Chapter 16 - Kakashi’s Fury

Chapter 16 - Kakashi's Fury

Seeing Yuhi Shinku's thunderous expression, Kazane immediately decided it was in his best interest to disappear for a while. If he got caught, he probably wouldn't get a good night's sleep for at least a month. Maybe longer.

As he slipped away, the murmurs in the arena had yet to settle.

"Uchiha Makoto... actually lost?"

Jiraiya, standing on the high platform among the village elites, raised an eyebrow as he watched the aftermath of the battle. His lips curled into an amused smirk.

"And this is supposed to be the Uchiha clan's prodigy? The once-in-a-decade genius that would surpass my disciple?"

The Jonin standing around him tensed slightly. Some sighed. Others frowned. None dared to answer.

Tsunade, standing nearby, resisted the urge to plant her foot into Jiraiya's side. Instead, she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes as she studied Kazane from afar.

That style of fighting...

No tricks, no illusions, no underhanded schemes—just a direct, overwhelming clash of skill and raw power. Exactly the kind of combat she preferred.

If not for her hemophobia, she would have personally taken Kazane as a student right then and there.

"Hehehe... A splendid battle," Orochimaru mused, his sharp golden eyes lingering on the boy. His lips curved into a subtle, wicked smile. "A rare clash between geniuses. I wonder just how far this one can go... If it's him, I might just consider taking a personal interest."

There was a slithering weight to his words.

He turned his gaze to Hiruzen Sarutobi, watching for a reaction before quietly slipping away.

His departure left an unsettling silence in its wake.

Tsunade shot a glance at Sarutobi, but the Third Hokage remained unreadable, his mind already working through the implications. Danzo had already left, his own thoughts kept to himself.

The results of the academy's real combat ranking exam spread like wildfire.

Hatake Kazane had overpowered Uchiha Makoto, securing first place with undeniable dominance.

By nightfall, his name had already echoed across the Hidden Leaf Village.

---

Nightfall – The Hatake Household

Kazane sat in his room, absentmindedly tapping his fingers on the desk.

Thinking about the way Yuhi Shinku had glared at him earlier sent an involuntary shiver down his spine. The temperature outside was mild, yet he still felt an eerie chill.

Nope. Definitely needed to disappear for a bit.

But before leaving, he figured he should at least leave a note for Kakashi.

After a moment of thought, he scribbled something down hastily.

"Kakashi, my dear brother… because… therefore… That's all. – Hatake Kazane"

With that, he packed a few essentials and slipped out the door without looking back.

As he walked through the quiet streets, a small smirk played on his lips.

'One day, when I'm strong enough, I'll bring Kurenai with me and flaunt our love right in Shinku's face!'

---

Meanwhile, Kakashi had just returned to the village after a mission.

The first thing he heard, his brother had beaten Uchiha Makoto.

By tradition, Kazane always prepared a feast after his victories. Braised pork, sweet and sour ribs, crispy fried tenderloin...

Kakashi couldn't help but drool a little just thinking about it.

After giving Minato-sensei a brief report, he rushed home at top speed.

"I'm home!"

He pushed open the door, stepping into the familiar courtyard.

Silence.

The yard was empty. The house was empty.

For a moment, Kakashi frowned. Did he step into the wrong place?

Then his eyes landed on the old wooden training post in the yard. No, this was home.

So where was Kazane?

And more importantly—where was the food?

"Kazane!"

Storming into the living room, Kakashi's gaze immediately landed on a piece of paper resting on the table.

He snatched it up and read it.

His eye twitched.

He read it again.

His entire expression darkened.

Kazane running away was already a problem.

But the bigger issue was the impending wrath of Yuhi Shinku.

The Hatake and Yuhi families had been close for generations. Kakashi had suffered through Shinku's disciplinary methods more than once.

And now, thanks to Kazane's antics, that overprotective girl dad was probably on his way here right now.

Kakashi needed to leave. Fast.

He took a step toward the door.

And then—

Creaaaaak

The front door slowly swung open.

Kakashi turned his head.

A shadowy figure stood in the doorway, his face unreadable. But the air around him was suffocatingly heavy.

Yuhi Shinku.

His expression was darker than the abyss.

Kakashi knew only one thing in that moment.

He was so dead.

His blood ran cold.

Standing in the doorway was Yuhi Shinku.

The man's expression was as dark as a storm cloud rolling over the horizon. His sharp crimson eyes, enhanced by the Yuhi clan's unparalleled genjutsu expertise, bored into Kakashi with an intensity that made even an elite Jonin want to retreat.

"Uncle Shinku! You're here..." Kakashi forced a bright, albeit stiff, smile. "Are you looking for my brother? He's not home right now—just stepped out! How about waiting for him? I'll send him your way as soon as he's back!"

Shinku's lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile.

"Oh? What a coincidence." His voice was smooth but laced with undeniable menace. "He's just not home right now? How unfortunate."

He took a step forward.

"Then I suppose I'll just take a look around myself."

Kakashi's body tensed instinctively. He could already tell—there was no escaping this.

Before he could react, Shinku raised a hand, fingers flicking through a quick, practiced sequence.

"Genjutsu – Fox's Heart Maze."

The moment the words left his lips, Kakashi's vision warped. The walls stretched and melted like flowing ink, the floor beneath his feet shifted endlessly, and the courtyard around him twisted into an unrecognizable labyrinth.

Somewhere deep in his subconscious, Kakashi knew what had happened.

He had been trapped in an illusion.

But despite his awareness, his body refused to acknowledge reality. His mind looped, convincing him that he was simply walking in circles.

Meanwhile, Shinku stepped inside, his presence like a silent shadow drifting through the empty home.

