Konohagakure
"Do we really have to do this?"
"Do you want me to train you or not?"
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Kakashi led Rei towards the Arakawa household, the one place she had been avoiding since her brother left with Sakumo. Rei's feet dragged slightly, her reluctance evident in every step. The familiar sight of the house loomed ahead, stirring a mix of emotions she wasn't ready to face.
Kakashi's expression was unreadable as usual, but Rei could sense his determination. It had been nearly two weeks since she'd started living with him, and while their relationship had evolved from tense silence to a sort of mutual understanding, moments like these still felt awkward.
"We already trained a few times," Rei said, referring to their sessions over the past couple of days. She tried to keep her voice light, masking the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. "I feel like I was doing just fine."
Kakashi glanced back at her, his dark eye scrutinizing. "Do you want to get better?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You won't improve with just basic training. We need to find out more about your clan."
Rei blew a few strands of hair away from her face, feeling exasperated. When Kakashi had offered to train her, she didn't know it meant searching the one place she avoided at all costs: her parents' study. The mere thought of stepping into that room made her chest tighten, but she refused to show any weakness.
Not in front of Kakashi.
As they approached the house, Rei's mind raced, searching for a way to change Kakashi's mind. Anything to avoid going inside. "You know," she began, forcing a cheerful tone, "Obito and I have been practicing together a lot. He's been getting better, but he's still terrible at target practice."
She let out a laugh that sounded hollow even to her own ears. "You should come join us sometime. Obito has been wanting to spar against you for ages now. It's practically all he talks about after he found out I've been staying at your house." Her words tumbled out faster now, desperation creeping in. "Actually, why don't we head to the Uchiha compound to train together? Their training grounds are so cool—"
"We're not here to talk about Obito," Kakashi interrupted, his voice firm as they reached the front door. "This is about you and your training. You asked me for help. If you want to get stronger, you need to take this seriously."
Rei felt a pang of frustration mingled with a grudging respect. Kakashi was always so focused, so driven. It was something she admired about him, even if right now it was the last thing she wanted. "I am taking it seriously," she insisted, her tone more defensive than she intended. "But we could still find Obito after this. We could all train together, work on our jutsus. It'd be fun, right?"
Kakashi sighed, his tone turning colder. "Fun doesn't help you survive in battle, Rei. And Obito... he's a lost cause. He'll always be at the bottom. Training with him would be pointless."
Rei stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "You think Obito's hopeless? Then what makes me different? Why do you want to train me?"
Kakashi paused, his hand on the door handle. For a moment, Rei thought he might answer, might give her some insight into why he was putting so much effort into her training. But instead, he turned the handle and stepped inside, leaving Rei to follow.
As they walked through the house, Rei's heart began to race. The air was thick with the scent of dust that had accumulated over the past week and a half. Each step felt heavier than the last as they passed the common room where Takeshi and she had found their father's lifeless body. Rei forced herself to look straight ahead, avoiding the room entirely. The memory of that day was still fresh in her young mind, a wound that refused to heal.
Her breathing became shallow, and her palms began to sweat. The house felt like a tomb, each creak of the floorboards a ghostly reminder of the memories she tried so hard to bury. Rei usually went straight to her room when she came home, avoiding the rest of the house. The silence now was unbearable, a reminder of everything she had lost.
She clenched her fists, trying to ground herself in the present, but her mind kept drifting back to that day. The sight of her father, the color drained from his skin... The way Takeshi had looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of grief and determination. Now he was gone too, off on a mission with Sakumo, leaving her behind once again.
"We're almost there," Kakashi's voice broke through her thoughts, snapping her back to reality. He was already at the back of the house, standing in front of the door to the study.
Rei swallowed hard, pushing the memories back down. She forced her feet to move, walking past the common room. Her gaze fell on the plant pot next to the study room door. She hesitated for a moment before reaching behind it to retrieve the small, rusted key she had hidden there long ago after Takeshi left it out on the kitchen table. She had meant for it to stay hidden, neither of them having to carry its burden. Her hand trembled as she handed it to Kakashi, who took it without a word.
"Let's make this quick," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady. The sooner they were done, the sooner she could leave this place.
