Chapter 18: Becoming Partners of Justice

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Kotono’s constitution was excellent; within a couple of days, she was lively and energetic enough to be discharged from the hospital. However, the doctors advised her to rest at home for a week to continue monitoring her injury. Naturally, they were allowed to live with their guardian Kakashi Hatake, no longer needing to stay in the village’s modest, low-rent housing for orphans.

After accompanying her for two days, Naruto reluctantly returned to school—whether he missed Kotono or simply the vacation was hard to say. Kotono, equally restless, helped Kakashi with moving.

“Usually, I manage the household, and Naruto handles cooking and daily chores,” she explained to Kakashi, describing their lifestyle. “He’s incredibly insensitive to money matters; if he managed the finances, we’d go bankrupt in no time.”

Kakashi silently nodded in approval, recalling Naruto’s usual behavior. He said little and didn’t let Kotono lift a finger, only allowing the patient to sit nearby and watch, simply telling her what to move into the Hatake residence.

Though seemingly taciturn and aloof, Kakashi was steady, considerate, and efficient in action—able to handle everything alone, a remarkably reliable elite jonin. He formed three shadow clones, busily working both inside and outside the house alongside his original body.

The girl sat idly on a stool, swinging her legs, mainly playing the role of cheerleader and morale booster. Watching the busy Kakashi clones, she immediately noticed a difference.

“Big Brother Kakashi, your shadow clones don’t look like the ones we learn at school.”

Surprised by her sharpness, Kakashi patiently explained the differences between the three ninjutsu techniques.

“What you learn at school is just the most basic clone technique, which lacks physical form and cannot withstand attacks.”

“A higher level is the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu, which creates clones with substance, consciousness linked to the original, and the ability to attack enemies.”

“What I use is an A-rank forbidden technique, the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, which produces many more clones.”

“I see... Could you teach me the Shadow Clone Jutsu? I think I could let the clones go to school for me!” Her hazel eyes sparkled.

“Very clever,” he quietly praised. Her aptitude was remarkable—quick to grasp concepts and able to infer broadly, no exaggeration.

Kotono beamed, then launched into a series of complaints: school was too easy, she was far too strong and had no rivals. But she couldn’t abandon good friends Naruto and Sasuke, so letting clones attend school on her behalf would be perfect.

Her sweet, approachable voice was heartwarming to hear.

Kakashi thought to himself that although she was a prodigy who could graduate from the ninja academy at six or seven, her personality was far more likable than his own at that age.

He naturally agreed to her request.

“You won’t have to work part-time at the Shueido anymore,” he said gently. “Money won’t be an issue.”

Kotono shook her head. “The shop is very busy now; if I quit suddenly, Mr. Sagawa would be troubled.”

She said earnestly, “Mr. Sagawa helped me when I was at my hardest. I can’t just leave.”

Though her suggestion was rejected, Kakashi was not angry. Beneath his mask, the corners of his lips even lifted slightly.

As expected.

Uzumaki Kotono was entirely different from Kakashi, a kind-hearted child—very good. Embarrassingly, he found himself looking forward, nervously, to living with this child in the future.

*

Though the Hatake residence was somewhat aged, it remained quite grand in Konoha—a classic Japanese-style home where Kakashi had lived alone for years. If not for suddenly adopting these two children, Kakashi had planned to move into the jonin apartments provided by the village in a couple of years.

“Wow, it’s so big!” Naruto exclaimed, running back and forth along the wooden corridor in front of the garden, excited. “Feels like we could race here!”

The boy’s excited cheers filled the quiet, spacious courtyard.

“Naruto! It’s our first day here, you can’t shout like that,” the girl scolded seriously, frowning. “Wait until you’re more familiar with Big Brother Kakashi before you start acting up, okay?”

“Aw!” Naruto’s enthusiasm did not wane.

Kakashi sighed, showing a rare trace of indulgence. “It’s fine. I’ve always hoped you’d treat this place like your own home, so feel free.”

He recalled someone who had once returned home to him and exclaimed in that clear voice, “Kakashi, your house is so amazing!”

Naruto eagerly explored. He had never seen such a large house before.

A house with corridors that could curve—just like the legendary mansion of a daimyo!

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When it came to choosing rooms, Naruto insisted on sharing a room with Kotono rather than enjoying the single bedrooms Kakashi had prepared for them.

“If Kotono’s not here, I won’t be able to sleep at night,” Naruto said pitifully.

Since both children were still young and Kotono agreed, Kakashi allowed it.

However, Naruto was definitely making an excuse.

That night, when Kotono finished washing up and came out, Naruto was already fast asleep in his blue polka-dot pajamas.

Kotono tried lying down but, unused to the hard tatami mats, she couldn’t fall asleep despite tossing and turning.

Worried about disturbing Naruto’s sleep, she quietly slipped out.

“Hey, are you all asleep?” she asked the Anbu hidden on the rooftop. “I’m a bit restless—want to chat?”

The Anbu elite guarding the children: …

They weren’t asleep, but whenever the little one sought them out, it made them look bad.

“Kotono,” Kakashi called softly from the end of the corridor, appearing unexpectedly.

“See? When Big Brother Kakashi is near me, they can’t detect me,” Kotono teased the Anbu casually.

With Kushina’s support enhancing her Uzumaki bloodline, her divine eye was solidly B-rank.

