Chapter Eighteen
Summary: Kato Dan
The trio, who had just completed a C-level mission, returned to the village and began another D-level mission to help the villagers find their lost cats and dogs.
Shortly after the Second Shinobi World War ended, news arrived that during the battle with Sunagakure, in order to cover Tsunade's team's retreat, Lord Kato Dan forcibly used his clan's secret technique. Despite Tsunade's best efforts to save him with Healing Palm Technique, Lord Kato Dan ultimately succumbed to internal organ damage, excessive blood loss, and the resulting mental backlash…
Due to the circumstances at the end of the war, none of the major powers intended to pursue the responsibility of Sunagakure for this incident, and the peace talks between Konoha and the major powers had been successfully completed, so the matter was dropped.
Late autumn is inherently bleak. As members of a small group who had never met their team leader, Kato Dan, when the three of you arrived at Kato Dan's residence, you found a large crowd already gathered at the entrance.
Yuki finally met Lord Kato Dan in person. He was lying in the coffin, looking exactly like the young man in the photo Minato had given her, except that he was peacefully closing his eyes and his face was completely bloodless.
And then there's Lady Tsunade, who has lost so many important people in her life. She seems to have completely lost her strength, her face pale. Even her figure is as thin and frail as paper. Yuki wanted to go forward to comfort her, but Shizune, who is a year younger than her, had already supported Tsunade.
As his students, the three of them offered incense with heavy hearts.
At the burial, Yuki, Nara, and Genma stood together, heads bowed, and joined the others in a moment of silence.
The Third Hokage, wearing the Hokage hat, poked the hat that was obscuring his vision with his pipe, looked at the three children, and sighed.
The next day, Yuki, Genma, and Nara gathered by the stream outside the village to discuss whether their team would get a new Jonin teacher. At that moment, Yuki felt a chakra fluctuation emanating from the ninja tool pouch on her thigh.
The three were already used to Minato Namikaze's sudden appearance. At this moment, he was still wearing the vest of a special Jonin and holding three recommendation letters for the Chunin Exams.
"So, the Third Hokage wants us to participate in the Chunin Exams." Nara frowned as he took the letter and asked, "Then... if Genma and I don't pass, will our team be disbanded?"
Minato Namikaze smiled gently and said, "As expected of the Nara clan."
Xue paused for a moment, then slowly said, "I'm not sure I can pass the Chunin Exams either."
Nara's expression was unreadable, but he said firmly, "No, you will get through it. You definitely will."
-
As Lu Liang said, Xue's strength is indeed unmatched among her peers.
If she hadn't deliberately let him get away with it, almost no one could have gotten close.
Team battles test the trio's teamwork and coordination. In this regard, Shikara, Genma, and Yuki have absolute trust in each other and naturally pass the test smoothly. However, in individual battles, Shikara faces off against the tribesmen in the mountains, while Genma encounters opponents from the Aburame tribe.
When the two came off the individual competition field, they had many scrapes and bruises on their bodies and looked sullen. Xue lowered her head, didn't say much, but silently picked up the first-aid kit and treated their wounds.
Soon, it was Xue's turn to go on stage. Lu Liang and Xuan Jian both patted her on the shoulder.
"Keep going, Xue." Lu Liang turned his face away, looking somewhat forlorn.
Genma straightened her collar and handed her one of his thin kunai: "Take mine with you, let's win together."
Xue took it and put it into her ninja tool pouch, nodding firmly: "We will win!"
When Xue went on stage, Genma and Shira exchanged a glance.
“Lu Liang, I already knew. Xue will leave us.” Genma said.
"Isn't this something that anyone with eyes can see?" Lu Liang sat to the side, resting his chin on his hand. "Xue's strength is no longer at the same level as those in the ninja academy."
Lu Liang glanced at Xuan Jian and asked curiously, "However, I'm quite curious. With your abilities, you were still far from graduating back then."
“Yes… I’ve put in a lot of effort to catch up with Yuki.” Genma chewed on a thin kunai, his gaze fixed on Yuki in the arena. “But I’m already very satisfied that I’ve been able to stay with her until now.”
