Kakashi Hatake let out a tired sigh as he surveyed the group of brats standing before him. His sharp gaze flickered over the battered and groaning drunkards sprawled across the ground. It was clear that they had suffered a severe beating—so severe, in fact, that one of them barely looked human anymore. Swollen faces, missing teeth, fractured limbs… These kids had been absolutely merciless.
However, despite the brutality of the scene, there was a peculiar problem: these troublemakers weren't actually classified as shinobi yet. They were still students at the Ninja Academy, which meant that this entire brawl was technically just a civilian dispute rather than an official violation of the village's shinobi conduct code.
That being said, the situation couldn't simply be brushed aside. The scale of destruction was far too great, and if the village authorities didn't take action, it could set a bad precedent. Kakashi rubbed his temple in frustration.
"Why do I always get stuck with these troublesome cases?"
Exhaling slowly, he finally addressed the group, his voice carrying his usual lazy drawl.
"A bunch of unruly kids… You're really not cute at all." He sighed again. "Since you all claim to still be students, then this incident will need to be reported to your Academy instructors as well as your parents. And of course, you'll have to compensate the victims for the damage you caused."
Upon hearing Kakashi's words, Shouta Kazuki's lips curled into an amused smirk. That tone… the lackadaisical attitude… the telltale hedgehog-like white hair that screamed exhaustion… He was almost certain now. The man in front of him had to be none other than Konoha's infamous Copy Ninja, the so-called "one-man army" of the village.
Hatake Kakashi.
Or, as Shouta preferred to think of him—Konoha's greatest slacker.
A man whose tired eyes and languid voice suggested he suffered from chronic kidney deficiency. The so-called elite jōnin who spent more time reading perverted novels than training. The legendary Copy Ninja who, in a fight, would rather stall for time and talk his opponent into submission rather than waste energy battling them.
Truly, a remarkable individual.
Shouta chuckled inwardly before stepping forward confidently.
"Sure, no problem!" he said, nodding as though this was nothing more than a trivial misunderstanding. "If our parents need to be informed, then so be it. If compensation is required, that's fine too! I am Shouta Kazuki, son of Kazuki Haruto!"
At this, Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. Kazuki Haruto… That name was familiar. A respected veteran jōnin, known for his unwavering discipline and strong sense of justice. Though the Kazuki clan wasn't one of Konoha's major powerhouses like the Hyuga or the Uchiha, they were well-regarded and had produced many capable shinobi over the years.
Kakashi studied Shouta more closely now. So this was the young heir of the Kazuki family? The kid certainly had an arrogant streak, but there was something oddly… charismatic about him.
Before Kakashi could respond, another voice rang out.
"My name is Yamanaka Ino!" Ino declared proudly, stepping beside Shouta with her hands on her hips. "I was part of the fight too! And if you want to talk to my parents, go ahead! My father is Yamanaka Inoichi, the current head of the Yamanaka clan!"
Kakashi sighed again, already feeling a migraine coming on.
This just got more complicated.
One child of a clan leader was bad enough, but now there were two. He was about to say something when yet another voice chimed in.
"This is annoying…" A slow, indifferent drawl cut through the tension as Nara Shikamaru stepped forward with his hands behind his head. "But since we're all going to be dragged into this anyway, let's get it over with." He lazily tilted his head towards Kakashi. "I'm Nara Shikamaru. My father is Nara Shikaku, head of the Nara clan."
One by one, the others stepped forward.
"Akimichi Choji! My father is Akimichi Choza, head of the Akimichi clan!"
"My father is Aburame Shibi!"
"My mother is Inuzuka Tsume!"
The more they spoke, the deeper Kakashi's headache became. He glanced at the two Anbu agents flanking him. Both of them looked just as uncomfortable.
Why in the world do all the children of Konoha's clan heads feel the need to beat up a bunch of drunkards together?
And why did they have to do it so violently?
As Kakashi was contemplating his life choices, Haruno Sakura took a deep breath and stepped forward, her face burning with determination.
"I… I may not be the child of a famous clan, but that doesn't matter!" she said loudly. "I fought because my friend was in trouble! And I don't regret it!"
Naruto's eyes widened, his heart swelling with emotion as he watched Sakura stand up so proudly. She had defended him.
Meanwhile, Hyuga Hinata took a deep breath, then suddenly moved to the front of the group, standing tall.
"My name is Hyuga Hinata!!! My father is Hyuga Hiashi!!!"
Hyuga Neji, who had been standing quietly in the background, almost choked on air.
Wait a minute… my timid, soft-spoken, demure little cousin just proudly declared her name like a gangster lady?!
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Nope. Not an illusion.
There she was, standing at the front, looking as determined as ever. He swore that for a brief moment, she radiated the presence of a mob boss.
Kakashi, for his part, just stared at the group in dismay.
Did I just stumble into some weird coming-of-age ceremony where every Konoha clan heir declares their family lineage in unison?
At that moment, Uchiha Sasuke exhaled through his nose.
All of his friends had taken turns announcing their names and lineage, standing proud alongside each other. His heart clenched slightly.
I… have no father to name.
But he refused to let himself be left behind.
Slipping his hands into his pockets, he tilted his head up at a precise 45-degree angle, letting the moonlight illuminate his sharp features. He took a slow, deliberate step forward.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke," he said coolly. "I carry the legacy of my clan. And as an Uchiha, I will never abandon my friends."
Naruto practically burst into flames with excitement.
"MY NAME IS UZUMAKI NARUTO!!!" he roared at the top of his lungs. "I WILL BECOME HOKAGE ONE DAY!!! REMEMBER THAT, BECAUSE IT'S A PROMISE!!!"
For the first time, Kakashi truly looked at Naruto.
That unwavering spirit… That dazzling smile, full of unshakable belief in his own future…
Sensei…
Kakashi's mind drifted, just for a moment, to a man who had once stood before him with that same light in his eyes.
"Uzumaki Naruto…" he murmured under his breath.
The Anbu agents shifted awkwardly, whispering to their captain.
"Uh… Kakashi-san… What should we do? Do we… arrest them?"
Kakashi waved a lazy hand. "Nah. Too much effort. Just let the Hokage deal with it."
And with that, the Anbu disappeared, vanishing into the night as swiftly as they had arrived.
Meanwhile, the young shinobi laughed together, already discussing the dinner party at Sasuke's house. Hyuga Neji, though still maintaining his usual stoic expression, couldn't stop the small, amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
As the group moved toward the Uchiha compound, one thing was clear—this night had forged an unbreakable bond between them.