Chapter 6: Bonds

On the other side, Kakashi, feeling that it was about lunchtime, was getting ready to take Takeshi home.

Noticing the empty-handed Takeshi following behind him, Kakashi pointed at the scattered ice sculptures of Danzō on the ground and asked curiously,

"You're not taking these with you?"

"What would I do with that junk?" Takeshi replied bluntly.

They weren't exactly cute figurines or anything—just some ugly things he made without much thought. Might as well leave them here to melt.

...Well, no, there was one thing that could help him get closer to Kakashi.

Thinking of this, Takeshi turned around, bent down, and picked up the ice sculpture of Kakashi he had made earlier. He held it out and said,

"Here, this is for you. Thanks for trying to protect me just now."

Kakashi looked at the gift and the completely unfiltered gratitude. For once, he blushed slightly. Noticing this himself, he quickly turned his head away.

"Just throw it away already. It's hideous."

"Eh? No way! Wait, are you blushing? Let me see!"

Realizing this was a good chance to get closer to Kakashi, Takeshi seized the opportunity. He darted to Kakashi's side, holding the ugly ice sculpture and trying to shove it into his hands.

"I said no, get away!"

"Come on! Let me see!"

"I said no!"

The two figures gradually walked off into the distance, leaving behind nothing but a field of melting Danzōs.

...

At noon, Takeshi finally got to eat something other than soldier pills and Kirigakure's all-fish feasts.

Sakumo's cooking was excellent, and the dishes matched his image perfectly—especially with him wearing a pink apron. This was easily the best meal Takeshi had eaten since his reincarnation, aside from his mom's cooking.

After lunch, at Sakumo's suggestion, Takeshi took a hot bath at home.

Feeling that his relationship with Takeshi had improved quite a bit, Sakumo ignored Kakashi's protests and laid out a fresh futon right beside Kakashi's bed.

"Dad, you know… that kid has a Kekkei Genkai: Ice Release."

Seeing that protesting was useless, Kakashi gave up resisting and decided to tell his father about what he had witnessed today.

"Ice Release?" Sakumo frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed.

"And how did you figure that out?"

Kakashi glanced over at his desk, where a nearly melted ice sculpture modeled after himself was placed.

"It actually looks kind of like you," Sakumo said after examining the contours of the sculpture closely.

"Like what part?" Kakashi muttered, feeling a bit speechless.

How on earth did his dad manage to recognize him from that mess of a sculpture?

Seeing that his father's expression didn't show much surprise, Kakashi continued,

"There were three Anbu. They came to him while I was training. One of them even used a syringe to draw his blood."

Three Anbu?

"That probably wasn't Anbu."

As an Anbu captain himself, Sakumo had already sensed someone tailing him the moment he left the Hokage building.

"Not Anbu?" Kakashi frowned in confusion.

Sakumo smoothed out the last wrinkle in the bedding, then stood up.

"They're something deeper than Anbu."

He didn't intend to let his son know about the village's darker secrets just yet, so he kept it vague.

"...Um."

Fresh out of the bath and wrapped in a towel, Takeshi suddenly appeared in the doorway.

"Have you seen my clothes?"

"Oh, done with your bath already, Takeshi?"

Sakumo rushed over, picked up a towel hanging nearby, and started drying Takeshi's wet hair.

"I put your clothes in the wash. You're about the same size, just a bit slimmer than Kakashi. You can wear his clothes for now."

"Huh?" Kakashi protested.

"Why does he have to wear mine?"

"Kakashi, friends share things with each other," Sakumo said cheerfully, pulling out a set of Kakashi's regular clothes.

"Who said we're friends?" Kakashi tried to correct his dad but was completely ignored.

"Kakashi, you've never worn this pair of underwear before, right?"

Takeshi took this moment to twist the knife.

"Then don't wear it!"

For the first time, Kakashi—who always saw training as his life's purpose—felt his defenses break down.

"Ah, from that reaction, I guess you have worn it..." Takeshi gave the underwear a distasteful look.

Whatever, I'm just a kid too—going commando for now should be fine, right?

But—

"Why are all your clothes designed with face masks?" Takeshi picked up one of the tops and pointed at the mask part.

"Dad, can I beat him up?" Kakashi's anger level shot up rapidly.

Seeing his son show such strong emotions, Sakumo beamed.

Even though Hiruzen-sama had likely already found out about Takeshi's Ice Release, Sakumo felt it was still his duty to make a formal report himself. Besides, it would avoid any suspicion that he was hiding information.

Just as he quietly left Kakashi's room and reached the door, Sakumo suddenly paused and turned to look out the window.

"Captain."

Outside, an Anbu stood silently.

"Third-sama asked me to inform you that he is already aware of the Ice Release. He hopes you'll enjoy your hard-earned vacation and spend some quality time with your family."

So the Third did find out after all.

Sakumo stopped reaching for the door, put on a smile, and nodded to the Anbu.

"Please tell Third-sama that I understand. And thank him for his consideration."

Spend quality time with family, huh...

In that case—

"Kakashi, Takeshi, how about we go fishing together?"

Sakumo, full of enthusiasm, pulled a full set of fishing gear out from a tall cabinet.

Takeshi, who had just finally found a set of clothes without a face mask, was once again surprised by Sakumo's actions.

Who would've thought… Sakumo-san, with those thick eyebrows and all, is actually a fishing guy?

"I refuse," Kakashi muttered with his mouth—but his body subtly moved closer to Sakumo.

Looks like it's my cue.

Takeshi thought to himself and suddenly grabbed Kakashi, dragging him toward Sakumo.

"Kakashi said he's willing to go, Sakumo-san!"

"Takeshi, you bastard! When did I ever say I wanted to go?!"

Kakashi tried to break free from Takeshi's grip.

"Hmph. If you really didn't want to go, how could I possibly drag you, huh?" Takeshi snorted and tightened his grip.

"Alright then, let's head to the pond behind the house!"

Seeing Kakashi "agree," Sakumo pulled out a fishing net and a little red bucket from the cabinet.

Together with Takeshi on one side and Kakashi on the other, they headed off toward the pond.

...

"So interesting."

Inside a secret base, Orochimaru examined the comparison results with great interest.

These were two samples sent by Danzō's men. After a detailed comparison, Orochimaru's conclusion was that the two individuals were blood relatives.

How amusing—

That twisted little brat from the Shimura clan actually had Ice Release.