Resolve

——kazuki pov——

When I awoke i decided to saty in bed, savoring the peaceful morning. It had taken Mother a while to get me curtains, but now I no longer had to worry about waking up to the blinding sunlight.

When I awoke today, the house was quiet. It was my 7th birthday, and I had come to deeply love and appreciate my family.

Shisui would be turning four soon. Although I knew he was a genius, it still felt unfair. While I had prior knowledge from another world, Shisui was a natural-born prodigy. He absorbed everything like a sponge and watched the world with the keen eyes of a hawk.

I reflected on my life here and my plans moving forward. Graduating from the Academy early was a priority; it was the only way to gain the position and skills I needed to alter my gear.

Additionally, based on the original timeline, Sakumo Hatake might soon be facing a tragic end, and I wanted to prevent that. Kakashi had become like a younger sibling to me, and I had grown very close to Sakumo, who had taken me in and taught me kenjutsu. It might be selfish, but I didn't want to lose these people from my life.

With these thoughts in mind, I got up and dressed. The house was quiet, the early morning light filtering through the curtains, casting a soft glow on everything. I made my way to the kitchen where the smell of breakfast greeted me. My mother, Akari, was preparing food, and Kagami and Shisui were already at the table.

"Good morning, Kazuki," Akari greeted me with a smile. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks, Mom," I replied, taking a seat at the table.

Shisui, always energetic, looked up at me with wide eyes. "Happy birthday, Kazuki-nii! What do you want to do today?"

I smiled at him. "Thanks, Shisui. We'll see what the day brings."

As we ate, the conversation turned to my future plans. Kagami, my uncle, looked at me seriously. "Kazuki, you've been excelling at the Academy. Have you thought about what you want to do next?"

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "I've been thinking about graduating early and joining the Anbu. I believe it's the best way to gain the skills and position I need to protect our family and the village."

My mother's face tightened with concern. "Kazuki, that's a dangerous path. You're still so young. I don't want you to put yourself at risk like that."

Kagami, however, looked thoughtful. "Akari, Kazuki has shown exceptional talent. If he believes this is the best way to achieve his goals, we should support him. Besides, he can still attend the Academy and finish his education while training with the Anbu."

Akari sighed, looking between me and Kagami. "I just want him to be safe."

"I understand, Mom," I said softly. "But I need to do this. Not just for myself, but for all of us. I promise I'll be careful."

After a moment of silence, Akari nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But you must promise to take care of yourself and not push too hard."

"I promise," I assured her.

Kagami smiled, patting my shoulder. "Good. It's settled then. You'll continue with the Academy and begin your training with the Anbu. We'll make sure you have all the support you need."

As we finished breakfast, I felt a sense of resolve settling over me. The path ahead would be challenging, but I was ready to face it. For my family, for my friends, and for the future I wanted to create.

After breakfast, I decided to take Shisui outside. The morning air was crisp, and the village was already bustling with activity. As we walked through the streets, we passed various vendors setting up their stalls and villagers going about their daily routines. The lively chatter and clinking of tools created a familiar background hum.

"Fresh vegetables here!" a vendor called out, displaying an array of colorful produce.

As we continued, I overheard snippets of conversations that made my heart sink.

"Did you hear about the White Fang? He failed his mission and still returned. The village is talking about it nonstop," one villager whispered to another.

Another added, "I can't believe he put his comrades over the mission. What a disgrace."

My blood ran cold. This was exactly what I feared. If these rumors reached Sakumo, it could push him over the edge. I looked at Shisui, who had also heard the whispers. His eyes were wide with concern.

"Shisui, we need to go," I said urgently.

"Where, Kazuki-nii?" he asked, confused but trusting.

"To the White Fang's home. We need to make sure he doesn't do anything drastic," I replied, already leading the way.

As we moved through the village, we passed more groups of people, their conversations filled with gossip about Sakumo.

"It's such a shame. He was such a respected ninja," an elderly man sighed.

"He was, but now… I don't know," a woman replied, shaking her head.

We picked up the pace, my mind racing with ways to help Sakumo. As we approached his home, I could feel the tension in the air. I knocked on the door, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Sakumo-san, it's Kazuki. Can we talk?" I called out, hoping we weren't too late