Chapter 3: First Meeting with the Brother-in-Law

Nawaki paused in the middle of the field, his gaze fixed on the strange ninja who had offered to guide him. Not just anyone could claim to teach him—his sister Tsunade was one of the Sannin, and his Sensei was none other than Orochimaru. He was curious to see what this Hatake ninja was capable of.

“This is Jōnin Kawakaze Hatake, and he’s also a good friend of mine,” Tsunade introduced, clearly addressing her brother's skeptical expression.

“Sakumo Hatake is no match for him at all,” she added, using poor Sakumo as a comparison to emphasize Kawakaze’s prowess, a rather blunt approach.

Hearing this, Nawaki’s eyes lit up, and an honest, sunny smile spread across his face. “Then I’ll leave it to you, Big Brother Kawakaze.”

Kawakaze walked toward Nawaki, his pace unhurried, giving a semblance of respect to his "Big Brother." It wasn’t that Sakumo was weak—Kawakaze was simply too strong.

“We were just sparring,” Kawakaze remarked, his tone casual. “I can see your Taijutsu is mediocre, but I wonder how good your Ninjutsu is?”

He made no effort to spare Nawaki’s pride, choosing honesty over gentleness. Though his words were sharp, Kawakaze's intentions were clear—he wanted to temper the boy, not break him. His sudden movement was startling; one moment he was at a distance, the next he stood towering over Nawaki. Tsunade’s sharp eyes caught the incredible speed, and she couldn’t help but be impressed. What speed!

Nawaki froze as Kawakaze’s oppressive aura descended on him. Unlike Orochimaru’s dark and stifling pressure, Kawakaze exuded a blazing intensity, like thunderclaps and scorching heat. His heart pounded wildly, and his earlier defiance melted into focused determination. With a deep breath, he bowed respectfully.

“I hope Big Brother Kawakaze won’t hold back with your guidance.”

Kawakaze accepted the bow with an air of nonchalance. “Use everything you know. If you make me move even a little, I’ll consider it your win.” He didn’t even bother drawing his Eight-Sided Han Sword, crossing his arms as he regarded Nawaki with a playful smirk.

Tsunade frowned at his careless demeanor. A ninja’s strength wasn’t about enduring pain recklessly. “Kawakaze…” she started, her tone edged with warning.

But Kawakaze waved her off before she could finish. “Don’t worry.”

Tsunade fell silent, choosing to observe. She could only hope her medical skills wouldn’t be necessary by the end of this.

“Kawakaze Big Brother, then I won’t hold back,” Nawaki declared.

The fire of youth burned in him, refusing to accept that he was completely outmatched. His pride wouldn’t allow him to believe he couldn’t make Kawakaze move even slightly. Yet, the truth was often harsh, and as the saying goes, Reality rarely aligns with one’s expectations, and there’s always someone stronger.

“Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!”

Nawaki Senju swiftly formed hand seals and unleashed a water dragon toward Kawakaze. However, his chakra reserves were too limited, and the water dragon turned out to be more like a small snake compared to the legendary technique perfected by his great-grandfather, Tobirama Senju.

Kawakaze’s expression remained unchanged, his gentle smile unwavering. Without lifting a finger, a faint light shimmered around his body. When the water snake struck him, it vanished instantly, vaporized without leaving a trace or causing so much as a ripple.

“Lightning Release Chakra Mode?” Tsunade muttered, her brows furrowing as she immediately recognized the resemblance to a technique from Kumogakure.

This was no borrowed method, though. Kawakaze had developed his own variation, using Lightning Attribute Chakra to stimulate his cells. The technique drastically boosted both offensive and defensive capabilities, akin to Kumogakure’s Lightning Release Chakra Mode. However, Kawakaze could maintain it only because of a unique advantage—without it, the violent nature of Lightning Chakra would make the technique unsustainable.

Seeing his strongest Ninjutsu fail so miserably, Nawaki frowned in dissatisfaction. Refusing to give up, he began forming new hand seals.

“Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!”

The ground beside him cracked open as an earthen dragon’s head emerged, its gaping mouth firing a large ball of compressed earth toward Kawakaze.

Kawakaze calmly dispersed the lightning around him, then drew his Eight-Sided Han Sword with a fluid, backhanded motion. The earthen ball came hurtling toward him, but his movements remained precise and effortless. With one graceful slash, the earthen projectile split in two, its fragments falling harmlessly to either side.

Tsunade, watching from the sidelines, caught herself staring. Kawakaze stood tall, his sword gleaming in the sunlight. A light breeze tousled his silver hair, and the scene left her momentarily dazed. Kawakaze's finesse not only impressed Nawaki but also managed to subtly show off in front of Tsunade—quite the efficient display.