Kakashi nodded, inserting the key into the lock. The door creaked open, revealing the room that had been untouched for years. Dust covered the shelves, and the air was thick with the scent of old parchment. Rei felt a lump in her throat as they stepped inside.
Kakashi moved methodically, his eyes scanning the shelves and drawers for anything that might be useful. Rei hovered near the door, eyes locked on Kakashi's back as to avoid the picture frames that lined the walls and desk. Her mind raced for a distraction. "You know, Obito's been working on a new fire jutsu. He almost got it right yesterday, but—"
"Focus, Rei," Kakashi interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We're here to find something that can help you. Stop trying to change the subject."
Rei bit her lip, frustration mingling with anxiety. The room was filled with so much more than she expected. Family pictures, many she had never seen before, lined the walls and desk—pictures of her mother, father, Takeshi, and her—but also...others?
Letters and scrolls were scattered across the room, some bearing the seals of other lands neighboring the Land of Fire. Kakashi's hands moved swiftly through the materials, prioritizing technique scrolls and clan books.
"These are...," Kakashi muttered, pulling out a stack of scrolls from a drawer. "Your father was working on something. Techniques unique to your clan. This is valuable."
Rei's breath hitched as she caught sight of a letter with her mother's handwriting. Her vision blurred as she stared at the photos, her parents' faces smiling back at her among a group of unknown people. She felt her chest tighten, the air growing thinner as panic set in. She was on the verge of hyperventilating when Kakashi noticed something was wrong.
"Rei," Kakashi's voice was sharp, pulling her back. He quickly moved to her side, guiding her out of the room. "Breathe. We're done here."
Outside, the fresh air hit her like a wave, and she took deep, gasping breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Kakashi stood silently beside her, giving her time to collect herself. He looked at the few scrolls in his arms and glanced at the deep orange sky, the sun setting as they stood there. He looked back at Rei with a sigh. "It's dinner time. Let's head back and cook something. Maybe this time you can go five minutes without hurting yourself... not that you feel it anyway."
Rei's eyes snapped to Kakashi, his remark enough to ground her. Her brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing to a glare as she nearly snarled, "What do you mean by that?! I've gotten way better!"
Kakashi snorted, his mask hiding the slight tug at the corner of his lips. "No thanks to you."
"Hey!"
As they walked back to the Hatake household, Rei felt a strange mix of emotions. The panic from earlier had subsided, replaced by a familiar irritation with Kakashi. Yet underneath it all, there was a small spark of gratitude. He had known when to pull her out of that room, had given her space to breathe without making a big deal out of it. It was... surprisingly considerate.
The sun had almost set by the time they reached Kakashi's house. As they entered, Rei was struck once again by how different it felt from her own home. It was sparse, functional, but somehow less oppressive than the Arakawa household had become.
"I'll start on dinner," Kakashi said, heading towards the kitchen. "You can set the table."
Rei nodded, moving to gather plates and chopsticks. As she set the table, she found herself glancing at Kakashi, watching as he efficiently prepared their meal. It was strange, she thought, how quickly this had become their routine. Two weeks ago, the idea of living with Kakashi, of sharing meals and training together, would have seemed absurd. Now... well, it wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was becoming familiar.
As they sat down to eat, Rei couldn't help but think of Takeshi. Was he eating well on his mission? Did he miss her as much as she missed him? The thought of her brother sent a pang through her chest, a mixture of longing and resentment that she quickly pushed aside.
"We'll start going through those scrolls after dinner," Kakashi said, breaking into her thoughts. "There might be some techniques you can start practicing tomorrow."
Rei nodded, her earlier reluctance giving way to curiosity. Despite everything, the idea of learning new jutsu, of becoming stronger, still excited her. "Do you think there might be something about... about my condition in there?" she asked hesitantly.
Kakashi's eye met hers, his expression unreadable.
"Maybe," he said after a moment. "But even if there isn't, understanding your clan's techniques will help you compensate for it."
Rei nodded, feeling a surge of determination. Whatever these scrolls held, whatever secrets her clan had kept, she would unravel them. She had to become stronger, had to prove that she could stand on her own. Because in the end, that's what being an Arakawa meant – standing tall, no matter what life threw at you.
