Konoha's Wind Changed Overnight

Early that morning, Shin-chan walked out of the house with his schoolbag and noticed the adults on the street whispering to one another.

The Vegetable Selling Aunt and another woman buying vegetables huddled together, speaking in hushed voices.

Two Ninja walked along the roadside, talking about something with grave expressions.

Even the dango shop owner, who usually wore a cheerful smile, had a stern look today, his brows furrowed so deeply they could crush a fly.

Shin-chan tilted his head and watched them for a while, but couldn't make sense of it. Then he continued on to school.

He'd never understood grown-up business anyway.

However.

The atmosphere in the classroom was strange, too.

His usually chatty classmates were much quieter today, gathering in little groups to whisper about something.

When Shin-chan walked in, someone glanced at him, then quickly looked away.

Shin-chan paid no attention and went to his seat.

Uchiha Toru was already there, looking down at a book, but he kept flipping back and forth through the same page.

Shin-chan leaned over. "Morning, Xiao Che."

Uchiha Toru looked up, his expression a little complicated.

"Shin-chan."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Uchiha Toru paused, then lowered his head again.

Shin-chan blinked, puzzled, and turned to look the other way.

Kakashi sat in the corner, acting unlike himself, too. It was as if he'd withdrawn into a shell, shutting everyone out.

Shin-chan stood and walked over to him.

"Kakashi."

Kakashi didn't look up.

Shin-chan poked him on the shoulder.

"Kakashi."

Kakashi finally raised his head and glanced at him. His eyes held no emotion at all.

"What is it?"

"Why aren't you talking today?"

Kakashi was silent for two seconds. "I don't feel like talking."

Then he lowered his head and ignored him.

Shin-chan scratched his head and returned to his seat. "Xiao Che, Kakashi's acting weird today."

Uchiha Toru looked up, glanced at Kakashi, then lowered his head again.

"Yeah."

"Do you know why?"

Uchiha Toru was quiet for a while, then said softly, "You... haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

Uchiha Toru opened his mouth, then closed it. "Nothing."

Shin-chan was even more confused.

Teacher Ibuki was acting strangely in class, too.

As he lectured, his gaze kept drifting toward Kakashi, only to quickly dart away again.

A few times, he even lost focus, staring blankly out the window until he finally came to his senses.

Shin-chan raised his hand.

"Yes?"

"You're acting weird today, too."

Teacher Ibuki cleared his throat and tapped the blackboard. "Pay attention to class. Don't let your imagination run wild."

But Shin-chan clearly saw him glance at Kakashi again.

After school, Shin-chan packed his things and went over to Kakashi.

"Kakashi, let's go train together."

Kakashi was packing his schoolbag. His hands paused. "I've got something to do today."

"What?"

Kakashi didn't answer. He slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and walked out.

Shin-chan watched him go and scratched his head.

"Why's everyone acting weird today?"

On the way home, Shin-chan noticed that even more people were whispering on the street, and their voices seemed a little louder, too.

"Have you heard? White Fang this time..."

"Really?"

"Absolutely. My cousin's teammate's younger brother was in that squad..."

"Then doesn't that mean..."

"Shh, keep your voice down."

As Shin-chan passed by, the people glanced at him and lowered their voices.

Shin-chan quickened his pace without thinking and ran home.

He pushed open the door.

"I'm home!"

The familiar words slipped out, but no one answered.

In the Living Room, Hiroshi and Miya sat by the table. The tea in front of them had gone cold, and neither had touched it.

The atmosphere was so heavy it could have dripped.

Shin-chan tilted his head and walked over. "Dad? Mom?"

Hiroshi looked up at him.

Miya looked up, too, managing a faint smile.

"You're home, Shin-chan."

Shin-chan looked from his dad to his mom.

"What's wrong?"

Hiroshi was quiet for a while, then patted the Tatami beside him.

"Shin-chan, come sit down."

Shin-chan obediently walked over and sat down.

Hiroshi looked at him and opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Miya murmured softly beside him, "Hiroshi..."

"I know." Hiroshi nodded and took a deep breath. "Shin-chan, there's something I need to tell you."

"What?"

"It's about Lord White Fang."

Shin-chan blinked.

Hiroshi fell silent again, as if weighing his words.

"There are some rumors going around the village today, about Lord White Fang."

Shin-chan blinked.

"Lord White Fang?"

"Yes." Hiroshi nodded. "During a mission, he abandoned it to save his comrades."

Shin-chan listened attentively.

"The mission failed, and the village suffered heavy losses." Hiroshi paused. "Everyone's talking about it now."

After listening, Shin-chan nodded, then raised his hand and asked, "Who's Lord White Fang?"

Hiroshi's expression froze.

Miya's expression froze, too.

The Living Room fell silent for a while.

Then a vein popped on Miya's forehead. "You've been learning Blade Techniques from him for so long, and you don't know his name?"

Shin-chan tilted his head and thought about it.

"I know him as the Silver Haired Uncle."

"The Silver Haired Uncle is Lord White Fang." Miya pressed a hand to her forehead. "Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's White Fang."

"Oh." Only then did Shin-chan realize. "He's Kakashi's Father."

"That's right." Miya nodded.

"That Silver Haired Uncle," Shin-chan added.

"That's right..."

"I haven't seen him in a long time," Shin-chan said. "Has he been busy lately?"

Miya and Hiroshi were silent for two seconds.

"He... hasn't come back yet."

"Oh." Shin-chan nodded. "I'll go play with him when he comes back."

Hiroshi looked at his carefree expression, unsure what to say.

Miya gave a soft sigh beside him. "Lord White Fang is a good person. He taught Shin-chan for so long and even gave him a Wood Sword. Now this has happened..."

Hiroshi's brows furrowed slightly.

There were things he didn't say aloud.

The news had spread far too quickly. It wasn't normal.

It was as if someone were deliberately fanning the flames behind the scenes.

But he didn't want to talk about that at home. Miya and Shin-chan weren't Ninja; they shouldn't get involved in these things.

"Shin-chan," Hiroshi suddenly said.

"Yeah?"

"If... I mean, if..." Hiroshi chose his words carefully. "If anyone asks you about Lord White Fang, just say you don't know."

Shin-chan tilted his head. "Why?"

"Because..." Hiroshi paused. "Grown-up matters are complicated. You only need to know that Lord White Fang is a good person."

Shin-chan thought about it, then nodded.

"Okay."

He didn't really understand what grown-ups were thinking, but he remembered the Silver Haired Uncle showing him how to swing a blade. He remembered him saying, "You have to put your heart into the blade," and the warmth of his hand when he patted Shin-chan on the shoulder.

The Silver Haired Uncle was a good person.

That much he knew.

Outside the window, clouds covered half the moon.

Konoha's night was quieter than usual.