"Kakashi-senpai! Kakashi-senpai!"
…
"Nara-senpai, let's chat for a bit?"
…
"Uncle Ichiraku—two bowls of ramen, and a talk?"
…
"No one's answering me?"
Kai watched as everyone he greeted hurried away the moment they saw him. He sighed, gaze drifting to the distance. "Come on, Pakkun. At least you chat with your big brother."
Truly—even a roadside dog deserved a conversation.
Pakkun glanced back at Kai.
In those dog eyes was unmistakable, very human disdain.
He turned and walked off.
"Don't go! Teach me how to carve a dog head into Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
"Does that count as dog-head insurance?"
Tap tap tap—
Too bad. Pakkun bolted and vanished.
Only Kai remained, sitting on the village street, staring a little dejectedly at the sun sinking toward the horizon.
From morning until now—over ten hours—and not a single successful copy.
He'd talked to plenty of people, sure… but every attempt failed.
"Is today cursed or something?"
At that moment, the system chimed.
[Congratulations, host has sunbathed for 666 minutes. Chakra +666.]
"Six-six-six?"
Kai's face darkened. "Alright, system, you're not even pretending anymore, huh?"
He turned and headed back toward the Uchiha compound.
"Woof woof."
Worth noting—on the way back, a pack led by Pakkun suddenly caught up.
Seven or eight dogs—pugs, Akitas—crowded around his feet, rubbing against him affectionately.
Kai froze, surprised.
"Huh? I don't remember copying Kakashi's summoning trait…"
"Kakashi wouldn't think sending dogs over could shut me up, would he?"
Three minutes later.
"Pakkun, you're kind of… squishy."
And really—who doesn't like dogs?
Soft. Warm. Adorable.
Ten minutes later.
When Kai returned to the compound with a dog in his arms, a broad-shouldered man stood at the gate.
In his hand was a long stick, clearly branded with the words 'Seven Wolves.'
Uchiha Fugaku.
Seeing Kai, Fugaku's expression darkened. He snorted.
"Kai."
"Present!"
Fugaku: "..."
"What exactly did you do to Sasuke?!"
There was irritation in his voice.
All these years, knowing his second son's talent, Fugaku had mostly observed in silence. Rarely interfered.
But this time—it involved his other son.
That, he couldn't ignore.
"Sasuke? What'd he do?"
Kai rubbed Pakkun's head, genuinely puzzled.
Didn't Father just beat the Second Pillar this morning?
"Hmph! Since morning, that brat's been shouting about sunbathing! Saying sunbathing makes you stronger! Laughing while he does it! And talking about becoming Hokage!"
"Listen to that nonsense! An Uchiha wanting to be Hokage?!"
"No matter how much I hit him, he wouldn't listen! He even said he'd rather die on top of the wall!"
As he spoke, Fugaku raised the stick and brought it down—
"Woof! Woof! Awoo—!"
…and smacked Pakkun square on the head.
Kai calmly shifted Pakkun aside without a hint of embarrassment.
In a low voice, he suggested, "Uh… want me to try talking to him?"
"Hmph! Go!" Fugaku snapped. "If you can't talk sense into him, then tonight—we're eating dog meat!"
With that, he flicked his sleeve and walked off.
Kids of three or four were at peak mischief anyway.
He couldn't be bothered—might as well dump the problem on Kai.
Who knows? Maybe another genius would pop out.
Behind him, trapped in Kai's arms, Pakkun tucked his tail tight.
Why… why did this turn into eating me?!
He didn't understand.
At all.
And suddenly felt this mission might be… extremely dangerous.
…
Three minutes later.
On the clan head's courtyard wall.
A small figure stood atop it, howling at the sky.
"The skies are clear, the rain has stopped—I, Uchiha Sasuke, am going to be Hokage!!"
Facing the sunset, Sasuke shouted the very lines Kai had repeated to him countless times.
Then, just like he remembered, he slid a hand through his hair, covered his face, and burst into wild laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Hahahaha!"
"About thirty percent resemblance," Kai's commentary drifted up from below.
"Voice too childish. Mouth not open enough. Throat not wide enough when laughing."
He shook his head, Pakkun in his arms, seven yawning Shiba Inu trailing behind.
Who would've thought—those jokes meant to tease the Second Pillar would stick like this?
Well now.
The Second Pillar wasn't going to destroy the village anymore.
He wanted to become Hokage instead.
Then what about Naruto?
"Y-you—you—you! Why did you suddenly come back?!"
The embarrassment was like getting caught wetting the bed by your mortal enemy.
Sasuke's face flushed crimson. He huffed, turned away, refusing to look down.
Until Kai smiled, rubbed the dog's head, and asked softly:
"So… Sasuke wants to become as strong as his big brother too?"
"…Huh?"
This gentleness—Sasuke had never heard it before.
He hesitated… then shook his head stubbornly.
"By the way, about yesterday's shuriken—"
As he spoke, Kai casually flicked a metal shard.
In midair, it traced seven sharp折lines, shredding the distant target into splinters.
"This is the level you're aiming for, right?"
Gulp.
Sasuke stared at the cloud of wooden debris, his throat bobbing.
He was tempted.
That flashy, absurd shuriken technique—
It had been poking at his heart nonstop these past two days.
After struggling internally, he muttered:
"F-fine… but you begged me, okay?! When I get strong, I'll still beat you up!"
"At most… I'll hit you a little lighter…"
Accepted?
Good. Acceptance was enough.
Kai shook his head, dragging things out a bit.
[After conversing with Uchiha Sasuke for ten minutes, attempting to copy trait…]
[Copy failed. Chakra +1.]
Failed again?!
What was wrong with today?!
If talking didn't work—then it was time to raise the difficulty.
Kai grinned, patted Pakkun.
"Release the dogs. Bite him."
Sasuke: "???"
Pakkun: "WOOF!!!"
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