Chapter 1 - The Younger Brother of Kakashi Hatake
Morning sunlight gently embraced the entire Ninja Academy, with its brilliant rays illuminating everything in sight.
The scent of gardenias, carried by the breeze, quietly drifted into the classroom, subtly permeating everyone's senses.
Several dozen figures sat in silent meditation in the bright and spacious classroom. These were young boys and girls, their faces still showing traces of innocence.
At this moment, each of them had their eyes tightly closed, serious expressions on their faces, and a faint blue glow intermittently appearing around their bodies, giving them a mysterious aura.
The sunlight danced on their bodies, making the blue glow even more dazzling.
In front of these children was a raised wooden platform. On this platform sat another figure, also meditating. His hands formed seals, and his eyes were closed, clearly focused on his own training.
This figure appeared to be a young boy with soft, tousled hair. A white mask obscured his face, making it hard to see his features clearly.
Around this boy, a visible, mysterious energy swirled, differing from the faint blue glow surrounding the others.
Some boys and girls in the classroom quietly opened their eyes, glancing at the energy around the boy on the platform. They couldn't help but murmur among themselves, breaking the peaceful atmosphere.
"Such immense spiritual energy. If he could refine chakra, he'd have the amount of a genin already. No wonder he's the leader of Class B!"
"Of course! Our leader could defeat Rock Lee, the taijutsu expert from the previous year. There's no one in Class A who can match him."
Everyone nodded in agreement, clearly convinced by this statement.
Suddenly, someone frowned and whispered, "The leader is amazing, but why can't he refine chakra?"
Another boy, unsure, suggested, "…Maybe the leader has too little physical energy in his cells?"
The atmosphere grew tense. After all, chakra was fundamental to a ninja. Without it, one couldn't become a ninja, and the leader they admired might just remain an ordinary person.
As everyone's mood dipped, a boy with a bowl cut, seemingly familiar with the boy on the platform, heard the whispers. He rolled his eyes and lazily released his seal, saying, "This guy is just a freak. He's fought so many battles with Class A, and when have you seen him injured? With such recovery, how could he lack physical energy… Right, Choji?" He turned to his right.
The chubby boy next to him, who was munching on snacks, nodded repeatedly, "Shikamaru's right. A year ago, he fought Rock Lee for an entire day. Lee was bedridden for half a month, but he was up and about the next day… Even our Akimichi clan can't match that recovery."
A boy behind Shikamaru leaned in, "Speaking of which, Shikamaru, Choji, you guys transferred from Class A to our class a year ago with Ino. Aren't clan members supposed to be in Class A?"
"You're wrong. Our leader is also from a clan…" Shikamaru smirked.
Everyone was astonished.
"The leader's name is Yukigetsu, right? Such a strange name…"
"I haven't heard of a Yukigetsu or Kamizuki clan in the village."
"Shikamaru, which clan does the leader belong to?"
"Ugh." Shikamaru sighed, "So tired. Don't want to talk… Choji, you explain."
Choji was surprised, turned his snack bag upside down, and finding only one piece left, popped it into his mouth. "Look at the leader's mask. Doesn't it seem familiar? If it were black…"
With this hint, someone realized, "Ah! Isn't it like the famous Copy Ninja, Kakashi?"
Choji grinned, "That's right. Kakashi-sensei is the leader's older brother!"
As everyone chatted, Choji added, "Do you remember why the leader fought Rock Lee?"
The group was silent for a moment before a boy hesitantly said, "Sakura Haruno?"
Choji clapped, "Exactly, Sakura Haruno! Some things happened, and then we transferred classes…"
Everyone was confused.
Choji knew they were puzzled. He exchanged a glance with Shikamaru, then both looked at the girl sitting to Shikamaru's left. Everyone else followed their gaze…
The girl had a pretty face, her long blonde hair tied into a ponytail, and her violet outfit highlighted her attractive figure, revealing a small, smooth waist.
This beautiful girl was none other than Ino.
Some boys blushed. Ino and Sakura Haruno were considered the two beauties of the Ninja Academy, with many admirers in Class B as well.
Under everyone's gaze, Ino felt a bit uncomfortable. Though she pretended to be serious about her training, she had been listening to the conversation.
The reason for their transfer was that Ino liked the leader, and after a fallout with Sakura, she dragged Shikamaru and Choji to transfer classes.
As Ino felt embarrassed, a calm voice from the platform came to her rescue: "Are you guys not taking me, your leader, seriously?"
Everyone looked up to see Yukigetsu slowly opening his eyes, his gaze piercing despite his masked face.
As the group nervously laughed, Yukigetsu raised his slender right hand, supporting his head lazily on his right leg, and said, "I suppose you all have refined chakra recently, so you don't respect me, a leader without chakra, right? How about…"
He paused, a slight smirk on his lips, "Who wants to spar with me outside?"
At these words, apart from Shikamaru, who sighed, and Ino, who pouted, everyone, including Choji, gulped and began to sweat.
Suddenly, the classroom door was flung open, and an angry girl's voice echoed: "Yukigetsu, you…"
The next moment, the girl realized something was wrong. Her eyes darted around, seeing all the surprised gazes on her.
