Shuichi walked over, picked up the book, and headed to pay for it.

When the young female clerk saw Shuichi enter, she did not pay much attention to him. There were children's books in the store too, such as collections of boys' stories.

But when she accepted the book Shuichi handed her, a startled expression appeared on her face. "Little brother, this is adult reading material. Didn't you pick up the wrong book?"

"Yes, that's right! Please wrap this book for me." Shuichi's expression remained unchanged, and he looked perfectly calm.

"..."

"Kids this young are already starting to fall in love, yet I still don't even have a boyfriend," the clerk muttered to herself.

Shuichi was a little speechless. Fortunately, Jiraiya had not released Icha Icha Paradise yet. Otherwise, if he bought that, the clerk would probably think he was planning to do that sort of thing.

After buying the gift, Shuichi headed to the barbecue restaurant they had agreed on. When he arrived at the entrance, there were still around ten minutes until five.

"Hm? Did you just get here too?" Shuichi happened to run into Ishikawa Tatsuki and Might Guy at the entrance. Each of them held a small package, presumably gifts for Kakashi as well.

"Yeah, Shuichi. You prepared a gift too." As they chatted, everyone walked into the restaurant.

Since it was still early, most of the tables in the restaurant were empty. Shuichi and the others immediately spotted Nohara Rin, Kurenai, and several others already arranging ingredients on a table.

A few minutes later, almost everyone had arrived. Kakashi lifted the curtain at the entrance, and saw his classmates gathered around a table. Only the seat in the middle was empty, as though it had been deliberately saved for him.

Though Kakashi said nothing at the sight, warmth filled his heart. He slowly walked over and sat down.

The timing was perfect. Seeing Kakashi arrive, Shuichi gave his friends a meaningful look.

After seeing it, Nohara Rin and Might Guy, seated on either side of Kakashi, pulled out crude plastic tubes from beneath the table and tugged them downward at the same time.

"BOOM! Happy birthday, Kakashi!" As colorful paper flakes slowly drifted down from above, everyone wished Kakashi a happy birthday in unison.

Kakashi looked somewhat stunned. He had not expected what he thought was an ordinary dinner gathering to actually be a birthday party specially prepared for him.

Seeing Kakashi begin to regain some of his vitality, Shuichi immediately said, "This time, everyone prepared a birthday gift. This is a book I picked out especially for you. I hope you like it." Shuichi handed over the elegantly wrapped book.

"This is a scarf specially made by my family. Take it, Kakashi." Nohara Rin's gift came next.

"These are Goggles I specially prepared for you. Be grateful, Kakashi!" The speaker was Uchiha Obito, who was still quite chuunibyou at the time.

"Kakashi, this is the super-strength training outfit I specially prepared for you. Let our youthful blood burn!" Might Guy pulled out the green skintight suit he had prepared, making even Shuichi feel a little embarrassed just watching from the side.

"Th... thank you, everyone." Kakashi had not yet had the fiery passion of his youth worn away by years of missions. Seeing what everyone had specially prepared for him, he was deeply moved.

During the dinner that followed, the barbecue restaurant was filled with warm cheer. Since Kakashi and Shuichi had both graduated early, everyone excitedly discussed ninja-related topics.

"The Shadow Clone Technique is indeed fascinating. When your clone disappears, everything it experienced, even the pain, instantly appears in your mind and body..."

"If you ask me about powerful Water Release ninjutsu, there's one called Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet. It can form a gigantic water dragon more than ten meters long, then charge it at the enemy and..."

Shuichi had learned the most ninjutsu among the students in their class. Drawing on the ninjutsu knowledge Orochimaru had taught him, along with scenes from the original story, he vividly described the power of various techniques. The students beside him listened with rapt attention.

Everyone was happy with the dinner gathering arranged for that day. Besides celebrating Kakashi's birthday, the bonds among their classmates had grown considerably stronger.

After leaving the barbecue restaurant, everyone began to part ways, but Shuichi remained where he was.

He knew why Kakashi had come today. After seeing all their classmates leave, he took the lead toward Kakashi's home. Kakashi said nothing and silently followed him.

"Your father's matter is somewhat complicated. But the true reason was not that he was unable to bear the psychological burden or anything like that. I only have some guesses myself, so it wouldn't be appropriate to tell you directly." Not long after they started walking, Shuichi suddenly brought up the White Fang.

"Why? What exactly was the reason?" Kakashi seemed to grow anxious. The reason he had come today was precisely because of this matter, yet Shuichi seemed to be evading the issue.

"If I had to say why, I think there were reasons related to the village and to his former subordinates. But more than anything else, it was probably for your future."

"Of course, I think you're still too young to know these things. What you should do now is find a way to become an outstanding ninja. You'll learn about this someday." Shuichi had thought this through carefully. If he directly caused Kakashi to fall into darkness, things would only turn for the worse.

"That's just your guess, and what is there to hide?" Kakashi truly was still immature at the time, and he was growing somewhat exasperated.

Shuichi stopped walking. "How about this, Kakashi? It's been quite a while since we last fought. Although I have one of the Sannin as my teacher, you have more real combat mission experience."

"Then tomorrow, let's have a match where we both go all out. I think you're curious about my current strength too. As long as you can defeat me tomorrow, I'll consider you qualified to know about your father."

Kakashi calmed down somewhat upon hearing Shuichi's words. "Fine. Time and place?"

"In the forest near Training Ground 36, tomorrow at three in the afternoon. I'll be waiting for you there."

After making their agreement, the two said nothing more and each headed home.