Chapter 36: Sasuke and Naruto (Part I)

"Come, Shisui, sit." Uchiha Douhuan gestured for Shisui to take a seat, then poured him a cup of tea.

Although Shisui had returned to work at the Police Force, Fugaku naturally could not trust him entirely, so he had only assigned him to a logistics position.

"Douhuan, the high complaint rate against the Police Force is not a sustainable situation," Uchiha Shisui said, looking rather anxious.

"Shisui, I find this matter quite difficult to handle as well," Uchiha Douhuan replied with a feigned expression of distress, rubbing his brow. "When the Uchiha held sole control of the Police Force, the villagers were dissatisfied. Now that we have recruited so many civilian ninjas, they are still dissatisfied. I truly don't know what else to do."

Shisui let out a long sigh. He found it hard to understand why, even as the clan strove to integrate into the village, their efforts yielded such meager results.

"Never mind. For now, let's use these red envelopes to settle the restless hearts within the Police Force. As for the rest, let time decide," Uchiha Douhuan said, looking at Shisui. "When the village sees the sincerity of the Police Force, we will surely be able to achieve mutual understanding."

"Yes, Douhuan-kun, I believe in you," Uchiha Shisui replied.

"Take the red envelope. Everyone in the Police Force is getting one, so you naturally shouldn't be left out. You are a member of the force, after all," Uchiha Douhuan said, pushing the envelope toward him.

"I understand." Shisui had not wanted to accept the gift, but the reason Uchiha Douhuan provided left him with no room to refuse.

After Shisui left, Uchiha Douhuan relaxed, leaning back in his chair to flip through the copies of incriminating evidence he had obtained from Orochimaru. He mused to himself:

[I wonder, when you see these, will you stand on the side of the Will of Fire, or on the side of the village?]

...

Time passed, and the end of the workday arrived. Uchiha Douhuan stretched his body after sitting all afternoon, tidied his desk slightly, and prepared to head home. A little brat was coming over that evening.

At the same time, Kakashi, who had spent the entire day at the old Hatake estate helping Naruto tidy up a room, stepped out his door and began walking toward the Ninja Academy.

The academy was currently letting out for the day, which was the most difficult time of the day for Naruto.

The other children in the academy were either picked up by family or headed home with friends. But Naruto had no family and no friends to walk with. Every day at this time, he could only sit alone on the school swing, waiting until everyone else had left before starting his lonely walk home. At least that way, he would encounter fewer hateful gazes on his way back.

For Sasuke, however, the end of the school day was the time he looked forward to most. Every day, he would be the first to rush out of the school, hoping to see if his beloved brother had come to pick him up. If he could see his brother at dismissal, he would spend the rest of the day in high spirits.

However, today, upon rushing out of the school gate, Sasuke did not see his gentle brother, but his stern-faced father.

"Father?" Sasuke was surprised to see Fugaku at the gate.

"Let's go, Sasuke." Uchiha Fugaku kept a cold face, gesturing with his eyes for Sasuke to follow. The two walked one after the other toward the Uchiha clan district.

...

"Um, Father, why didn't Brother come to pick me up today?" After a while, Sasuke could not help but ask.

"Itachi is on a mission during this period," Uchiha Fugaku said.

"I see." Sasuke’s mood dimmed slightly upon hearing his father’s words.

"Also, I have hired a teacher for you. From now on, go to him by yourself after school."

"A teacher?" Sasuke looked up, curious. "Who is it?"

"Your talent for Lightning Style is quite good, so I have asked Clan Head Douhuan, who is the most proficient in the clan with Lightning Style, to instruct you. Sasuke, study hard under your teacher and do not bring shame to the family," Uchiha Fugaku said.

"Clan Head Douhuan?" Little Sasuke was taken aback. Although family politics in this era of peace had little to do with a child his age, Sasuke had gathered from surrounding chatter that his father used to be the clan head, but was no longer. The person who replaced him was the very Clan Head Douhuan his father was speaking of.

"Yes, Sasuke. Although your teacher is not many years older than you, he is a very wise person and the strongest in the clan," Uchiha Fugaku said patiently.

"I understand, Father. I will study diligently under my teacher," Sasuke replied.

...

On the academy swing, Naruto watched his classmates walk away one by one. The sun was about to set, and under the orange glow of twilight, he was the only one left in the vast school grounds.

Just as he set aside his sadness and prepared to walk home alone, a long, thin shadow appeared before him.

Naruto looked up to see a white-haired man with a mask and a forehead protector covering one eye standing in front of him. The eye left uncovered held a complex expression.

"Mister, who are you looking for?" Naruto asked.

"You," Kakashi said.

"Me?" Naruto was startled.

"If your name is Naruto Uzumaki, then I have the right person."

...

Because Uchiha Douhuan had given prior notice, when Fugaku and Sasuke arrived at Uchiha Douhuan’s residence, the housekeeper, Keiko, was already waiting at the gate to welcome them inside.

"Lord Douhuan is waiting for you both in the study."

...

When the two were led into the study by Keiko, Uchiha Douhuan, who had changed into a haori, was writing something at his desk.

"Elder Fugaku, this must be Sasuke," Uchiha Douhuan said, stopping his work and smiling at them.

"Sasuke, aren't you going to greet your teacher?" Uchiha Fugaku prompted.

"Hello, Teacher. My name is Uchiha Sasuke." Little Sasuke bowed shyly and began to examine Uchiha Douhuan with curious eyes.

"Douhuan, I leave this child, Sasuke, in your care," Uchiha Fugaku said.

...

Ichiraku Ramen.

"Itadakimasu!" Little Naruto put his hands together after a brief prayer and began to wolf down his food, while Kakashi watched quietly from the side.

"White-haired mister, aren't you eating?" Naruto asked curiously, looking up from his bowl halfway through his meal.

"I'm not eating. And, according to seniority, you should call me Big Brother Kakashi," Kakashi said.

At this, Ichiraku stuck his head out from behind the counter: "Kakashi, it's been a long time since you've been here. But does this kid Naruto have any connection to you? Why are you suddenly treating him to ramen?"

"This child's father had a certain connection to me," Kakashi said.

Kakashi’s words made Naruto, who had been burying his face in his noodles, pause.

"Naruto's father?" Having run the shop in the village for over a decade, Ichiraku was no stranger to Kakashi, a former regular. Kakashi's words stunned him. He looked at Naruto’s shock of yellow hair, and past suspicions surfaced in his mind. "Could it be..."

But at that moment, Ichiraku noticed Kakashi’s eyes and the slight shake of his head.