Kakashi's mother?

The sun hung in the sky. It was noon, and Yui's morning classes were almost over.

Yamada Hideko glanced at the clock and saw that it was nearly lunchtime.

"All right, that's it for today's lesson," Yamada Hideko said slowly. "Before I dismiss you, I'll pick a student at random to answer a question about what we covered today."

At Yamada Hideko's words, all the students who had been sleeping in class woke up.

Who knew whether it was "class is almost over" that had woken them.

Or "I'll pick a student to answer a question."

Now everyone in the classroom was looking at Yamada Hideko.

"Let's draw lots again."

Yamada Hideko pulled a jar out from under the lectern. It was filled with crumpled slips of paper.

As she spoke, she reached into the jar and drew a slip.

"Yui Hyuga..." Yamada Hideko unfolded the slip and read the name with a smile.

"Looks like it's our new student."

Once Yamada Hideko announced the name, everyone in the classroom breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, who wanted to be called on to answer a question?

Then their gazes all turned toward Yui.

Yui froze for a moment when her name was called. Once she understood what was happening, she stood up.

Yamada Hideko nodded at Yui's response.

No dawdling, no refusal.

"When you cast a jutsu, in which direction does chakra flow through the chakra pathways?"

The moment Yamada Hideko asked the question, she regretted it.

This girl belonged to the Hyuga Clan, which possessed the Byakugan. Wouldn't this question be ridiculously easy for her?

But as she considered it, she realized she had gotten ahead of herself.

She gave her forehead a pat.

How silly of me. She's still so young. She probably hasn't awakened her Byakugan yet!

Then she looked at Yui expectantly.

Hearing such an easy question, Yui's lips curled into a small smile.

Isn't this practically handing me the answer?

"Toward the point where the jutsu is being cast, of course."

Yamada Hideko nodded at her answer. It was what she had expected.

"All right, class dismissed," Yamada Hideko said. "Remember to be on time this afternoon."

Only after hearing Yamada Hideko's words did the students look away from Yui's face.

"Yui, you're amazing..." Nai Hyuga gushed beside her.

Yui waved a hand, then planted her hands on her hips. "Hmph... I've already awakened my Byakugan. How could I get something like that wrong?"

Nai Hyuga found that a little hard to believe.

"Yui, have you really awakened your Byakugan already?"

Yui nodded, confirming it once more.

"Wow, Yui, you're incredible..."

Nai Hyuga was generous with her praise.

Aside from herself, Yui seemed to be the first person to awaken the Byakugan at this age.

After packing up their things, the two left the Ninja Academy together.

Neither of them had brought a packed lunch, so they had to eat in the village before their afternoon classes.

Walking down the street, Yui looked around curiously.

Before, she had been stuck at home because she had no one to accompany her.

Now that she had entered the Ninja Academy, she had more free time.

And she would no longer be confined to the Hyuga Branch Family's grounds.

The two walked into a rice ball shop.

"Two rice balls, please. Plain ones are fine."

The shopkeeper was a scruffy, bearded man, but no matter who he dealt with, he always spoke with a smile.

"Coming right up, two plain rice balls." The shopkeeper behind the counter got to work as soon as he finished speaking.

While they waited for him to finish, the two found seats and sat down.

"By the way, Yui, why are you carrying a short sword on your back?" Nai Hyuga asked curiously.

"Oh, this? It isn't mine. It belongs to someone else."

"He left it with me, so I'm just keeping it safe for him."

Nai Hyuga understood. She had been wondering why Yui would carry a sword around when she didn't even know swordsmanship.

The shopkeeper soon brought over two piping-hot rice balls.

"Enjoy, you two!"

"Mmm... it's so good." Yui narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, thoroughly enjoying the feeling of filling up with a single bite.

Nai Hyuga took small bites of her rice ball, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "By the way, Yui, who does that short sword belong to?"

Yui paused, her gaze drifting toward the window. "A white-haired boy. I think he's in our class. His name is Hatake Sakumo or something."

"Hatake Sakumo?" Nai Hyuga was a little puzzled. There were quite a few white-haired boys in their class. Which one did she mean?

While she was thinking, the shop's entrance curtain was abruptly pulled aside, and a white-haired boy walked in, leading a little girl by the hand.

"Two seafood rice balls, please."

When Yui saw who it was, the corner of her eye twitched.

"Speak of the devil..."

"Over here, Hatake Sakumo."

Hatake Sakumo scanned the surrounding tables before his gaze settled on the little girl calling to him.

When he saw Yui, Hatake Sakumo led the little girl beside him toward her.

The little girl he was holding by the hand was a bit confused.

Didn't Sakumo say he barely knew that girl?

"Come on, sit down."

At that, Hatake Sakumo pulled the reluctant little girl into a seat across the table.

"Yui, are you here for rice balls too?"

"Yes, we are," Yui answered, handing his sword over as she spoke.

"Here's your sword. Don't leave it lying around again. Next time, no one will keep it safe for you."

At the sight of the sword in Yui's hand, the little girl across from her looked incredulous.

"Sakumo, that's your Hatake Clan's greatest treasure! How could you leave it with a stranger so casually?"

The little girl spoke indignantly.

Hatake Sakumo merely smiled in response.

"Oh, this is Sako. The two of us are childhood friends."

Listening to Hatake Sakumo's introduction, Yui's curiosity about their relationship flared. Could she be Kakashi's mother?

The original story didn't seem to mention Kakashi's mother.

Seeing that Hatake Sakumo wasn't taking the sword, Sako grew anxious.

But she didn't dare take it herself. It was Hatake Sakumo's sword, after all, and she had no reason to accept it on his behalf.

"Thank you for keeping it safe all this time, Miss Yui," Hatake Sakumo said gratefully.

He did feel grateful that she had looked after the sword for him all this time.

Given the circumstances back then, she had had no reason to keep it safe for him.

She could even have kept it for herself, and he wouldn't have said anything.