Training Ground One, Konoha.
Cold steel gleamed under the sun as Kakashi clashed blades with his father, Hatake Sakumo.With a flick of his wrist, Sakumo's White Fang casually deflected Kakashi's strike. A small smile tugged at his lips.
"Your heart's a little restless. Focus."
Kakashi froze for half a beat. And before he could react, the chilling edge of White Fang rested against his neck.
Sakumo's voice was calm but firm:"Kakashi, don't get caught up in that 'genius' title. You're my son, yes, but you've already done more than enough."
He sheathed his blade, ruffling Kakashi's silver hair with rare gentleness."The shinobi world has people who can't be summed up with the word 'genius.' The First Hokage, Madara Uchiha, even the Second. Men like them were… extraordinary."
Kakashi's dark eyes lifted stubbornly."Father… do you think Uchiha Seiji's talent is on par with the Second Hokage? I've heard people say his water style is just like Tobirama-sama's."
Ever since Might Duy had become Seiji's guard, his son Guy had stopped pestering Kakashi for duels. Obito, newly awakened with the Sharingan, had also ditched him, now training in private under Uchiha Shisui.
For a so-called prodigy, the sudden silence from those two "clowns" left Kakashi feeling strangely… unsettled.
And when Seiji showed glimpses of his strength, the village started buzzing with talk again—who was the true number one genius?
At night, Kakashi found himself asking: Between me and him… who's stronger?
Yes, Seiji was a little younger. But Kakashi had always believed—no, insisted—that as Sakumo's son, he was the strongest of his generation.
So he sent Seiji a challenge. And today, his father was here to watch.
Because Sakumo didn't just have sharp eyes in battle—he could see into a shinobi's true potential.
Yet as he looked at his son, Sakumo only shook his head."Kakashi, whether Seiji is more gifted than you isn't the point. What matters is whether you can see your own heart clearly. If you get shaken by fame or gossip, if you let your blade waver—your training will break down. And in time, so will you."
Seeing Kakashi's confused frown, Sakumo chuckled."This is wisdom passed down from our Hatake ancestors, back when we were samurai. Even I haven't mastered it completely."
He patted Kakashi's shoulder, smiling."So let's both keep working on it, huh?"
That was the moment Seiji arrived, Muramasa slung over his shoulder. He caught the tail end of Sakumo's advice, his expression… complicated.
So when it's your son, you say it perfectly: don't get distracted, focus on yourself.But when it's me? You lose your damn mind.
Well. That was human nature, wasn't it? Easy to give advice when it's not your problem.
"Morning, Kakashi. Morning, Sakumo-san."
Seiji greeted them with an easy smile, nodding politely to Kakashi before turning curious eyes on Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo. A man wrapped in mystery.
His reputation was enormous, but Seiji knew almost nothing about his real fighting style. In Seiji's original timeline, Sakumo had existed only in legends, never in action.
But one glance was enough—this man was dangerous. His presence was like a blade kept sheathed: ordinary at a glance, lethal if drawn.
So this is him… Hatake Sakumo. And he's already grown this far?
Tobirama Senju's voice chuckled in Seiji's mind."I remember him from the Academy. I knew he had potential… and now he's a fine shinobi. Impressive—he's practically a leader among the common-born."
As if sensing Seiji's doubt, Tobirama launched into one of his history lectures:"The Hatake clan were samurai during the Warring States. But their enemies wiped them out. By the time Konoha was founded, Sakumo was the last survivor. 'Clan' is just a name now."
Seiji rolled his eyes. Typical Tobirama—an encyclopedia of ancient trivia. Out loud, he muttered:"Yeah, yeah. But if the Hokage back then didn't even assign him a mentor, your so-called predictions don't mean much. Sakumo grew purely on raw talent."
"Hmph! And you think prodigies who rose under my reign had nothing to do with me? Childish!" Tobirama snapped.
Seiji just shrugged. Fine, let him brag.
Kakashi stepped forward then, his gaze flicking to Muramasa before returning to Seiji."Seiji-kun, shinobi like us gain nothing from fighting ordinary peers. And the veterans don't want to waste their reputations by facing children."
He lowered his head slightly, formal but determined."So I want to test myself against you. Forgive me for imposing. I only ask that you give it your all. My father will be here to step in if things get out of hand."
Seiji tilted his head. Fair enough. Kakashi's reasoning was sound.
At this age, most kids barely scraped together a C-rank jutsu. Kakashi had mastered one before even joining the Academy—and would become a jonin by twelve.
But like he said, no older jonin would risk their reputations against him. And fighting Sakumo himself would be absurd.
The irony, though, was that Kakashi didn't realize the same problem applied in reverse.
For Seiji, fighting Kakashi meant very little. This version of him hadn't even invented Chidori yet. What was he going to do—throw rocks?
Still, Seiji smiled at Kakashi's serious little face."Since you've thought it through, Kakashi-kun, I'll accept."
What he didn't say was that he was far more interested in the man standing behind him.
Hatake Sakumo—a true Kage-level ninja. A fight with him would actually help Seiji gauge his own strength, see where he stood.
Because Madara Uchiha had his eyes on him. And if Seiji didn't know his own limits, one day that old monster would bury him alive.
"First I'll deal with Kakashi," Seiji thought, tightening his grip on Muramasa. "Then, if there's a chance… I'll test myself against Sakumo."