Kakashi, Do You Desire Power?

Soon, Kakashi could no longer stand the pungent smell of alcohol at the dinner table. He excused himself and slipped outside.

Ye Ning, who was very interested in Kakashi, soon found an excuse to slip out as well. He found Kakashi in the courtyard, up in a tree.

When he found him, Kakashi was hanging upside down from a branch with his eyes closed, resting. The chakra on the soles of his feet clung tightly to the branch, keeping him firmly in place despite his body being completely inverted.

Ye Ning couldn't help clicking his tongue.

Kakashi was only five years old right now. Five!

At just five, his chakra control was already absurdly good.

He truly lived up to his reputation as a genius.

Hearing Ye Ning's footsteps, Kakashi opened his eyes warily. When he saw Ye Ning's face, he clearly froze for a moment.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I'm Ye Ning, a good friend of your father's. You can call me Uncle Ye Ning."

!?

Although half of Kakashi's face was hidden beneath his mask, Ye Ning could clearly tell that his expression had darkened.

Intent on teasing Kakashi, Ye Ning narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"I really am your father's friend. If you don't believe me, you can ask him and see whether you should call me Uncle."

Ye Ning sounded so certain that Kakashi began to hesitate.

He struggled with it for quite a while before finally managing to say something.

"But you don't look much older than me."

"That's right. I'm only twelve. But that doesn't mean I can't be friends with your father. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here today, would I?"

Ye Ning smiled, enthusiastically blustering at one of the original story's fan-favorite characters.

"Besides, we're not from the same generation, so calling me Uncle isn't asking too much of you, is it?"

Kakashi rolled his dead-fish eyes and simply turned his head away, refusing to pay Ye Ning any more attention.

He was only seven years older than Kakashi, and he wanted Kakashi to call him Uncle?

Not a chance!

"Kakashi?"

Ye Ning called him twice, but got no response. He clicked his tongue, feeling a little disappointed.

Little Kakashi was no fun to tease!

He was already ignoring him.

Then... how about another approach?

Ye Ning thought it over, then straightened up and tried to sound like Orochimaru as he coaxed him:

"Kakashi, do you desire power?"

Kakashi finally reacted and turned back around.

Unfortunately, his dead-fish eyes were still rolled upward, his expression bland.

Maybe that didn't come across quite right?

Seeing Kakashi's reaction, Ye Ning knew his imitation hadn't been very convincing.

Or maybe he just didn't have a talent for persuasion?

Zabuza had said one thing, and Haku had obediently followed him. Orochimaru had said one thing, and Kimimaro had devoted himself wholeheartedly to following him, willingly becoming a vessel. Why was all Ye Ning getting in return a pair of dead-fish eyes?

A little annoyed, Ye Ning decided to try another way.

Lightning Release: Chidori!

A blinding burst of electricity erupted in the courtyard. For a moment, it was as if a thousand birds were chirping at once.

Hah!

I'll tempt you with the jutsu you developed yourself. There's no way you won't be interested!

The piercing sound drew everyone's attention from inside the house.

After a quick assessment, Orochimaru's lips curled into an amused smile.

"Looks like Ye Ning is quite taken with Kakashi."

"Tch. Kids really do get along with other kids."

Of the group, only Hatake Sakumo had never seen Chidori before, and he stared in astonishment.

"What... what kind of jutsu is that?"

"An A-rank Lightning Release jutsu Ye Ning developed himself: Chidori."

"What an immense amount of chakra..."

If even Sakumo was astonished by the jutsu, then it was no wonder that five-year-old Kakashi was completely captivated.

The moment he saw Chidori, a powerful longing surged through him, as if the jutsu had somehow been made just for him.

At last, his usually expressionless dead-fish eyes lit up.

"Want to learn it?"

Ye Ning smiled with satisfaction, having finally caught Kakashi's interest.

See? I knew I could get through to you.

A flashy, powerful jutsu like Chidori was perfect for attracting a kid like Kakashi!

Especially since it was his jutsu in the first place.

However clever and precocious Kakashi was, however aloof he might seem, deep down he was still only a five-year-old child. How could he possibly resist the allure of Chidori?

Kakashi jumped down from the tree and honestly nodded.

Ye Ning's smile grew even more smug.

"Then call me Uncle."

You didn't want to call me that? Well, now I'm going to make sure you do!

At that, Kakashi's expression turned hesitant.

Every part of him resisted saying the word, but as he watched Chidori sparkle in Ye Ning's hand, his resolve began to waver.

The subtle change wasn't lost on Ye Ning. Knowing that Kakashi was already starting to waver, he pressed his advantage and coaxed him enticingly:

"This is an A-rank jutsu... You can't learn it yet, but if you call me Uncle, I promise to teach it to you when you're a little older. I can even teach you the jutsu that come after Chidori..."

An A-rank jutsu...

The jutsu that came after it...

Those enticing words washed over Kakashi's young heart, and the two phrases echoed in his mind.

Before long, Kakashi gritted his teeth and called out without hesitation:

"Uncle Ye Ning!"

The anticipated embarrassment, awkwardness, and shame never came. The words had slipped out naturally.

Once he'd said them, Kakashi felt a weight lift from his shoulders.

Now I can learn Chidori, right?

Achievement unlocked: becoming Kakashi's uncle!

Ye Ning smiled with satisfaction and let the Chidori in his hand slowly fade away.

He had made a promise to Kakashi, and he naturally wouldn't go back on it. "Don't worry. Once your swordsmanship is well-practiced and your father approves, come to me anytime to learn Chidori and its follow-up techniques. Just remember to keep calling me Uncle Ye Ning from now on."

"Got it, Uncle Ye Ning."

Kakashi nodded, suddenly filled with a burning desire to practice swordsmanship.

I'll practice. I'll start right now!

The sooner I master swordsmanship, the sooner I can learn Chidori!

Without another word, Kakashi ran to the center of the courtyard and began practicing the Hatake Clan's sword technique.

Seeing this, Hatake Sakumo could only laugh helplessly.

In truth, Kakashi hadn't been particularly passionate about swordsmanship. Instead, he'd been full of dreams and longing for ninjutsu, and Sakumo had thought the Hatake Sword Technique was about to be lost.

He'd never imagined that Ye Ning could so easily lure Kakashi back into practicing swordsmanship with such a simple trick.

Well, kids would be kids.

It wasn't just Kakashi. Even Sakumo couldn't help yearning for a jutsu like Chidori, let alone five-year-old Kakashi.