Kakashi: Who dares touch my big brother?

After saying goodbye to Naruto, Shinichi hurried back to the Hatake Clan home.

Unbeknownst to him, a dark figure silently vanished from a corner he had overlooked.

Whoosh.

The Hokage's Office.

An ANBU operative wearing an animal mask knelt on one knee. Standing before him was the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in the Hokage's Haori.

"Is that so?"

The Third Hokage drew in a mouthful of smoke and sighed softly. "So Shinichi approached Naruto today? Did he say anything to Naruto that he shouldn't have?"

"No. He only chased away the children bullying Naruto and took him out for ramen."

The ANBU operative reported everything he had witnessed that day to the Third Hokage, down to the smallest detail.

As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Naruto naturally had his movements closely monitored by the Konoha High Command. In fact, from the moment Naruto became a Jinchūriki, countless ANBU had been watching his every move.

"Understood. You may go."

"Yes, sir."

The ANBU operative vanished from the spot.

The Third Hokage looked at the Smoking Pipe in his hand and sank into thought.

The Hatake Clan, once glorified by the name of Konoha's White Fang, had dwindled to just two remaining members. He knew Kakashi's situation well, too. His spirit had sunk so low that he had now become little more than a numb mission machine.

As for Hatake Shinichi, the Hatake orphan whom Hatake Sakumo had brought back from the battlefield, his talent was mediocre. He had barely managed to become a Chunin at eighteen and posed no threat whatsoever.

It seems he simply acted on a whim.

That was the Third Hokage's conclusion.

With that thought, he could no longer be bothered to concern himself with Shinichi's contact with Naruto.

The Third Hokage knew perfectly well what Naruto's daily life was like. He was certain Shinichi had merely happened to pass by, seen what was happening, and felt compelled to help Naruto.

After all, in his impression, Hatake Shinichi was gentle and kind. Such behavior was entirely understandable.

Although the Third Hokage chose to turn a blind eye, someone else would not necessarily do the same.

Elsewhere, at Root.

"What did you say? That Hatake brat made unauthorized contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Danzo, with one eye wrapped in bandages, wore a grim expression. "And Hiruzen actually chose to stand by and do nothing!"

"What a joke! Jinchūriki have no need for emotions! Once they develop feelings, they become a threat to Konoha's safety! Hiruzen grows more senile by the day. How could he turn a blind eye to this!"

"Absolutely not! Send someone to warn that Hatake brat immediately! He is forbidden from making any further contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo!"

The light of ambition flickered in Danzo's sole remaining eye.

Hiruzen!

I will prove to you that I am the one best suited to become Hokage!

The Hatake Clan home.

[The system has detected Naruto Uzumaki's biological information. Would the host like to extract it?]

"Extract it immediately!"

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Biological information successfully extracted. Talent traits acquired: "Asura's Kindness (purple)," "Nine-Tails Incarnation (purple)," "Talk no Jutsu King (purple)."]

Holy shit! Three purple talent traits!

Was this what it meant to be the protagonist?

Shinichi was genuinely stunned. Apparently, Naruto alone was worth dozens of Kakashis!

[Asura's Kindness (purple): No matter how many times the kindhearted Asura reincarnates, he hopes to stop his elder brother Indra with his own hands, move him with the love in his heart, and create a peaceful world without conflict. Physical attributes +1000%! Recovery +1000%! Chakra +1000%! Bonus: Sage Body!]

[Nine-Tails Incarnation (purple): The Nine-Tailed Fox possesses an extraordinary will. Despite being the tailed beast with the most powerful chakra, he has repeatedly been sealed within Jinchūriki, constantly experiencing humanity's boundless malice. This has given rise to his unique ability. Chakra +1000%! Ninjutsu power +1000%! Bonus: Good and Evil Perception!]

[Talk no Jutsu King (purple): Your talk no jutsu is unparalleled. Anyone who hears your heartfelt words will find themselves unable to resist being persuaded. Unleash your talk no jutsu to your heart's content! You are unquestionably a king of persuasion who can take on the world with words alone. Affinity +3000%! Persuasiveness +3000%!]

"Holy crap!"

Shinichi was stunned all over again.

