Kakashi's Visit

A problem? It couldn't be because of the Rasengan, could it? Thankfully, I was prepared, Zeyu thought.

As expected, Kakashi soon asked Zeyu where he had learned the Rasengan.

"Ah, the Rasengan? I bought a scroll from a street vendor a while back. The Rasengan was recorded on it, so I just followed the instructions. The scroll is still at my house," Zeyu said after a moment of thought.

Phew, it's a good thing I drew it out before I actually learned it. I originally just doodled it as a rough draft for fun, Zeyu thought, watching Kakashi, who was lost in contemplation.

"Er... just like that?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow, finding it hard to believe it was that simple.

"Kakashi-sensei, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading back now," Zeyu said, walking to the side and intending to bypass Kakashi.

Kakashi stood where he was, rubbing his chin in deep thought.

I'm sorry, Kakashi-sensei, but it's not time for you to know yet, Zeyu thought, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly as he walked past him.

Is it really that simple? Something's not right, Kakashi thought. He turned and walked toward the departing Zeyu, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, Zeyu, mind if I come over to your place for a bit?" Kakashi asked with a smile from behind Zeyu.

"Sure, you're welcome to," Zeyu said with a smile.

Can you read minds, Kakashi? I haven't even gone home to tidy up yet. I hope nothing gives me away.

If I refuse, he'll definitely be even more suspicious. Damn it.

Zeyu thought, his heart tightening.

"Then I'll be intruding," Kakashi said, following behind Zeyu as the two headed toward Zeyu's home.

Upon returning home, they exchanged brief introductions and greetings with the others.

"Sato, is this outfit okay? Can you tell it's me?" Mikoto asked. She was wearing a mask, a hat, a scarf, and a heavy coat, bundled up completely.

"Ah, yes, I can't tell at all..." Sato said, his mouth twitching.

With that, the two headed out to purchase ingredients for dinner.

Kakashi followed Zeyu into his room.

Zeyu placed Hinata, whom he had been carrying, onto the bed and sat down on the edge.

Kakashi stood with his hands in his pockets, observing his surroundings.

Zeyu kept stealing glances around his room, terrified that Kakashi might find some trace of evidence.

Just then, a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door.

"Coming!" Zeyu said, walking quickly toward the entrance.

Could it be that Auntie forgot something? Zeyu thought as he opened the door.

The moment it opened, a small, delicate palm struck straight toward Zeyu's stomach. Startled, Zeyu jumped backward, slamming into the wall.

Hanabi stood at the doorway, her Byakugan activated, looking triumphant.

"Heh heh, you stinky redhead, now you know how tough I am!"

"I saw my sister inside! Hand her over right now!"

Good grief, what kind of day is this? Nothing but trouble, Zeyu thought, straightening his posture.

Looking at the little one before him, he felt a surge of irritation.

He smiled slightly and said deliberately, "Oh my, if it isn't Hanabi-chan. Your sister is exhausted from playing with her brother-in-law, so she's sleeping inside. Don't disturb her, or your brother-in-law here will get angry, you hear?"

"What! You dead redhead! You stinky redhead! Say that again if you dare! What did you do to my sister!" Hanabi roared, her face full of fury as she lunged at Zeyu with her palms raised.

Zeyu leaped lightly, vaulting over Hanabi's head before turning and bolting toward the courtyard.

"Don't you run! I'm going to beat you to death today!" Hanabi shouted, consumed by rage, and gave chase immediately.

"Tell me! What did you do to my sister!" Hanabi yelled.

"Well, that's not something a little kid should be asking about, heh heh," Zeyu said with a laugh, dodging Hanabi's attacks.

Hearing this, Hanabi grew even angrier, gritting her teeth as she continued to strike at Zeyu.

The two chased and scuffled throughout the courtyard.

Listening to the commotion outside, Kakashi felt speechless, his expression settling into a deadpan stare.

