It was always hardest to take the first step.
After getting the first word out, Kakashi clearly cast off his embarrassment and lowered his head in resignation.
"Uncle Ye Ning, please teach me Chidori!"
Ye Ning was taken aback, then smiled warmly.
"That's more like it. From now on, whenever you see me, make sure you call me that, okay? Besides Chidori, I have plenty of other ninjutsu I can teach you."
Like... the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, which only required four hand seals.
Whenever Ye Ning thought about how Kakashi and Zabuza had used a total of eighty-eight hand seals to perform the Water Dragon Bullet Technique, he got a headache.
Other people could cast it almost instantly, while you two spent ages weaving hand seals.
In all that time, you could probably have died ten times over.
To keep Kakashi from embarrassing himself in the future, Ye Ning thought he ought to teach him how to do it.
He didn't know any Water Release Ninjutsu yet, but he had Tsunade!
Tsunade's family had a vast collection of Senju heirlooms, including Water Release Ninjutsu simplified by Tobirama. If he wanted them, Tsunade would absolutely hand them over.
Kakashi was thoroughly tempted. He nodded earnestly.
"Understood, Uncle Ye Ning."
Sakumo, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh.
He'd suddenly realized that Lord Ye Ning didn't seem to be trying to temper Kakashi's character at all. He genuinely thought this was... fun?
Still, Lord Ye Ning meant no harm. At worst, he just had a mischievous streak.
If the two of them really treated each other as equals, wouldn't that make him the elder?
He couldn't handle that.
Watching Kakashi practice Chidori with great enthusiasm in the courtyard, Sakumo's expression grew a little more serious.
He guessed Ye Ning was about