The temperature in late autumn was slightly chilly, and the sky was dark and gloomy.
At that moment, the examiner's voice rang out: "Kakashi Hatake vs. Yuki Uchiha, please come to the stage."
Yuki never expected to face Kakashi in the Chunin Exams. He was about the same height as Obito, wearing a dark gray jacket and light gray shorts, a green scarf, short silver hair, a Konoha headband, and a black mask that revealed only his calm eyes. When that sharp gaze met Yuki's, a flicker of panic crossed Kakashi's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. At the examiner's command, he assumed a fighting stance, and the clinking of metal kunai echoed through the air.
Xue instinctively took a step back, but Kakashi pressed closer.
During the battle, Yuki suddenly grabbed Kakashi's scarf and pulled him back. Kakashi brandished his kunai, and as the two kunai clashed, Yuki realized that she might have underestimated him because of him and Obito. She frowned and created distance, forming hand seals to release a fire release technique, but he countered with even faster hand seals using water release, extinguishing her flames completely.
Yuki: ...That damn Kakashi!
She had to draw her Ice Feather Sword from her waist, while Kakashi narrowed his eyes and drew his White Fang from behind him.
The ice feathers imbued with chakra emitted a chilling aura, while the white fangs crackled with lightning.
When their weapons clashed, it was impossible to determine who was superior for a moment.
Suddenly, it started to rain.
Autumn rains are always lingering and chilly. Xue subconsciously looked up at the sky, raindrops falling into her eyes. She squinted, and the next moment, a white figure swooped down in front of her, and she dodged the attack.
So, without using the Sharingan... you can't win?
The Sharingan with its single tomoe gleamed in her snowy eyes, making Kakashi's movements appear as if they were slowed down tenfold.
After a few exchanges, Xue ended the fight with a beautiful uppercut.
Gasping for breath, Xue braced herself on her knees, resting her Sharingan eyes back to their normal black pupil state. The examiner stepped forward, raising her right hand and announcing her victory.
Yuki watched as Kakashi regained consciousness from the ground and slowly stood up. A light rain fell from the sky, landing on the two of them… Yuki always felt that it was raining whenever she met Kakashi.
Kakashi looks lonely, Yuki thought.
-
When Obito returned home for dinner that evening, he stared at the small, scabbed wound on Yuki's face, which had been made by a kunai.
"How did you get hurt? Aren't you supposed to be very strong?" he asked with concern, frowning.
Xue touched the wound on her face, recalling how Obito had been in a bad mood because of Kakashi. She shook her head and said casually, "It's nothing, I just bumped into it during the match."
"Did you participate in the Chunin Exams today? Did you win?" Obito asked again.
“You won.” Xue smiled, but still hesitated slightly before saying, “However, in the Chunin Exams, besides winning or losing, your performance during the exam will also be recorded. It’s not that you won’t be promoted if you lose, and similarly, winning doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll become a Chunin.”
Obito exclaimed "Ah!" and said with dissatisfaction, "How can this be! Winning is winning! After I become Hokage, as long as I win the exam, I'll definitely be promoted to Chunin!"
The boy's innocent words and sunny smile reminded Xue of Kakashi looking forlorn in the rain. She paused for a moment, then reached out and ruffled Obito's hair, smiling as she said, "Obito, you can definitely do it."
After 10 p.m., Obito went to sleep. A light drizzle continued to fall outside the window. Yuki sat in the living room, chin in hand, her thoughts drifting far away. Finally, she made her decision.
Kakashi had just finished eating and was about to go to sleep when he suddenly sensed a familiar chakra fluctuation. He opened the window and saw a black-haired girl standing outside. She was dressed in casual clothes, holding an umbrella, and her wet hair clung to her face. Her obsidian eyes, clear as moonlight, were quietly watching him.
Snow... For some reason, she felt a little embarrassed.
The air was filled with the scents of rain, grass, and faint lilac blossoms, making it very refreshing.
Kakashi paused for a moment.
"Please come in," he said.