As they finished their meal and prepared to delve into the clan's secrets, Rei couldn't shake the feeling that she was on the brink of something big. Whatever lay ahead, whatever truths or challenges awaited her, she would face them head-on. Because that's what Takeshi would do, what her parents would have wanted. And maybe, just maybe, with Kakashi's help, she might actually succeed.
The evening air had cooled considerably as Rei and Kakashi cleared the dinner table. Through the kitchen window, Rei could see the first stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky. It reminded her of nights spent stargazing with Takeshi, his quiet voice pointing out constellations and telling stories of ancient shinobi who had supposedly become one with the cosmos. The memory brought a bittersweet smile to her face.
"Ready?" Kakashi's voice pulled her from her reverie.
He stood in the doorway, the scrolls and books they had retrieved from her family's study tucked under his arm.
Rei nodded, pushing aside the longing for her brother. "Yeah, let's do this."
They moved to the living room, where Kakashi had already cleared a space on the low table. The dim lighting in the room created a cozy, almost secretive atmosphere as they settled on the floor, surrounded by the remnants of her clan's knowledge. The cool evening breeze drifted in through the open window, rustling the papers and carrying with it the scent of night-blooming jasmine from a neighbor's garden.
Kakashi carefully laid out the scrolls and books, treating each one with a reverence that surprised Rei. She had always known him to be meticulous, but there was something different in the way he handled these artifacts of her clan. It was as if he understood their importance, not just as tools for jutsu, but as pieces of her heritage.
"Where should we start?" Rei asked, her eyes roving over the collection. There was so much here, so much potential knowledge. It was overwhelming.
Kakashi considered for a moment before reaching for a scroll with a red ribbon tied around it. "This one caught my eye earlier," he said, carefully unrolling it. "It seems to be about basic fire techniques unique to your clan."
Rei leaned in, her curiosity piqued. The scroll was covered in intricate diagrams and densely packed text, some of it in a script she didn't recognize. "Can you read all of this?" she asked, glancing at Kakashi.
He nodded, his eye scanning the document. "Most of it. Some of these symbols are old, probably specific to your clan, but I can make out the general meaning."
As Kakashi began to explain the contents of the scroll, Rei found herself drawn in. The techniques described were fascinating – variations on standard fire jutsu that incorporated the Arakawa clan's unique chakra properties. One in particular caught her attention.
"The Spiral Fireball Technique," Kakashi said, pointing to a detailed illustration. "It's a fundamental fire jutsu, and likely one of the first your clan members would have mastered. But look here," he indicated a series of additional notes, "your clan's version incorporates a spiraling motion that intensifies the heat and improves control."
Rei nodded, her eyes wide as she tried to absorb every detail. She could almost feel the heat of the imaginary flames as she read through the description, envisioning how she might mold her chakra to produce such a powerful burst of fire.
"Your fire affinity will give you a natural advantage with these types of techniques," Kakashi continued, his tone calm but instructive. "But remember, control is just as important as power. Fire jutsu can be as destructive to the user as it is to the enemy if not handled properly."
Rei nodded, glancing at Kakashi. In that moment, with his focus on the scroll and his measured explanations, she was struck by how much he reminded her of the stories she'd heard about the White Fang. Before she could stop herself, the words slipped out: "You really are the White Fang of the Leaf's son."
The change in Kakashi was immediate and stark. His body tensed, and when he turned to look at her, his eye was hard and cold. "Don't say that again," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Rei recoiled slightly, surprised by the intensity of his reaction. "Okay, I won't," she said, turning her head away with a mumble, "Jerk."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them, the earlier camaraderie evaporating like morning dew under a harsh sun. Rei mentally kicked herself. She knew Kakashi had a complicated relationship with his father's legacy, even if she didn't understand why. She should have known better than to bring it up.
Seeking to break the tension, Rei quickly reached for another scroll. This one was bound with a blue cord and seemed newer than the others. As she unrolled it, her eyes widened with excitement. "Look at these!" she exclaimed, pointing to a technique that channeled lightning chakra into a spear-like form, designed to pierce through even the toughest defenses. "Lightning Release: False Darkness. That sounds awesome! Maybe I can learn lightning jutsu too!"
