Chapter 15: A Small Reality Check for Kakashi and Shikamaru
"So, your surname is Zenin?"
"Yeah."
Garou nodded. "But I'm just a civilian."
"Some civilian families were once noble clans during the Warring States era," Kakashi mused. "They just declined after the rise of the ninja system. I remember reading the Zenin name in a scroll once, probably a former samurai clan."
"Maybe." Garou wasn't sure. There were no sword manuals left in his house. If there had been, he wouldn't have needed to ask Tenten for help with sword training.
"Well, those old traditions don't matter much anymore," Kakashi said with a shrug. "Even the Land of Iron practices chakra now. Whether or not you're from a samurai bloodline doesn't mean much."
Despite his words, Kakashi's right hand twitched slightly.
The conversation was getting dull, and he was feeling the itch to open a book. But considering its adult content, he resisted the temptation, for now.
Still...he could control his mind, but not always his hand.
Garou wasn't a ninja yet, but his senses were sharp and well-trained. He noticed Kakashi's subtle fidgeting.
'Looks like this version of Kakashi still cares about appearances.'