But the Anbu and Kakashi clearly had a substantial gap in strength.

“Kotono, don’t bully your seniors.”

“I’m just motivating them,” she replied.

She approached Kakashi, who leaned against the corridor railing in his usual black collarless top and mask, basking in the moonlight.

Moonbathing… the moon!

Kotono suddenly brightened. Her DNA stirred.

She remembered a famous line from Fate’s iconic scene—if she were the protagonist, how could she not recreate it?

“Big Brother Kakashi, can’t sleep either?” she sat beside him.

“I haven’t had this much free time in a while. It feels strange,” he replied softly.

She said quietly, “If you don’t sleep, you’ll increase the rooftop Anbu’s workload. And saying such boastful things might make them resent you.”

Kakashi was helpless. “Seniors aren’t that petty.”

Yet he clearly didn’t mind her jokes.

[Uzumaki Constitution Activated.]

From this seemingly cold elite ninja, Kotono instinctively felt an extraordinary indulgence.

—He trusts her.

A girl he just met?

Considering he was the reincarnation of Kiritsugu… I see now, Big Brother Kakashi, your only redemption lines up with the moonlight perfectly.

The two sat silently on the porch.

“Big Brother Kakashi, do you think those three guys are eavesdropping on us?”

“You’ve teased the Anbu enough. They have professional ethics.”

Kotono’s casual jests about the Anbu lightened the mood.

“You just recovered from your injury; you need plenty of rest,” Kakashi said. “It’s not good to be out here in the cold wind.”

“I thought your back looked lonely. Walking away without a word would feel heartless.”

Kakashi: “I’m just not used to sudden downtime.”

“But this will be your life from now on, right? Didn’t the Hokage say this is your last Anbu mission? So, what are your plans afterward?”

Plans? Kakashi gazed at the night sky, feeling a hollow uncertainty.

The future was a long-forgotten concept for him.

Sometimes he felt his soul was forever trapped in that rainy night illuminated by Raikiri, merely returned to Konoha.

The red-haired girl said seriously, “Without the Anbu’s iron rice bowl, you have to plan carefully and work hard. I love fruits and vegetables—they’re expensive. Without money, you can’t support that.”

“All right, all right.”

“By the way, if you have no plans now, what was your dream before?”

“Had none before, none now,” Kakashi murmured. “I’m just a useless adult, hollow inside.”

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“Huh.”

That line felt both right and somehow off.

Kotono tried to guide him: “People can’t have no dreams.”

“If I must say… I once dreamed of becoming a hero who protects everything. Every child thinks that, but children grow up.”

“As for now, it’s about protecting you and Naruto, not letting down Lady Tsunade’s trust. That’s it.”

That was more like it, more like it.

“No problem! Then I’ll carry that burden for you!” She smoothly caught the rhythm and delivered her line with conviction. “I will carry Big Brother Kakashi’s dream, becoming a partner of justice!”

“A partner of justice?”

“I feel happy when I see others happy. That’s my nature,” the girl said shyly.

“I’ve watched all the Hokage’s shinobi tales and learned their nindō, so I set my own.”

—“Becoming a partner of justice is my nindō!”

That answer… that blazing will of fire…!!

Thinking of all the girl had done so far, she truly lived by her nindō.

Kakashi felt that ever since meeting Kotono, his moments of distraction had increased.

Too similar.

If Obito were here, surely he and Kotono would have much in common.

He sincerely said, “Konoha’s future is in your hands. That’s very reassuring.”

More like it, more like it!

She quietly clenched her fist inside, delivering all her lines flawlessly. Nice!

Since she was indeed the reincarnation of Kiritsugu, a little heartfelt connection was only natural.

A perfect chance to confirm if Kakashi was truly the man of fate.

Kotono reached out her palm, inviting Kakashi.

“?”

“This is a palm strike oath, symbolizing a promise between Big Brother Kakashi and me.”

Kakashi recalled that when he was little, pinky promises were more common.

Still, he cooperated, extending his hand.

Kakashi wore black fingerless gloves, and Kotono’s small hand was still smaller than his glove. If he curled his fingers, he could completely envelop her hand.

But Kakashi never underestimated the weight of this promise.

Only one thing—

Had they been pressing palms together for too long?

Kotono solemnly said, “Shh, I’m sincerely feeling the strength you’re transmitting.”

She was seizing the moment to exchange chakra.

As a mature adult, Kakashi provided more chakra than Naruto or Sasuke.

Afterward, she pretended to close her eyes.

In Kakashi’s gaze—

Under the moonlight, the little girl closed her eyes and swore her oath, pure and resolute, like a flower blooming solemnly in the moonlight.

Indeed, the dreams of Minato’s generation would blossom and bear fruit in her.

Become the pillar of Konoha, bearing its future, Kotono.

[Exclusive CG Unlocked: Partner of Justice]

[Chakra Limit +200]

Kakashi’s eyes curved into a smile—the first genuine smile he had shown in five years.

—Surprisingly effortless.

With a child like Kotono, even the future sparked hope.

Don’t you agree, Obito?

What Kakashi hadn’t anticipated was that from that night on, Kotono insisted on palm-striking with him for a full minute every day to convey their shared resolve.

But to inspire Konoha’s pillar, the jonin chose to endure.

As long as the flower continued to bloom solemnly in the moonlight—

Protecting her dream would be his next mission.