The Shame of Uchiha

"Is Kakashi home? I'm Uchiha Kazuki," Kazuki called from the front of Kakashi's house.

After calling for a while, a small head peeked out from inside.

Seeing this little guy made Kazuki feel a bit uncomfortable.

The one who came out was Kakashi Hatake, who, despite being only seven years old, had already become a Chunin for a year.

Kazuki was 20 this year and was still a Genin.

"Oh, it's Chunin Kakashi! Is your father home? I came to visit him because he is my idol," Kazuki said, forcing himself to smile as he spoke.

Being a 20-year-old adult talking to a 7-year-old kid as a subordinate felt strange.

"My father is inside drinking, and he might..." Kakashi started to say.

Seemingly not hearing the hint of refusal in Kakashi's voice, Kazuki looked excited.

He pushed open the door of the Hatake house, took out a paper bag from his hands, and said to Kakashi, "I brought some snacks to drink with, I came to have a drink with your father!"

Kakashi was clearly surprised. He remembered that the Hatake family wasn't very close to the Uchiha clan.

No, it wasn't that they weren't close; most of the Hatake family worked in the Anbu and Root, so they should have had a somewhat adversarial relationship with the Uchiha.

However, Kazuki didn't pay any attention to him and walked confidently into the house.

Kakashi didn't expect the other boy to be so familiar, but he only paused for a moment and didn't stop him.

His father had once been his hero, but now he just sat at home drinking quietly, and Kakashi felt sorry for him but didn't know how to help.

"Maybe this Uchiha loser can cheer my father up a little," Kakashi thought.

Now, the nickname "Uchiha's Shame" was already well-known throughout Konoha.

A 20-year-old Uchiha Genin was indeed rare.

Kazuki walked straight in, pushed open the inner door, and a strong smell of alcohol wafted out.

Once a hero of Konoha, the White Fang, now sat there like an ordinary drunkard, pouring drink after drink into his mouth.

"White Fang, I'm Uchiha Kazuki. You've always been my idol since I was a kid. I happened to be free today and wanted to come here for a drink with you. You won't kick me out, right?" Kazuki said sincerely.

The White Fang opened his bleary, drunk eyes and looked at Uchiha Kazuki. He replied blandly, "Come, sit, Uchiha kid, that's very kind of you."

The White Fang wasn't stupid; he could tell that Kazuki wasn't just here to drink.

"White Fang, you've been my idol since I was young, so I'll drink three cups to you."

Downing three cups, Kazuki took a bite of his snack.

"Honestly, White Fang, seeing you like this really makes me sad.

You are a hero of Konoha, but now, is it really good to give up on yourself like this?"

The White Fang's hand, holding the cup, trembled slightly after hearing Kazuki's words.

Kazuki noticed this small change and felt that his words had some effect.

However, the White Fang remained silent, and they quietly drank a few more cups.

"Uchiha kid, do you think I was wrong?" the White Fang finally spoke.

Kakashi, who had been eavesdropping outside, also peeked his head in. This was the first question his father had asked after so many days.

For days, his father had faced criticism from many people in Konoha for failing a mission while trying to save a comrade.

Even the comrades he saved had come forward to blame him for doing wrong.

This had caused the faith of the White Fang, who had always been influenced by the Will of Fire, to crumble.

Could it be that he had really done something wrong?

Should a ninja be merely a tool to complete missions without emotions for saving comrades?

"Senior, in my view, if your actions led to the mission's failure, then you were indeed wrong," Kazuki said calmly.

"Indeed, you think the same way," the White Fang said with a bitter smile as he downed another shot of liquor.

Outside, Kakashi clenched his fists.

In his eyes, his father was a flawless hero.

His father could not possibly be wrong.

But this time, his father might really have made a mistake.

"White Fang, who says that ninjas can't fail missions?" Kazuki suddenly countered.

The White Fang was clearly taken aback; indeed, no one stated that ninjas had to complete missions.

In some situations where they were overwhelmed, ninjas could abandon their missions.

However, for him, the White Fang, failing a mission was a disgrace.

"Senior, I must say, failing a mission isn't scary. What's scary is what attitude you maintain after failing.

For example, because of your failure, the village suffered losses. As a responsible ninja, shouldn't you help the village recover those losses?

But senior, look at what you've done! All you've done is sulk and drink.

Do you know that the image of the former White Fang in my heart has been completely destroyed? For a ninja, this is a cruel thing. I've lost a lot too."

Kazuki's words left the White Fang completely stunned. Wait, this guy didn't come to comfort him, but instead to ask him to compensate for losses?

As expected, Danzo was right; the worst were the Uchihas; every pore in them flowed with evil.

"Then how should I compensate you?" the White Fang asked in a hoarse voice.

Days of drinking had numbed his vocal cords.

"Senior, I believe my losses are at least a million ryo. And because of your mission failure, the village's losses, after my careful evaluation, should be around fifty million ryo.

So, senior, now is not the time for you to be down. You still owe me one million ryo and the village fifty million ryo in losses that you haven't cleared yet." When it comes to scamming, Kazuki claimed he was second; no one dared to claim first, not even Naruto with his verbal tricks.

"Hehe, little guy, you're really interesting," the White Fang said, now a bit intrigued by this Uchiha kid.

"Chunin Kakashi! I'm having a good drink with your father, but I need a little more liquor and snacks. Can you go get some for me?" Kazuki called out loudly.

Kakashi was momentarily stunned, didn't respond, and then quickly vanished.

"Kid, you got Kakashi to leave. What do you want to say to me?" the White Fang asked.

"Senior, you are indeed wise. You easily saw through my plan. I admire you," Kazuki flattered.

"Enough with the flattery. When has anyone from the Uchiha clan been a flatterer?"

"Actually, senior, they even call me the Shame of Uchiha," Kazuki said with an embarrassed smile.