White Fang's Request

After a lavish dinner, Kakashi gathered up the dishes and went to wash them in the kitchen.

Obito rubbed his full belly and nodded approvingly.

Kakashi's going to make a fine man to come home to someday.

Wonder which woman will get lucky.

...Or man?

Heh, heh, heh.

Just as Obito's imagination was running wild, Sakumo spoke.

"Obito, what kind of person do you think I am?"

Before Obito could answer, a new set of choices appeared before his eyes.

[Option One: Senior White Fang, you're a true hero. We hit it off the moment we met, so why don't we become sworn brothers? Completion reward: one nephew named Kakashi.]

[Option Two: It's hard to say, but if my dad were still alive, I think he'd be as gentle and handsome as you. Completion reward: unlock a follow-up quest.]

Obito stared at the two ridiculous options. Where was he even supposed to start?

If he picked option one, his new nephew would probably stab him to death on the spot... Every thrust straight for a vital point!

As for option two...

...Could I lay it on any thicker?

So I'm picking option two.

...Not because I want the follow-up quest reward. Option one is just too absurd!

Yeah, and potentially fatal.

Obito looked at Sakumo with admiration and spoke in a sincere voice.

"It's hard to say, but if my dad were still alive, I think he'd be as gentle and handsome as you."

Sakumo froze, visibly moved.

He hadn't expected Obito to think so highly of him.

He didn't press further.

After all, comparing him to his father was the highest praise Obito could give.

Kakashi froze in the kitchen too.

Once again, Obito had expanded his understanding of shamelessness.

Sakumo took a deep breath and asked, sounding casual despite how much the answer mattered to him.

"Then what kind of person do you think my son Kakashi is?"

In the kitchen, Kakashi pricked up his ears.

He seemed curious about Obito's answer.

This time, no options appeared before Obito.

After some thought, Obito decided to answer from the heart.

"Kakashi? He's the kind of guy who could be a lifelong friend."

He carries darkness, yet looks toward the light.

He endures pain, yet offers kindness.

Kakashi had a singular charm that made him hard not to like.

Aside from being a bit of a pervert, the guy was practically perfect.

Yeah.

As long as he doesn't stab me through the heart someday or run his hand through my wife's chest.

Then I, Earth Boy, am happy to call him my friend.

Sakumo had a keen eye for people. He could tell Obito meant every word.

He nodded, pleased.

"Obito, you're a good kid. Kakashi is lucky to have a friend like you."

Kakashi gave a disdainful little snort in the kitchen.

But the corners of his mouth lifted of their own accord, and he couldn't force them down.

Even his hands began washing the dishes faster.

Sakumo stood and said with a smile,

"This is our first time meeting. As your elder, I'd like to give you a gift. Wait here a moment."

With that, Sakumo went inside and began searching through his things.

Obito rubbed his hands together, eager to see what Sakumo had in mind.

A little while later, Sakumo returned with a Tachi and handed it to Obito.

"This blade is called Shadow Elegance, named for the long, graceful shadow it casts in sunlight. It's yours now."

Crash!

A ceramic bowl shattered in the kitchen.

A moment later, a small figure rushed out, his face full of shock.

"Father, you're giving Shadow Elegance to this guy?!"

Obito examined the Tachi in his hands.

Judging by Kakashi's reaction, he had no trouble guessing how valuable it was.

He hugged the blade tightly to his chest and gave Sakumo a questioning look.

"Senior White Fang, isn't this gift too valuable?"

Sakumo shook his head and said calmly,

"A blade's true worth depends on the person who wields it."

"This one suits you. Keep it. I only hope you won't let it down."

Kakashi couldn't understand it.

"Father...!"

Sakumo silenced him with a look.

Obito stroked Shadow Elegance, his face alight with joy.

Its blade was neither long nor short. It had a red body etched with intricate patterns.

The more Obito looked at it, the less he wanted to let go.

And whenever he drew or sheathed it, the blade gave a crisp metallic ring.

The sound of a fine blade leaving its sheath, the roar of a sports car, and the sounds girls make...!

No boy can resist those temptations!

Obito carefully put Shadow Elegance away and bowed deeply to Sakumo.

"Thank you, Senior White Fang. I love the gift."

Sakumo nodded slightly and said,

"I'm glad."

He ruffled Kakashi's hair, soothing his still-disgruntled son.

Then he turned to Obito and asked,

"Obito, have you ever studied swordsmanship?"

Obito shook his head and answered honestly,

"No, Senior White Fang. To tell the truth, I've barely had any exposure to it."

I see...

After a moment's thought, Sakumo said,

"Kakashi, go clean up the kitchen. Obito, come with me."

Kakashi went back to the kitchen reluctantly.

Obito followed Sakumo to the Hatake Clan's Training Ground.

Sakumo casually took a sword from a nearby rack, and his whole bearing changed.

The gentleness and calm he'd shown earlier vanished.

Now he was like a blade with its edge laid bare.

His presence was so sharp that Obito hardly dared look at him.

The sheer force of it drove Obito back two or three steps.

Sakumo's gaze deepened. It was as though nothing existed for him beyond the sword.

"Swordsmanship demands a solid foundation. If you want to master it, you must study and practice diligently."

"You've never trained in swordsmanship properly, so today I'll teach you just one move—Iaijutsu."

"If you can grasp even a little of it and practice every day, I believe you'll gain something from it."

At some point, Sakumo's right hand had come to rest on the hilt.

Shing!

The long blade flashed free, its cold gleam slicing through the air as though it might cut the very void apart.

In that moment, Obito could see nothing but that breathtaking stroke.

Holy shit, that was cool!

A long while passed.

By the time Obito came back to his senses, Sakumo had already sheathed his sword and had been watching him with a smile for some time.

"The heart of Iaijutsu is killing with a single stroke."

"You draw and strike without warning, using a burst of speed to end the fight in one move."

"If swordsmanship truly interests you, practice it every day."

After speaking, Sakumo added,

"Of course, it would be even better if you learned the basic forms of swordsmanship as well."

Obito grinned.

"Uncle, that move was amazing. Could you do it again?"

After getting Sakumo to demonstrate it a few more times for free, Obito had more or less grasped the essence of Iaijutsu.

He was too embarrassed to ask Sakumo to keep demonstrating.

He bowed deeply to Sakumo once more, then asked in puzzlement,

"Thank you for the fine blade and the lesson, Senior Sakumo. But why have you...?"

Sakumo put down the sword in his hand. A sorrow that would not fade clouded his eyes.

"Obito, you're a clever child."

"I've run into some trouble lately. If anything should... I mean, if."

"If anything were to happen to me someday, I hope you'll look after Kakashi for me."