When Kawakaze returned home, Sakumo was nowhere to be seen in the dojo. His task-driven older brother was always absorbed in missions and training, keeping his social interactions to a bare minimum.
No wonder he took his own life in the original timeline. But now, with Kawakaze Hatake's deliberate guidance, the story was unfolding differently. At least Sakumo had someone to share his feelings with, preventing him from retreating so deeply into himself.
When Kawakaze entered the living room, his sister-in-law was feeding their beloved Ninken.
She had long brown hair cascading over her shoulders and two red markings on her face that, instead of looking odd, gave her an unusual charm. The Ninken was an imposing black dog, about half the height of a human, with a thick, fluffy collar of fur around its neck that extended to its head, obscuring its ears.
No mistaking it—my sister-in-law is an Inuzuka. Her original name was Nayuki Inuzuka, a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Kawakaze often teased that his sister-in-law must have been blind to fall for someone as dull as Sakumo.
At this, Sakumo would typically glare at him before looking at Nayuki with a loving smile.
"Kawakaze, you're back. Your Big Brother's been shouting in the dojo all day," Nayuki Hatake said without glancing up, identifying her brother-in-law by scent alone.
"Haha, that old broken sword of his should've been replaced ages ago," Kawakaze joked as he strode toward Onimaru, crouching down to bury his hands in the dog's thick fur. The texture of such a massive Ninken's coat was a delight only he could fully appreciate.
And look at what Kakashi ended up raising—a pack of tiny Ninken! What a disgrace to his mother's bloodline. Kawakaze shook his head. Kakashi inherited none of her strengths—except maybe her sense of smell, and even that's mediocre. Resolving to make Kakashi raise a proper, fierce dog someday, Kawakaze chuckled at the thought. How else can he live up to the title of Hatake Clan's young head?
Onimaru let out a low, dissatisfied growl. If this guy weren't my master's brother-in-law, I'd have bitten him already.
"What are you growling at? I'm just rubbing your fur a little. Don't be stingy," Kawakaze teased, sensing Onimaru's discontent. He gave the dog a final pat on the head before reluctantly withdrawing his hand.
"You're wearing out that same spot. It's almost bald—it looks awful," Nayuki scolded, giving her brother-in-law a pointed look. "Don't pat Onimaru on the head so much; you'll make it go dumb."
Onimaru seemed to nod in agreement, warning Kawakaze with his gaze: One more time, and we'll have a problem.
"Is Big Brother not home?" Kawakaze asked casually, fishing for information and calculating his escape route if necessary.
"He went to the weapons workshop, then to the ancestral hall to reflect," Nayuki replied with a sigh. "You should go talk to him."
She shook her head helplessly. Despite being brothers, Kawakaze and Sakumo were like night and day. I wonder what kind of girl could ever handle a man like Kawakaze.
"Well, that's a relief," Kawakaze said with a grin. "If I don't, he'll probably stay there until dinner."
Satisfied, he got up and headed to his room for a nap.
After feeding Onimaru his dinner, Nayuki found herself at a loss for words. Kawakaze was still gloating after chopping the White Light Chakra Sabre in half, as though it were some grand accomplishment.
"Sister-in-law, let me know when dinner's ready," Kawakaze said with a stretch, heading off to his room.
"Got it," Nayuki replied, covering her face with a sigh. Forget it. Let these two brothers sort it out themselves.
After a satisfying afternoon nap, Kawakaze was unceremoniously woken by Onimaru. The large Ninken hesitated at the door for a long time before finally mustering the courage to enter Kawakaze's room—a place that had haunted his dog life.
Onimaru barked once, then promptly turned tail and ran out without a backward glance.
"It was just one time I joked about taking you for dog meat, and you're still holding a grudge," Kawakaze muttered, yawning and stretching before reluctantly getting up to eat. "Ungrateful."
When he arrived at the dining hall, he found the table already set by the servants. Sakumo sat at the head of the table, his expression dark and unreadable, while Nayuki was seated at his right. Kawakaze's seat, naturally, was on Sakumo's left.