“Kawakaze Big Brother, I want to learn swordsmanship from you!” Nawaki’s eyes sparkled with admiration. His two best Ninjutsu techniques had failed, and his interest in continuing the sparring vanished. The sword, however, was undeniably cool.

“There’s no problem with that,” Kawakaze replied smoothly, sheathing his sword. “But only if you agree to a small condition of mine.”

He stepped closer, his expression playful but slightly twisted with mischief. The plan to enlist his future brother-in-law as an accomplice had officially begun.

“What condition?” Nawaki asked, wary but curious. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the dazzling Big Brother in front of him suddenly seemed… different.

Tsunade remained on the sidelines, quietly observing the two without interfering.

“I’ll teach you swordsmanship,” Kawakaze whispered conspiratorially, leaning in closer, “if you help me woo your sister.”

Nawaki froze, stunned by the sheer audacity of the request. Are adults always this direct?

“How am I supposed to help with that?” Nawaki asked, his tone betraying both confusion and reluctance. His mind reeled at the thought. He didn’t think his sister was particularly appealing—sure, she had fair skin, a good figure, and plenty of money, but she was also incredibly strong and not shy about using that strength. To Nawaki, these weren’t exactly qualities of an ideal woman. He glanced toward Tsunade instinctively and shuddered at the thought of dealing with her temper.

Who would willingly want a woman like my sister? he thought with disbelief.

Still too young, still so much to learn!

“You don’t need to do much,” Kawakaze said with a sly smile, sensing Nawaki’s hesitation. “Just be on my side. And remember, the doors of the Hatake family will always be open to you. I’ll even give you a sword.”

Kawakaze’s understanding of youthful ambition was spot-on. What boy didn’t dream of being a samurai or wielding a magnificent sword?

“I want one like yours!” Nawaki declared, his hesitation vanishing in an instant. To delay the fulfillment of a samurai dream would be an insult to the very idea.

“Deal,” Kawakaze said smugly, patting Nawaki on the shoulder. This young man has a bright future ahead.

“How much chakra do you have left?”

After addressing the more critical matters, Kawakaze shifted his attention to less pressing concerns.

“There’s enough for a few more uses, but it’s useless for you, Big Brother.”

Nawaki’s innocent expression made his words seem casual, even omitting “Kawakaze” and directly calling him “Big Brother.”

“Your chakra amount is already impressive for your age, but you need to speed up your hand seals. Your taijutsu lacks practical combat experience and isn’t lethal enough,” Kawakaze critiqued firmly. “And remember, there are no useless jutsu, only useless ninjas.”

He pointed out Nawaki’s flaws while delivering a stern warning. Despite the criticism, it was undeniable that the boy’s potential as a member of the Senju Clan was extraordinary. His chakra reserves were likely unmatched by any of his peers.

I wonder if Tsunade is being too lenient with him or if Orochimaru’s teaching standards are slipping. Kawakaze mused silently. This promising talent is still at the level of a Genin—far behind my future nephew Kakashi, who had the strength of a Jōnin at age twelve.

Even then, Kakashi’s achievements only barely compare to himself.

“Then I’ll leave it to you from now on, Big Brother. I’ll work hard.”

Nawaki’s tone carried a blend of determination and earnestness. “My sensei is always busy and hasn’t guided me for a long time. I’ll come to your house tomorrow.” He paused briefly before adding, “I’ll bring my sister.”

This kid really knows how to respond thoughtfully, Kawakaze thought with amusement.

“Okay, okay, okay.” Kawakaze grinned, giving Nawaki a hearty slap on the shoulder that nearly sent him stumbling.

Tsunade observed their interaction from nearby. It was evident that Nawaki held Kawakaze in high regard and genuinely enjoyed his company.

“Kawakaze, what do you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it,” Tsunade interjected, her earlier concerns eased as she joined the conversation. Her intent was clear—she wanted to ensure Kawakaze felt welcome.

“As long as it pairs well with alcohol, I’m not picky,” Kawakaze replied honestly. He wasn’t particularly fond of Japanese cuisine, but his real issue was with the underwhelming quality of the alcohol.

“Alright, I’ll see to it,” Tsunade said, displaying her characteristic composure as a leader. “If anything about our hospitality isn’t to your liking, please forgive me, Kawakaze.”

“You go ahead. I’ll practice with Big Brother a bit more,” Nawaki cut in before she could continue, clearly eager to avoid her.

“I’ll call you for lunch,” Tsunade replied, casting a sharp glance at her brother. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of exasperation at how quickly this ungrateful brat had started calling Kawakaze “Big Brother.”

With that, she turned and walked away.