There was no need to explain what a Sage Body was. Any Naruto fan knew how ridiculously powerful that physique was.

The key was Good and Evil Perception. If he remembered correctly, this talent was precisely the ability Naruto had used during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

It was thanks to Naruto's ability that the Allied Shinobi Forces had easily seen through White Zetsu's disguises. Otherwise, who knew how devastating the casualties inflicted by the White Zetsu army would have been?

[Good and Evil Perception: You possess the wondrous ability to see into hearts, allowing you to sense goodwill and malice in any target.]

"I've really hit the jackpot this time!"

Feeling the tremendous changes coursing through his body, Shinichi couldn't help trembling with excitement.

Even setting aside those two absurdly powerful new abilities, the bonus stats alone were enough to transform him completely!

With talent traits this powerful, as long as he wasn't a lazy slacker content to do nothing, even a little training would surely turn him into an exceptional powerhouse. He might even surpass Konoha's White Fang in his prime!

"Wait!"

As though something had suddenly occurred to him, Shinichi's eyes lit up.

If Naruto alone could give him three whole purple talent traits, what would he get from Uchiha Sasuke?

Probably another three purple talent traits!

So this was the power of having two male leads?

Love it. Absolutely love it!

One of these days, I have to find a chance to pluck a couple of hairs off Sasuke's head!

Shinichi made a mental note.

While Shinichi was still basking in the delight of his new talent traits, two uninvited guests had quietly slipped into the Hatake Clan home.

"Hmm?"

Good and Evil Perception immediately triggered on its own, and Shinichi pinpointed the locations of two sources of malice.

Whoosh.

A moment later, two figures wearing strange masks appeared in the Hatake Clan courtyard.

"Are you Hatake Shinichi?"

Ninja dressed like this belonged either to Konoha's ANBU or to Root.

Whichever they were, Shinichi had no desire whatsoever to welcome them.

"That's me. What do you want?"

Shinichi's expression remained blank.

"We have orders for you."

One of them spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, his tone icy. "From this moment on, you are forbidden from making any further contact with Naruto Uzumaki."

With that cold, rigid tone, they really were from Danzo's Root!

Shinichi sneered inwardly.

That old bastard Danzo really was touchy.

He had only met Naruto once, and the man already couldn't resist sending Root operatives to warn him.

"What if I refuse?"

Shinichi's tone was mocking.

Did they really think he was a pushover?

Even if his system hadn't awakened, he would still have had the courage to defy Root. Now that he had gained all kinds of powerful talent traits through the system, why would he fear an old bastard like Danzo?

After all, even a camel starved to death was still bigger than a horse.

Their Hatake Clan had indeed declined, but it wasn't so weak that anyone could walk all over it.

What now?

You bastards in the Konoha High Command already drove White Fang to his death, and now you want to go after the Hatake Clan too? Are you really going to rip away your last shred of decency and abandon all shame?

Having read the original story thoroughly, Shinichi understood the Third Hokage very well. He was a hypocritical old bastard whose favorite trick was brainwashing people with the Will of Fire. What he valued most was his reputation and prestige as Hokage, so he would never openly fall out with them without good reason. At least, not in public.

"You dare defy Lord Danzo's will? Then you'll have to come with us."

The Root operatives finally decided to make their move.

For people like them, long since brainwashed by Danzo, the belief engraved in their hearts was that no one could defy his will.

"You'd better have what it takes!"

Shinichi sneered.

Although he had no intention of revealing his trump cards yet, they shouldn't forget that he wasn't the Hatake Clan's only member.

"Chidori!"

An unnerving, piercing screech rang out. Amid flashing lightning, a figure descended like an avenging spirit.

It was Kakashi Hatake!

He had already uncovered his other eye, revealing the striking crimson of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan!

No matter how much emotional devastation he had suffered, or how deeply his spirit had sunk, Kakashi would never allow anyone to hurt Shinichi.

After all, Shinichi was his only family left in this world.

And for him, trapped in darkness... the last light before his eyes!

Kakashi's icy words carried a chilling edge of murderous intent. "Who dares touch my big brother! Do you really think there's no one left in the Hatake Clan?"