—If Obito, that loser, finds out I'm here so late, he'll probably throw a tantrum again.
With that thought in mind, Kakashi took a new towel from the cabinet and handed it to Yuki.
"Is there something you need?" Kakashi asked.
Inside the Hatake residence, the warm light shone on the room where only the two of them were present, making the rainy night feel exceptionally gentle.
Xue felt a little hot; she had only come to check on the other person. However, because of the rain, she hadn't had time to bring anything.
"Um... congratulations?" she said somewhat hesitantly.
Kakashi paused for a moment, then asked, "Does it mean becoming a genin?"
Xue breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully Kakashi picked up the conversation.
"Yeah, but becoming a Chunin shouldn't be too far off," she said.
Kakashi just pursed his lips; he rarely wore a mask at home.
His jawline is smooth, his features are very delicate, and he has a small mole under his lip, which makes him look somewhat mature.
The warm lighting accentuated the girl's delicate features. Kakashi lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on his fingertips and Yuki's hands.
“Then as… compensation for Xue winning against me,” he said softly.
"Can I... pat my head? Like Obito."
Kakashi's voice trembled slightly as he said this.
Although Xue was somewhat confused, she still reached out and gently placed her hand on Kakashi's silver hair.
"Is that so?" she asked.
Kakashi unconsciously rubbed his hand against her palm, but quickly returned to normal after realizing what he had done.
"I...want another kiss," he said, mustering his courage. He didn't mind going even further, like kissing Obito's cheek...
Xue leaned forward and kissed his right cheek.
Kakashi thought to himself: Can we go even further? To experience treatment that even Obito didn't receive.
He took Xue's hand, his gaze intense: "May I kiss you?"
Xue frowned and shook her head: "Kissing...is something that lovers should only do, right?"
Kakashi was a little disappointed, but then he quickly thought of something: "Then can I call Yuki, older sister?"
As if afraid the other person would disagree, Kakashi quickly added, "I only call you that when it's just the two of us in private... Is that okay?"
The silver-haired boy in front of her wagged his short tail like a puppy, looking like he would cry if she disagreed. Xue let out an "Ah," and finally nodded.
Kakashi's throat bobbed, and slowly, he uttered the two words from the bottom of his heart: "Sister."
How wonderful it would be if it belonged only to me.
Xue's gaze fell on the boy's rosy ear tips. Was he shy?
But you can't tell from their expressions at all.
Kakashi felt a little embarrassed by her stare and turned his face away.
Then he remembered that every time Obito saw her, he would rush into her arms, and he hesitated for a moment.
Xue noticed his hesitation and opened her arms: "Want a hug?"
Kakashi nodded. His embrace was gentle, as if he were afraid of hurting her, quite different from Obito's tight, almost instinctive hugs. A faint scent of cedar and laundry detergent mingled with the mandarin orange aroma from Kakashi's hair, spreading around her nose. Kakashi's scent was hard to describe; it was a very clean smell. Not unpleasant, but...not particularly fond of it either. A little cool, unlike Obito who was always warm, like a walking sun.
Kakashi realized that a girl's body was completely different from a boy's. It was incredibly slender and soft, giving him the illusion that it might break if he exerted even the slightest force. Even her body smelled sweet, without any bloody odor. He couldn't resist nuzzling her, and Kakashi's hair tickled Yuki's neck. Yuki couldn't help but laugh, and Kakashi in her arms stiffened slightly.
He raised his head, his dark eyes staring intently at the snow.
Even her tone carried a hint of caution: "Are you feeling unwell?"
"I just feel a little itchy."
Xue felt that the conversation was a bit strange.
She gently pushed Kakashi away; she wanted to go back.
Kakashi frowned, looking somewhat unhappy.
"Can I hug you one more time?" Kakashi asked, staring at her with his eyes wide open.
Xue hesitated for a moment: "...Then just once."
"Mmm!" Kakashi wrapped his arms around Yuki's waist with longing and buried his head in her collarbone.
The two, who were still developing, had no idea how excessive and ambiguous their actions were.
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