It looks like Zeyu is in for a rough time, Kakashi thought.

Outside, the argument between the two intensified. Zeyu's room was right next to the courtyard, and the walls began to vibrate slightly.

"Dead redhead! Take this!" Hanabi roared in a fury. Seeing that her Gentle Fist wasn't working, she began attacking wildly.

She launched a flying kick at Zeyu.

"Wow, very impressive, but Hanabi-chan, you need to try harder," Zeyu chuckled, dodging with ease.

Hanabi's foot slammed into the wall, causing a violent tremor.

"Don't you run!" Hanabi shouted, continuing her pursuit.

Just then, a loud "clatter" echoed, drawing Kakashi's attention inside the room.

Kakashi looked toward the source of the sound to see a target lying on the ground, a kunai firmly embedded in it.

Kakashi sighed, stepped forward to pick up the target, and hung it back up casually.

"What a drag. Hm? This is..." Kakashi said, noticing the kunai on the target.

He pulled it out and held it in his hand to examine it closely.

It was just an ordinary kunai, but the handle, wrapped in bandages, bore the four-character inscription "Sword of Shinobi Love."

Looking at these characters, Kakashi was reminded of his teacher, Namikaze Minato, who had once given him a Flying Thunder God kunai; he vaguely remembered the inscription being identical.

"Hey, no way," Kakashi said, breaking into a cold sweat, his face filled with shock as he stared at the kunai in his hand.

"No, this is impossible. I have to confirm this," Kakashi said, staring at the kunai in deep thought before putting Zeyu's kunai away.

He pulled out an ordinary kunai and stuck it back into the target.

Looking at the target, riddled with blade marks, Kakashi thought, "This kid hides his true depth too well; he's not honest at all."

"If I ask him directly, he certainly won't give me a straight answer. I'll have to ask someone else later."

"If this is real... then this kid is truly heaven-defying."

Outside, Hanabi was still chasing Zeyu, gradually growing tired.

Kakashi walked out of the room and into the courtyard, watching Hanabi, who stood panting in place, and Zeyu, who stood opposite her with his hands behind his head, looking indifferent.

"Yo, Zeyu, I just remembered I have something to take care of, so I'll be heading off. I'll come by again next time."

"Oh, sure thing, Kakashi-sensei," Zeyu said, turning his head to look at Kakashi.

"An opening!" Hanabi thought, charging straight at him with her hands outstretched to grab him.

"Heh, got you!" Hanabi laughed.

Just as she was about to grab him, the Zeyu in front of her suddenly vanished from the spot.

A second later, Zeyu appeared behind Hanabi, hooked his hands under her armpits, and lifted her up.

"That's not nice, Hanabi-chan. Your brother-in-law is still talking to someone," Zeyu said with a smile.

"You detestable red-haired jerk! Who said you were my brother-in-law? Put me down!" Hanabi shouted, kicking her legs wildly in the air.

"So fast! He's nothing like a newly graduated genin. This kid..." Thinking this, Kakashi vanished from the spot.

Watching the place where Kakashi had left, Zeyu pondered, "He shouldn't have discovered anything, right..."

Suspended in mid-air, Hanabi realized that no matter how she struggled, it was useless. Her stomach was hungry, her limbs were exhausted from all the movement, and her sister was still with Zeyu. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt.

With a "waa," she burst into tears and stopped struggling.

"Hey, don't cry. I'll put you down right now," Zeyu said, panicking slightly as he quickly set Hanabi on the ground.

Hanabi stood there, hands over her eyes, tears streaming down her face.

"Stop crying, stop crying. I was just teasing you earlier. Your sister is sleeping in the room; shall we go see her?" Zeyu crouched down beside her to coax her.

Suddenly, the crying Hanabi slapped Zeyu on the head, knocking him to the ground.

"Heh, now you know how tough I am," Hanabi said with a smile, her face still tear-streaked and flushed.

