"Fourth Hokage-sama, my name is Nara Kazuki," Kazuki introduced himself with a polite smile.Minato Namikaze nodded, his gaze shifting between Kazuki and Kakashi.
Minato knew his last surviving student all too well.He understood — after losing both Obito and Rin — just how shattered Kakashi's heart truly was.
Minato couldn't guess exactly what kind of agony Kakashi was enduring, but as his teacher, it was his duty to help his brilliant pupil find a way back to life.
"Kazuki, have you had lunch yet? Want to grab some yakiniku with us?"Minato's voice was bright and casual — but Kazuki, sharp-eyed, caught the flicker of sorrow when the Fourth's gaze brushed over the gravestones.
Minato's sunshine smile was genuine, but it was also armor.As a ninja, as Konoha's Hokage, he couldn't afford to show weakness.
Weakness would be interpreted as fragility.And with the war against Iwagakure barely ended through painful concessions, Konoha needed peace, recovery — not a leader drowning in grief.
Minato had to shoulder the heavy title of Hokage, no matter the cost.
"I haven't eaten yet, Hokage-sama," Kazuki replied immediately, understanding the real intention behind the invitation.
The Fourth Hokage clearly hoped Kazuki could somehow reach Kakashi — if not heal him, then at least keep him company.After all, they knew each other, however slightly.
Kazuki had no objection.If nothing else, getting closer to Kakashi could open doors: like getting his hands on the secrets of Chidori.Not to mention strengthening ties with Minato himself — however short his term as Hokage might be.
Thus Kazuki followed Minato and Kakashi to the Akimichi clan's famed barbecue restaurant.Inside, Kakashi remained a hollow shell, staring blankly at his plate.
Minato personally placed slices of grilled meat into Kakashi's bowl — but Kakashi didn't even touch them, letting them grow cold.
Minato sighed inwardly.He had other duties to attend to that afternoon.After paying the bill and offering a few soft words of comfort, he departed, leaving Kazuki and Kakashi alone.
Kazuki said nothing.Instead, he sat silently, forming hand seals, quietly practicing his ninjutsu under the table.
In this kind of oppressive atmosphere, sooner or later, someone would break first.
"...I'm done eating."As expected, after Kazuki finished cycling his chakra for the second time, Kakashi finally cracked.He stood up abruptly, ready to leave.
"Kakashi, take this," Kazuki said, handing over the gift.
Kakashi paused, dead-fish eyes fixing on Kazuki.
"You know the clan asked me to give it to you. If you don't accept it, I'll just leave it at your house," Kazuki shrugged casually.
After a moment of dead silence, Kakashi accepted the deer antlers and wordlessly walked off.
Kazuki chuckled to himself and naturally fell into step beside him, taking in the sights of the real-world Konoha.The village felt far more alive than the manga ever portrayed — dusty streets, slightly cracked walls, posters everywhere saying "Do Not Litter Ninja Tools."
Kakashi threw a glance at Kazuki, visibly annoyed.
"I'm going home," Kakashi stated, each word clipped.
Did this idiot not know how to read the room?
"I'm heading that way too," Kazuki waved nonchalantly.
Kakashi hesitated.The Nara Clan compound was sort of on the way to his home from here...
Fine.Technically true.
The awkward silence stretched again as they walked.Kazuki hadn't lied — when they reached a fork in the road, he casually veered off toward the Nara compound, leaving Kakashi behind.
Kakashi blinked in surprise but quickly fell back into brooding over the blood on his hands.
Back at the Nara compound, Kazuki spotted the same jōnin from earlier — the one who had sent him to check on Kakashi — feeding the deer.
"You met Kakashi?"The jōnin asked without looking up.
"Yeah. Gave him the deer antlers too.Though... he doesn't seem too eager to talk to anyone," Kazuki reported, shrugging.
The jōnin simply nodded, as if that was exactly what he expected.
"Whether he talks or not doesn't matter," the man said, his voice calm as he patted a deer's head. "What matters is showing where we stand."
He paused, then turned to Kazuki with a more serious gaze.
"Kazuki, your parents died on the battlefield. Before they died, they entrusted you to me," he said.
Kazuki's memory clicked into place.
Nara Suzaku.
He remembered now — this man had been assigned to monitor Naruto back in the day.During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Suzaku had even been one of the rare Nara jōnin mentioned by name.
"Do you know why I wanted you to approach Kakashi?" Suzaku asked, his tone probing.
The Nara Clan carried the burden of Konoha's strategic brain.Strength wasn't everything — but a Nara without a working brain would be a tragedy.
"If I had to guess... it's because Kakashi is the Fourth Hokage's student.A genius ninja with a high chance of becoming the next Hokage," Kazuki answered without missing a beat.
Suzaku's face broke into a pleased smile.
Good.Quick mind, sharp instincts — even if the boy's raw strength was lacking, he could still be molded into a top-tier strategist.
Kazuki, for his part, didn't mind Suzaku's scheming.
It didn't change his path.
He had no time to waste.Every day, every second — he had to grow stronger, faster, smarter.Only by seizing his own destiny could he survive.
As for Kakashi...Yes, he would become Hokage someday — but the Sixth, not the Fifth.
Minato's death on the Night of the Nine-Tails was almost set in stone...Unless Kazuki could change that.
"I'm going to train," Kazuki said, already walking away, heart pounding with restless urgency.
Suzaku watched him leave, quietly satisfied.
A ninja devoted to training — nothing unusual.
He smiled faintly, feeding another handful of grass to the deer.
"Pity about the talent," Suzaku sighed.
Hard work was fine.But without talent, you could never become truly strong.