Chapter 1: The Hatake Twins
Konoha Year 37, September 15. Konoha Hospital.
Hatake Sakumo paced back and forth alone outside the delivery room door. At this moment, even though he was Konoha's elite jōnin—the man whose "White Fang" title struck terror into the hearts of ninjas across the world—he could not remain calm. His wife was inside the operating room, undergoing emergency treatment for massive hemorrhaging.
"Please be okay..." As the sounds from inside the operating room grew fainter, Hatake Sakumo felt his heart being squeezed by an invisible giant hand.
Click—
The operating room door opened. A medical ninja with blood-stained hands walked out with several nurses, their heads lowered. Two of the nurses pushed infant strollers behind them.
The lead medical ninja spoke in a low voice: "I'm sorry, Lord White Fang. During the procedure, your wife's accumulated hidden injuries from years past suddenly flared up..."
As the doctor fell silent, Hatake Sakumo swallowed hard. He showed no outward reaction, only glancing toward the strollers in the back.
Somewhat anxiously, he asked quietly, "And our children?"
"They are twins. Their mother protected them very well."
"I see... Keiko did everything she could..."
Konoha Year 41, September 15. Konoha Main Street.
"Nii-san, what do you think Father will give us for our birthday this year?"
The one who spoke was named Hatake Hefeng, the second son of Hatake Sakumo. Walking beside him was naturally the future famous "Chakra measuring unit"—Hatake Kakashi.
Hatake Hefeng and Kakashi looked almost identical, yet they gave off completely different auras.
Kakashi wore a mask that covered half his face. His silver, tousled hair gave him a resolute look, and even in his still-childish eyes hid the sharp edge unique to the "White Fang."
Hatake Hefeng, on the other hand, made no attempt to hide his face. His delicate, flawless features paired with long white hair made him appear—despite wearing boys' clothing—like an overwhelmingly cute girl at first glance. The kind that made people instinctively want to protect him.
The reason for all this was simple: Hatake Hefeng was a transmigrator. After dying of illness on a place called Earth, he had reincarnated into the Naruto world.
From the moment of his rebirth, he had bound a Favorability System. The newbie gift package rewarded him with something called Supreme Succubus Physique.
Hefeng didn't know if this physique provided any combat bonuses—he had never truly fought anyone yet. He only followed Sakumo's daily schedule of basic physical training.
Aside from the physique, his Favorability System also issued rewards based on how much others liked him.
The quality of the rewards scaled with the person's strength.
For example, an ordinary passerby would only grant Hefeng one or two points of chakra, or a small amount of money.
So far, Hefeng had only received decent rewards from his father, Hatake Sakumo, and his older brother, Hatake Kakashi.
From Sakumo: Top-Tier Swordsmanship Talent, Top-Tier Chakra Control Talent, Top-Tier Taijutsu Talent, and various scattered Chakra Capacity Increases.
From Kakashi: Advanced Lightning Affinity Talent, Advanced Swordsmanship Talent, Low-Tier Space Perception Talent.
It wasn't that Kakashi's favorability toward Hefeng was low—the main issue was that Kakashi was still too weak. He hadn't even started at the Ninja Academy yet, having only learned basic chakra extraction and some taijutsu.
"As for the gifts... we're starting the Ninja Academy next year, so I think Father might give us some ninja tools and officially begin teaching us the Hatake sword style."
Kakashi thought for a moment before voicing his guess.
"I see. Then, Nii-san, you have to work hard on Father's swordsmanship—so you can protect me in the future." Hefeng said softly to Kakashi.
"Yeah. I'll protect you." Kakashi looked firmly at his younger brother.
He had never met his mother since birth. As the saying goes, an elder brother is like a father. Though he was only born a few minutes earlier than Hefeng, Kakashi still placed himself in the same protective role as their father.
He would protect his little brother.
Just then, a strangely dressed boy their age appeared beside them.
Panting heavily, the boy shouted, "Kakashi! It's not just you who will protect Hefeng! From now on, I, Might Guy, will also protect Hefeng—my dearest friend's brother! That's what true youth is all about!"
Despite being only four years old, Might Guy's cries of "youth" felt completely natural.
Hefeng lifted his eyes, a gentle smile on his lips as he looked at Guy. In his slightly feminine voice, he encouraged, "It's you, Guy. I believe you'll do it—you're always working so hard."
[Might Guy Favorability +1]
[Obtained Might Guy Taijutsu Talent (Minor)]
Hefeng's system wouldn't make him instantly stronger, but it would endlessly raise his future potential. That was exactly what Hefeng wanted to see.
"Ahhh! Hefeng, you really are my best friend! And Kakashi—you have to keep working hard too!"
Guy shouted loudly, "Training doubled! Fifty more laps around Konoha!"
With that, he dashed off in a burst of energy.
Watching Guy's retreating figure, Kakashi felt somewhat annoyed at how overly familiar the boy acted—and at the strange way he looked at his little brother.
"Hmph. An idiot who only knows taijutsu." Kakashi muttered.
Hefeng merely smiled and didn't contradict his brother.
After all, Kakashi was his older brother. In the future, Hefeng figured he could just help Kakashi block that one famous kick Guy had prepared for him.
Along the way home, Hefeng and Kakashi constantly overheard passersby openly praising and admiring Hefeng.
Both brothers had long grown used to it. Sometimes Kakashi even wondered—we look exactly the same, so why does Hefeng seem so much cuter?
When they arrived home, the delicious aroma of cooking wafted from the kitchen.
Their father, Hatake Sakumo, was preparing dinner.
Over the years, Sakumo had played both father and mother to them. His cooking skills had been honed to rival his swordsmanship.
"I'm home," Kakashi announced first.
"Me too," Hefeng added.
Hatake Sakumo emerged from the kitchen carrying a platter of grilled fish.
Sakumo could cook many things, but his signature dish was undeniably this exclusive grilled fish.
At the dinner table, after the brothers finished eating, Sakumo brought out the birthday gifts he had prepared.
"Kakashi, your younger brother Hefeng's talent surpasses yours. As the older brother, you can't fall too far behind."
In Sakumo's hand was a short sword. Though not his famous White Fang blade, its quality was in no way inferior.
"This blade was custom-forged to match your build. From now on, train hard."