Ice Mountain Twins

A month passed quietly amidst the subtle, tense atmosphere of the Konoha Genin preparatory class.

Kakashi Sakuya and Hatake Lian had become a peculiar presence in the classroom. Their strength was exceptional, especially Sakuya's; that one thunderous display of power had been enough to suppress any restless thoughts among their peers. Yet, they seemed to carry an invisible barrier around them—cold, aloof, and isolating them from all curiosity, fear, and even potential goodwill.

Aside from necessary team training and classroom responses, they barely spoke to anyone. At lunch, they always sat on the bench at the very edge of the training ground, eating in silence. The moment the bell rang, they would vanish, never lingering.

Their classmates had privately dubbed them the "Iceberg Twins." No one dared to approach them easily.

However, this stalemate was eventually broken by someone no one had expected.

That day, the class held an anonymous vote to elect a "Monthly Collaboration Star," aimed at encouraging team spirit. To the surprise of Sakuya and Lian, the person with the most votes was Himawari Uzumaki.

According to class tradition, the Collaboration Star held a small "privilege" and duty: to represent the class in taking the initiative to care for and assist those who might not yet have fully integrated into the group.

The final bell rang, and students began laughing and packing their bags to leave. Sakuya, as usual, efficiently stowed his ninja tools into his bag without glancing at anyone, saying in a low voice, "Let's go, Lian."

"Mm," Lian replied softly, following in his brother's footsteps.

Just as the two were about to walk out the classroom door, a gentle yet firm voice called out to them.

"Sakuya-kun, please wait a moment."

Sakuya's footsteps faltered. He turned slowly, his deep purple eyes holding a trace of imperceptible wariness as he looked toward the source of the voice.

Himawari Uzumaki stood before them, wearing her signature warm and slightly shy smile. Her blue eyes were clear as crystal, devoid of any fear or pretense.

The entire classroom fell silent instantly; all the students who hadn't left yet held their breath, watching the scene. Even Luye stopped packing his things, his lazy gaze showing a hint of interest.

"What is it?" Sakuya's voice was flat and waveless, revealing no emotion.

Himawari bowed slightly, handing over a delicately wrapped small paper bag with both hands, her voice gentle: "This is from everyone... well, mostly I wanted to give it to you. It's the new yokan from Kanurigam. I heard it's delicious. You've worked hard with your training this past month."

Her gesture was natural and sincere, as if it were the most ordinary act of kindness between classmates.

Sakuya looked at the bag of yokan in silence, not reaching for it immediately. Behind him, Lian looked at his brother, then at Himawari, his fingers quietly clenching the hem of his shirt.

The air around them seemed to freeze. Everyone expected Sakuya to reject her coldly.

However, after a few seconds, Sakuya actually reached out and took the paper bag. His movements were somewhat stiff, but he had accepted it.

"...Thank you." He squeezed the two dry words from his throat.

The smile on Himawari's face grew even brighter, as if it had melted some of the surrounding chill. "You're welcome! In the future... if you ever need help with anything, feel free to ask me." She paused, then added softly, "The cherry blossom tree by the training ground—it isn't blooming right now, but the shade is very cool. It's a good place for a lunch break."

This sentence sounded like a simple piece of advice, yet also like an unobtrusive invitation.

Sakuya did not respond, merely nodding slightly before turning to pull his brother away, his back remaining as straight and cold as ever.

But everyone had seen it: he had accepted the gift.

And he hadn't directed any cold hostility toward Himawari.

An extremely fine, almost invisible thread seemed to have been gently tugged upon the frozen lake by that sun-like warmth.

In the evening, outside the Hatake residence.

Kakashi appeared at the intersection right on time, still looking as lazy as ever, his forehead protector tilted to cover one eye.

"Yo, you're home," he greeted languidly.

Sakuya and Lian walked up to him, as silent as always.

Kakashi's gaze lingered for a split second on the slightly out-of-place, exquisite paper bag in Sakuya's hand, a flash of understanding crossing his single eye, but he asked nothing.

"I don't feel like cooking tonight," Kakashi stretched, "let's go to Ichiraku Ramen. My treat."

At Ichiraku Ramen.

The familiar warm yellow light and the rich aroma of food rushed toward them. There were only a few customers at the counter.

"Yo, Kakashi-san! Long time no see! And you brought two... oh? New faces!" Teuchi greeted them enthusiastically, his eyes landing curiously on Sakuya and Lian.

"Mm, some juniors from home," Kakashi introduced vaguely. "The usual, miso chashu ramen. How about you two?" He looked at the children.

"...The same," Sakuya said in a low voice. "I... I'll have the same," Lian added.

The noodles were served quickly, steaming hot. Kakashi skillfully broke his chopsticks, lifted a corner of his mask, and began to eat with a slurping sound, letting out a satisfied sigh. Lian mimicked his movements, eating in small bites, his eyes brightening slightly as if he found the taste good.

Sakuya ate quickly, but his movements remained disciplined, as if he were completing a mission.

Halfway through the meal, Kakashi set down his chopsticks and looked at the rising steam, speaking as if it were a casual thought:

"I heard... that child Himawari spoke to you today?"

Sakuya's hand holding his chopsticks paused imperceptibly. "...Mm. She gave us this." He glanced at the paper bag beside him.

"How did it feel?" Kakashi's tone was casual, as if they were discussing the weather.

Sakuya remained silent for a long time, the steam from his bowl blurring his cold, sharp features.

"She is... strange," he finally chose a word. "She isn't afraid of me, nor is she trying to curry favor. She just... walked over." He seemed to be struggling to find the right words to describe the feeling he didn't understand. "Her chakra... it feels very warm."

Kakashi chuckled softly, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

"Yeah, just like her mother, like the sun." He paused, his voice softening. "That guy Naruto was much the same when he was a kid. No matter how much others pushed him away or loathed him, he would always smile and approach them, over and over again, until that barrier was worn down by sheer persistence."

He turned his head, his gaze falling on Shuoyue's tense profile.

"Konoha is just this kind of place. There are always these 'strange' 'fools' who don't know how to read the room, stubbornly wanting to get close to things that seem cold and hard."

"Try trusting that 'strangeness'?" Kakashi's voice was soft, yet carried weight. "It's not a weakness, but something... precious that many of us lost, and he desperately tried to reclaim."

"After all, 'rules' and 'vigilance' can protect your survival," Kakashi said, taking a sip of the ramen broth with a meaningful look. "But sometimes, a little bit of 'strange' trust might make you... feel more 'alive'."

After speaking, he said no more and continued to eat his noodles, head bowed.

Shuoyue remained motionless for a long time, simply gazing at the wisps of steam rising from his bowl. Deep within his dark purple eyes, it was as if some solid ice was, in the heat of the ramen and the unexpected words, melting with an extremely faint crack.

In the paper bag beside him, the yokan emitted a faint, sweet fragrance.