Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 24 - A Happy Kakashi

"Starting tomorrow, Kazane, come here every afternoon for training. I will make sure to turn you into an outstanding ninja."

Orochimaru's voice carried a rare hint of enthusiasm. The prospect of nurturing another formidable shinobi—and potentially developing a new forbidden technique in the process—was enough to stir his interest.

He had long abandoned conventional teaching methods. For Orochimaru, true talent was not cultivated through simple drills or lectures but through carefully engineered transformations. Kazane had already proven himself to be a subject worth investing in, and now, all that remained was to push him beyond his limits.

As Kazane left, Orochimaru lingered in the dimly lit laboratory, his golden eyes gleaming as he examined the samples of tissue Kazane had unknowingly left behind.

Every promising subject left something behind, after all.

---

Konohagakure

Hatake Residence

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the quiet courtyard of the Hatake residence. A light breeze stirred the branches of the old willow tree, its leaves rustling softly in the evening air. The tranquility of the moment contrasted starkly with the turmoil Kazane had carried for the past few months.

It had been three months since he last set foot in his home.

At first, he had kept his distance to avoid Yūhi Shinku, uncertain of how to face her after everything that had happened. Then, he had begun avoiding Kakashi as well, knowing full well that his younger brother would not take kindly to his sudden disappearance. But running away forever wasn't an option.

So today, he had decided to return.

To make peace with Kakashi—or at least, to soften the inevitable confrontation—he had prepared an entire feast of his younger brother's favorite dishes. If there was one thing Kakashi could never resist, it was a well-cooked meal.

Kazane hadn't come alone, either. He had invited Kurenai Yūhi over, hoping that Kakashi's sense of decorum would prevent him from making a scene in front of their childhood friend.

If all went well, he would get through tonight without any issues. And knowing Kakashi, once the initial tension passed, everything would eventually return to normal.

The scent of sizzling food filled the air as Kazane worked in the kitchen. With Kurenai assisting him, the table was soon laid with an array of carefully prepared dishes.

Now, all that remained was to wait.

---

A shadow moved swiftly over the eastern wall of the Hatake estate.

With practiced ease, Kakashi landed silently in the courtyard. Even now, he still preferred jumping over walls rather than using the front entrance, a habit he had never quite grown out of.

As soon as he touched the ground, the rich aroma of food reached him.

He recognized it immediately.

Kazane was back.

Kakashi's hands clenched into fists at his sides.

Did his older brother really think he could just waltz back in after three months in which Kurenai's father had come multiple times and make everything better with a meal?

Not a chance.

This wasn't something that could be forgiven so easily. He was angry. He was very angry. And the consequences were going to be severe.

Or at least, that was what he told himself.

With a scowl, Kakashi stormed toward the house, ready to confront Kazane—only to stop short the moment he pushed the door open.

"Eh? Kurenai, why are you here?"

Seated at the table, Kurenai looked up with a smile. Across from her, Kazane was pouring tea as if nothing were amiss.

Kakashi hesitated, his irritation faltering.

Kazane had anticipated this.

Despite Kurenai having been their friend for years, ever since their father's death, Kakashi had taken on the weight of the Hatake name, determined to uphold their family's reputation. With an outsider present, he wouldn't cause a scene. He would act as if nothing was wrong.

It was an old trick. A simple one. But it worked.

Kakashi's eyes flickered toward the table.

There was an undeniable effort put into the meal—his favorite dishes were all there, meticulously prepared. Even if he wanted to remain angry, the sight of the food made it difficult.

He exhaled sharply.

"Kakashi, come sit down," Kurenai said warmly. "Kazane and I prepared all this food just for you."

Kakashi didn't respond right away. Instead, he studied Kazane, trying to gauge his older brother's intentions.

Was this just a way to pacify him? Or was it something more?

Kazane met his gaze evenly, a silent challenge in his expression.

The tension in the air lingered for a moment longer before Kakashi finally gave in.

Wordlessly, he sat down.

Of course, he wasn't going to make it easy. He refused to touch anything that Kazane had personally cooked, instead picking at the side dishes that Kurenai had helped prepare. It was his silent act of protest, a small way to show he wasn't going to forgive his brother so easily.

But as he ate, his resolve weakened. The food was too good.

Kazane hid a smirk, sensing the shift in mood. The worst of the storm had passed.

"Kakashi, is it true that Orochimaru-sama took Kazane as his disciple?" Kurenai asked curiously as she passed another dish to Kazane. "He always seems so intimidating."

"Orochimaru-sensei is actually quite kind. You shouldn't judge him by his appearance. He's a warm person on the inside. He's taught me a lot these past few months."

Kakashi nearly choked on his food.

Kind? Orochimaru?

He shot Kazane a look of disbelief, but his older brother simply smiled, clearly entertained by the reaction.

In truth, most of Konoha likely shared Kurenai's view. Orochimaru's reputation was one of cold calculation and eerie detachment. But the reality was more complicated. If the village did not support him, how could he possibly compete with Minato Namikaze for the title of Fourth Hokage?

Right now, Kazane and Orochimaru had aligned goals. If Orochimaru succeeded, Kazane's future would be secured as well.

Kakashi remained skeptical, but he said nothing more on the matter.

Instead, the conversation shifted.

