Chapter 206 : So Every Uchiha Just Defects from the Village, Is That It?
Uchiha Sasuke slept restlessly that night.
He tossed and turned in bed, kicking his blanket to the foot of the mattress. No matter how he lay, he couldn't get comfortable.
His mind was consumed by everything that had happened: his brother defecting from the village, and that peculiar name—Uchiha Taiga.
These thoughts swirled in his head all night like a swarm of flies he couldn't swat away, buzzing endlessly without a moment of peace.
He didn't drift into a fitful sleep until the early hours of the morning, and even then, it didn't last long.
The crisp chirping of birds outside his window woke him after less than four hours of sleep. By the time he opened his eyes, it was already broad daylight. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the window, casting a beam across the tatami mats where motes of dust danced in the air.
Sasuke sat up. After a moment of silence, he got out of bed, washed up, and left the house without even eating breakfast.
His pace was brisk, practically jogging as he exited the courtyard.
When Uchiha Mikoto stepped out of the kitchen, she only caught a glimpse of his back disappearing through the gate. Holding a steaming bowl of rice, she opened her mouth to call him back for breakfast, but then closed it, ultimately saying nothing.
She didn't seem surprised by his behavior, merely shaking her head in helpless resignation.
Somewhere else in the village.
A two-story detached house stood with off-white walls and a dark gray roof, looking no different from the neighboring homes.
A cherry blossom tree grew in the yard. Its flowers had already withered, leaving behind a dense canopy of vibrant green leaves.
The front door was unlocked, yielding to a gentle push.
On the second floor, in the bedroom.
Hatake Kakashi was sleeping soundly.
He lay sprawled across the bed, with only a corner of the blanket draped over his stomach.
His hair was a messy bird's nest, and he still wore his mask, having never taken it off before going to sleep. To his right lay a book, splayed open face-down on the bed. The cover bore the title: *Make-Out Paradise*.
The pages were yellowed and the corners curled, clearly having been read countless times.
He was snoring softly, his breathing deep and his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.
Suddenly, Kakashi's eyes snapped open.
His right pupil focused the instant it opened, his gaze as sharp as a blade.
His body didn't move, maintaining his sleeping posture, but his right hand slipped under the pillow with lightning speed, emerging with a kunai gripped tightly in his palm.
The kunai's edge gleamed, flashing with a cold light in the morning sun.
*Clack!*
The bedroom window was thrown open, and a figure vaulted inside. The movements were swift and clean, their feet landing on the floorboards with a soft thud.
The moment the intruder's feet touched the ground, a kunai was already pressed against their neck.
The sharp edge rested flush against the skin, sending a chilling metallic sensation down the intruder's neck. Just an inch more of pressure would slice through skin and sever the artery.
The figure stiffened but didn't dodge, simply standing there and allowing the kunai to remain at their throat.
"Kakashi-sensei."
The voice was remarkably calm.
Kakashi revealed himself from behind the boy, rolling out of bed with silent footsteps. Upon hearing the voice, he stowed the kunai away and rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Sasuke, it's still early in the morning."
Kakashi shoved the kunai back under his pillow and dusted off his hands.
"Besides, breaking into someone else's house is incredibly rude."
He turned around and looked at Sasuke, hands resting on his hips.
"As the young master of the Uchiha clan, why would you do something like this?"
Sasuke stood by the window, the sunlight streaming in from behind him and casting his shadow across the floor.
His expression remained completely unchanged. He simply stared at Kakashi, his eyes shining with unwavering resolve.
"I need your help."
Kakashi looked at his expression, staring into those resolute eyes in silence for a moment. Then, he slapped his forehead, his fingers flicking against his brow with a crisp smack.
"I knew it."
His tone was brimming with helpless resignation.
Turning away, he ignored Sasuke and walked straight into the washroom.
The faucet was turned on, water rushing out as he squeezed some toothpaste and began brushing his teeth.
The washroom door was left open, leaving his back in full view.
Sasuke stood rooted to the spot. He didn't move or speak, simply waiting in silence.
