Bonds

Meanwhile, Kakashi, feeling like it was almost lunchtime, prepared to take Kazashiro home.

Seeing Kazashiro trailing behind him empty-handed, Kakashi pointed at the Danzo ice sculptures scattered on the ground and asked curiously, "Aren't you taking these with you?"

"What would I do with this stuff?" Kazashiro replied bluntly.

It's not like they're cute figurines. These ugly things I made so casually can just be left here to fend for themselves.

Oh, wait, there is one thing in here that could help me get closer to Kakashi.

With that thought, Kazashiro turned, bent down, and picked up the Kakashi ice sculpture he had made earlier. He handed it to Kakashi, saying, "This is for you. Thanks for wanting to protect me just now."

Looking at the gift and the undisguised gratitude, Kakashi blushed uncharacteristically. Realizing this, he quickly turned his head away, "Just throw it away, it's so ugly."

"Huh? No way. By the way, are you blushing? Let me see." Realizing this was a good opportunity to get closer to Kakashi, Kazashiro seized the moment, darted to Kakashi's side, and held up the ridiculous ice sculpture, trying to force it on him.

"No, get away!"

"Quick, let me see!"

"No!"

The two figures gradually moved further away, leaving behind only the Danzo ice sculptures to slowly melt.

At noon, Kazashiro finally ate something other than Soldier Pills and Kirigakure's all-fish banquet.

Sakumo's cooking skills were excellent. The dishes he made perfectly matched his image in a pink apron. It was the best meal Kazashiro had eaten since his rebirth, aside from the food his mother made.

After eating, at Sakumo's suggestion, he took a hot bath at home.

Meanwhile, Sakumo, feeling that their relationship had improved significantly, laid out new bedding by Kakashi's bed, ignoring Kakashi's protests.

"Dad, you know, that kid, he has the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai," Kakashi said, giving up on resisting and seizing the opportunity to share his day's experiences.

"Ice Release?" Sakumo frowned slightly, then immediately relaxed. "How did you find out?"

Kakashi turned his gaze to his desk, where the ice sculpture made in his likeness was slowly melting.

"It does look quite similar," Sakumo concluded after carefully examining the sculpture's outline.

"Similar to what?" Kakashi's face was covered in black lines. How could my dad see me from that disfigured ice sculpture?

Seeing that his father's emotions weren't greatly affected, Kakashi recounted their encounter with the Anbu: "There were three Anbu who approached him while I was training and drew his blood with syringes."

Three Anbu?

"Those were probably not Anbu," Sakumo, as the captain of the Anbu, had noticed tails following him shortly after leaving the Hokage Building.

"Not Anbu?" Kakashi sounded confused.

Sakumo smoothed out the last wrinkle on his brow and stood up. "They are beings far more profound than the Anbu."

He didn't intend to let his son know about the village's hidden darkness so early, so he used a more general term.

"Um..." Kazashiro, wrapped in a towel after his bath, suddenly appeared at the doorway. "Have you guys seen my clothes?"

"Ah, you're done bathing, Kazashiro." Sakumo hurried over, picked up the towel hanging nearby, and began drying the boy's wet hair. "I took your clothes to wash. Your build is just a bit slimmer than Kakashi's, so you can wear his clothes for now."

"Huh?" Kakashi sounded displeased. "Why should he wear mine?"

"Kakashi, friends should learn to share." Sakumo produced a set of Kakashi's casual clothes.

"Who said we're friends?" Kakashi tried to correct his father, but was ignored.

"Kakashi, you haven't worn these underwear before, have you?" Kazashiro added a jab from the side.

"Fine, if you don't want them!" Heaven and earth as my witness, Kakashi, who always focused on training, felt what it was like to have his defenses broken for the first time.

"Ah, that answer... so you have worn them before," Kazashiro said, looking at the underwear in his hand with a hint of disgust.

I'm still a kid, so going commando should be fine, right?

However--

"Why are all your clothes the masked kind?" Kazashiro picked up a shirt and pointed at the mask on it.

"Dad, can I kill him?" Kakashi's anger level skyrocketed.

Seeing his son's extreme emotional fluctuation, Sakumo's face lit up with joy. "Kakashi, you're throwing a tantrum again."

Although the Third Hokage had likely already learned about Kazashiro's Ice Release, out of duty and to avoid suspicion of withholding information, Sakumo decided to personally visit the Hokage Building.

Sakumo, who was quietly leaving Kakashi's room and about to go out, suddenly stopped and looked out the window.

"Captain." An Anbu stood outside the window. "The Third Hokage asked me to tell you that he is aware of the matter concerning Ice Release. Please cherish your hard-earned vacation and spend quality time with your family."

So the Third Hokage found out after all?

Sakumo stopped his attempt to open the door, put on a smile, and nodded at the Anbu. "Please convey to the Third Hokage that I understand and am very grateful for his consideration."

Spend quality time with family...

In that case--

"Kakashi, Kazashiro, let's go fishing together?" Sakumo enthusiastically pulled out a full set of fishing gear from a cabinet.

Kazashiro, who had finally found a set of clothes without a mask, couldn't count how many times Sakumo's actions had surprised him.

Who would have thought? Uncle Sakumo, with his stern appearance, was actually a fishing enthusiast?

I just don't know if you're usually free.

"Yada, I refuse," Kakashi said, though his body honestly moved towards Sakumo.

It seems it's time for my entrance, Kazashiro thought. He grabbed Kakashi and forcibly dragged him in front of Sakumo. "Kakashi says he's willing to go, Uncle Sakumo."

"Kazashiro, you jerk, when did I say I was willing to go?" Kakashi tried to break free from Kazashiro's grip.

"Hmph, if you weren't willing, there's no way I could drag you like this," Kazashiro snorted, increasing the force in his hands.

"Alright, then the three of us will go to the river together!" Seeing Kakashi "agree," Sakumo took out a fishing net and a small red bucket from the cabinet. He and Kazashiro then flanked Kakashi, leading him towards the river.

"How interesting."

In his secret base, Orochimaru watched the comparison results with great interest.

These were two samples sent by Danzo. After comparison, Orochimaru concluded that the two parties were related by blood.