Kakashi leaned over, his interest seemingly piqued despite his earlier irritation. "Not bad," he admitted. "Lightning jutsu requires precision. It's like threading a needle with lightning." He paused, giving her a skeptical look. "But I don't think you should focus on another affinity when you can't even master fire."
Rei shook her head, her expression determined. The excitement of potentially learning new techniques overshadowed her earlier misstep. "I can learn them at the same time, become twice as powerful! I know I can do it."
Kakashi smirked slightly, some of the earlier tension dissipating. "You should focus on training your fire jutsu before jumping into something that can literally fry you if you mess up."
"You're such a pessimist," Rei muttered, flipping to another scroll. Her eyes lit up as she found something that seemed to combine her interests. "Look, here's something combining fire and kenjutsu," she pointed to a technique where a blade was coated with fire chakra, turning each strike into a lethal combination of flame and steel.
Kakashi nodded in approval. "Fire Release: Blazing Sword. A good technique, but dangerous. You need to maintain perfect balance between your chakra and your blade, or you'll end up damaging your own weapon."
Rei raised her brows, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Maybe you should train with me on these fire jutsu. It could be fun."
Kakashi gave her a flat look. "I have an earth chakra affinity, Rei. Not fire. You'd be better off training with someone who actually shares your affinity... and no, I'm not talking about Obito."
Rei frowned, clearly not expecting that response, nor the unnecessary jab at her friend. "But you're supposed to be the genius, right? You should be able to master all the affinities eventually. And by then, I'll have already mastered all of these before you."
Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly, clearly unimpressed. "You're an idiot if you think you'll reach that level of mastery before me. It's not even about speed, it's about control and precision."
Rei grinned, noticing how talkative the Hatake had become around her. It was a far cry from the silent meals and awkward exchanges of their first few days living together. "Sure, but it'll be more satisfying to say I did it first."
"First? You?" Kakashi scoffed, crossing his arms. "I doubt you'll even last a week with that mentality."
Rei gave him a challenging look. "Oh, I'm going to do it, and when I do, I'll make sure you know."
Kakashi's gaze softened for just a moment before he reverted back to his usual stoic expression. "You're going to be insufferable, aren't you?"
"Only to you," Rei quipped, flipping through the books this time. She tossed him a teasing glance. "You'll just have to get used to it, Mr. Prodigy."
"Annoying," Kakashi muttered under his breath, shaking his head, though the faintest hint of amusement lingered in his tone.
"Idiot," Rei shot back, smirking.
As she continued to shift through the materials, her hand paused over a particular book. The title caught her eye—Red Streak Activation. The cover depicted the silhouette of a figure, a vivid red line running vertically down their right side from head to toe. The imagery was striking, almost eerie in its simplicity.
Rei's playful expression faded as she carefully opened the book, curiosity and an uneasy feeling intertwining. Her eyes widened as she saw the pages within—ripped out, torn apart as if someone had desperately wanted to hide whatever knowledge it contained. Only a small corner of a page remained, with the title "Red Streak Activation: S" before it too was abruptly cut off.
The mood in the room shifted drastically, the playful banter replaced by a thick tension. Rei could feel her heart race, her mind spinning with questions. Why had someone gone to such lengths to destroy this information? What was so important about this ability that it had to be erased from existence?
Kakashi, sensing the sudden change, leaned over to see what had caught her attention. His eyes narrowed as he took in the damage. "Looks like someone didn't want anyone learning about this."
Rei nodded, her fingers tracing the jagged edge where the page had been ripped. "But why? What were they trying to hide?"
Kakashi's expression shifted, the light-hearted banter between them dissolving into something more somber. "Whatever it was, it's something they didn't want falling into the wrong hands. Maybe it's something dangerous—or something powerful."
Rei swallowed, her earlier confidence now fraying at the edges. She shut the book slowly, the ripped pages echoing in her mind like a warning. One thought consumed her, rising above the confusion and the sudden tension. Rei's grip tightened on the cover, the uncertainty gnawing at her as the truth she sought slipped further from her grasp.
Does Big Brother know?Konohagakure
"Do we really have to do this?"
"Do you want me to train you or not?"
