Kakashi had been watching silently from the shadows for a long time.
Uchiha Souji stood in the training ground, using his right hand to shape chakra with impossible precision. The glowing chakra sphere twisted smoothly through shapes and patterns—numbers, symbols, fluid strokes—changing faster than ordinary eyes could track.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes.
This wasn't the level of a student.
This wasn't even the level of a talented genin.
This was already beyond Chidori's basic requirements.
Way beyond.
Kakashi felt an uncomfortable twitch in his chest.
"…He's too fast," he murmured.
His plan had originally been to delay Souji. Make him wait a few years until his body grew stronger and more stable—then teach him Chidori. That was safer. That was logical. That was how Hatake Kakashi, responsible adult, wanted things to go.
But now?
Souji's chakra control was too advanced.
Too refined.
Too unnaturally precise.
Kakashi felt cheated.
Like he had stepped onto a training field and discovered that a five-year-old child had been secretly practicing elite-level chakra physics behind his back.
He slowly turned his head.
Uchiha Fugaku stood not far away, observing his son with a calm expression. Kakashi shot him a silent question with his eyes:
Did you know? Did YOU know he could do this?
Fugaku scratched the back of his head helplessly.
"Well… since you agreed to teach him, Kakashi, I will also entrust him to you. Souji understands the importance of things. Don't worry too much."
Kakashi wanted to shout:
"I AGREED BEFORE I KNEW HE WAS A DEMON!"
But he swallowed the words.
He could teach Souji emotionally—Souji saved his life.
He could teach him rationally—Souji had the talent.
But…
He was still too young.
Chidori was not a normal ninjutsu.
It was dangerous. To oneself, to others, to everyone around.
Giving it to a child felt like handing a loaded weapon to someone who still liked chasing butterflies.
Kakashi sighed heavily.
"Too young… far too young…"
He closed his eye and inhaled deeply.
But a promise was a promise.
He had agreed to teach Souji.
And Hatake Kakashi always kept his word.
He opened his eye again.
"All right," he said quietly. "Let's do this."
---
In a blur, Kakashi vanished and reappeared directly beside Souji.
The boy didn't startle. Instead, he turned to Kakashi with a look of annoyance that didn't match his age.
"You're late. A ninja's most important quality is punctuality.* You're an elite ninja, Senpai. Shouldn't you be more responsible?"
Kakashi froze.
Was this brat lecturing him!?
Souji crossed his arms dramatically.
"When I watched the anime version of you before," Souji thought silently, "I thought your lateness was funny. Charming even. A character quirk."
Now that he had to wait for Kakashi in real life?
He wanted to slap him twice.
He checked the sun.
They were supposed to meet at 6 o'clock in the morning.
It was now past 2 PM.
If Souji waited any longer, he could go home and eat dinner with extra time for dessert.
Kakashi coughed lightly.
"Well, uh… I saw a black cat earlier and got lost at the crossroads of my life…"
Souji stared.
This excuse was so bad that he felt physical pain.
"Oh?" Souji said sharply. "Are you sure it wasn't that you passed by a certain… adult bookstore and were delayed by a stack of suspicious books?"
Kakashi's entire posture stiffened.
Souji felt satisfied.
He sheathed Third Generation Onitoru slowly and elegantly, as if he were some wandering swordsman in a drama, all while mocking Kakashi with a perfectly straight face.
If only Kakashi knew…
If only he knew Souji had been cheating like hell behind his back—using a demon sword as a second brain.
He might confiscate the blade, lock Souji in a room, and force him to meditate for ten years.
Kakashi coughed into his hand again.
"How many times must I tell you? A Jōnin named Might Guy asked me to pick up a book for him!"
Souji raised an eyebrow.
Both of them knew Kakashi was lying.
But Kakashi refused to break character. He was determined to maintain the dignity of a teacher in front of his student.
Poor Kakashi.
He didn't know Souji was a time-traveler who already knew all of Kakashi's late excuses, all his habits, all his secret spots in town.
Kakashi had inherited Obito's will.
And along with that will, came—
Chronic Lateness.
If Kakashi had never known Obito, he would have been a perfect, punctual soldier.
So in a way…
This was all Uchiha Obito's fault.
Blame him.
---
Souji waved the matter away.
"Forget it, Senpai. If you insist, I can take you to Might Guy right now and we can clear this misunderstanding."
Kakashi froze in horror.
No. No. Absolutely not.
If Might Guy found out Kakashi had made fun of him behind his back—even slightly—Guy would challenge Kakashi to 1,000 consecutive duels to "repair their youthful bond."
Kakashi already had barely half his chakra thanks to his Sharingan drain.
If he fought Guy seriously now, he would probably need three weeks of physical therapy afterward.
So Kakashi frantically shook his hands.
"No, no, no, that won't be necessary!"
Souji smiled innocently.
Kakashi coughed again and changed the topic quickly.
"Anyway… about your chakra shape transformation and nature transformation…"
---
Kakashi became serious.
"I've been observing for a while. And… your skill level is beyond my expectations."
He hesitated.
"But tell me something honestly—do you really think your ninja talent is average?"
Souji rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"Yes, actually."
But internally?
No, not at all.
If he truly had good talent, he wouldn't be waking himself at insane hours every morning.
Wouldn't be sweating until his body trembled.
Wouldn't need a demon sword to help him cheat through chakra control.
His "talent" was fake.
A polished lie created by Onitoru doing the heavy lifting.
If Kakashi knew the truth, he would faint.
Souji's hand drifted unconsciously to the handle of Third Generation Onitoru.
His precious cheat device.
His personal plugin.
Kakashi stared at him.
"Why not go the ninjutsu route?
Your learning ability is incredible.
If you continue, you could become a ninjutsu specialist in a few years."
A ninjutsu fortress.
Capable of suppressing an entire battlefield.
Feared by armies.
That was the path Kakashi saw in Souji.
Souji smiled.
"Ahem, forget it. Whether you're strong or not is temporary. But whether you're handsome or not lasts a lifetime."
Kakashi blinked.
Souji tapped the katana at his waist.
"Don't you think using a sword is far more stylish than throwing kunai?"
Kakashi opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Sighed.
He too had used a blade once.
---
Kakashi finally scratched the back of his head, looking annoyed.
"Your growth is too fast. I need to reorganize your entire training plan."
He took a deep breath.
"Maybe… you need to go outside the village for a while. To study, to train, to broaden your horizons."
Then he added:
"Do you have any objections?"
---
Souji froze.
This—
This was perfect.
His eyes slowly lit up like festival lanterns.
Because Souji had been waiting for a chance like this.
A chance to leave the village temporarily.
To visit distant places.
To inspect real estate markets in the capital—
Yes, even in this world, real estate mattered.
And most importantly:
A chance to be away from the village where so many people wanted him dead.
Orochimaru wanted him.
Shimura Danzo wanted him.
Cloud Village's mysterious duo wanted him.
Three entire factions.
All wanting to kidnap him, experiment on him, or tie him to a tree and beat him to death with a stick.
Traveling with Kakashi meant safety.
It meant protection.
It meant freedom.
Souji didn't hesitate.
He bowed.
"No objections at all, Senpai. Please, guide me well."
Inside his chest, excitement flared like a rising sun.
His path was opening.
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