"Dad, I'm back," Kakashi called as he stepped into the house.
Aizen, just a few steps behind, paused for a moment without meaning to.
Kakashi noticed and turned slightly, a hint of confusion in his expression. "What's up?"
"Nothing," Aizen replied quickly, shaking his head. His face was neutral, calm—too calm.
But inside, his thoughts were racing.
Did I just get emotional?
Was that a slip in control?
Why though?
I've been to other houses before. Cousins, uncles, clan elders... all Uchiha. It's never felt like this.
Is it because he said 'Dad'? Because I'm an orphan?
And I know Kakashi will be too, one day...
He pushed those thoughts aside fast. It wasn't the time. More importantly, he felt it now,
a presence. A strong one.
He looked up.
There, standing quietly in the hallway, was a man with the same silver-white hair as Kakashi. Wearing a loose kimono, relaxed in posture, completely calm, but Aizen felt it anyway. The weight.
That's him, Aizen thought. Sakumo Hatake.
He didn't look like he was trying to intimidate anyone, but somehow, he didn't need to.
Stronger than Grandpa. No question.
Sakumo's eyes were on Kakashi, but Aizen knew he'd been noticed.
"How was your day?" Sakumo asked Kakashi. His tone was easy, but his gaze flicked toward Aizen, curious and maybe a little suspicious.
Not because he was rude. Sakumo wasn't the type. But as an ANBU Commander, he had instincts, and an Uchiha kid visiting his home wasn't something that happened every day.
Kakashi shrugged. "Boring."
Then he added, almost offhand, "This is Aizen Uchiha. He's in my class. Wanted to ask you something about kenjutsu."
Sakumo nodded, then looked at Aizen.
The boy gave a small bow. "Sorry if I'm bothering you, Hatake-san."
Sakumo blinked, a little surprised. Not every day an Uchiha kid showed respect like that.
Still, he smiled. "It's alright. No trouble at all. Come in."
Aizen gave a nod and stepped inside, quiet and polite. Kakashi glanced at him sideways, raising an eyebrow like, Really? That formal?
Sakumo led the way down the hall. "So, kenjutsu?"
"Yeah," Aizen said, and then dropped a line that made both Hatakes pause. "I'm trying to make a new sword style… just need some guidance."
Kakashi stared. "You what?"
Even Sakumo, who had stayed silent, gave Aizen a sharper look.
He didn't say anything at first, but his eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't judging Aizen, not exactly, but trying to create a new sword style at five years old?
That wasn't just ambitious. It was unheard of.
Most experienced kenjutsu-focused shinobi who "created" their own style weren't really starting from scratch. They modified old ones, tweaking them to suit their own rhythm, speed, or strength. Even the best usually built off something existing.
And here this kid was, talking about inventing one like it was a school project.
"That's not something people your age usually say," Sakumo finally said, calm but clearly watching closely.
Aizen nodded like it was obvious. "I know. But I'm serious about it."
As they reached the room, the three of them sat down, Sakumo and Aizen on opposite sides, with Kakashi in between them like the third point of a triangle.
Sakumo didn't say anything, just waited patiently. Aizen took the hint and started speaking.
"I'm planning to use kenjutsu as my main combat style," Aizen began. "With taijutsu and genjutsu as secondary supports, and ninjutsu kind of running alongside, depending on the situation."
That made Sakumo raise an eyebrow, not visibly, but mentally. An Uchiha saying they won't prioritise genjutsu before even stepping onto a real battlefield?
Sure, it wasn't impossible. Not every Uchiha awakened the Sharingan. Not all of them had a talent for genjutsu either. Some leaned more into taijutsu or ninjutsu. But that shift usually came after gaining real combat experience, not this early.
Still, Sakumo didn't interrupt. He simply listened, quietly assessing.
"I've been thinking," Aizen continued, his voice steady. "Most fighting styles are already known. People can read your moves, counter them if they've seen them before. And with the Third Ninja War probably starting soon, I want something original. A personal edge. Something no one can predict."
Another bomb.
Kakashi blinked, stunned. "Wait, what? A war's going to happen?"
He immediately turned to his father, face serious for once. "Is it true, Dad?"
Sakumo gave a small nod, eyes shifting slightly. "Yeah."
Then he looked back at Aizen. "Did Renzō-sama tell you?"
"Yes," Aizen replied without hesitation.
He plans to be a genius,but not smart.
Atleast not this early.
"But…" Kakashi frowned. "Didn't the Second Ninja War just end a few years ago? Why another one already?"
Sakumo let out a quiet breath, his voice low. "Yes. But the other villages are slowly recovering. Their losses are being replaced, resources stocked again, and tensions are rising all over."
He paused, a distant look in his eyes. "Many of my comrades died for the peace we've had these past few years. And now, it looks like it's all about to fall apart again."
Sakumo let out a small sigh before turning his attention back to Aizen. "Alright, go on."
"So right now, I've got two main options, ninjutsu and kenjutsu," Aizen explained. "And since the Uchiha are already known for genjutsu and ninjutsu, I want to focus more on kenjutsu. That's why I'm trying to develop a new sword style."
Sakumo nodded slowly, understanding the depth behind that choice. Curious, he asked, "Did someone suggest this to you?"
Aizen shook his head. "No. It was my own idea."
He didn't give credit to anyone. In his mind, building his image as a genius was more important than appearing humble.
Sakumo raised an eyebrow slightly, impressed. Already thinking like this at his age… is he a combat genius?
"But doesn't the Uchiha clan have kenjutsu specialists too?" he asked, wanting to understand more about why Aizen came to him instead.
"They do," Aizen admitted. "But you're currently the best kenjutsu user in Konoha, the White Fang."
As soon as Aizen said that, Kakashi puffed up with pride like he was silently saying, See? That's my dad.
Sakumo chuckled at his son's reaction, while Aizen ignored it and continued calmly.
"And since you're one of the top combatants in the village, it's hard to meet you compared to my clan members."
Sakumo nodded again. It was true, he was often out of the village on missions, and with war approaching, that would only get worse.
Aizen went on, "Also, I don't want to watch the Uchiha clan's kenjutsu too closely. There's a chance their techniques might influence my own style. That's why I want guidance from someone outside the clan, someone with a different foundation."
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