"Oi, Kakashi! Hold up for a sec."
Kakashi paused near the classroom door, turning back with his usual bored-but-curious expression. His single visible eye landed on Aizen, who was casually walking over, hands in his pockets, looking as chill as ever.
They hadn't talked much before. Aizen got along with most people in class, but he wasn't exactly close to anyone.
"…What is it?" Kakashi asked, tilting his head slightly.
Aizen rubbed the back of his neck, flashing a sheepish grin. "Nothing serious. Just… I was wondering if you could introduce me to your dad."
That caught Kakashi off guard. He had expected something simple—maybe a sparring match, maybe a question about jutsu.
"Huh? Why?" he asked, narrowing his eye slightly.
Aizen's smile faded into something more serious. His tone shifted too.
"I've been studying kenjutsu lately, and your dad's the best in the village, right? I figured, if I'm gonna learn properly, it might as well be from the top."
He spoke calmly, respectfully, but with intent. It was clear he had already thought it through.
Kakashi's eye flicked down to the katana strapped to Aizen's left side.
Yeah, he'd noticed. Aizen had been carrying it for the past few days. Not just for show either. He carried it like someone who meant to use it.
"…Kenjutsu, huh." Kakashi muttered.
He didn't say anything for a moment. Then, finally, he gave a light shrug.
"Well, I guess it's fine. There's no reason to say no."
Aizen's face lit up like a kid in a candy shop.
"Seriously? Thanks, man. I owe you."
Kakashi raised a brow, a little thrown off by the sudden enthusiasm. The guy usually had such a calm vibe; this switch was unexpected.
"…Let's just go before you start glowing or something," he muttered, turning toward the exit again.
Aizen laughed softly, following behind Kakashi.
'Good. Step one to becoming a fake prodigy: Connect with actual prodigy.'
They walked in silence for a bit. Kakashi didn't say a word, just walked calmly ahead like he always did. His posture, his pace, the way he ignored the world around him… yeah, it was kind of intimidating for a kid.
Aizen side-eyed him.
'No wonder they call him a prodigy,' he thought. 'Most kids our age can't even sit still, and here he is, cool as ice.'
But Aizen being Aizen, silence wasn't allowed. Peace and quiet? Not when he had questions.
"Hey, Kakashi. Why do you wear a mask?"
Kakashi didn't even turn around. "To hide my face."
"Why do you wanna hide your face?"
"Because I don't want others to see it."
"Why don't you want others to see it? Is it ugly?"
Kakashi sighed. "…No. It's not."
Aizen tilted his head, pretending to ponder like a monk discovering enlightenment.
"I see…" he murmured.
Kakashi's eye twitched. "What do you 'see', exactly?"
"Nothing much. Just trying to understand if your front teeth stick out of your mouth or something."
Kakashi stumbled for a second, caught himself, then gave a sharp glance over his shoulder.
"No." His tone had the faint edge of irritation.
Aizen kept going, completely unfazed. "So it's not that. Wait—is it the lips? Are they too pouty? Like duck-lips?"
Kakashi finally stopped walking and turned halfway, one eyebrow raised high.
"No. And stop talking about my face."
He said it like he meant it, but Aizen only gave a sheepish grin.
"Sorry, sorry. I was just curious. Can't help it. I'm a seeker of truth, y'know?"
Kakashi sighed again and resumed walking, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "idiot."
Aizen just smiled wider.
'Perfect. That's how friendships are built. One annoying question at a time.'
As they approached the gate of the Hatake Clan compound, Aizen noticed the two guards standing at attention. Their expressions didn't change much, but their eyes definitely lingered on him.
'Yup. Outsider alert. Must be weird seeing a stranger walk up with Little Mr. Prodigy himself.'
Kakashi stopped in front of them and gave a short nod.
"He's my classmate and wants to meet father."
That was it. Straight to the point.
Aizen, however, didn't miss the momentary flicker in the guards' expressions. Their eyes twitched slightly at the mention of his full name and clan. Kakashi might not have noticed, but Aizen certainly did.
'There it is again. The Uchiha effect.'
After a short pause, the guards stepped aside with a nod.
As Aizen walked past them, he gave a small nod and a polite smile.
"Thanks for letting me in."
It wasn't forced or overly respectful. Just enough to leave a good impression.
The guards blinked, mildly surprised.
Not every day you see an Uchiha being… normal.
As Kakashi led him through the Hatake compound, the two boys passed several clan members. Every single one of them paused to acknowledge Kakashi with nods, smiles, or the occasional warm greeting. But their eyes inevitably drifted to Aizen, observing, curious.
An Uchiha, walking beside the young heir of the Hatake Clan? That was definitely a rare sight.
Of course, Sakumo was the clan leader. Who else could represent the Hatake better than the White Fang of Konoha, the hero of the Second Ninja War?
And now, with Kakashi already displaying remarkable talent at such a young age, the clan couldn't be prouder.
Father and son, both legends in the making.
Aizen kept his posture relaxed, offering slight nods in return where needed.
'Well then. Time to see what the White Fang is really like.'
************
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