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Kakashi led Rei towards the Arakawa household, the one place she had been avoiding since her brother left with Sakumo. Rei's feet dragged slightly, her reluctance evident in every step. The familiar sight of the house loomed ahead, stirring a mix of emotions she wasn't ready to face.
Kakashi's expression was unreadable as usual, but Rei could sense his determination. It had been nearly two weeks since she'd started living with him, and while their relationship had evolved from tense silence to a sort of mutual understanding, moments like these still felt awkward.
"We already trained a few times," Rei said, referring to their sessions over the past couple of days. She tried to keep her voice light, masking the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. "I feel like I was doing just fine."
Kakashi glanced back at her, his dark eye scrutinizing. "Do you want to get better?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You won't improve with just basic training. We need to find out more about your clan."
Rei blew a few strands of hair away from her face, feeling exasperated. When Kakashi had offered to train her, she didn't know it meant searching the one place she avoided at all costs: her parents' study. The mere thought of stepping into that room made her chest tighten, but she refused to show any weakness.
Not in front of Kakashi.
As they approached the house, Rei's mind raced, searching for a way to change Kakashi's mind. Anything to avoid going inside. "You know," she began, forcing a cheerful tone, "Obito and I have been practicing together a lot. He's been getting better, but he's still terrible at target practice."
She let out a laugh that sounded hollow even to her own ears. "You should come join us sometime. Obito has been wanting to spar against you for ages now. It's practically all he talks about after he found out I've been staying at your house." Her words tumbled out faster now, desperation creeping in. "Actually, why don't we head to the Uchiha compound to train together? Their training grounds are so cool—"
"We're not here to talk about Obito," Kakashi interrupted, his voice firm as they reached the front door. "This is about you and your training. You asked me for help. If you want to get stronger, you need to take this seriously."
Rei felt a pang of frustration mingled with a grudging respect. Kakashi was always so focused, so driven. It was something she admired about him, even if right now it was the last thing she wanted. "I am taking it seriously," she insisted, her tone more defensive than she intended. "But we could still find Obito after this. We could all train together, work on our jutsus. It'd be fun, right?"
Kakashi sighed, his tone turning colder. "Fun doesn't help you survive in battle, Rei. And Obito... he's a lost cause. He'll always be at the bottom. Training with him would be pointless."
Rei stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. "You think Obito's hopeless? Then what makes me different? Why do you want to train me?"
Kakashi paused, his hand on the door handle. For a moment, Rei thought he might answer, might give her some insight into why he was putting so much effort into her training. But instead, he turned the handle and stepped inside, leaving Rei to follow.
As they walked through the house, Rei's heart began to race. The air was thick with the scent of dust that had accumulated over the past week and a half. Each step felt heavier than the last as they passed the common room where Takeshi and she had found their father's lifeless body. Rei forced herself to look straight ahead, avoiding the room entirely. The memory of that day was still fresh in her young mind, a wound that refused to heal.
Her breathing became shallow, and her palms began to sweat. The house felt like a tomb, each creak of the floorboards a ghostly reminder of the memories she tried so hard to bury. Rei usually went straight to her room when she came home, avoiding the rest of the house. The silence now was unbearable, a reminder of everything she had lost.
She clenched her fists, trying to ground herself in the present, but her mind kept drifting back to that day. The sight of her father, the color drained from his skin... The way Takeshi had looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of grief and determination. Now he was gone too, off on a mission with Sakumo, leaving her behind once again.
"We're almost there," Kakashi's voice broke through her thoughts, snapping her back to reality. He was already at the back of the house, standing in front of the door to the study.
Rei swallowed hard, pushing the memories back down. She forced her feet to move, walking past the common room. Her gaze fell on the plant pot next to the study room door. She hesitated for a moment before reaching behind it to retrieve the small, rusted key she had hidden there long ago after Takeshi left it out on the kitchen table. She had meant for it to stay hidden, neither of them having to carry its burden. Her hand trembled as she handed it to Kakashi, who took it without a word.
"Let's make this quick," she muttered, trying to keep her voice steady. The sooner they were done, the sooner she could leave this place.