Hanabi quickly seized the opportunity to climb onto Zeyu's back, just about to land a punch.

Suddenly, a "grumble" came from her stomach. Hanabi pulled back her fist, pouted, and then looked up and started crying again.

Zeyu, beneath Hanabi, was speechless and let out a sigh.

Zeyu stood up abruptly, causing Hanabi to fall backward. Her crying stopped in surprise, and Zeyu casually grabbed her, tucked her under one arm, and headed toward the house.

"Let me go! You red-haired jerk! What are you doing!" Hanabi shouted, struggling against his waist.

"You're noisy. Aren't you hungry? I'm going to make you something to eat," Zeyu said, flicking Hanabi lightly on the forehead.

Hanabi, who had been struggling, felt her stomach growl again, and she went quiet, ceasing her resistance.

"Hmph, she's like Hinata in that regard, but how is her temper so much worse?" Zeyu thought as he headed to the kitchen.

Passing the dining table, he set Hanabi on a chair, told her which room Hinata was in, and went into the kitchen to get busy.

He expertly tied on an apron and began to cook.

Hanabi went to Zeyu's room and saw Hinata sleeping on the bed, so she hurried over and said, "Wuu wuu wuu, Sister, I finally found you."

Seeing that Hinata didn't react, she shook her arm.

A moment later, Hinata woke up.

"Hanabi? Why are you here? What's wrong?" Hinata asked, looking bewildered at Hanabi, whose eyes were swollen from crying.

"Hanabi-chan, dinner is almost ready~" Zeyu called out from the kitchen, his voice carrying into the room.

Hanabi quickly hugged Hinata tightly and said aggrievedly, "Waaah, Big Sister, that stinky redhead bullied me! Please take revenge for me, Big Sister!"

"Mm, alright, Hanabi. Let's go out and see," Hinata said, taking Hanabi's hand and leading her out of the room.

Just then, Zeyu had finished his task and brought out a plate of egg fried rice, placing it on the table.

The aroma drifted into their noses.

"Wow, it smells so good~" Hanabi whispered. She let go of Hinata's hand, hurried over to sit in a chair, and stared at the steaming egg fried rice before her, drool leaking from the corner of her mouth.

"What are you waiting for? Eat up, but be careful, it's hot," Zeyu said, pulling out a chair to sit nearby.

Hanabi quickly took a bite with her spoon. It was a bit hot, so she opened her mouth and puffed out air, then chewed, her face full of satisfaction as her little feet swung back and forth.

"Slow down, oh my," Zeyu said with a smile, suddenly noticing that Hinata was still standing at the doorway.

"You're awake, Hinata. Come sit over here," Zeyu said, stepping forward to help Hinata over to the table.

"Zeyu-kun... this is..." Hinata said, feeling a bit shy as she glanced at the egg fried rice Hanabi was eating.

Zeyu understood immediately and ran back into the kitchen to scoop out another plate.

"How could I ever forget about you, Hinata? Eat up~" Zeyu said softly, placing a plate of egg fried rice in front of her.

He then took a large container of drink from the refrigerator, which had an interface on it, and poured two glasses to hand to them.

"What is this?" Hanabi asked, her cheeks puffed out as she looked at the glass.

"Red Iced Tea. You can't buy this outside, you know. Try a sip," Zeyu said, sitting to the side with his head propped on his hand, a smile on his face.

Hinata and Hanabi both took a sip at the same time, their faces filled with satisfaction.

"Ah! It's that delicious stuff! Big Sister used to bring it home all the time!" Hanabi exclaimed, her eyes sparkling.

"Thank you, Zeyu-kun," Hinata said, blushing as she held the glass with both hands and nibbled on the rim.

"Don't mention it, we're all family," Zeyu said with a smile.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Xia was at the door pressing the bell, while Hiashi stood waiting with his arms crossed.

Honestly, none of them ever let me have a moment's peace, Hiashi thought.