Dinner

Jiraiya nodded in satisfaction, his gaze shifting to the pensive Kakashi.

That head of white hair always makes one want to give it a pat...

Feeling the weight on his head, Kakashi looked up to meet Jiraiya's eyes.

"As for you, Kakashi-kun, you'll need to take the assessment again next time!"

"I understand... Lord Jiraiya."

Kakashi felt no sense of disappointment; he was still pondering the words Kagami Uchiha had spoken earlier.

Prejudices of the human heart...

He had seen with his own eyes the pressure his father had been under during this period.

And the Uchiha... had always been subjected to such prejudice.

Even he himself had felt that, aside from that idiot Obito, the other Uchiha were difficult to get along with.

Was this not a form of bullying?

He thought this was Kagami Uchiha's accusation.

In reality, Kagami Uchiha's true thoughts were...

Since you all believe the Uchiha will bring disaster to Konoha... then I shall make your wishes come true!

Just then, Namikaze Minato let out a soft murmur from the hospital bed, as if he were about to wake up.

Jiraiya hurried out the door to call for Kushina, who was waiting outside.

Tsunade was not there; she felt she had overreacted and felt uncomfortable staying.

Watching the two embrace on the hospital bed, Jiraiya and the others tactfully exited the room.

Walking down the hospital corridor, Kakashi couldn't help but ask Kagami Uchiha in a low voice.

"What exactly was that Monster?"

Kagami Uchiha shook his head. "I don't know. You should ask Teacher Jiraiya about that."

Hearing their conversation, Jiraiya led the two to a secluded spot before he began to explain.

"Throughout the history of the war-torn ninja world, there has existed a terrifying presence deeply etched into people's minds alongside catastrophe. Those demon beasts, which are like natural disasters, are called Tailed Beasts."

"The First Hokage, recognizing the immense power the Tailed Beasts possessed and their ability to serve as a deterrent to war, captured them and distributed them among the various villages."

These were not words meant for an ordinary child, but neither Kagami Uchiha nor Kakashi were ordinary children.

Jiraiya understood Kakashi. Although the boy was not like Minato or Jing, he was still exceptionally gifted. After a little more testing, Jiraiya intended to take him on as a student.

"What our village possesses is the Nine-Tails, the strongest among the Tailed Beasts. It is what we just saw..."

"Those who seal a Tailed Beast within themselves are called Jinchuriki."

As he spoke, Jiraiya's expression turned solemn.

"Remember, you must never speak to anyone about the Nine-Tails. The identity of the Jinchuriki is a top-secret matter for the village!"

If it weren't for the fact that the two would become his disciples, Anbu would already be on their way to handle the two boys' memories.

Watching the sun dip below the horizon.

"Alright, it's getting late. You two should head home and rest."

"Meet at Training Ground 4 at six o'clock tomorrow morning!"

"Dismissed!"

With Minato fine, Jiraiya was in a rush to go gather material.

The two walked a good distance away from the hospital.

Kagami Uchiha turned his head to look at Kakashi, who was following him. "Why are you following me? Your home is in the other direction."

"Ah..." Kakashi snapped back to reality, only then realizing this wasn't the way home.

But...

There was no one left at home anyway...

Kagami Uchiha had once been without family as well, so he could somewhat understand Kakashi's current state.

After all, he was only a seven or eight-year-old child. Even though Hatake Sakumo hadn't committed suicide, Kakashi had still effectively become a latchkey kid.

"Come back with me and have a meal, but remember, just this once."

"Jing, thank you."

"Thank you... for letting my father live."

After a moment of silence, Kagami Uchiha said indifferently, "It had nothing to do with me. You don't need to feel like you owe me anything."

"Let's get that clear right now."

"If my actions benefit you, you need not be grateful. If my actions cause you pain, you are free to resent me."

"Kakashi, I don't care about your feelings at all."

Then why did you invite me to your house for dinner...

Kakashi began to grasp how to get along with a normal Uchiha.

