Ever since Might Guy joined them as an "unexpected bonus," Senju Chen's training squad had grown increasingly lively.
Guy's enthusiasm was like a fire that would never go out. Every day, he shouted about "youth" and "hot blood" in his booming voice, trying to set everything around him ablaze.
Kakashi met this with his usual indifference and disregard, but Senju Chen could feel that his tense, unapproachable aura had quietly softened considerably under Guy's indiscriminate bombardment of enthusiasm.
At least now, when faced with Guy's challenges, Kakashi had gone from ignoring him completely to frowning impatiently, occasionally even squeezing out a "boring" through gritted teeth.
To Senju Chen, this qualified as a tremendous leap forward.
As for himself, he was happy to get along with both of these geniuses with their vastly different personalities.
He would earnestly discuss "how to expend the sweat of youth more efficiently" with Guy, then turn around and coax Kakashi into speaking with topics like, "Kakashi, that move Guy just used looked pretty interesting, but it had too many openings, don't you think?"
Within this peculiar atmosphere, he deftly maintained and strengthened the relationship between the three of them.
It was the weekend, and there were no classes at the Ninja Academy.
Early that morning, Senju Chen changed into short clothes that were easy to move in, said goodbye to Tsunade and Shizune, and headed off in a familiar direction through Konoha.
He did not go to the training ground that day.
His destination was the Hatake Clan's residence.
It was a place that was not even specially marked on Konoha's map. Neither ostentatious like the Uchiha Clan Compound nor imposing like the Hyuga Main Family's residence, the Hatake Clan's house sat quietly in a rather secluded corner of the village.
The low courtyard wall was built from plain gray stone, and a simple wooden gate stood ajar.
Standing at the entrance, Senju Chen could even smell the faint, clean scent of soapberry drifting from the courtyard, along with a... cold metallic scent that only a carefully maintained blade would have.
He straightened his collar, and the thoughtful expression on his face instantly vanished, replaced by the slightly timid politeness unique to a child.
He reached out with his small hand and gently knocked three times on the wooden gate.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The sound was especially clear in the quiet alley.
A moment later, steady footsteps approached from behind the gate, neither hurried nor slow.
"Creak-"
The wooden gate was pulled open from within.
It was not Kakashi who opened it.
It was an adult man.
He wore a simple gray house kimono and stood tall and straight, with short silver-white hair just like Kakashi's, though his hair bore a few traces of weathering. His face held little expression, but his eyes were entirely different from Kakashi's sharp gaze.
They were... gentle, tranquil eyes, like a deep sea that had fallen still after weathering a storm.
Yet beneath that calm, Senju Chen sensed an edge capable of cutting through anything. That edge was perfectly concealed within a sheath called "gentleness," but it had not dulled in the slightest.
Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo.
That name exploded in Senju Chen's mind.
The man before him was completely unlike the legend he had imagined, whose name resounded throughout the Shinobi World and struck terror into his enemies. He had not a trace of killing intent and looked more like a gentle father from next door.
Yet this was the very man who had single-handedly upheld Konoha's prestige after the Second Shinobi World War.
He was also the man who, in the near future, would be driven to his death over a foolish mission by the rumors of the village he had risked his life to protect.
Senju Chen tilted his head up to look at Hatake Sakumo, his heart filled with conflicting feelings.
There was excitement at meeting a legendary figure and regret over his tragic future, but more than anything, there was utterly cold calculation.
He's the one...
Kakashi's eternal heartache, and the shackles he would never escape for the rest of his life.
If I save him, I can get a new skill slot, along with... the gratitude of a top-tier fighter, Konoha's White Fang.
The return on this investment is astonishingly high.
While turmoil surged within Senju Chen, a trace of awkwardness and nervousness at meeting an unfamiliar adult appeared on his face at just the right moment.
"H-hello, sir." He bowed slightly, his voice soft. "I... I'm looking for Kakashi. We agreed to practice together."
Hatake Sakumo's gaze fell on the tiny figure before him.
The Senju Clan's orphan, Princess Tsunade's younger brother.
From Kakashi's pitifully few words, he had already pieced together a rough picture of this child.
A "peer" whom his genius son had, for the first time, mentioned of his own accord.
"You must be Chen-kun." Sakumo's voice was gentle, carrying a reassuring strength. He stepped aside, clearing the entrance. "Kakashi is in the backyard. Come in."
"Thank you, sir." Senju Chen thanked him politely and walked into the courtyard with small steps.
