Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 5 - Hatake Kakashi

"Next week's goal: Train with three swords and strike a wooden post 5,000 times daily."

"Reward: Zoro's Three-Sword Style Training Manual."

The moment the system notification echoed in his mind, Kazane's heart surged with excitement. Up until now, his sword training had been mostly self-directed, relying on instinct and trial-and-error rather than formal instruction. But with Zoro's training manual, he would finally have structured guidance, allowing him to avoid countless mistakes and wasted effort.

That alone was enough to make him eager to start, but then another thought crossed his mind—practicing Three-Sword Style meant biting down on a sword. He frowned slightly. That was going to be brutal on his teeth.

"Looks like I'll need to start drinking more milk," he muttered to himself, rubbing his jaw. "Can't afford to have my teeth shatter halfway through training."

Shaking his head, he focused back on his goal.

"System, open my status panel."

A translucent interface appeared before him.

---

**Host:** Hatake Kazane

**Gender:** Male

**Occupation:** Swordsman

**Rank:** Ninja Apprentice

*(The term 'swordsman' is too broad in the One Piece world—someone with a 50-million bounty is called a swordsman, and someone with a 500-million bounty is also a swordsman. So, we'll use the ninja ranking system instead: Genin → Chūnin → Jōnin → Kage-level. Higher ranks will be planned later.)*

**Sword Techniques:**

- One-Sword Style Iai: Death—Lion's Song

- One-Sword Style: Thirty-Six Troubles Phoenix (*Locked*)

**Equipment:**

- Wado Ichimonji

- Zoro's Green Headband

(A complete nobody)

---

Kazane stared at the stats for a long moment, his lips twitching slightly.

"A complete nobody... In the ninja world, there's never a shortage of nobodies."

The way the system worded it felt oddly personal, almost mocking. He exhaled sharply, shaking off the thought. Strength wasn't built overnight. The important thing was progress.

With that in mind, he unsheathed Wado Ichimonji, prepared to begin his training regimen, but just as he was about to swing, his instincts flared.

Someone was nearby.

Without turning, Kazane shifted his gaze toward the courtyard wall and spoke calmly.

"So, sneaking in through the side has become a habit now?"

A shadow flickered atop the wall. Moments later, a familiar figure landed lightly within the courtyard. The same face, though partially hidden by a mask—Hatake Kakashi.

"No, I just happened to return from this direction," Kakashi replied casually, his posture relaxed as he walked closer.

Now that they were face to face, the differences between them became more apparent. Though they were both Hatake by blood, Kazane had a slightly taller and more muscular build, while Kakashi remained lean and quick. Their hair was similarly silver, but their styles differed—Kakashi's was spikier, whereas Kazane's was somewhat neater. Then there were their accessories—Kakashi wore his standard Konoha forehead protector, while Kazane sported a distinct green headband.

More than their appearances, however, it was Kazane's demeanor that caught Kakashi's attention.

Something about him had changed.

He still looked the same, but there was a newfound confidence in his stance, a quiet but unmistakable shift in the way he carried himself. Kakashi's gaze drifted toward the nearby wooden post, now split and battered from repeated strikes.

It wasn't just a change in presence—there was proof of his growth right in front of him.

That was a relief.

For the past year, Kakashi had quietly worried about his older brother.

Ever since he had been promoted to Chūnin at a young age, whispers had spread through the village. Some called him a prodigy, the pride of the Hatake Clan. But others, those who spoke in hushed voices and behind closed doors, had drawn an unflattering comparison.

"The Hatake Clan has produced both a genius and a failure," they would say. "One is the Light of the Hatake Clan, while the other is the Shame of the Hatake Clan."

Kakashi had done everything in his power to silence such talk, but rumors had a way of persisting. And if people spoke so openly in front of him, he could only imagine what they said when he wasn't around.

He knew Kazane had a strong heart, but even the strongest hearts could crack under enough pressure.

Yet, looking at him now, standing tall in the courtyard with his sword in hand, Kakashi finally felt some of that worry ease.

