Take care, Orochimaru... sensei

"No, no, Orochimaru, there's nothing about me worth your interest. After all... I'm just a four-year-old child." Sōkyū Hatake picked up the teacup beside him and looked at Orochimaru with a very innocent gaze.

"Yes, yes. Then, for telling me all this... what do I need to give in return?" Orochimaru watched Sōkyū Hatake with those yellow, serpentine eyes.

"I want you to take me as your apprentice," Sōkyū Hatake said outright, as though he had decided this long ago.

"Take you as my apprentice?" Orochimaru's interest stirred. He could not see through Sōkyū Hatake, but many of the things Sōkyū Hatake had brought up held considerable appeal for him.

"Yes, but taking me as your apprentice won't be a simple matter. For example... you'll have to help shield me from that person's threats," Sōkyū Hatake said bluntly.

"Shimura Danzō, correct?" Orochimaru did not beat around the bush, directly speaking the name on Sōkyū Hatake's mind.

"Of course. That has to be a prerequisite. I have no intention of becoming a member of Root under Shimura Danzō," Sōkyū Hatake said calmly, as though this matter was the most pressing one.

"That... I agree. But you must promise me something too. If I ever need you in the future, you must be there." Orochimaru was not someone Sōkyū Hatake could so easily talk around.

"Naturally," Sōkyū Hatake answered directly.

"Then, until next time, Sōkū-kun. I hope you'll bring me an even greater surprise when we next meet." With that, Orochimaru stood up. He already could not wait to try what Sōkyū Hatake had described.

"Take care, Orochimaru... sensei," Sōkyū Hatake said.

At the words "Orochimaru-sensei," Orochimaru merely paused for a moment, making no other move.

Orochimaru-sensei, huh...

Orochimaru gave a self-mocking smile. How long had it been since anyone had called him that, ever since Senju Nawaki died? Ah, no, there's still Anko-chan~

After Orochimaru left, Sōkyū Hatake felt his back. It was completely drenched.

At the very least, Sōkyū Hatake had kept his body tense the entire time he was in Orochimaru's presence.

Still, judging by how things stood, everything was moving in a good direction...

Once Orochimaru was gone, Sōkyū Hatake let out a soft breath, stood up, and went to the training ground.

Although he had already finished his daily tasks, in this Naruto world full of danger at every turn, Sōkyū Hatake still felt that a little more training could never hurt.

Upon reaching the training ground, Sōkyū Hatake did not pick up his blade. Instead, he began some simple physical training.

He was only four years old. He still understood that haste made waste.

He just needed to do his own part well.

"One! Two! Three!" Sōkyū Hatake began doing push-ups. Since he had finished the system's daily tasks, he would put in extra training.

Soon, as Sōkyū Hatake trained, time ticked by.

"Sōkū, why are you covered in sweat?" Sōkyū Hatake had just finished training when Kakashi, who had just come through the door, spotted him.

His younger brother seemed to have become a little different since waking up.

"I did some training. You're back early today?" Sōkyū Hatake said casually, checking the time. It was not even dark yet, and Kakashi was already back?

"Something came up today." Kakashi fell silent for a moment, then walked into the living room and sat in the spot Hatake Sakumo used to favor.

"What happened?" Sōkyū Hatake looked at Kakashi in puzzlement. He remembered that Minato Namikaze seemed to have called Kakashi away earlier.

It seemed that, on Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders, Minato Namikaze had taken Kakashi into his Team Minato.

"I joined Minato-sensei's team," Kakashi said after a moment of silence. He still felt he needed to tell Sōkyū Hatake.

"That's pretty good. But with your personality, your teammates...?" Although Sōkyū Hatake knew who Kakashi's teammates were, he still put on an act.

"What's with that look? Never mind. My teammates are my classmates, Obito Uchiha and Rin Nohara," Kakashi said directly.

"Oh, your little girlfriend?" Sōkyū Hatake teased outright. Although he did not know whether Kakashi had any feelings for Rin Nohara in the original story, a little teasing could not hurt.

"Ahem, there's nothing between us." Sōkyū Hatake did not know whether he was imagining it, but Kakashi seemed a little... bashful?

"Yes, yes, there's nothing between you. I'll go make dinner." Sōkyū Hatake stood up and went into the kitchen, where he began deftly preparing dinner for the two of them.

Watching Sōkyū Hatake work in the kitchen, Kakashi suddenly made a decision.

I'll make sure to protect my little brother!

In a dim room, Shimura Danzō leaned on his cane and looked out the window, while a Root ninja knelt on the floor.

"You're saying... Sōkyū Hatake made contact with Orochimaru?" Shimura Danzō's emotionless voice suddenly rang out, making the kneeling Root ninja tremble a little.

"Yes. After the Konoha White Fang's funeral, I followed Sōkyū Hatake, intending to bring him to Root. But unexpectedly, Lord Orochimaru appeared first. He also seemed to notice us and went straight to the Hatake Clan Compound with Sōkyū Hatake."

The Root ninja answered. Although this did not count as a particularly serious dereliction of duty, the mission had ultimately failed.

"It's only natural that Orochimaru noticed you. Even now, I don't know just how far his strength has progressed..." Shimura Danzō said, enunciating every word.

There was just one thing he did not understand: why was there a connection between Orochimaru and Sōkyū Hatake?

Could it be...

Damn Hiruzen. Hiruzen Sarutobi must have sent his apprentice Orochimaru to approach Sōkyū Hatake ahead of time to keep me from making contact with him.

This was no good thing for Danzo.

"Lord Danzo, should we continue the mission now?" the Root ninja asked.

"Stand down for now. I'll personally approach this so-called... Sōkyū Hatake," Danzo said slowly, turning his gaze out the window.

"Hiruzen~ You're still too softhearted. Only I can lead Konoha toward a stronger future..."