Kakashi nodded, inserting the key into the lock. The door creaked open, revealing the room that had been untouched for years. Dust covered the shelves, and the air was thick with the scent of old parchment. Rei felt a lump in her throat as they stepped inside.
Kakashi moved methodically, his eyes scanning the shelves and drawers for anything that might be useful. Rei hovered near the door, eyes locked on Kakashi's back as to avoid the picture frames that lined the walls and desk. Her mind raced for a distraction. "You know, Obito's been working on a new fire jutsu. He almost got it right yesterday, but—"
"Focus, Rei," Kakashi interrupted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We're here to find something that can help you. Stop trying to change the subject."
Rei bit her lip, frustration mingling with anxiety. The room was filled with so much more than she expected. Family pictures, many she had never seen before, lined the walls and desk—pictures of her mother, father, Takeshi, and her—but also...others?
Letters and scrolls were scattered across the room, some bearing the seals of other lands neighboring the Land of Fire. Kakashi's hands moved swiftly through the materials, prioritizing technique scrolls and clan books.
"These are...," Kakashi muttered, pulling out a stack of scrolls from a drawer. "Your father was working on something. Techniques unique to your clan. This is valuable."
Rei's breath hitched as she caught sight of a letter with her mother's handwriting. Her vision blurred as she stared at the photos, her parents' faces smiling back at her among a group of unknown people. She felt her chest tighten, the air growing thinner as panic set in. She was on the verge of hyperventilating when Kakashi noticed something was wrong.
"Rei," Kakashi's voice was sharp, pulling her back. He quickly moved to her side, guiding her out of the room. "Breathe. We're done here."
Outside, the fresh air hit her like a wave, and she took deep, gasping breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. Kakashi stood silently beside her, giving her time to collect herself. He looked at the few scrolls in his arms and glanced at the deep orange sky, the sun setting as they stood there. He looked back at Rei with a sigh. "It's dinner time. Let's head back and cook something. Maybe this time you can go five minutes without hurting yourself... not that you feel it anyway."
Rei's eyes snapped to Kakashi, his remark enough to ground her. Her brows furrowed, her eyes narrowing to a glare as she nearly snarled, "What do you mean by that?! I've gotten way better!"
Kakashi snorted, his mask hiding the slight tug at the corner of his lips. "No thanks to you."
"Hey!"
As they walked back to the Hatake household, Rei felt a strange mix of emotions. The panic from earlier had subsided, replaced by a familiar irritation with Kakashi. Yet underneath it all, there was a small spark of gratitude. He had known when to pull her out of that room, had given her space to breathe without making a big deal out of it. It was... surprisingly considerate.
The sun had almost set by the time they reached Kakashi's house. As they entered, Rei was struck once again by how different it felt from her own home. It was sparse, functional, but somehow less oppressive than the Arakawa household had become.
"I'll start on dinner," Kakashi said, heading towards the kitchen. "You can set the table."
Rei nodded, moving to gather plates and chopsticks. As she set the table, she found herself glancing at Kakashi, watching as he efficiently prepared their meal. It was strange, she thought, how quickly this had become their routine. Two weeks ago, the idea of living with Kakashi, of sharing meals and training together, would have seemed absurd. Now... well, it wasn't exactly comfortable, but it was becoming familiar.
As they sat down to eat, Rei couldn't help but think of Takeshi. Was he eating well on his mission? Did he miss her as much as she missed him? The thought of her brother sent a pang through her chest, a mixture of longing and resentment that she quickly pushed aside.
"We'll start going through those scrolls after dinner," Kakashi said, breaking into her thoughts. "There might be some techniques you can start practicing tomorrow."
Rei nodded, her earlier reluctance giving way to curiosity. Despite everything, the idea of learning new jutsu, of becoming stronger, still excited her. "Do you think there might be something about... about my condition in there?" she asked hesitantly.
Kakashi's eye met hers, his expression unreadable.
"Maybe," he said after a moment. "But even if there isn't, understanding your clan's techniques will help you compensate for it."
Rei nodded, feeling a surge of determination. Whatever these scrolls held, whatever secrets her clan had kept, she would unravel them. She had to become stronger, had to prove that she could stand on her own. Because in the end, that's what being an Arakawa meant – standing tall, no matter what life threw at you.
