Itachi, Shall We Pick Up the Kid Together?

Kakashi spread his hands helplessly. These Hannya Group members were truly stupid. Since the two of them had dared to show themselves so openly, they must have made thorough preparations.

"It's a soundproof barrier! Everyone, be careful. There may be other Konoha ninja nearby. Deal with these two first!"

"Just as I thought, Konoha has been harboring ill intentions toward us. Good thing we were prepared too! Didn't expect that, did you?" the Hannya Group members sneered.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. Have some shame, will you? Who was it that planned to rob us in the first place?

Kakashi and Itachi drew their blades and met the charging Hannya Group.

Neither of them made a single unnecessary movement. They harvested life after life with precise strikes, their sweeping blades and shifting footsteps carrying a strange, beautiful rhythm.

Like a silent pantomime, one actor after another quietly fell, becoming corpses.

After wiping the blood from White Fang, Kakashi carefully sheathed his blade.

Looking at Itachi Uchiha in the distance, Kakashi walked over and patted his shoulder. "Well done."

Itachi Uchiha had held it in all the way, but he finally could not resist asking the question in his heart.

"Why are you called the Companion Killer? They say you were willing to sacrifice your own comrades to complete a mission."

But I don't think you're that kind of person... Itachi did not speak the latter half aloud.

"Heh. My comrades chose to die by my hand in order to protect the village and protect me."

Kakashi withdrew his hand, chose a sturdy corpse to sit on, and slowly closed his eyes.

"After that, I washed my hands every day without stopping, but it seemed I could never wash away the blood staining them."

When he opened his eyes again, Kakashi pointed at his Sharingan. "The guy who gave me this eye once said something."

"Ninja who abandon their missions are called trash, but those who do not cherish their comrades are worse than trash."

"I understand..."

Itachi nodded. Seeing the pain on Kakashi's face, he hesitated for a moment before placing a hand on Kakashi's shoulder and giving it a gentle pat.

Kakashi looked at Itachi in surprise, but Itachi had already swiftly withdrawn his hand, as though nothing had happened.

"Then have you ever felt conflicted because of the Sharingan? Do you think that, in some sense, you belong to the Uchiha Clan?" Itachi asked again.

Kakashi smiled. "Well, honestly, I've never really thought about that. But I think the bond between me and the Uchiha Clan is something I won't be able to untangle for the rest of my life."

Impossible to untangle... Itachi fell silent once more.

At the foot of the mountain, Guy had already discovered the Hannya Group's scheme. The scroll they had handed him was actually an explosive tag!

Guy kicked the scroll away and roared, "You people have no martial honor at all!"

"Heh, you Konoha idiots. We never planned to cooperate with you from the beginning!"

"Hannya Group, attack!"

After the leader of the Hannya Group shouted, she received no response. The Ki atmosphere became awkward for a moment.

Looking at the baffled Guy across from her, she cleared her throat and shouted even louder, "Hannya Group, attack!"

Yet there was still no movement from the mountain.

Guy had already crossed his arms, silently watching the woman's performance.

"Thud."

Kakashi and Itachi landed lightly behind the woman and the other two Hannya Group members. Then they swept past with their blades and walked up to Guy.

The three Hannya Group members still wore looks of disbelief as they slowly collapsed. Even in death, they did not understand where their reinforcements had gone.

"Kakashi, why did you kill them all?!" Guy asked in shock.

Kakashi rubbed his forehead. "Idiot, how can you call an ANBU member by name while he's on a mission?"

"The Hannya Group betrayed Konoha. My mission was to execute every last one of them. Now that both our missions are complete, let's head back together."

Guy found Kakashi's indifference difficult to accept.

"Even so, you shouldn't have killed them all! Those were three living lives!"

Good thing you didn't see all the corpses up on the mountain, or you'd have gone crazy.

"You're too naive, Guy."

"If we let them go back, they might harm my fellow Konoha villagers. Which do you think is more important?"

Guy said solemnly, "Even if I can't argue against you, what you did was wrong, Kakashi."

Their beliefs differed, and in the end, they parted on bad terms.

After returning to the village, Kakashi and Itachi went to the ANBU, returned their equipment, and changed into casual clothes.

"Want to have dinner together tonight, Itachi?" Kakashi asked. He was still thinking about hot pot.

Itachi Uchiha smiled apologetically. "Sorry, Lord Kakashi, I have something to do tonight..."

After hesitating, Itachi decided to explain the reason to Kakashi. "My younger brother is about to get out of school. I promised I'd pick him up and take him home once my mission was done."

Ah... Kakashi fell into thought. Come to think of it, Naruto had probably never experienced someone picking him up from school, had he?

Why not let him experience what it felt like to have someone take him home today?

"Hmm, how about we go together? I happen to be picking up a little guy too."

Itachi tilted his head and thought for a moment before readily agreeing.

Itachi was a man of few words. As they walked toward the Ninja Academy, he remained quiet the entire way.

When they reached the school gates, little ones ran out one after another, bursting with energy after school.

Kakashi spotted many familiar faces among the crowd and could not help smiling. These were all Konoha's future.

"Big brother!" A clear young voice called out.

A little boy in dark blue clothes came running over and plunged straight into Itachi's arms.

Itachi affectionately ruffled Sasuke's head, then looked at Kakashi beside him. "Lord Kakashi, this is my younger brother, Sasuke."

"Sasuke, say hello to Lord Kakashi."

Only then did little Sasuke notice someone beside his brother. With a slight Kurenai flush, he pulled away from Itachi and gave Kakashi a small bow.

"Hello, Lord Kakashi."

So cute. Kakashi crouched down and pinched Sasuke's soft, plump cheek, leaving the little boy looking thoroughly displeased.

"Ahem..."

Realizing that he had made the little boy unhappy, Kakashi thought for a moment, pulled a kunai from his clothes, and handed it to Sasuke.

"Nice to meet you. Consider this kunai a gift for you," Kakashi said.

Little Sasuke looked at the kunai before him, tempted, but he still turned back to look at Itachi.

"Big brother, can I have it?"

Itachi smiled and nodded at Sasuke, his impression of Kakashi improving even further.

A little brother fanatic needed nothing else. As long as you treated his little brother well, he would like you.