She blinked, her eyes wide like a startled deer, then awkwardly waved, "Uh, hi everyone. I didn't know you were all here…"
The girl wore a red cheongsam, her long, soft pink hair shining like sakura petals.
Everyone recognized her as one of the school's beauties… Sakura Haruno!
Seeing her, Ino immediately stood up, frowning like she'd seen her rival, "Sakura Haruno, what are you up to now?"
"Me? I'm just here to talk to Yukigetsu." Sakura awkwardly tucked her hair behind her ear.
Ino rolled her eyes, "Forehead girl, stop pretending. Everyone knows about your dual personality in Class A and B."
Sakura's face twitched. If Ino hadn't exposed her, her hidden side wouldn't be so well known, ruining her academic reputation.
She pointed at Ino, "Ino-pig, why do you care if I want to talk to Yukigetsu!"
Ino, always at odds with her, retorted, "Every time you come to see him, it ends badly. Last time it was Rock Lee, who's it this time?"
"Hmph! That was just about our engagement," Sakura pouted.
"It's just a verbal agreement, so what?" Ino's jealous tone made everyone smirk.
Sakura, arms akimbo, retorted, "I don't even want that stupid engagement!"
"What's wrong with it, forehead girl?" Ino clenched her fists.
"Not everyone is like you, Ino-pig!" Sakura stepped forward, ready for a fight.
Everyone watched in shock as the two beauties yelled at each other, disregarding their images.
And the information they revealed was surprising.
Yukigetsu frowned, knowing the real reason behind the issue. His older brother, Kakashi, had set up a verbal engagement with Sakura, who, infatuated with Sasuke, was unhappy and caused trouble, leading to the fight with Rock Lee a year ago.
"You're so ugly, you don't deserve Yukigetsu!"
"A chakra-less loser, what's so great about him?"
Sakura's words made everyone go silent, staring at her.
Sakura hesitated but stubbornly said, "He can't become a ninja, I'm not wrong…"
Ino's expression darkened, about to give Sakura a lesson, but a soft hand held her back. She turned to see Yukigetsu's half-masked face, his eyes narrowing.
Ino bit her lip, deciding to let him handle it. She knew he was capable and didn't want to act rashly and upset him.
"You can speak now," Yukigetsu said, glancing at Sakura. "Even if many support you, believe me, if I want to discipline you, no one can stop me."
He disliked this troublesome girl.
"You!" Sakura, angered by his words, was about to shout but stopped when she saw his cold gaze. His once gentle look now had a sharp, icy edge.
That look, exuding a sharp, steely aura, was not something an ordinary boy could possess.
Sakura, recalling his fight with Rock Lee, knew his strength and how quickly he recovered.
But this time, her confidence grew, knowing she had a strong ally.
"Yukigetsu, I'm here on behalf of Sasuke. Ten days from now, at the graduation exam, he wants you to choose him as your opponent."
"Sasuke?"
Hearing this name, Ino and the others' expressions changed. Sasuke was the top student, having recently refined enough chakra to be a genin.
"Oh, and he also wanted you to know he can now perform a C-rank jutsu." Sakura smirked.
"A C-rank jutsu
?!"
This news shocked everyone, as no other student had learned a C-rank jutsu.
"Yes, a C-rank jutsu."
Sakura looked at Yukigetsu with pity. A normal person against a genin with a C-rank jutsu? The outcome was clear.
"Sasuke said if you don't think you can handle it, just don't show up. He won't force you." Sakura's smile was mischievous.
If Yukigetsu didn't show up, his reputation at the academy would be ruined.
Ino frowned, "Why are you bullying him?"
"Ino-pig, it's not our fault. Yukigetsu is too high-profile, and Sasuke wants to graduate top of the class, so he has to challenge him." Sakura shrugged.
"You!"
Ino, angry, was about to step forward but was held back by a white hand. She turned to see Yukigetsu's smiling eyes, "Tell Sasuke I'll be there."
"Good luck then."
Sakura smiled and left, clearly eager for Yukigetsu to be humiliated.
"Are you really going to accept Sasuke's challenge? He has genin-level chakra, and you…" Choji worried.
"I'll do my best." Yukigetsu replied casually.
Ino, frustrated by his nonchalant attitude, scolded, "You idiot! Without chakra, how will you pass the exam, let alone fight Sasuke!"
"Don't worry, the chakra issue will be solved." Yukigetsu smiled.
Ino frowned, clearly concerned. She looked into his deep eyes, feeling there was something hidden there.
"Hmph, you'll be the one embarrassed, not me." Ino huffed.
Yukigetsu couldn't help but smile at her flushed face, "Ino, you seem to care a lot about me?"
"Go die."
Ino blushed, then glared at him, "I'm just worried you'll embarrass Class B."
Shikamaru and Choji both chuckled.
Yukigetsu smiled. Thanks to his brother Kakashi, he was close to Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji.
"I've always wondered," Ino said, dismissing the others, "why do you look at me like I'm a child, even though we're the same age?"
Yukigetsu paused, looking up and sighing softly, thinking to himself:
"You'll never know how much I cherish this moment of light after being in endless darkness." – Yukigetsu