As they finished their meal and prepared to delve into the clan's secrets, Rei couldn't shake the feeling that she was on the brink of something big. Whatever lay ahead, whatever truths or challenges awaited her, she would face them head-on. Because that's what Takeshi would do, what her parents would have wanted. And maybe, just maybe, with Kakashi's help, she might actually succeed.
The evening air had cooled considerably as Rei and Kakashi cleared the dinner table. Through the kitchen window, Rei could see the first stars beginning to appear in the darkening sky. It reminded her of nights spent stargazing with Takeshi, his quiet voice pointing out constellations and telling stories of ancient shinobi who had supposedly become one with the cosmos. The memory brought a bittersweet smile to her face.
"Ready?" Kakashi's voice pulled her from her reverie.
He stood in the doorway, the scrolls and books they had retrieved from her family's study tucked under his arm.
Rei nodded, pushing aside the longing for her brother. "Yeah, let's do this."
They moved to the living room, where Kakashi had already cleared a space on the low table. The dim lighting in the room created a cozy, almost secretive atmosphere as they settled on the floor, surrounded by the remnants of her clan's knowledge. The cool evening breeze drifted in through the open window, rustling the papers and carrying with it the scent of night-blooming jasmine from a neighbor's garden.
Kakashi carefully laid out the scrolls and books, treating each one with a reverence that surprised Rei. She had always known him to be meticulous, but there was something different in the way he handled these artifacts of her clan. It was as if he understood their importance, not just as tools for jutsu, but as pieces of her heritage.
"Where should we start?" Rei asked, her eyes roving over the collection. There was so much here, so much potential knowledge. It was overwhelming.
Kakashi considered for a moment before reaching for a scroll with a red ribbon tied around it. "This one caught my eye earlier," he said, carefully unrolling it. "It seems to be about basic fire techniques unique to your clan."
Rei leaned in, her curiosity piqued. The scroll was covered in intricate diagrams and densely packed text, some of it in a script she didn't recognize. "Can you read all of this?" she asked, glancing at Kakashi.
He nodded, his eye scanning the document. "Most of it. Some of these symbols are old, probably specific to your clan, but I can make out the general meaning."
As Kakashi began to explain the contents of the scroll, Rei found herself drawn in. The techniques described were fascinating – variations on standard fire jutsu that incorporated the Arakawa clan's unique chakra properties. One in particular caught her attention.
"The Spiral Fireball Technique," Kakashi said, pointing to a detailed illustration. "It's a fundamental fire jutsu, and likely one of the first your clan members would have mastered. But look here," he indicated a series of additional notes, "your clan's version incorporates a spiraling motion that intensifies the heat and improves control."
Rei nodded, her eyes wide as she tried to absorb every detail. She could almost feel the heat of the imaginary flames as she read through the description, envisioning how she might mold her chakra to produce such a powerful burst of fire.
"Your fire affinity will give you a natural advantage with these types of techniques," Kakashi continued, his tone calm but instructive. "But remember, control is just as important as power. Fire jutsu can be as destructive to the user as it is to the enemy if not handled properly."
Rei nodded, glancing at Kakashi. In that moment, with his focus on the scroll and his measured explanations, she was struck by how much he reminded her of the stories she'd heard about the White Fang. Before she could stop herself, the words slipped out: "You really are the White Fang of the Leaf's son."
The change in Kakashi was immediate and stark. His body tensed, and when he turned to look at her, his eye was hard and cold. "Don't say that again," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
Rei recoiled slightly, surprised by the intensity of his reaction. "Okay, I won't," she said, turning her head away with a mumble, "Jerk."
An uncomfortable silence fell between them, the earlier camaraderie evaporating like morning dew under a harsh sun. Rei mentally kicked herself. She knew Kakashi had a complicated relationship with his father's legacy, even if she didn't understand why. She should have known better than to bring it up.
Seeking to break the tension, Rei quickly reached for another scroll. This one was bound with a blue cord and seemed newer than the others. As she unrolled it, her eyes widened with excitement. "Look at these!" she exclaimed, pointing to a technique that channeled lightning chakra into a spear-like form, designed to pierce through even the toughest defenses. "Lightning Release: False Darkness. That sounds awesome! Maybe I can learn lightning jutsu too!"