One glance told him everything.

The brat was gone.

Shinku exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple as if warding off an impending headache.

"Kazane, you little bastard..."

After one last sweep of the house, he activated a teleportation jutsu and vanished.

For a brief moment, he felt like he was forgetting something.

Then he shrugged.

If it was important, it would come back to him.

Back at the Hatake household, Kakashi was still pacing in circles.

The illusion held him in its grip for hours.

It wasn't until dawn—when his chakra reserves finally ran dry—that the genjutsu dissipated.

Kakashi staggered to a halt, blinking in the morning light as clarity rushed back into his mind.

He stood frozen for several seconds.

Then realization struck.

"Kazane…" His fists clenched as veins bulged at his temple.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

---

Elsewhere…

After successfully evading both Shinku and Kakashi's impending wrath, Kazane made a beeline for Might Duy's residence.

He had a plan.

A one-month special training program.

And he intended to stay at Duy's place the entire time.

Might Duy, of course, was ecstatic.

"YES! This is what youth is all about!"

With a passionate gleam in his eye, he punched the air, nearly setting the sky itself ablaze with his enthusiasm.

"Come, Kazane! From this day forth, we shall dedicate ourselves to the noble path of the Eight Gates!"

Kazane, watching Duy's fervent expression, suddenly had the distinct feeling that he might have just dug his own grave.

---

Uchiha Clan Compound – The Hall of Shadows

The atmosphere inside the dimly lit chamber was suffocating.

A single flickering lantern cast long, jagged shadows across the stone walls, its golden glow barely illuminating the figure standing in the center of the room.

Uchiha Makoto stood rigidly, his head slightly bowed, his fists clenched so tightly his nails nearly pierced his palms.

Across from him, a tall man stood with his back turned, hands clasped behind him. His stance was unyielding, his presence oppressive.

This was Uchiha Hanshan—Makoto's father, vice-captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, and a man whose words carried the weight of the entire clan.

"Makoto."

His voice was calm. Too calm.

"I hear you lost to that Hatake boy today."

Makoto's throat tightened.

"Father, I—"

Hanshan finally turned.

His gaze, sharp and unrelenting, locked onto his son like a blade against his throat.

"To think that you, an Uchiha, lost to some nobody from the Hatake clan," he said, his voice carrying the cold, biting edge of disappointment. "You have shamed our name."

Makoto flinched.

He had expected reprimand. He had expected scrutiny.

But never had he seen his father look at him with such thinly veiled contempt.

It made the humiliation of his defeat feel ten times heavier.

"Kazane isn't just some nobody!" The words left Makoto's mouth before he could stop them. "He's strong!"

A silence stretched between them.

Then, Hanshan exhaled, shaking his head slightly.

"You still don't understand."

His tone was colder this time. Sharper.

"This isn't about you or that Hatake boy."

Hanshan stepped forward, his imposing figure looming over his son.

"This is about our clan's honor."

"You've been called a once-in-a-decade genius. And yet, you let some ninjutsu-less brat defeat you? How do you expect the Uchiha to maintain its standing in this village?"

Makoto's fingers twitched.

"I'll defeat him next time," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. "I'll reclaim my honor."

Hanshan's expression remained unreadable.

"Enough."

The word cut through the air like a final verdict.

Makoto felt his breath catch.

"The clan has already decided," Hanshan continued. "You will apply for early graduation tomorrow."

Makoto's eyes widened.

"You'll be joining the Police Force. Lord Fugaku himself will oversee your training. When you are strong enough, you may reclaim what you lost."

"Early graduation…?"

Makoto's voice was barely a whisper.

He hadn't expected this.

He had thought he would be given a chance to prove himself. A chance to fight again.

But this...

"This is just... running away," he muttered. "Father, please believe in me—"

"Enough!"

Hanshan's voice snapped like a whip, silencing him.

For a moment, the room was quiet except for the flickering of the lantern.

Then, his father spoke again.

"The clan has also decided that our resources will now focus on Uchiha Shisui."

Makoto felt something crack inside him.

"...Shisui, huh."

He closed his eyes for a moment, then exhaled.

"I understand, Father."

There was nothing else to say.

---

Somewhere in Konoha

Far away from the Uchiha Clan compound, Hatake Kazane sneezed.

Was someone talking about him?

Shrugging it off, he turned his attention back to Might Duy—who was currently hyping himself up by doing a one-finger handstand on top of a tree.

Kazane, watching from below, suddenly had the distinct feeling that this next month of training was going to be... absolute hell.

TN/

After thorough research, it's been confirmed—Makoto is indeed a boy and not the female Mikoto Uchiha. A damn shame, truly. I won't lie, I was hoping for an interesting plot like Kazane being rivals with Mikoto, and taking Mikoto for himself thus Sasuke and itachi won't be born. Or maybe they will (as a swordman) lol.

But alas, reality is often disappointing.

The evidence is undeniable: Makoto had a detailed description in the very first chapter, followed by multiple references throughout the story consistently referring to him as a he. As much as I dislike it, facts don't lie—and unfortunately, I can't just rewrite reality (trust me, I wish I could).

So, we move forward. Guess we'll just have to stick with Kurenai.

That said, if you look him up, Makoto actually has some significance beyond this fanfiction. So while my dreams of an unexpected gender reveal have been crushed, at least he's not some throwaway character.

Anyway, as a mere translator, I don't have the power to bend characters to my will (tragic, I know). My job is to deliver the story as it is with better clarity, no matter how much I want to rewrite fate.

Btw, volume one had ended and 40 chapter+ is out on my P@treon, Zynos. Fell free to check it out!