As the heavy door creaked open, the scent of aged history and ink wafted out.
Uchiha Fugaku, holding an oil lamp, walked with a solemn expression between rows of ancient bookshelves, searching for records of the Uchiha Clan's migrations before the founding of the Hidden Leaf Village.
He hadn't lied to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He really was looking for any Uchiha clansmen who might have been lost to the outside world.
It was just that... over more than a thousand years, even though the Uchiha Clan had migrated only a handful of times, finding such records wasn't easy.
If there truly were Uchiha clansmen lost outside and their records existed, then one could investigate the local area where they went missing, and from there, trace the clues to identify that unknown Uchiha and determine which branch of the family they descended from.
"This is going to be a massive undertaking..."
Uchiha Fugaku arrived at his destination. Gazing at the rows of bookshelves that exuded the aroma of history, he felt a headache coming on...
Kakashi bid farewell to Hiruzen Sarutobi. With the Third Hokage's approval, the matter of the Ninja Cat Clan forging a sword for him was now set in stone.
After the incident with Uchiha Obito, Kakashi knew he couldn't live a peaceful life.
Even if he hadn't replaced his eye, and even if his Sharingan hadn't been damaged, his identity meant he was destined to be caught up in the chain of events from now until the future.
Now, he was Kakashi.
Kakashi Hatake.
"Might Guy, once my sword is forged, come train with me to help me get back in shape."
Kakashi and the green-clad youth walked along the bustling streets of the Hidden Leaf Village. The distant setting sun cast its rays upon them. Kakashi stared at the road ahead, his voice calm but carrying a hint of inexplicable determination.
He had set aside swordsmanship for two years. Even with his old foundation, regaining mastery wouldn't happen overnight.
"Train with Kakashi to help him recover?"
"Of course! Leave it to me!"
"It's a promise—a youthful, passionate agreement between men!"
Might Guy, hearing his friend say this, had no reason to refuse. He thumped his chest, gave Kakashi a thumbs-up, and flashed his bright white teeth.
["Might Guy's emotional fluctuation +1"]
["Chakra +1%"]
"Might Guy, you..." "Well, even though it's recovery training, I think it's better if we don't make it too passionate."
Looking at the highly motivated Might Guy, Kakashi instinctively felt a nonexistent cold sweat break out.
While Might Guy was powerful and someone he could absolutely trust to have his back in battle, his passionate and youthful personality... Kakashi sometimes found it genuinely hard to handle.
Though Kakashi didn't dislike that full-of-passion side of him.
"I'm heading to the Uchiha Clan now."
"Might Guy, want to come along?"
Kakashi spoke unhurriedly, hands in his pockets.
"I won't go."
"Today's daily training isn't finished yet!"
"Five hundred laps of handstand running around the village!"
Listening to Might Guy's words, Kakashi was left somewhat speechless.
He hoped that during the upcoming recovery training, this guy wouldn't push him too hard...
Uchiha Library
Under the lamplight, Uchiha Fugaku flipped through ancient books one after another. With his Sharingan activated, he was practically scanning ten lines at a glance.
The speed at which he read a page never exceeded three seconds.
So, even though only an hour or two had passed since he left Hiruzen Sarutobi, a thick stack of ancient books had already piled up beside him.
But even so, several bookshelves still awaited him.
Just as Uchiha Fugaku closed the ancient book in his hand and prepared to pick up the next one, the library door was suddenly pushed open.
Uchiha Fugaku's brows furrowed slightly at this, and he said:
"Didn't I say not to disturb me unless it's important?"
However, the Uchiha clansman replied with a strange expression on his face:
"Clan Head, Kakashi is here."
Uchiha Fugaku frowned upon hearing this.
Kakashi Hatake... What does this disciple of the Fourth Hokage want with me?
"I understand. Have him wait for me in the tearoom."
Setting down the ancient book in his hand, Uchiha Fugaku rubbed his aching lower back and stood up to go meet the renowned disciple of the Hokage...
Tearoom
Kakashi watched the man in front of him prepare tea.
Warming the cup, placing the tea leaves, moistening the tea, brewing, pouring.
Although Uchiha Fugaku was a ninja, he had been deeply influenced by the Uchiha Clan's thousand-year history since childhood. Even something like tea tasting, which was useless to a ninja, he knew a thing or two about.
Kakashi wasn't surprised by this; the neighboring Hyūga Clan had even stronger traditional values.
The white-haired youth observed the man making tea, and the man observed Kakashi in return.
At five, his father, Sakumo Hatake, had committed suicide at home due to rumors.
At twelve, he had witnessed his friend Uchiha Obito's death and been gifted the Sharingan.
At thirteen, he had been forced to kill his comrade due to a Hidden Mist conspiracy.
At fourteen, just half a month ago during the Nine-Tails' attack, his sensei and sensei's wife had both perished, and he himself had lost the Sharingan gifted by his friend in that turmoil.
Although his talent was extraordinary—he had become a jōnin at twelve—his short nine years as a ninja had been filled with pain and torment.
Such repeated blows would be hard for anyone to bear, but the Kakashi before him had endured them.
At least, this white-haired youth didn't show any signs of being weary of the world.
"Kakashi, please try this new tea."
As the tea poured into the cup, a fragrant, steaming brew was pushed in front of Kakashi by Uchiha Fugaku.
Kakashi, who didn't know much about tea, simply picked up the teacup, blew on it, and drank it all in one gulp.
Uchiha Fugaku wasn't surprised by Kakashi's crude manner; very few ninja bothered to study such things.
"Clan Head Fugaku, I have a request."
With the hot tea warming his stomach, Kakashi felt a slight heat spread through his body, then looked seriously at the man before him.
"What is it?"
"If it's within my capabilities, I'll do my best to fulfill it."
Uchiha Fugaku didn't make a full commitment, just glancing lightly at Kakashi's dark left eye.
As long as he didn't ask for a Sharingan.
Listening to the Uchiha Clan Head's words, Kakashi took out the broken White Fang and placed it on the table.
"Please, Clan Head Fugaku, ask the Ninja Cat Clan to reforge White Fang for me."
Uchiha Fugaku felt a slight relief in his heart upon hearing this. He then picked up the White Fang that Kakashi had handed him and examined it carefully.
He was clearly very interested in it.
The Uchiha Clan was a ninja clan extremely skilled in swordsmanship, and Uchiha Fugaku himself was no exception.
This sword had once been the famous personal weapon of Sakumo Hatake—a truly rare sight.
"It's entirely made of chakra metal..."
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's murmur, Kakashi's expression shifted slightly.
Chakra metal?
No one had ever told him that.
In his memory, he had always just used this sword to hack at people.
Kakashi, you loser!