Don't listen to what an Uchiha says; watch what he does.

Facing such a terrifying Tailed Beast, in order to protect his comrades from the village, Kagami had stepped forward without hesitation.

--

Kagami Uchiha's home was located on the edge of the clan grounds and occupied a considerable amount of space.

With facilities like a courtyard, he could be considered a wealthy man within the Uchiha Clan.

His grandfather's pension was substantial, and there were also subsidies from the clan; at the very least, Kagami Uchiha never had to worry about money.

Once Kagami Uchiha became a ninja, a portion of the earnings from his missions would also be turned over to the clan for distribution to families unable to support themselves.

The Uchiha were not like the Hyuga, who divided their clan members into slaves and slave owners.

Even the clan head did not have the power of life and death over ordinary clan members.

Kagami Uchiha had also pondered why Itachi could do such a thing.

In the end, he arrived at a reasonable hypothesis.

It was because he had never truly interacted with the ordinary clan members of the Uchiha.

Itachi had been a genius since he was young; he experienced the battlefield at four and began contemplating the village and the clan at seven.

This was where Fugaku's method of education had gone wrong.

When applied to a genius, such an educational approach would cause him to overthink and fall into a predicament of self-destruction.

Because... even a genius cannot change the world or change the human heart.

Excessive wisdom leads to self-harm.

People who think they are incredibly clever often end up scarred and meet a tragic end.

So, would a normal education for Itachi Uchiha have been useful?

It might have changed him, but Kagami Uchiha did not have the time or energy to reform him.

Itachi Uchiha did not love the Uchiha clan; he only loved Sasuke Uchiha.

It would be less effort to destroy him than to reform him.

"Has Shisui already started refining Chakra?"

Seeing little Shisui sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, looking the part, Kakashi asked.

"He is no longer a one-year-old child; he should start learning."

As he spoke, Kagami Uchiha noticed his grandmother cleaning vegetables and quickly took off his shoes to run over to her.

"Grandmother, I told you I would come back to cook, didn't I? You need to get some proper rest!"

When Grandmother was young, she was also a ninja; she only retired because she suffered a severe injury.

Although she was not particularly old now, some lingering injuries had caused many problems for her body.

It wasn't just her physical health; the passing of her husband had also dealt her a heavy blow. These wounds were not something time could heal; they only grew worse with each passing day.

Grandmother looked kindly at the busy Kagami Uchiha, then turned her head to see Kakashi.

"I remember you... You are Sakumo's child, aren't you? This is the first time Jing has brought a friend home!"

Kakashi nodded, feeling a bit awkward. After politely offering a greeting, he felt uneasy and wanted to find something to do.

Noticing the river fish in the vegetable basket, he took them out and began to clean them skillfully.

"I cook for myself when my father isn't around."

"I didn't ask you."

Kagami Uchiha went about preparing the ingredients on his own. He and Kakashi each took a stove and began to cook.

Kakashi was naturally a person accustomed to silence, but upon encountering the even more reticent Kagami Uchiha, he couldn't help but speak up.

"Is Obito's house nearby?"

"Obviously, he also carries the Uchiha name." Kagami Uchiha stir-fried the greens. "Go out and turn left for three hundred meters; that's his house."

"You seem to dislike Obito very much."

"It's not a 'seem' to."

"Is it because a dead-last like him tarnishes the reputation of the Uchiha Clan?"

Kagami Uchiha remained silent for a while, with only the sound of fish sizzling in Kakashi's pan audible.

"I suppose so."

"Your pan-fried fish is overcooked."

"It's not overcooked, this is Kakashi-style dry-fried river fish."

"The greens you boiled are way too mushy."

"Grandmother has bad teeth; she likes them soft."

"Kagami, you are a very warm person."

The confusion in Kakashi's eyes gradually faded, and one could sense the smile beneath his mask.

Glancing at him coldly, Kagami Uchiha warned, "My orientation is perfectly normal. Don't try that stuff with me, it's disgusting."