Just when Hatake Kaede Yoru was about to continue practicing, he suddenly sensed something. He looked up at the top of the outer wall on one side of the courtyard and said:
"You've really developed a habit of skipping the front door."
Perched on the wall was a familiar figure with silver-white hair and a mask—it was none other than Hatake Kakashi.
"Nah, I was just passing through this way," Kakashi replied casually as he leapt down into the courtyard.
Standing side by side, the differences between Kakashi and Kaede Yoru were clear: Kakashi had longer hair, wore a mask, and was visibly shorter and smaller in build.
Kakashi looked at Kaede Yoru and said, "As you suspected, the tensions between the villages are escalating. Most of the recent missions are about surveillance and interference."
"That makes sense," Kaede Yoru nodded.
When he arrived in this world, aside from some changes at the ninja academy, he hadn't impacted the grand scheme of things. The gears of fate still turned toward the same war. He knew full well that the Third Great Ninja War was inevitable and would break out next year.
"You're still not graduating? You're not going to learn anything new by staying in school," Kakashi remarked.
Most people wouldn't know the truth, but Kakashi was well aware of his brother's strength. He had never won a single spar against Kaede Yoru. Not once.
And Kakashi wasn't weak—he had become a chūnin last year. Even after his promotion, he had challenged Kaede Yoru again, only to be defeated once more. Kaede Yoru's speed was borderline inhuman.
More than just powerful, Kaede Yoru was composed—his intellect and judgment were far beyond his years.
Kaede Yoru smiled. "It's true I'm not learning anything from the instructors, but staying in school gives me more time for independent training... Looks like you've been poking around in the techniques I mentioned recently."
Now that Kakashi was a chūnin, he had access to more advanced ninjutsu—far more than Kaede Yoru could obtain directly. But Kaede Yoru had learned quite a bit from his brother. Kakashi had focused his recent efforts on two techniques: the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Eight Gates.
The Eight Gates technique was a must. As for Flying Thunder God, it was worth trying. If he succeeded, he'd have a formidable escape technique. If not, no problem—time manipulation was already a powerful ability.
"Those techniques are in the Forbidden Scroll. Not exactly easy to get my hands on," Kakashi grumbled.
Even with his chūnin status, the likes of Flying Thunder God and the Eight Gates were heavily restricted.
"There's always a way," Kaede Yoru replied calmly.
Once Kakashi made jōnin, it would become easier. In fact, Kakashi would become a jōnin by the age of twelve. Kaede Yoru might even surpass that timeline.
He knew he'd be forced to graduate next year anyway. Once the war began, there'd be no room to hide one's abilities. It would be all or nothing.
Kakashi shook his head. "And you're still holding back..."
His father's death had left a heavy mark on him. After Sakumo Hatake, the famed White Fang of Konoha, took his own life due to the village's backlash, Kakashi had felt the weight of expectation and criticism.
He responded by showing unmatched talent—graduating at five, promoted to chūnin at six. But that fame brought scrutiny.
In contrast, Kaede Yoru remained quiet, composed, and slow-moving through the academy, despite being clearly stronger.
Kaede Yoru sighed. "You still don't get it."
Was the White Fang really driven to suicide just over one failed mission? Kaede Yoru, with his knowledge of this world and his past life, doubted that very much.
He had never seen the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, step in to publicly support Sakumo. The incident had escalated unchecked. It wouldn't have taken more than a few words to suppress the backlash—especially since Sakumo had failed a mission to save his comrades.
Kaede Yoru couldn't be entirely sure, but he had his suspicions. Danzo had likely played a role. With Sakumo's overwhelming strength and growing influence, he posed a threat to Danzo's power. If Sakumo had lived, he could've easily become the Fourth Hokage.
If Danzo was behind Sakumo's fall, then Kaede Yoru and Kakashi were both under close surveillance.
It was fine if Kakashi stood out—Danzo might even want to recruit him. But Sarutobi likely wouldn't allow Kakashi to join the Root organization.
However, if both brothers showed exceptional ability, it might give Danzo leverage to demand that one of them be handed over.
Kaede Yoru wasn't about to let that happen. He wasn't going to Root, and he'd never let Kakashi end up there either.
"Get what?" Kakashi asked, confused.
Kaede Yoru shook his head. No point explaining. Kakashi was too young, too idealistic. Letting him know about the dark politics of Konoha would only create more problems.
"But the time's nearly right..."
Kaede Yoru's eyes turned thoughtful.
The Third Ninja War was nearing. Once it began, showing his strength wouldn't be an issue. Danzo wouldn't have the capacity to meddle with everything. His focus would be on the enemy villages, not internal manipulation.
War was a crisis—but also an opportunity.
Kakashi would become a jōnin during the war, and so would he. That status would give them freedom and distance from Danzo. Once they had rank, even Hiruzen wouldn't tolerate them being yanked around like pawns.
And if things went better than expected—if his training accelerated even more—Kaede Yoru might break into Kage-level strength during the war itself. With his time manipulation ability, it was possible.
"By the way, I've been wondering," Kakashi said, looking at the battered training stakes in the courtyard. "How's your training been lately, brother...?"
There was a glint in his eye.
Despite never beating Kaede Yoru before, he hadn't given up hope. With everything he'd learned from real missions and dangerous fights, he felt he'd grown stronger.
Maybe—just maybe—if Kaede Yoru had slacked off, he might win this time.
Kaede Yoru arched a brow.
He knew exactly what Kakashi was getting at.
"Well," he said with a faint smile. "I was just thinking the same thing about you."