Kazane shared some of his experiences from the past few months, careful not to reveal too much about his training. Kakashi, despite his initial irritation, found himself relaxing, recounting his own missions under Minato's guidance—including a few exasperated tales about Obito Uchiha's antics.

For the first time in a long while, the Hatake residence was filled with warmth and laughter.

Outside the Yūhi Residence

The night air carried the scent of damp earth, the remnants of the day's warmth lingering as Kazane walked Kurenai home. The village streets had long quieted, the usual bustle of the day replaced by the occasional flicker of lantern light from behind shuttered windows.

Kurenai walked beside him, her presence as familiar as the rhythmic tap of their footsteps against the stone path. Though neither spoke, the comfortable silence between them carried an unspoken understanding.

As they approached the Yūhi residence, Kazane noticed the figure standing just outside the doorway.

Yūhi Makoto.

Kurenai's father stood with his arms crossed, his sharp gaze fixed on them.

Even in the dim light, Kazane could see the moment Makoto's eyes flickered to their intertwined hands. A split second later, crimson flared in his irises—the unmistakable glow of a veteran shinobi activating his dōjutsu.

Kazane barely had time to react.

The older man's body tensed, then lunged forward with alarming speed.

Too fast.

A sharp instinct flared in Kazane's mind, years of training kicking in at the last second. Without hesitation, he let go of Kurenai's hand, flashing her an apologetic look before disappearing in a blur of motion.

The Body Flicker Technique carried him away just as Makoto's strike sliced through empty air.

Kurenai gasped.

"Father! What are you doing?!"

But Makoto didn't answer. His gaze remained locked on the empty space where Kazane had stood, his expression unreadable.

Kazane moved swiftly through the village streets, the chill of the night brushing against his skin as he arrived at the Hatake estate. He exhaled softly, stepping through the courtyard gates.

The moment he pushed the door open, he knew what was waiting for him.

Sure enough, Kakashi was already there.

His younger brother stood in the center of the courtyard, arms crossed, his silver hair illuminated under the pale glow of the moon. His expression was unreadable, but the wooden training sword in his hand spoke for itself.

The soft rustling of the willow tree filled the silence between them.

Kakashi's voice was steady when he spoke.

"Tonight, we're having a serious sparring session."

With a flick of his wrist, he tossed a second training sword toward Kazane.

Kazane caught it effortlessly, tilting his head.

"Oh?" He tapped the wooden blade against his palm, a slow smirk forming on his lips. "And here I thought you'd be asleep by now."

Kakashi's grip tightened on his own sword. "Shut up and fight me."

With that, the match began.

Well, calling it a match was a bit generous.

From the very first clash, it became clear that Kakashi was outmatched. Kazane barely had to exert himself, dodging and countering with ease. His movements were efficient, almost lazy, each strike precisely measured to throw Kakashi off balance.

Kakashi gritted his teeth, refusing to back down. He pushed himself harder, his attacks growing more aggressive—but it didn't matter. No matter how fast he moved, Kazane was faster. No matter how hard he struck, Kazane deflected it with ease.

A sharp blow to the side of his ribs sent Kakashi stumbling back.

Kazane chuckled, twirling the wooden sword between his fingers.

"You're the one who asked for this," he taunted. "If you can't take it anymore, just say so. I promise I'll be gentle."

Kakashi's glare burned with frustration, his breathing heavy.

Admitting defeat? Not a chance. This was his idea in the first place. But he hadn't expected Kazane to be this much stronger than before. Had he really widened the gap between them that much?

With a growl of determination, he launched himself forward again.

The result was the same.

Time and time again, Kazane countered with perfect precision, knocking Kakashi off his rhythm. The fight stretched on longer than it should have, mostly because Kakashi refused to stop.

Eventually, after what felt like an eternity of relentless beatings, Kakashi finally collapsed onto the ground, panting.

His wooden sword slipped from his fingers, clattering against the stone floor of the courtyard.

To begin with, Kakashi was never a swordsman.

Kazane exhaled, resting his own sword against his shoulder as he looked down at his exhausted younger brother.

"Well, that was fun."

Kakashi groaned. "Screw you."

Kazane chuckled. "Language, little brother. What would father say?"

"Father isn't here," Kakashi muttered, his voice quieter this time.

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.

The night air was cool against their sweat-dampened skin, the willow tree above them swaying gently in the breeze.

Without a word, Kazane lowered himself onto the wooden porch, setting his sword aside. Kakashi, after catching his breath, reluctantly followed suit.

The two brothers sat side by side, their gazes fixed on the moonlit sky.

For a long while, there was only silence.

Then, out of nowhere, Kazane smirked.

"Hey, Kakashi."

Kakashi shot him a wary glance. "What?"

"I heard that Nohara Rin has a huge crush on you."

Kakashi stiffened.

"She's a great girl," Kazane continued, stretching lazily. "When are you bringing her home? I'll make sure to give her a proper welcome."

The reaction was immediate.

"W-What are you talking about?!" Kakashi nearly choked. "Rin is just a teammate, just like Obito!"

Kazane grinned, enjoying his younger brother's flustered expression.

"Uh-huh. Sure."

Kakashi scowled, cheeks slightly pink.

"Drop it."

Kazane chuckled, leaning back against the wooden railing.

He had won twice tonight.

The first was in their sparring match.

The second was making Kakashi this flustered.

Tonight was truly one for the memories.