A few minutes later, the water stopped. The toothbrush was placed into a cup, and a towel was pulled from the rack, used to wipe his face, and hung back up.
Kakashi emerged from the washroom having changed into casual clothes—a black shirt, dark pants, and a pair of slippers.
His mask was still on, covering the lower half of his face just like always.
He walked over to a low table and sat down cross-legged, resting his hands on his knees.
Sasuke walked over and sat down opposite him.
Kakashi picked up the teapot on the table and poured two cups of tea, pushing one toward Sasuke and keeping the other for himself.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip at lightspeed before setting it down, his mask seemingly untouched. Then, he sighed. "You want to ask about your brother leaving the village?"
Sasuke's eyelid twitched. He nodded, but then shook his head.
"It's related to him leaving the village, but that's not it."
He took a deep breath, his chest rising high before slowly exhaling. He stared intently into Kakashi's eyes, his gaze so serious it felt as though he were trying to see right through them.
"Kakashi-sensei, have you ever heard the name Uchiha Taiga?"
Kakashi's hand paused slightly as he poured more water. The spout of the teapot was aimed at the cup, and what should have been a thin, steady stream of water trembled for a split second. A few drops of tea spilled onto the table, blooming into a dark stain on the wood grain.
He set the teapot down, picked up his cup to take another sip, and then let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Ah."
His voice dropped so low he sounded like he was muttering to himself as he raised a hand to scratch his head.
"I knew this was going to be a pain. I shouldn't have run my mouth yesterday."
His tone was laced with regret.
Sasuke's eyes lit up.
"Please tell me everything you know about Uchiha Taiga. I'm begging you."
With that, Sasuke bowed his head.
Kakashi looked at him, scratching his chin. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed, his entire demeanor screaming internal conflict.
After a long while, his head slumped.
"This is the kind of thing you should be asking your father."
His voice was muffled.
"He obviously knows a lot more about it."
Sasuke shook his head.
"He refuses to tell me."
Kakashi looked up at him.
"So you came to ask me? Did you think I'd just spill everything?"
Sasuke met his gaze without flinching.
"Even if you don't tell me, I'll find out the truth. Someone else in the village is bound to know."
Kakashi stared at him for a long time.
Looking into Sasuke's unwavering eyes, he knew the kid wasn't joking. And that was exactly why he felt so utterly helpless.
Kakashi waved his hand dismissively in the air.
"Alright, alright. But I'm only telling you what I know."
Sasuke immediately straightened his posture, his body taut as a bowstring. He stared unblinkingly at Kakashi, his ears practically perked up as if preparing to hear a monumental secret.
Kakashi picked up his teacup, took a sip, set it down, and thought for a moment before speaking.
"Truth be told, Uchiha Taiga was actually from my generation."
He paused.
"No, we were classmates."
His gaze grew distant, as if recalling memories from a long time ago.
"It's just a shame he dropped out on his very first day at the Academy."
He raised a hand and scratched his head again.
"I was pretty rebellious back then. Because I had some talent, I didn't pay much attention to anyone else, so I didn't really care about Uchiha Taiga's existence."
He lowered his hand, his words flowing more smoothly now.
"By the time I actually took notice of him, he was already the strongest person in the Uchiha clan."
He raised his eyes and looked at Sasuke.
"Yeah, I think he wasn't even twelve years old at the time. About the same age you are now."
Sasuke looked as though he were listening to a myth. His mouth hung slightly open, his eyes wide and pupils contracted, his expression a complicated mess.
Especially when he heard the words 'twelve years old,' his entire body stiffened.
He was twelve too, and he had only just awakened his Sharingan.
But what about Uchiha Taiga?
Before he even turned twelve, he had become the strongest in the Uchiha clan.
*Was there even a comparison to be made?*
"And then what?" Sasuke hurriedly asked.
Kakashi replied, "And then? Then Uchiha Taiga defected from the village."
"Huh?"
*Another defection?*
*So every Uchiha just defects from the village, is that it?*
Power Stones, reviews, and comments— really helps a lot
Want to read ahead? Get access to 50+ extra chapters on my Patreon:
/Aragai_Sama