The courtyard was not large, but it was meticulously maintained. There was a small patch of gravel carefully raked into patterns, a sturdy pine growing in a corner, and a string of rustic wind chimes hanging beneath the eaves.
The entire courtyard possessed the simple, austere beauty of a samurai household.
"Kakashi!" Sakumo called toward the backyard. "Your friend is here."
Soon, Kakashi appeared around the corner of the house. When he saw Senju Chen standing in the courtyard, surprise and... barely perceptible panic clearly flashed through the eye visible above his mask.
"How did you find this place?" Kakashi strode over, his tone somewhat accusatory, like a small beast whose territory had been invaded.
"I asked a teacher at school." Senju Chen blinked his large, innocent eyes and answered with complete confidence. "Didn't we agree to practice together today? I waited at the training ground, but you never came."
"I..." Kakashi was momentarily at a loss for words.
He really had not planned to go. On weekends, he preferred being alone.
Watching the two children interact, Hatake Sakumo gave a faint smile.
"Kakashi, be more polite to your friend," he said. "Since Chen-kun is already here, be a good host."
"...Yes, Father." Kakashi was particularly obedient before his father. He answered quietly, then reluctantly said to Senju Chen, "Come in."
Having achieved his goal, Senju Chen obediently followed Kakashi into the house.
The furnishings inside were equally simple. There were neat tatami mats and a piece of calligraphy bearing the character for "endurance" on the wall. Aside from those, the most eye-catching thing was a sword stand set against the wall.
A short sword rested horizontally on the stand.
Its sheath was plain white, and dark cloth strips were wrapped around the hilt, without any unnecessary decoration.
Yet Senju Chen's gaze was fixed firmly on that sword, as though drawn by a magnet.
White Fang.
The legendary chakra short sword that had blazed with boundless light on the battlefield and brought countless powerful foes to bitter ends.
Now, it simply rested there quietly, like a slumbering beast that had retracted all its claws and fangs.
"Don't look around." Noticing his gaze, Kakashi gave him a cold warning.
"Oh." Senju Chen looked away, secretly chuckling.
What an awkward guy.
Just then, Hatake Sakumo entered with two cups of hot tea and set one on the low table in front of Senju Chen.
"Have some. The weather is still a little chilly."
"Thank you, sir."
Senju Chen held the teacup and took small sips, as well-behaved as a cat.
Sakumo sat beside Kakashi and looked gently at Senju Chen, asking with apparent casualness, "I heard from Kakashi that you have some very unique insights into taijutsu and swordsmanship, Chen-kun?"
Kakashi's body instantly stiffened.
Senju Chen's heart lurched, but just the right amount of confusion appeared on his face. "Huh? No... I just think Kakashi is really good and want to learn from him."
As he spoke, he looked to Kakashi for confirmation, his eyes perfectly clear, as though saying, When did I ever say anything like that?
Kakashi: "..."
Of course he had never said that.
But how did Father know?
"Is that so?" Sakumo smiled, his worldly eyes seeming able to see through any disguise. "Kakashi is a solitary child. This is the first time I've heard him mention a friend's name. Chen-kun, sorry for the trouble, but please get along with him from now on."
Those words were both a request to Senju Chen and a reminder to Kakashi.
"Yes! I will!" Senju Chen nodded firmly, a radiant smile spreading across his face. "Kakashi might look really cold, but he's actually a very nice person! He's taught me lots of things!"
Those words made the tips of Kakashi's ears redden once again. He abruptly stood up.
"If you're done talking, let's go! Time to train!"
With that, he headed out without looking back, his steps slightly hurried.
Senju Chen quickly set down his teacup and bowed to Sakumo. "Sir, we'll be going now!"
"Go ahead." Sakumo nodded with a smile.
As he watched the two small figures disappear through the doorway, the smile on Hatake Sakumo's face slowly faded.
He picked up the cup of tea Kakashi had not touched and took a gentle sip, his gaze returning to the doorway, his eyes growing deep and contemplative.
The Senju Clan's bloodline... truly extraordinary.
That child had not shown the slightest flaw from the moment he entered. His every word and gesture had been exactly what one would expect of a five-year-old.
But... those eyes.
When he saw the White Fang short sword, what flashed through them for that instant was neither a child's curiosity nor awe, but something... scrutinizing, assessing, even... burning.
That was hardly the gaze of a five-year-old child.
Princess Tsunade's younger brother... the Senju Clan's orphan, huh?
Still, even with Kakashi's personality, he has finally made a friend.
Hatake Sakumo cast an appraising gaze toward the backyard, but the corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously.