For a shinobi of Kakashi Hatake's caliber, boredom was a far more subtle enemy than any enemy ninja. It was the silence that crept in when the adrenaline of a mission had faded, leaving a void that had to be filled. Today, that boredom was particularly acute.
He was on his surveillance "mission," which now felt more like babysitting duty than a covert operation. He was perched comfortably on the branch of a large oak tree at the edge of the Nara compound, an orange-covered book in his hand, though he hadn't turned a page in nearly an hour. From his vantage point, he had a perfect view of the main house's veranda.
There, Naruto was playing with Shikamaru and Choji. More accurately, Naruto was trying very hard to get Shikamaru and Choji to play. They were engaged in some sort of complex board game that seemed to involve more napping, on Shikamaru's part, and eating, on Choji's part, than actual gameplay. Naruto, of course, was impatient. He was constantly trying to suggest new, more "fun" rules, most of which involved flipping the board and declaring himself the winner.
Kakashi sighed, a silent exhalation. Naruto was safe. He was happy. He was surrounded by friends who, somehow, managed to tolerate his boundless energy. This was the best outcome anyone could have hoped for the Fourth Hokage's son. But it also meant Kakashi's surveillance duty had become very, very boring. No threats. No intrigue. Just a bunch of kids spending their day off in the most ordinary way.
His mind wandered. Where was the other one? The strange, quiet kid. Yuji.
Curiosity, driven by pure boredom, took over. With a movement more fluid than the thought itself, Kakashi closed his book, slipped it into his vest pocket, and vanished from the branch without leaving so much as a rustled leaf in his wake.
He moved across the rooftops of Konoha, a grey shadow flitting under the midday sun. He didn't have to search for long. He had a hunch where the boy would be. Away from the crowds. Away from distractions.
And sure enough, he found him in a secluded training ground near the forest, a place rarely used even by the Genin. Yuji was alone, standing at the edge of a small river that flowed through the field.
Kakashi landed silently on the branch of a tall tree, concealing himself among the dense leaves. From here, he could see clearly.
The boy was training.
Yuji stood in a solid stance, his eyes closed in concentration. Then, he began to form hand seals. His movements were a little stiff, not as fluid as an experienced shinobi's, but they were precise and deliberate. Dog, Boar, Ram... Kakashi recognized the sequence. It was the foundation for a Water Release jutsu.
Yuji took a deep breath, then exhaled.
A small, pathetic stream of water shot out of his mouth, no more powerful than someone spitting after rinsing. The stream only traveled a foot before falling back into the river with an unimpressive plop.
Yuji opened his eyes and stared at the result with a flat expression. Then, he sighed in frustration and wiped his mouth. "Damn it," he muttered, loud enough for Kakashi's trained ears to hear.
He didn't give up. He took another breath, repeated the hand seals, and tried again. This time, the stream was a little stronger, reaching a distance of three feet.
Kakashi watched in silence, an unexpected sense of admiration beginning to grow within him. This wasn't just a kid playing around. This was pure determination. This boy, alone in the forest, with no one telling him to, with no one watching him, was pushing himself to be better. He didn't have the flashy natural talent of Sasuke, or the monstrous chakra reserves of Naruto. What he had was stubborn, hard work.
And that, somehow, was more impressive.
The sight reminded Kakashi of his younger self, but with a sharp difference. The younger Kakashi, after his father's death, had also trained relentlessly. His mind was focused on one thing: getting stronger, following the rules, never failing like his father had. Training was everything. Missions were everything. He had no time for anything else. He had no time for friends. He pushed everyone away, building a wall around himself made of genius and arrogance.
This boy... Yuji... was different.
He trained this hard, alone in the forest. But Kakashi had also seen him. He had seen him laugh, albeit rarely, with Naruto. He had seen him sit comfortably on the Nara veranda, engaged in lazy conversation. He knew the boy went home every night to a warm house, to parents who clearly adored him.
The boy could separate his time. He had a balance that Kakashi had never possessed at his age. He understood, on some level, that being a strong shinobi wasn't just about jutsu and training. It was also about having something, someone, to protect. Something to fight for.
A memory flashed through Kakashi's mind, making him smile faintly behind his mask.
For a few seconds, about two years ago, when he had first started observing Yuji more seriously, the boy had almost detected him. Kakashi had been hiding on the roof across from the mask shop, watching him as he helped his father. It was routine surveillance, and Kakashi, honestly, was being a little careless. He was just a civilian child, after all.
Suddenly, Yuji, who was only eight at the time, had stopped sweeping wood shavings. He froze. His head tilted slightly, and he stared straight at the roof where Kakashi was hidden. He couldn't see Kakashi, of course. But his eyes had narrowed with suspicion, as if he sensed something was wrong, a small disturbance in the normal flow of his world. The moment had only lasted a few seconds before his father called him, and he went back to work.
But Kakashi never forgot it. He, a former ANBU captain, had almost been made by a small child. From that moment on, Kakashi never underestimated him again.
That was why the boy couldn't detect him now. Because Kakashi now had to watch him seriously. He had to actively suppress his presence and chakra flow to a near-nonexistent level. It was a troublesome exercise, requiring constant concentration. But it was also... interesting. Observing this boy had become a sort of small game for Kakashi, a challenge to his own skills.
Below, Yuji tried for a third time.
This time, a much stronger and more focused jet of water shot from his mouth, hitting the opposite bank of the river and creating a large splash. It still wasn't perfect, but it was real progress.
Yuji looked at the result, panting. A small, satisfied, and tired smile appeared on his face. He rested his hands on his knees, taking deep breaths.
Kakashi decided he had seen enough. He had been watching for about an hour. The boy would be fine. More than fine.
With the same silence as his arrival, Kakashi pulled back from the branch, leaping from tree to tree, away from the quiet training ground. He left the boy alone with his determination, a little pawn forging his own strength in the silence of the forest.
He walked the busy streets of Konoha, returning to civilization. He ignored the curious glances from some of the villagers who recognized him. His mind was still in the forest, on the contrast between the boys. Naruto, whose power was explosive and visible to all. And Yuji, whose strength grew quietly in hidden places. They were two sides of the same coin.
The sky above was a cloudless blue. The day felt peaceful. His surveillance mission was complete for the day. No threats, no danger. Just a group of kids growing up.
Kakashi put his hands in his pockets. His stomach was starting to feel hungry.
He decided he would have Chicken Katsu with Teriyaki Sauce for dinner.
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