Chapter 16 – Help, Surveillance, and Holiday Plans
Hatake Residence
Kakashi returned home just as his father was taking off his apron. He couldn't help but marvel—his father's sense of timing was impeccable.
When his eyes fell on the table full of dishes, however, a mental tic-tac-toe grid practically appeared over his head. The White Fang of Konoha was a legend with a blade… but in the kitchen, his food was merely edible—nowhere close to "delicious." It made Taichi's earlier promise of a home-cooked meal seem all the more precious.
The two didn't speak much, quickly finishing dinner. Just as Sakumo began clearing the table—
"Father!"
"Hm?" Sakumo glanced up.
Kakashi explained how Taichi had somehow spotted traces of kenjutsu in his movements and had asked if Kakashi could teach him.
"You mean he figured out you were studying the sword just from the way you handled a kunai?"
"That's right." Seeing his father's focus veer off course, Kakashi pressed, "So… is it okay?"
Sakumo regarded him for a moment.
"Wait here."
He disappeared into another room, then returned with a scroll. On the cover were the words: "Hatake Kenjutsu: Fundamentals."
Kakashi's eyes widened. This wasn't just any beginner's guide—it was the very foundation Sakumo himself had built his mastery upon, the root of the Hatake style.
"This… are you sure?"
"It's only the basics," Sakumo said with a faint smile. "Whether it bears fruit depends on the person. Skill is built on the shinobi, not the scroll."
"Understood." Kakashi nodded solemnly.
---
Root Headquarters
"Lord Danzō, here's the latest report on Matsushita Taichi, the one you asked us to monitor."
Danzō flipped through the pages. In the most recent assessments, Taichi had ranked first in both sparring and practical combat. Danzō's single visible eye narrowed slightly. That's… fast progress.
"We also found traces of both Fire Release and Wind Release in the grove where he trains after school. Given the people present, we can confirm both were performed by Taichi. Yet, he's never used them at the academy."
"Two elemental affinities at his age…" Danzō murmured. "A shame—no kekkei genkai, and no clan secret arts."
"Continue monitoring him."
"Yes, sir."
Once the operative left, Danzō studied the file again. The boy's talent and self-discipline were clear… but his bloodline was too plain. And pulling a student from the academy would mean going through Hiruzen Sarutobi. After a long pause, Danzō's voice was low.
"It seems… I'll have to handle this myself."
---
Taichi's Home
Taichi hummed to himself as he cooked, still in high spirits. If Kakashi got his father's permission, the roadblock to his swordsmanship training would be gone—and learning under someone from the White Fang's line meant the fundamentals would be rock-solid.
First step—get a proper blade. I've never even owned one that feels right in my hand.
His daydreaming was cut short by a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" he called, turning off the stove and setting down his utensils.
"Me. Open up."
The voice made him grin—Tsunade, here to freeload again.
He opened the door. "Tsunade-nee, did you need something?"
"What, I can't come unless I need something? You really aren't very cute, brat." Without waiting for the door to fully open, she stepped inside.
Taichi chuckled, shutting the door. "Now, now. I'm always happy when you come by. I was just cooking—if you haven't eaten yet, why don't you join me?"
"Haha, well… since you insist, I suppose I can be gracious enough to accept." She plopped herself down at the table.
"Alright, just give me a moment to finish up," Taichi said, heading back to the kitchen.
Tsunade could hear the bustle from the kitchen, but she didn't stand on ceremony. After all, the first visit might be polite, the second familiar… by the third or fourth, it was practically her own home.
Sure enough, she pulled a sake flask from her robes, found herself a cup without asking, and poured a drink as if she owned the place.
A little over ten minutes later, Taichi brought the dishes to the table. Seeing her already drinking wasn't the least bit surprising to him. Once everything was set, the two began eating.
Their conversation flowed casually—mostly Tsunade asking and Taichi answering. From time to time, Taichi would take the chance to ask her for training advice. With a master of her caliber sitting across from him, it would be criminal not to.
"Oh right, Tsunade-nee, I wanted to ask a favor."
"A favor? That's rare from you."
"Well… since school's about to go on break, I was thinking of helping out at the hospital for a while. Maybe pick up a few things." His tone was a little shy.
"The hospital, huh? Then how's your medical ninjutsu?" Tsunade leaned forward, curious. She knew he'd studied under Nono, but she didn't know the extent of his skills.
"I can use the Healing Technique—pretty well, too. You can test me if you like."
"Alright, listen up…"
Tsunade wasted no time, firing off several medical theory questions. Taichi answered each without hesitation. She ramped up the difficulty, mixing in practical application problems, and his responses grew halting and uncertain.
Now she had a clear picture: solid theory, but almost no real-world practice.
Without warning, Tsunade gathered chakra to her fingertip—soft green light flaring—and drew it across her own forearm. A ten-centimeter gash split open instantly, making Taichi's eye twitch. That's… one way to make a point.
"Well? Hurry up and heal it. Any slower and it'll close on its own."
"O-Oh! Right!"
Forming seals, Taichi pressed a glowing white orb formed on his palm to the wound. Under the shimmering light, the flesh knit together at a visible pace, until no trace of the injury remained.
Tsunade inspected her arm, even running a hand over it. Perfect.
"Not bad. Your Healing Technique's got some real bite to it."
"So… does that mean I can help out at the hospital?" Taichi asked directly.
"Sure. I'll put in a word with them. Just find the director when you get there."
"Thanks, Tsunade-nee!"
"No thanks needed—just make more good food for me."
"That's a given. Even if you didn't ask, you're welcome here anytime."
"Sweet talker. Alright, I'll get going—don't want to interrupt your training." She stood and made for the door, Taichi rising to see her out.
Once she was gone, Taichi tidied the dishes and headed to his training spot. With plenty of chakra left, he went down to the river to grind his ninjutsu practice and rack up more "experience points."
Only after nearly draining his reserves did he move on to basic taijutsu drills and meditation, wrapping up the day's work. This was his daily rhythm—because true strength was built from relentless, unbroken effort.
Without small steps, there is no thousand-mile journey. Without tiny streams, there is no great river or sea.