"Thank you so much, Sakumo-sama," Hoshino Akira said, deeply grateful for Sakumo Hatake's help. "Otherwise, I really wouldn't have known what to do with Shinji-san."
"You're welcome. Teacher Hoshino, you should also go back and rest. Leave the rest to me."
After seeing Hoshino Akira off, Sakumo squatted down and looked Naraku directly in the eyes, his tone calm: "Alright, let's go back."
"Go… where?" Naraku looked bewildered.
"Idiot, where do you think we're going back to?" Kakashi pinched his shoulder, his eyes helpless. "Father wants you to come home with us."
Naraku's eyes widened, and his speech became stammering: "No, Sakumo-sama, I… I'll only be a bother to you."
I was just being polite, don't take it seriously, Sakumo! Naraku screamed silently.
Sakumo Hatake was completely unaware of his internal monologue. He smiled and ruffled Naraku's small head, signaling Kakashi to bring him along… Even after being brought to the Hatake Household, Naraku still couldn't quite believe it.
Was his luck really that good?
The esteemed white fang of konoha, Sakumo Hatake, who struck fear into the hearts of Sand Ninja during the Second Great Ninja War, was actually taking him in just because he was Kakashi's classmate…?
"Give me your hand."
Naraku obediently extended his hand. Sakumo examined his meridians and Chakra, confirming what he had suspected.
"Your Chakra reserves are low, but that's not your fault; it's due to malnutrition. Once your body recovers, it will naturally increase."
Sakumo looked at Kakashi and smiled, "Naraku can compete with you even in this condition. Once he recovers, you two should be evenly matched."
He said to Naraku with a confident tone: "You are very talented."
Naraku was happy for only a moment before his emotions were influenced by the lingering feelings of the original body. The grievances suppressed deep in his heart for years turned into tears that welled up in his eyes, streaming down his cheeks.
"Tha-thank you…" Naraku could only cover his eyes with his sleeve, trying to calm himself. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be crying…"
Then a warm towel was pressed against his face.
Kakashi: "Hurry and wipe, crybaby."
Naraku: "..." When will these lingering emotions disappear, System, say something!
Their relationship is really good.
Sakumo was very happy that his son had made friends during his time away from Konoha. In the future, they would become partners who entrusted their lives to each other, which was the most important thing for a Ninja.
"Alright, clean up and get some rest. Tomorrow is a school holiday, so I'll guide you two in your training."
"Yes." Kakashi responded, pulling Naraku to his feet.
In the bedroom, Kakashi took out a new set of bedding and said, "You'll sleep here tonight. I'm going to take a bath, don't wait for me."
"Okay."
When Kakashi returned from his bath, he noticed Naraku hadn't closed his eyes yet. He didn't think much of it, simply climbed into his own futon, said "Good night," and prepared to sleep.
But after a long while, the gaze from beside him still hadn't disappeared. He turned his head and found that it was indeed Naraku secretly staring at him. He asked exasperatedly, "What do you want?"
Naraku squinted, silently curving his lips into a smile.
This must be his first smile.
Kakashi thought, but he wouldn't admit that he was also happy the other person could escape his pain. He said, feigning indifference, "Idiot, go to sleep quickly."
"Okay."
...The next day, the sun was bright, and the sky was cloudless.
Sakumo Hatake was sparring with Kakashi in their yard. It was more of Sakumo feeding moves to Kakashi, training him in the Hatake-style sword techniques.
Between the two, blades flashed and fists exchanged, each move appearing well-practiced.
In just about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Kakashi's Chakra was almost depleted. He could only stop, panting heavily, to rest, his bangs damp with sweat and hanging limply.
Naraku, with good foresight, went to the bathroom to get a wet towel for Kakashi to wipe his sweat. The latter was a bit awkward, took the towel, and covered his face without a word.
"Naraku, come here." Sakumo beckoned.
Naraku quickly ran over and stood properly: "Sakumo-sama."
"You should call me Master."
Naraku lowered his head, fidgeting with the corner of his clothes, staring at his toes without speaking.
The original body's memories began to flash again—all the past events, his father's beatings, his mother's absence, and those days of not having enough to eat or wear, only being able to curl up in a corner and suffer. It all became like a mountain, growing heavier and heavier, almost crushing him.
A pair of warm hands patted his shoulders, dispersing the illusion of that mountain.
"It's okay, Naraku, nothing bad will happen again."
A gentle breeze blew, swaying the branches of the large tree in the courtyard. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting irregular patches of light on the ground, still somewhat dazzling.
"…Master."
He slowly leaned into Sakumo's embrace. The broad chest felt safe enough, making him realize for the first time that a father's embrace could be so warm, carrying the scent of sunshine and wind.
After he uttered those words, the countless grievances and resentments lingering in this body began to gradually dissipate, as if the soul of Uchiha Naraku had finally been freed from the shackles of the flesh, transforming into a wisp of clear breeze, sweeping past the tree branches in the courtyard, slowly and lightly departing.
Naraku looked up from Sakumo's embrace. His originally pitch-black eyes had turned blood-red, with a single tomoe slowly rotating in each.
"Sharingan!"
Sakumo instinctively tensed all his muscles, then remembered who these eyes belonged to and relaxed. "Naraku, you've awakened your Sharingan."
"Huh?"
Naraku turned his head to look around. The previously ordinary scenery became incredibly clear and slow, as if switching from standard definition to 4K.
He had never imagined being able to clearly see the trembling beetle under a blade of grass, to see every detail of it opening its wings, even the frequency of its wingbeats slowing down considerably in his eyes.
No wonder awakened Uchiha looked down on outsiders; this was a completely different level.
It turned out that not only extreme negative emotions could stimulate the Sharingan, but warmth felt from the heart could too. Or perhaps Uchiha Naraku was already on the verge of awakening, and the kindness shown by the Hatake Father and Son helped him break free from that pain, taking the final step.
That's why Senju Tobirama said the Uchiha were a clan of love.
Indeed, those who understand you best are always your enemies.
"So clear, this is the Sharingan…"
Naraku exclaimed, looking all around as if seeing this world for the first time. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain, and in the next instant, his vision returned to its original, normal state.
"It must be that your Chakra isn't enough to sustain it for too long, so it automatically shut down," Sakumo said in a deep voice, supporting Naraku's shoulder and looking at his eyes, which had returned to their black color.
Kakashi, holding the towel Naraku had given him earlier, felt a subtle sense of pressure.
His father had already said that Naraku would be able to fight him to a draw once he recovered, and now he had awakened his Sharingan, which would likely make him even stronger than previously anticipated.
Although he wasn't arrogant enough to forbid others from surpassing him, his innate youthful competitive spirit wouldn't allow him to concede defeat so easily.
Just you wait, Naraku, I won't let you surpass me that easily.
Kakashi's eyes blazed with fighting spirit.