Good.

That was good.

The world outside was growing more chaotic by the day. Tensions between the villages were rising, and war loomed on the horizon. Kakashi knew that when the time came, he would be sent to the battlefield.

And then… what about Kazane?

Truthfully, staying in the academy would be the safest option. If war erupted, Kazane wouldn't even graduate in time to be drafted. He would be spared the bloodshed.

But knowing his brother…

Kazane had always been stubborn. He had too much pride to sit idly by while others fought.

Kakashi sighed inwardly.

It was only a matter of time.

"Kazane, I came back to pack my things. I'll be leaving on a long-term mission tomorrow and won't be back for a while," he said, his tone steady but firm. "Take care of yourself while I'm gone. And when you train, don't overdo it. I know how reckless you can be."

Kazane smirked, crossing his arms. "I should be the one saying that to you. But if you're leaving tomorrow, I guess I'll cook dinner tonight. Consider it a proper send-off."

Kakashi blinked. For a moment, a flicker of surprise crossed his usually unreadable expression.

His brother knew him too well.

Ever since their father's death, Kakashi had changed. He had thrown himself into his training with relentless determination, climbing through the ranks at an unnatural pace—graduating from the academy at five, becoming a Chūnin at six.

It worked. The whispers and the pitying gazes had vanished, replaced by awe and wariness.

No one dared to mock him anymore.

But at what cost?

He had distanced himself from others, shedding anything that might be perceived as weakness. He was a soldier now, nothing more. Mission first. Emotions second. That was the path he had chosen.

It was the path their father had abandoned.

Sakumo Hatake, the "White Fang of the Leaf," had been revered as one of Konoha's greatest warriors. His strength alone had been enough to strike fear into enemy nations. And yet, the same village that once praised him had turned on him in an instant.

His crime? Choosing to save his comrades over completing a mission.

The disgrace had been too much. In the end, he had taken his own life.

At least, that was the official story.

But Kazane wasn't convinced.

A ninja as powerful as Sakumo wouldn't have broken so easily—not over a failed mission. No, something else had happened.

A mission of that caliber would have been highly classified. So how had the entire village learned of his failure? Who had spread the word? And why had the very comrades he saved spoken against him?

It reeked of manipulation.

Kazane had spent years piecing together what little information he could, and while he still lacked concrete proof, he had a strong suspicion about the real culprits.

Konoha's upper echelons.

Specifically, the Third Hokage and Danzo.

Sakumo had been too powerful, too respected. Had he lived, he would have been a natural contender for the title of Fourth Hokage.

And for Danzo, that was unacceptable.

Now, Kazane and Kakashi were likely under the same scrutiny. Kakashi's rapid rise in skill had surely caught Danzo's attention. For now, the Third Hokage might prevent Danzo from making any moves, but Kazane had no illusions about the future. If Danzo ever decided that Kakashi was a threat—or worse, that he couldn't recruit him—he wouldn't hesitate to act.

Kazane's fingers curled into fists.

He would never let that happen.

"Such a pain…" Kakashi muttered suddenly, breaking the tension.

His words were indifferent, but Kazane caught the flicker of something else beneath them—subtle anticipation.

And then it clicked.

Hearing Kazane offer to cook, Kakashi had subconsciously swallowed. He might have acted indifferent, but Kazane wasn't fooled.

Kazane let out a chuckle.

His cooking skills weren't particularly outstanding, but compared to the bland, joyless ninja rations Kakashi was used to—rice balls, dried fish, the dreadful ration pills that tasted like chalk—his meals must have felt like gourmet dining.

"Come on, help me wash the vegetables," Kazane said, turning toward the house.

Kakashi hesitated, just for a fraction of a second, before sighing and following after him.

"Alright, alright. But this was your idea, not mine," he muttered, feigning reluctance.

As they stepped inside, Kazane made a silent vow.

No matter what happened, no matter who he had to fight against, he would protect Kakashi.

He would never let his brother become a pawn in Konoha's power struggles.