Kakashi leaned over, his interest seemingly piqued despite his earlier irritation. "Not bad," he admitted. "Lightning jutsu requires precision. It's like threading a needle with lightning." He paused, giving her a skeptical look. "But I don't think you should focus on another affinity when you can't even master fire."
Rei shook her head, her expression determined. The excitement of potentially learning new techniques overshadowed her earlier misstep. "I can learn them at the same time, become twice as powerful! I know I can do it."
Kakashi smirked slightly, some of the earlier tension dissipating. "You should focus on training your fire jutsu before jumping into something that can literally fry you if you mess up."
"You're such a pessimist," Rei muttered, flipping to another scroll. Her eyes lit up as she found something that seemed to combine her interests. "Look, here's something combining fire and kenjutsu," she pointed to a technique where a blade was coated with fire chakra, turning each strike into a lethal combination of flame and steel.
Kakashi nodded in approval. "Fire Release: Blazing Sword. A good technique, but dangerous. You need to maintain perfect balance between your chakra and your blade, or you'll end up damaging your own weapon."
Rei raised her brows, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Maybe you should train with me on these fire jutsu. It could be fun."
Kakashi gave her a flat look. "I have an earth chakra affinity, Rei. Not fire. You'd be better off training with someone who actually shares your affinity... and no, I'm not talking about Obito."
Rei frowned, clearly not expecting that response, nor the unnecessary jab at her friend. "But you're supposed to be the genius, right? You should be able to master all the affinities eventually. And by then, I'll have already mastered all of these before you."
Kakashi's eye narrowed slightly, clearly unimpressed. "You're an idiot if you think you'll reach that level of mastery before me. It's not even about speed, it's about control and precision."
Rei grinned, noticing how talkative the Hatake had become around her. It was a far cry from the silent meals and awkward exchanges of their first few days living together. "Sure, but it'll be more satisfying to say I did it first."
"First? You?" Kakashi scoffed, crossing his arms. "I doubt you'll even last a week with that mentality."
Rei gave him a challenging look. "Oh, I'm going to do it, and when I do, I'll make sure you know."
Kakashi's gaze softened for just a moment before he reverted back to his usual stoic expression. "You're going to be insufferable, aren't you?"
"Only to you," Rei quipped, flipping through the books this time. She tossed him a teasing glance. "You'll just have to get used to it, Mr. Prodigy."
"Annoying," Kakashi muttered under his breath, shaking his head, though the faintest hint of amusement lingered in his tone.
"Idiot," Rei shot back, smirking.
As she continued to shift through the materials, her hand paused over a particular book. The title caught her eye—Red Streak Activation. The cover depicted the silhouette of a figure, a vivid red line running vertically down their right side from head to toe. The imagery was striking, almost eerie in its simplicity.
Rei's playful expression faded as she carefully opened the book, curiosity and an uneasy feeling intertwining. Her eyes widened as she saw the pages within—ripped out, torn apart as if someone had desperately wanted to hide whatever knowledge it contained. Only a small corner of a page remained, with the title "Red Streak Activation: S" before it too was abruptly cut off.
The mood in the room shifted drastically, the playful banter replaced by a thick tension. Rei could feel her heart race, her mind spinning with questions. Why had someone gone to such lengths to destroy this information? What was so important about this ability that it had to be erased from existence?
Kakashi, sensing the sudden change, leaned over to see what had caught her attention. His eyes narrowed as he took in the damage. "Looks like someone didn't want anyone learning about this."
Rei nodded, her fingers tracing the jagged edge where the page had been ripped. "But why? What were they trying to hide?"
Kakashi's expression shifted, the light-hearted banter between them dissolving into something more somber. "Whatever it was, it's something they didn't want falling into the wrong hands. Maybe it's something dangerous—or something powerful."
Rei swallowed, her earlier confidence now fraying at the edges. She shut the book slowly, the ripped pages echoing in her mind like a warning. One thought consumed her, rising above the confusion and the sudden tension. Rei's grip tightened on the cover, the uncertainty gnawing at her as the truth she sought slipped further from her grasp.
Does Big Brother know?