Kimoto Dōichi's home.
Once again, Kakashi appeared silently on the balcony.
Dōichi glanced at the familiar silhouette and shook his head.
"Kakashi, my house does have a door."
Kakashi ignored the complaint. He looked up at the moonlit sky and spoke casually.
"You seem quite satisfied with that kid. I've never seen you join a team dinner before."
Dōichi stepped onto the balcony.
"Looks like you're paying close attention to him too."
"But you should know—he's my student."
He turned and looked at Kakashi directly.
Kakashi smiled faintly.
"Why so tense? Are you worried I'll steal him?"
"I would be," Dōichi replied without hesitation. "He's more outstanding than I expected."
A pause.
"I suppose the one watching from the trees today was you."
Dōichi had sensed him earlier. Former ANBU jōnin—even from the Interrogation Division—were not lacking in perception.
"Using a shadow clone to lead your students… if they found out, they'd be heartbroken."
"And besides, none of your students are simple either."
Kakashi didn't respond to the teasing.
"He's changed you," Kakashi said quietly. "The old you wouldn't talk like this."
Dōichi didn't deny it.
"That kid made me realize something."
"If I don't teach him well… I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
Kakashi was genuinely surprised by the blunt admission—and by how highly Dōichi regarded Yoru.
But when he recalled the scene earlier that day—
Yoru walking calmly toward the roaring waterfall, unflinching even as he risked being smashed into the water—
Kakashi understood.
He was jealous.
"That kid's talent… surpasses even mine," Kakashi said with a bitter smile.
Once upon a time, he had been Konoha's super genius.
Graduated at five.
Chūnin at six.
Jōnin at twelve.
Later known throughout the ninja world as "Copy Ninja Kakashi."
Even Uchiha Itachi fell slightly behind in raw record.
He was an undisputed prodigy.
Dōichi shook his head.
"Not quite. At twelve, you were already a jōnin. He's still a rookie."
Kakashi snorted softly.
"If he'd had my resources, he'd already be a jōnin too."
"The six years at the Academy delayed him."
Kakashi still felt Yoru's decision to hide his talent had been unwise.
But at the same time—
To suppress vanity at such a young age?
To conceal brilliance so thoroughly?
Even Kakashi doubted he could have done that.
He had simply never needed to.
"So," Kakashi asked, "what do you plan to teach him? Starting ninjutsu already?"
Dōichi fell silent for a moment.
"I haven't decided."
"To be honest… my techniques don't suit him."
"Most of what I know relates to interrogation."
"I don't want him entering ANBU."
He sighed.
He wanted to teach Yoru powerful combat techniques.
But aside from a few B-rank elemental jutsu—
His A-rank techniques were almost all interrogation-oriented.
They wouldn't help Yoru much in open combat.
"Once I finish teaching him the basics," Dōichi muttered, "I'm not sure what else I can offer."
Kakashi was quiet for a while.
Then he spoke.
"If you're willing… I can help."
Dōichi stared at him in shock.
"You?"
"Aren't you worried the Hokage would object?"
After all, the Third Hokage had entrusted Naruto and Sasuke to Kakashi precisely so he could train them properly.
If Kakashi divided his attention—
There would certainly be complaints.
Kakashi shrugged.
"Then don't let him know."
"For the next period, most of our missions will be within the village."
"With that kid's talent, before he's cleared for external missions…"
"I can make sure he reaches jōnin-level ninjutsu proficiency."
Dōichi couldn't believe what he was hearing.
He knew Kakashi valued Yoru—
But not to this extent.
Kakashi, the "Copy Ninja," who had mastered thousands of techniques thanks to the Sharingan.
Yet Dōichi still hesitated.
He wanted to teach Yoru himself.
But the truth was—
He lacked the arsenal.
"What do you want in return?" Dōichi asked cautiously.
There was no such thing as a free favor.
Kakashi answered simply.
"Sometimes, when I go out on missions, I'll need to borrow him."
Dōichi froze.
"You're not thinking of taking him on dangerous missions, are you?"
Kakashi nodded calmly.
"You know as well as I do."
"Strength doesn't grow in a greenhouse."
"When I was twelve, I followed the Fourth Hokage into the field."
Dōichi's expression hardened.
"That was you."
"You were trained for it."
"He's not you."
"No matter how talented he is, he's still a rookie."
"You think the missions you handle are below B-rank?"
"Even regular jōnin face danger with you."
"I won't let my student gamble his life."
Dōichi's voice rose, uncharacteristically sharp.
Kakashi's proposal wasn't about tagging along on Team Seven errands.
It was about his own missions.
The kind that even elite jōnin treated cautiously.
Yoru might have monstrous talent—
But he barely knew combat ninjutsu.
He had never experienced real battle.
How could Dōichi agree?
Kakashi remained steady.
"You know this too, Dōichi."
"The sooner he sees real danger, the better for his growth."
"He should've gone out earlier."
"It's already late."
"I won't agree," Dōichi said firmly.
"I want him to grow step by step."
"When he's strong enough—then I'll let him go."
Kakashi shook his head.
"That's your mistake."
"He's not ordinary."
"Step-by-step will only make him mediocre."
"Do you want him to become just another average ninja?"
Dōichi's eyes burned.
"I'd rather that than watch him die before me."
He meant it.
Even if caution dulled Yoru's edge—
Even if it prevented him from reaching his peak—
Dōichi would accept it.
Because to him—
Yoru was not a weapon.
He was his student.
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