Blue Thunderbolt Flash Prodigy?

"Kakashi, this is not enough. If you wish to master Hatake Kenjutsu, immense strength and wrist resilience are absolutely indispensable."

Hatake Sakumo spoke with a smile, shaking his head as he chuckled, "I have only just returned, and already you want me to guide your training?"

"Our Kakashi certainly looks like a hardworking genius."

The man beside Hatake Sakumo laughed and said, "Sakumo, having such a genius for a son is something to be proud of!"

"Yako, rather than that, I would actually prefer him to become an ordinary person."

Hatake Sakumo shook his head, his expression helpless, "But as a ninja, many things are beyond one's control."

If an ordinary person could stay far away from the chaos of war.

That would be a good thing.

But how could it be that simple?

"Indeed, as ninjas, we must complete our missions; this is our duty."

Mita Yako nodded in agreement.

Hatake Kakashi was only four years old at this moment, yet his face was already covered by a mask, "I will become a ninja as strong as my father in the future, and I will not lose to anyone!"

Within his eyes lay the pride of a genius.

"Of course, but for now, it seems we should greet each other politely. Hello, you seem to recognize me."

Hatake Sakumo's gentle, reserved eyes turned toward Keigo Uchiha, and he paused in surprise.

The youth before him... actually gave him a sense of danger!

"Hello, Hatake Sakumo, the powerful ninja known as the White Fang of the Leaf, who single-handedly routed the enemy on the battlefield, intercepted entire defensive lines, and even..."

Keigo Uchiha looked with a smile at the flame-patterned sleeve on Hatake Sakumo's shoulder.

That was the Hokage Sleeve!

It was proof of Hatake Sakumo's achievements!

And the Hokage Sleeve... also signified a candidate for the position of Hokage. Hatake Sakumo... possessed the qualifications to run for the next Hokage!

"Possessing the Hokage Sleeve! You are a hero of Konoha and, at the same time, a figure whom other ninja villages fear immensely."

It is currently... the 43rd year of Konoha. If there are no accidents, Hatake Sakumo will... commit suicide within these next two years, causing Hatake Kakashi's personality to change drastically. What a pity.

Keigo Uchiha shook his head.

Such a powerhouse would indeed be very reliable as a teammate.

His gaze shifted to the man beside Hatake Sakumo, who was also a Jonin.

But he did not recognize him, much to the expectant gaze of Mita Yako.

He slowly said, "And this one..."

"Hey, hey, hey! I am Mita Yako, a Jonin and Sakumo's good friend! How can you not know who I am!"

Mita Yako's face was filled with indignation.

This guy... is too detestable!

"You flatter me. I didn't expect someone of your young age to know so many things. However, killing is not a good thing. As ninjas, we are merely completing missions; this is to protect the village."

Hatake Sakumo felt as if he were not speaking to a child.

Instead, it felt more like communicating with an adult of his own generation.

"If you were to encounter a situation where you had to choose between your comrades and your mission, what would you choose?"

Keigo Uchiha suddenly spoke.

His dark eyes flickered.

Hatake Sakumo was a cold-blooded ninja who showed no mercy to his enemies, yet he held sincere love and a desire to protect those from his own village. Therefore, encountering the situation from the original story.

Was a matter of course.

"Facing a choice... between a mission and a comrade?"

Hatake Sakumo frowned deeply, "If I were faced with a mission that must be completed and a comrade who needed saving, I... do not know what I would choose. Let us wait until such a situation actually arises."

"Hey, hey, hey, how can you just wait until then?"

Mita Yako shouted loudly, "As ninjas, our goal is naturally to complete the mission. Of course, if it were you, Sakumo, I would definitely save you first!"

"We are the best of friends, after all!"

"Alright, alright, I believe you, Yako."

Hatake Sakumo shook his head helplessly. He had no way to deal with his chuunibyou friend, but... he looked at Keigo Uchiha and suddenly asked, "If it were you, what would you do?"

He was somewhat curious.

The youth before him gave him a very strange feeling; clearly just a boy, yet so steady and mature, and... it was as if he could see through what he was thinking!

If it were this youth, how would he choose?

"Choosing to protect one's comrades."

Keigo Uchiha thought for a moment, "Protecting comrades is also a mission in itself. If one cannot even manage what is right in front of them, how can they claim to have completed the mission?"

"It is just like having a child. You do not bring a child into this world to complete a task, nor to provide for your old age; you do it simply out of love for that child, do you not?"

"If one is devoid of emotion, then there is no difference between a human and a machine."

He did not believe that Hatake Sakumo had done anything wrong in the original story.

It was simply that the Third Shinobi World War was about to begin, the situation was intense, everyone was on the verge of a mental breakdown, and everyone needed a vent for their frustrations. Furthermore, the war strategy at the time was iron-fisted and cold-blooded.

Naturally, the tragedy of Hatake Sakumo followed.

Yet, Hatake Sakumo himself had committed no error.

"The kid speaks well! That is exactly what I think!"

Mita Yako gave a thumbs-up, looking as if he held Keigo in high regard.

Keigo Uchiha's mouth twitched.

Heh.

What the hell is there to hold in high regard?

But... could this guy be the person Hatake Sakumo was supposed to save in the original story? If that were the case... then things would get interesting.

"Is that so?"

Hatake Sakumo looked thoughtful.

"Big brother, are you a ninja too? What is your name? My name is Hatake Kakashi!"

Hatake Kakashi looked at Keigo Uchiha's upright posture, instinctively assuming... that this was a powerful ninja from the Ninja Academy.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kakashi. My name is Keigo Uchiha."

Keigo Uchiha smiled and ruffled Kakashi's hair.

Although Kakashi was aloof as a child.

He possessed an instinctive admiration for the strong.

"Keigo Uchiha!"

Hatake Kakashi's small face froze, followed by his eyes lighting up with excitement, "Are you the genius of the Uchiha Clan? The Blue Thunderbolt Flash Prodigy that all the other geniuses look up to! The prodigy who defeated third-year students while still in the first grade!"

"Where... did you hear that from?"

Keigo Uchiha's mouth twitched.

Blue Thunderbolt Flash Prodigy.

Where on earth did this bizarre nickname come from? This embarrassing title was certainly not something he wanted!

"Your legend is circulating throughout the entire Ninja Academy right now. They say you are the man even the Hokage acknowledges, and that you are Orochimaru's favorite student!"

Kakashi looked at Keigo Uchiha with a face full of worship.

His eyes were practically sparkling.

"Your father is also a very formidable ninja. As long as you train hard, you can become a powerful ninja too, but there are things that are even more important than strength—such as friendship, and family."

Keigo Uchiha smiled and ruffled Kakashi's white hair again.

Kakashi looked as if he only half-understood.

Just then, two figures landed beside Keigo Uchiha!