Danzo's Smile

After dinner, Sakumo and Kakashi were practicing sword techniques outside.

Kazashiro, meanwhile, brought over a small stool and sat by the doorway, quietly observing their moves.

However, without a Sharingan, watching the two spar was like watching a video on 8x speed. Besides the dull thud of wooden swords colliding, he couldn't make out any other movements.

After Kakashi unleashed a flying kick, Sakumo precisely seized the opening and subdued him with a single move. "Before you gain an absolute advantage, this kind of wide-sweeping fighting style makes it easy for enemies to find your weaknesses."

After pointing out Kakashi's shortcomings, Sakumo helped him up and was about to start the next round of training.

"Kazashiro, interested in giving it a try?"

Seeing Kazashiro sitting nearby, watching with eager eyes, Sakumo beckoned him over.

The legendary Konoha's White Fang is personally instructing me?

Kazashiro's eyes lit up, and he immediately jumped off the chair, quickly approaching Sakumo.

"However, I can't teach you any specific moves right now. You need to start with the most basic stances." Under Sakumo's guidance, Kazashiro gradually grasped the fundamental principles of swordsmanship.

"Your body needs to be straight, and your stance must be stable. You guys don't yet have the ability to use Chakra for rapid movement to confuse the enemy's vision, so a stable stance is extremely important. At the very least, it will prevent you from being defeated in one move when facing an enemy's attack."

Placing a hand on Kazashiro's back to signal him to straighten his spine, Sakumo also had Kakashi review the basics.

"Clap, clap, clap."

Just then, a few claps sounded, accompanied by a somewhat grim voice: "As expected of Konoha's White Fang, the hero of the Second Shinobi World War."

Danzo emerged from the shadows, followed closely by Aburame Ryoma and Yamanaka Zen.

"Lord Danzo," Hatake Sakumo's expression remained unchanged as he slowly walked in front of Danzo, using his body to shield Kazashiro and Kakashi.

"Thank you for looking after my son," Danzo said, and Sakumo understood his meaning.

It seemed the scrutiny of Kazashiro was over, and Danzo had come to reclaim him.

But--

Having heard about Danzo's actions, Sakumo was quite surprised by Danzo's attitude.

This man, rumored to be the Shadow of the Shinobi World, seemed to want to make Kazashiro's identity public...

"It looks like he's having a good time with your son," Danzo squinted, smiling at Sakumo, as if he could see the two children behind him even with Sakumo blocking the view.

"What do you mean...?" Sakumo couldn't quite grasp the meaning behind Danzo's words, and it was also the first time he had seen Danzo smile.

"It's not uncommon for friends to stay over at each other's places, is it?" Danzo gently pushed Sakumo aside and slowly walked up to Kazashiro.

"???" Kazashiro was utterly bewildered, but he dared not show it on his face. He had heard most of the conversation between him and Sakumo. If interpreted literally, it meant this old geezer acknowledged him as his son.

What should he call him then?

Lord Danzo? Old geezer? Pot Kage? Bridge Killer?

Normally, at this point, one should--

"Fa-Father?" Kazashiro tentatively called out.

Hearing the address, Danzo's heart stirred once again.

See, Hiruzen? I have a son too.

This child may seem timid, but deep down, he truly craves paternal love.

"You will stay here tonight. I will send someone to pick you up tomorrow." Danzo, very pleased with Kazashiro's attitude, didn't say anything further and turned to leave Sakumo's property.

Although Danzo left, the previously warm atmosphere turned cold. After training for a while with their own thoughts, the session ended hastily.

"Uncle Sakumo..." As he passed Sakumo, Kazashiro stopped, wanting to say something.

He received a pat on the head.

Sakumo smiled, stroking Kazashiro's head, and gently shook his head. "It's getting late. Get some rest."

"Hey, do you snore?" Seeing Kazashiro sleeping right next to his futon, Kakashi confirmed again.

"How rude, Kakashi. I've never heard myself snore," Kazashiro pulled up his blanket and burrowed under it, retorting.

"You idiot, how could anyone hear their own snoring!" Kakashi's forehead twitched.

"Don't worry, Kakashi. By the time I fall asleep, you'll already be dreaming," Kazashiro said faintly, staring at the wooden ceiling with wide eyes.

"Is it because of your father? I've heard of him, the Hokage Assistant of Konohagakure." Kakashi's knowledge of Danzo was limited to just that title.

In fact, most ordinary villagers only knew Danzo by that single position.

Only the high-ranking officials of each village were aware of Danzo's actions.

"Not entirely," Kazashiro continued to stare blankly at the roof beams.

Having just left Kirigakure and now gaining Danzo's acknowledgment, he was at his most lost. In this situation, how could he possibly fall asleep easily, Kakashi...

"Snore... snore..." Thinking this, Kazashiro's eyes closed unconsciously, and he began to breathe evenly.

"This guy..." Kakashi looked at the person who had just claimed he wouldn't fall asleep easily, his face a mask of exasperation as he rubbed his forehead.

"Sigh," Kakashi sighed and gently pulled Kazashiro's blanket up before closing his own eyes.

I didn't expect to fall asleep so quickly, even with a stranger nearby, but...

"Huu... huu..." Kakashi, who had only just closed his eyes, was already fast asleep.

Sakumo, standing outside the door and listening to the sounds inside, smiled and shook his head.

He had thought the two little ones would have a long conversation, but he didn't expect...

The next morning.

Sakumo, lying in bed, opened his eyes.

"You're here awfully early, Grey Dog." He immediately spotted the Anbu member perched on the roof beam.

"The Hokage is looking for you," Grey Dog said in a hoarse voice.

"Understood." Hearing that Hiruzen was looking for him, Sakumo's eyes sharpened. He got up and prepared to put on his gear.

"The Hokage said you don't need to wear your mask, Captain." Seeing Sakumo about to put on his Anbu armor, Grey Dog spoke up to remind him.

"Alright." Sakumo paused his movements, then put on his Jonin vest instead.