Kakashi, Do You Crave Power?

Soon, Kakashi could no longer endure the pungent smell of alcohol at the dinner table, so he excused himself and slipped away.

Ye Ning, who was full of interest in Kakashi, also found an excuse to slip out shortly after and found Kakashi in a tree in the courtyard.

When he found him, Kakashi was hanging upside down from a branch, eyes closed to rest, his chakra firmly anchoring his feet to the wood, keeping him steady even while completely inverted.

Ye Ning couldn't help but click his tongue.

Kakashi was only five years old now—five!

At just five years old, his control over chakra was already this monstrous.

He truly lived up to the name of a genius.

Hearing Ye Ning's footsteps, Kakashi opened his eyes vigilantly, and upon seeing Ye Ning's face, he was visibly stunned.

"Who are you?"

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

!?

Even though half of his face was covered by a mask, Ye Ning could clearly sense that Kakashi's expression had darkened.

Intending to tease Kakashi, Ye Ning narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"I really am your father's friend. If you don't believe me, you can go ask him and see if you should call me uncle or not."

Seeing how certain Ye Ning sounded, Kakashi became hesitant instead.

After holding it in for a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out a sentence.

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

"That's true, 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, seizing the chance to bamboozle this popular character from the original work.

"Besides, we really aren't from the same generation. Calling me uncle wouldn't be beneath you, would it?"

Kakashi rolled those dead-fish eyes of his and simply turned his head away, choosing to ignore Ye Ning.

Only seven years older than him, yet he wanted to be called uncle?

In his dreams!

"Kakashi?"

After calling out twice without receiving any response, Ye Ning clicked his tongue, feeling a bit regretful.

Little Kakashi wasn't fun to tease!

He was already ignoring him.

Well... time for a different approach?

Ye Ning thought for a moment, then straightened his posture and, imitating Orochimaru's tone, tempted him:

"Kakashi, do you desire power?"

Kakashi finally reacted, turning his body back around.

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

Did it not sound quite right?

Looking at Kakashi's reaction, Ye Ning knew his imitation wasn't convincing.

Or perhaps, he just lacked the talent for seduction?

When Zabuza said a single word, Haku followed him obediently; when Orochimaru said a single word, Kimimaro became his devoted vessel. How come all he got was a pair of dead-fish eyes?

Ye Ning felt a bit indignant and decided to try a different method.

Lightning Release: Chidori!

A violent burst of electricity erupted in the courtyard, sounding like a thousand birds chirping in unison.

Hah!

I'm using the jutsu you developed yourself to tempt you; I don't believe you won't be moved!

The piercing sound echoed out, immediately drawing the attention of everyone inside the room.

After a brief sensing, the corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled up in a playful smirk.

"It seems Ye Ning-kun is quite attentive to Kakashi."

"Tch, kids will be kids; they really do get along."

Among them, only Hatake Sakumo, who had never seen Chidori before, looked shocked.

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

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

"Such dense chakra..."

Even Sakumo was filled with astonishment at this jutsu, let alone the five-year-old Kakashi.

The moment he saw the Chidori, a fierce longing erupted within Kakashi, as if this ninjutsu had been tailor-made for him by some unseen force.

His pair of perpetually dull, dead-fish eyes finally bloomed with a brilliant radiance.

"Want to learn it?"

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

You little brat, you really thought you could resist me?

A cool and powerful ninjutsu like the Chidori was the perfect bait to lure a child like Kakashi!

Not to mention, this ninjutsu belonged to him in the first place.

No matter how intelligent, precocious, or aloof Kakashi acted, he was fundamentally just a five-year-old child; how could he possibly resist the temptation of the Chidori?

Kakashi jumped down from the tree and nodded honestly.

Ye Ning's smile grew even more smug:

"Then call me Uncle and let me hear it."

You didn't want to call me that, did you? Well, I'm going to make sure you say it!

Upon hearing this, Kakashi's expression immediately turned hesitant.

His heart resisted saying that title from the inside out, but as he watched the Chidori blooming with brilliant light in Ye Ning's hand, his firm resolve began to waver.

This subtle shift naturally could not escape Ye Ning. Knowing that Kakashi had begun to waver, Ye Ning stoked the flames further, tempting him:

"This is an A-rank ninjutsu... Although you can't learn it yet, as long as you call me Uncle, I promise that once you grow up a bit, I will teach it to you. I can even teach you the subsequent techniques of the Chidori as well..."

A-rank ninjutsu...

Subsequent techniques...

Kakashi's young mind was instantly washed over by these highly tempting words, his head echoing with those two phrases.

Soon, Kakashi gritted his teeth and called out clearly and decisively:

"Uncle Ye Ning!"

The expected embarrassment, awkwardness, and shame did not appear in his heart; those words had come out so naturally.

The moment he said it, Kakashi felt a sense of relief.

Now, can I finally learn the Chidori?

Achievement Unlocked: Become Kakashi's Uncle!

Ye Ning curled his lips in satisfaction and controlled the Chidori in his hand to slowly dissipate.

Having made a promise to Kakashi, he naturally wouldn't go back on his word. "Rest assured, once your Hatake Sword Technique reaches a level of proficiency and you are recognized by your father, come find me anytime to learn the Chidori and its subsequent techniques. However, remember to keep calling me Uncle Ye Ning from now on."

"Understood, Uncle Ye Ning."

Kakashi nodded, a sudden, burning desire to practice his swordsmanship filling his heart.

Practice, I'll practice right now!

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

Without another word, Kakashi ran to the center of the courtyard and began practicing the Hatake Sword Technique.

Seeing this, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.

In truth, Kakashi had never been particularly enthusiastic about swordsmanship; he was far more obsessed with the fantasies and desires surrounding ninjutsu. He had even feared that the Hatake Sword Technique might be lost.

He hadn't expected that such a simple bit of baiting from Ye Ning would be enough to reignite Kakashi's interest in practicing the sword.

Kids will be kids, I suppose.

Even he, Hatake Sakumo, couldn't help but feel a sense of longing when seeing a ninjutsu like the Chidori, let alone a five-year-old like Kakashi.