The Hatake Clan wasn't large, and with Kakashi not yet born, their meals were usually quiet affairs. Ignoring his older brother's displeased demeanor, Kawakaze casually took his seat.
"Let's eat," he said, digging in without waiting for Sakumo to begin. With only three people at the table, he saw no point in ceremony.
He grabbed a piece of sushi and popped it into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. This is basically just rice wrapped in nori, he mused before reaching for more.
Nayuki sighed at her husband, whose face had darkened further, and began eating as well, unwilling to intervene.
"You can only eat rice?" Sakumo finally broke the silence, his patience snapping as he glared at his younger brother's unbothered demeanor.
"I'm at the age where I'm still growing," Kawakaze replied between bites of roast piglet, speaking as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Do you even know—"
"Yes, yes, the ancestral treasure sword," Kawakaze interrupted, cutting off Sakumo's attempt to deliver yet another lecture. He was clearly unimpressed. "You've already repeated the same thing so many times."
Sakumo's eyes narrowed, but before he could retort, Kawakaze continued.
"Do you know why even a treasure sword can break?" Kawakaze asked, turning the question back on his older brother. Sakumo was momentarily speechless, unable to come up with an answer. After all, he couldn't exactly claim the ancestral treasure sword was poorly made.
Kawakaze swallowed a chunk of roast piglet and downed a glass of wine, leaning back with an air of smug confidence.
"Because there was no me in the Hatake Clan back then," he declared, grinning. "From today onwards, my sword, Kawakaze Hatake, will be the weapon passed down as the Clan's ancestral treasure."
His audacious words left Sakumo and Nayuki stunned. They stared at him in disbelief, unable to fathom the sheer brazenness of their younger brother (and brother-in-law). That he could proclaim such a thing with so much self-assurance was beyond anything they had anticipated.
"My heart feels truly relieved," Sakumo declared.
"To our parents in the Pure Land," he added, his voice tinged with emotion. He raised his glass and clinked it against Kawakaze's empty one, then downed his drink in a single gulp.
Nayuki joined in with a sip of her own, further adding to the ceremonial atmosphere.
Kawakaze blinked, utterly dumbfounded. Hey, I was just pretending to be cool! There's no need to go this far. He suppressed a grimace. If you keep this up, it's going to be easy for me to lose face.
Sakumo, now significantly calmer, no longer harped on about the broken White Light Chakra Sabre. Dinner proceeded with a relaxed and cheerful air. Despite his initial resistance, Kawakaze found himself swept up in his brother's enthusiasm, drinking far more than he'd intended—especially considering he hadn't even finished his wine at lunch.
During the meal, Sakumo spoke at length, saying things that caught Kawakaze completely off guard.
"Little brat, you're good at making money."
"Little brat, I can't beat you."
"Little brat, you just know how to annoy me."
By the end of the meal, Sakumo was 80% drunk and had to lean on Nayuki for support. Slurring slightly, he declared his intention to light another incense stick for their ancestors. "The Hatake Clan is about to produce an amazing figure," he announced, his voice brimming with pride.
Kawakaze could only watch in silence as his brother stumbled off, supported by Nayuki. Did he seriously take my joke about passing down my sword as an ancestral treasure that seriously? He sighed inwardly. This is becoming a hassle.
Revitalizing the clan and becoming a powerful ninja had never been part of Kawakaze's dreams. All I've ever wanted was to chase the prettiest girls, drink the spiciest wine, and ride the wildest horses. Yet now, he couldn't shake the feeling that a heavy burden had suddenly been placed on his shoulders. Shaking his head as though to dislodge the thought, he turned his attention elsewhere.
Spotting Onimaru lingering nearby, Kawakaze caught the massive Ninken before it could slip away. "Perfect timing," he muttered, enlisting the dog as his personal transport back to his room.
Onimaru's lack of quick thinking had clearly gotten the better of him. Why didn't I just leave earlier? the dog lamented. But there was no escaping now. Kawakaze, who weighed almost a hundred kilograms, was slumped across his back.
Life is so unfair, Onimaru thought bitterly as he carried his heavy burden. I'm just a dog, living under someone else's roof, and yet I suffer so much.