Kakashi revealed himself. "Vice-Patriarch Uchiha Kawasaki, you know who I am? What is your purpose in approaching Naruto?"
Kawasaki looked Kakashi up and down. Kakashi was in his Anbu attire. He wasn't wearing his mask, and his forehead protector was pulled down to cover his left eye. The visible eye was empty and lifeless. Remembering the hard life Naruto had endured over the years, Kawasaki felt a surge of disgust for Kakashi.
He suddenly flickered in front of Kakashi and kicked him hard, sending him to the ground.
Caught completely off guard by the sudden attack, Kakashi fell.
Kawasaki spat harshly. "Tch. I've been waiting to do that for a long time!" He then let out a breath. "Much better!"
Kakashi got to his feet, his face a mask of anger. "Kawasaki! Why did you attack me!"
He restrained himself, worried that Kawasaki was deliberately trying to provoke him. The relationship between the Uchiha and the village was tense and delicate.
Kawasaki's expression was mocking. "Why did I attack you?"
"Because you're an ungrateful, cold-hearted—" Kawasaki pursed his lips, swallowing the rest of his words.
"Me?! Ungrateful?!" Kakashi was utterly confused. "I don't even know you. How could I be ungrateful?"
Kawasaki stroked his chin, sizing Kakashi up from head to toe, then back up again. So this was Sakumo Hatake's son?
"Aren't you Minato Namikaze's student?"
"What of it?" That wasn't a secret; every Uchiha knew.
"So you do remember you're Minato Namikaze's student," Kawasaki's tone was dripping with sarcasm. "His orphaned son is bullied every day, eating spoiled food, and you do nothing?"
Kakashi was silent for a moment. "It was the Third Hokage's order. Naruto's identity..."
"Enough of that nonsense. Don't give me that crap about his identity being a secret," Kawasaki said impatiently. "What does that have to do with him eating garbage and spoiled food every day? He's grown up without decent clothes, without enough food or warmth."
"The Third has done a fine job looking after the Fourth's legacy, and you've done a fine job looking after your master's son. Watching the Third hoard your master's inheritance, watching Naruto starve and suffer, drinking expired milk and eating bento boxes mixed with sand—you just stood by and did nothing, right?"
"And you call yourself a Hatake. It's disgusting."
"I..." Kakashi was speechless. There was truly nothing he could say. After Obito's death, he had fallen into a deep depression, living day by day like a walking corpse. He completed his missions mechanically, barely taking care of himself, let alone Naruto. Whatever the Third said, he did. He didn't need to think, nor could he.
Kakashi pulled himself together. "That still doesn't give you a reason to approach Naruto."
Kawasaki waved a hand dismissively. "When I was a child, Kushina helped me out. I just want to see Naruto fed and clothed properly. You're overthinking it. I'm not that despicable. I don't care how the Anbu watch me."
Kakashi's expression was complicated, but he relaxed.
Kawasaki clasped his hands behind his head and casually walked toward the main street. "But in the future, if Naruto decides the Uchiha treat him better, well, that will be his choice."
A jolt of alarm shot through Kakashi.
"These, two of each."
"These as well, two of them."
"All of these, two of each. Bag them separately."
When Kawasaki returned to the main street, Sasuke was in a clothing store, picking out clothes. Naruto was already holding several bags filled with shoes, pants, and more. Sasuke was waving around a wad of cash, directing the staff here and there.
As a shop owned by the Uchiha, the staff naturally recognized their young clan heir. Their service was impeccable, especially since Sasuke was spending lavishly, never haggling and buying whatever caught his eye.
Thump!
Kawasaki rapped Sasuke lightly on the head.
"Ow!"
"Hey, kid. That's no way to shop."
Sasuke pouted, a little annoyed, but he quickly brightened up and handed the items to Naruto. The two of them began chattering excitedly.
It wasn't that Kawasaki cared about the money. The Uchiha clan was wealthy; a few extra sets of clothes were nothing. What was important was not letting Sasuke develop a habit of being imperious.
Naruto's eyes were wide as he stared at all the clothes, things he never would have dreamed of owning. At the same time, he felt a little embarrassed.
"Kawasaki-senpai, all this..."
Kawasaki waved it off. "You're Sasuke's friend. Nothing more needs to be said."
Naruto's eyes shimmered as he nodded emphatically. "Yeah!..."
"Lord Kawasaki."
Besides the shop staff, two members of the Uchiha Police Force were standing nearby.
"You two seem to have a lot of free time."
The two Uchiha forced a smile. With the sensitive identities of both Sasuke and Naruto, how could they not keep someone watching?
Kawasaki realized this as well. He looked up at the sky; it was nearly dusk. In the corners of the rooftops, several Anbu members stood silently.
"It's getting late. Sasuke, come home with me. Naruto, you should head home too."
"Oh, can I come play with Sasuke tomorrow?" Naruto asked, full of hope.
"Sasuke will be busy for the next two days, so he can't come out to play."
Seeing Naruto's disappointment, Kawasaki smiled. "The Academy starts in a couple of days. You'll see each other then, won't you?"
"Hehe, that's right! It's starting soon," Naruto said with a goofy grin.
"Remember to wear your new clothes on the first day. It's a fresh start."
"Uh-huh!" Naruto felt this was the happiest, most wonderful day he had experienced in years.
Kawasaki gestured to the side. "Uchiha Kenichi, escort Naruto home."
"Yes, sir!" Uchiha Kenichi stood at attention.
"Kawasaki-senpai, you don't have to walk me. I know the way," Naruto said, embarrassed.
Kawasaki ruffled Naruto's hair. "Be good. Go on home now."
"Oh, hehe." Naruto grinned foolishly again, clutching the clothes. Uchiha Kenichi offered to take Naruto's things, but Naruto wouldn't let them go.
"I'm going then, Kawasaki-senpai! Goodbye, Sasuke! See you at the Academy!" Naruto juggled his pile of bags, trying his best to wave goodbye.
Kawasaki waved back. "Go on."
Sasuke also waved at Naruto. He had never seen Naruto look so happy.
"Let's go. We're heading back."
"Uchiha Kawasaki claims Kushina Uzumaki once did him a favor..."
"He said he only wants Naruto to be well-fed and well-clothed, and hopes that Naruto and Sasuke will become good friends."
"According to Anbu surveillance, Kawasaki displayed no other unusual words or actions."
The Third took an agitated drag from his pipe. He didn't believe for a second that Kawasaki was acting out of kindness. As for Kushina doing him a favor, that was years ago. Who could possibly tell if it was true or false?
Kakashi hesitated for a moment before adding, "Kawasaki's last comment was that in the future, if Naruto decides the Uchiha are better, that would be Naruto's own choice."
The Third's brow furrowed in thought. The Uchiha clan was growing more and more distant from Konoha. Data from the Mission Assignment Desk also showed a sharp decline in the number of missions accepted by the Uchiha. Besides the decrease in the number of Uchiha shinobi, the remaining members had become exceptionally cautious when accepting missions. They were voluntarily taking lower-ranked missions and refusing all dangerous ones.
When faced with a mandatory assignment, they would take a leave of absence, claiming they needed to repair their houses. The Third was helpless to do anything about it. He couldn't very well leave them homeless just to serve the village.
Now, Kawasaki's sudden approach toward the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had put the Third on high alert.
Were the Uchiha planning a mass defection? And were they planning on taking Naruto with them...?