Give him to me!

Just as Sōkyū Hatake took the clothes, Kakashi Hatake climbed back in through the window from outside and caught sight of the scene.

"Father's funeral is this afternoon. I don't have any black clothes," Sōkyū Hatake said flatly, looking at Kakashi Hatake before him.

"Well... go ahead and take them." Sōkyū Hatake's words stopped Kakashi Hatake short, leaving him at a loss for how to respond.

His younger brother had no suitable clothes. With only the two brothers left at home, he ought to have taken the initiative to shoulder the family's burdens.

But these past few days, Kakashi had stayed out until late at night. By the time he returned, Sōkyū Hatake was usually already asleep, but there would be some food left for him on the dining table.

At the thought, Kakashi felt a little ashamed.

Was he... actually the one being looked after?

Thinking of this, Kakashi felt a twinge of guilt. He did not even know whether his younger brother had suitable clothes. To him, that was a serious failure in his duties.

"Mm-hmm." With that, Sōkyū Hatake took the clothes and made to leave.

"Sōkyū." Just as Sōkyū Hatake was about to leave, Kakashi suddenly called out to stop him.

"What is it?" Sōkyū Hatake stopped and turned to look at Kakashi.

"Nothing. Go try on the clothes first." Kakashi fell somewhat silent, but still let Sōkyū Hatake leave first.

After Sōkyū Hatake left, Kakashi walked alone to his desk, where several framed photographs stood.

The first was a photograph of his parents holding him. In the second, his mother held Sōkyū Hatake, while Sakumo Hatake and he both wore calm expressions.

Looking at the two photographs, Kakashi felt a little lost.

His parents had both passed away. Only he and Sōkyū Hatake remained in this world.

"Father, Mother, I'll take good care of Sōkyū from now on." Only after staring at the photographs for a long time did Kakashi walk over to the dining table and look at the lunch Sōkyū Hatake had left for him.

Tap, tap, tap.

"Hiruzen! Did you go to White Fang's house at noon?" Shimura Danzō flung open the Hokage Office door and approached Hiruzen Sarutobi, his cane thudding against the floor.

"Yes. I went to see that child." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not look up and continued handling some official business.

The pipe clenched at the corner of his mouth bobbed, and the thick smoke almost seemed to envelop the entire Hokage Office.

"Hand Kakashi over to me. I can turn him into someone loyal to Konoha!" Shimura Danzō declared solemnly.

"Impossible. I've already put him on the Anbu's evaluation list." Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand paused over his paperwork, and he looked up at Shimura Danzō.

He knew Shimura Danzō's aim, and naturally would not let him take the boy away so easily.

"Things have already come to this with Konoha White Fang, all because you're usually far too soft in how you act. If this continues, the remaining members of the Hatake Clan will surely harbor thoughts of rebellion! Only I can turn them into people who truly benefit Konoha!"

Shimura Danzō slammed his cane against the floor. He would not give up just because of a few words from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After all, Kakashi Hatake's aptitude was exceptional. He had graduated from the Ninja Academy at five and advanced to Chunin at six, making him an outstanding record holder even across all of Konoha.

This alone clearly showed just how great Kakashi Hatake's aptitude was.

"I told you, Kakashi is already on my evaluation list. And another thing-didn't you go too far with Sakumo? Don't think I don't know what you did."

The pressure emanating from Hiruzen Sarutobi surged in an instant. He was giving Shimura Danzō a warning.

I know everything you did regarding White Fang.

"Hmph! You clearly knew about this too!" Shimura Danzō was displeased. Aren't you saying that just to prove his affair had nothing to do with you?

"In any case, it's out of the question." Hiruzen Sarutobi flatly rejected Shimura Danzō's request.

"Then give me the Hatake Clan's second son, Sōkyū Hatake!" Shimura Danzō would not admit defeat so easily. If he could not get Kakashi, getting Sōkyū Hatake was not a bad idea either.

After all, the Hatake Clan was a powerful major clan, especially during the Warring States period, though it still fell short of exceptionally powerful clans such as the Uchiha Clan, the Senju Clan, and the Hyuga Clan.

But the Hatake Clan was every bit a match for his Shimura Clan and Hiruzen Sarutobi's Sarutobi Clan.

Although the Hatake Clan now had few members, its swordsmanship remained formidable.

"Sōkyū is a good child. I just met him today. White Fang's affair has nothing to do with him, and he knows nothing of White Fang's secrets. He is someone who carries the will of fire in his heart!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted. He knew his old friend Shimura Danzō would not give up so easily, so he naturally needed to take precautions.

In particular, Root was now as tightly sealed as an iron barrel. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself had very few pawns planted within it.

"You won't give me either of them? Hiruzen Sarutobi! Is that your decision?" Shimura Danzō was getting angry. What was wrong with Hiruzen Sarutobi today?

"Yes. I won't give you either of them. Of course, if you have your own means, I won't interfere too much," Hiruzen Sarutobi said mildly. He knew Shimura Danzō would definitely approach them in private.

He could not stop him from doing that, so he might as well offer him a favorable answer openly.

"Hmph! You'll regret this!" Shimura Danzō knew Hiruzen Sarutobi was giving him a way to back down. He snorted and left.

Shimura Danzō: Hiruzen!

Hiruzen Sarutobi: What?

Shimura Danzō: The boys!

Hiruzen Sarutobi: No!

Shimura Danzō: Why!

Hiruzen Sarutobi: Hokage!

Shimura Danzō: Regret!

Yes, their conversation could be simplified like this. Those few brief lines could be drawn out over three episodes.

After Shimura Danzō left, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked down at the paperwork in his hands again.

It was a team assignment roster. Ever since Kakashi graduated, he had sparked arguments in every team he joined, so he had always been excluded from the teams.

After his promotion to Chunin, Kakashi had remained without a team. But now that Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to put him to use, he would certainly have to make new arrangements.

A breeze blew past, making the papers in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands flutter and revealing a young man with golden hair among them...