After a short break, Kakashi and Naruto stepped out of the small wooden training cabin nestled in the woods.
Today wasn't a holiday—it was a training day.
"Naruto, do you remember the Shadow Clone Jutsu I showed you last time?"
"Of course I remember! I've been practicing it non-stop! I can use it really well now!"
"Oh? Is that so? Show me."
"Mm!"
Naruto quickly formed a cross seal with his fingers and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a burst of smoke, a second Naruto appeared right beside him—identical in every way.
"Heh, see that, Brother White Fang? Not bad, right?"
Kakashi chuckled beneath his mask and gave a nod. "Not bad. Looks like you haven't been slacking off."
"Of course! I'm Uzumaki Naruto—the future Hokage!"
Naruto beamed with pride, scratching his nose and flashing his usual big grin. For some reason, Kakashi found himself thinking of Guy-sensei.
What do those two have in common?
An unshakable spirit... and a certain simplicity.
"All right, let me test your taijutsu. Come at me with full force."
"You got it! Brother White Fang, don't regret it later!"
Naruto charged with a cheer, swinging his fist straight at Kakashi.
Unlike Naruto's flashy approach, Kakashi calmly slipped his hands into his pockets.
It really is cold today. Hands-in-pockets isn't just cool—it's warm, too.
"Too slow!"
"Your movement's too wide!"
"Your punch lacks weight!"
"You didn't account for the angle!"
As he dodged Naruto's wild strikes with ease, Kakashi offered critique after critique.
Despite his reckless style, Naruto's instincts weren't bad. Under Kakashi's constant corrections, his attacks gradually began to show improvement.
But his stamina couldn't keep up for long. Soon, Naruto was bent over, hands on his knees, panting hard.
"You good to keep going, Naruto?"
Kakashi glanced down at him.
"Of course I can!"
Sweat dripped from Naruto's bangs, but his eyes were still fierce with determination.
Kakashi smiled. "Then let's continue."
"Right!"
Naruto kept throwing punches until his arms went numb and legs gave out beneath him. At last, he collapsed flat on the ground, soaked in sweat.
Kakashi walked over and lifted him up, setting him gently against a nearby tree.
"Rest first. Recover a bit before continuing."
"I'm okay, Brother White Fang… I can still go..."
Naruto tried to stand, but Kakashi pressed him down.
"Don't push it. Training's about balance—work and rest. Pushing blindly won't help."
"…Okay, Brother White Fang."
Naruto reluctantly sat down, catching his breath.
"Naruto, how have things been lately?"
"Hmm, actually... pretty good. I'm not sure why, but lately there's always some money left for me on the windowsill—just enough for food every day. It's way better than before."
"…I see. That's good. With money, make sure you eat well. Don't just have cup ramen all the time. Ramen's great, but you need variety. No being picky. I'll get you some milk too—drink some every morning. It's good for your growth. Also, bathe daily. You gotta stay clean. And..."
Kakashi kept going, listing random bits of advice. As he did, a gentle smile tugged at the edge of his masked face.
Naruto looked up, and for some reason, his eyes glistened.
This warmth… this kind of concern… it felt really nice.
"Naruto? Are you listening?"
Kakashi noticed his silence and called out.
"Yeah, I'm listening!"
"Good. Remember what I said. It came from someone very important to you."
"Someone important?"
Naruto tilted his head, confused.
"Yeah. Someone who meant the world to you—your mother."
"…My mom…"
Naruto blinked, stunned, his expression softening with longing.
"Brother White Fang… do you know who my parents are? Can you tell me? Please?"
He jumped up, grabbing Kakashi's arm, looking straight into his eye.
That raw, desperate hope made Kakashi's heart ache.
But he couldn't say it—not yet.
"I can't tell you right now, Naruto."
"Why not?! Why can't I know? They're my parents!"
Tears welled up in Naruto's eyes. All the emotions he'd buried—loneliness, confusion, pain—came pouring out.
Why does everyone else have parents, but not me?
Why does no one take care of me?
Why does everyone hate me?
The questions had haunted him forever.
"Your parents gave their lives to protect you, Naruto. You carry their will, their dream."
"…They died for me?"
Naruto froze, stunned. His tears stopped.
"Yes. One day, when you become a ninja I can proudly recognize, I'll tell you who they are. Deal?"
Kakashi gently patted Naruto's head, fingers running through his sun-kissed hair. A memory flickered in his mind—of a golden-haired man standing tall and a fiery-haired woman smiling warmly.
Naruto wiped his face quickly and looked up, eyes burning with new resolve.
"Then I'll become a ninja that everyone can acknowledge! I'll get strong, and when I do, you'll tell me, right?!"
"Mm. I promise. So work hard."
"Right! I'm rested now—let's keep going!"
"You're full of energy, huh? Let's see what you've got."
Their fists met again as they resumed training, but this time, Naruto's eyes held something different.
Hope.
Dad, Mom… I won't let you down.
Kakashi smiled softly at the determined boy in front of him.
That was the reason he had spoken up today. He wanted Naruto to understand that he wasn't alone.
That he had been deeply loved.
Naruto's birth carried the hopes and dreams of two remarkable shinobi.
At the end of their lives, Minato and Kushina entrusted everything to him.
And Kakashi hoped Naruto could carry that torch and grow stronger—not just for himself, but for them.
This was the end of confusion and loneliness.
The start of a future that truly belonged to Naruto Uzumaki.
A tomorrow bright enough to reach the ones smiling in the Pure Land.
Seeing Naruto give it his all again, Kakashi finally allowed himself to relax.
Sensei… Kushina… this is all I can do.
JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCE 30+ CHAPTERS
patreon.com/Prince209