I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 261 Arrogance and inferiority complex, these two antonyms, often appear side by side.

"Brother Chenma?"

In the Hatake family's courtyard, Kakashi, who was skillfully wielding a short sword, saw Tatsuma's arrival and quickly ran to the gate to open it for him.

Tatsuma chuckled and ruffled Kakashi's spiky hair, but the next second he regretted it, his hands sweating profusely.

Seeing that Kakashi's clothes were also soaked with sweat, Tatsuma abandoned the idea of ​​wiping the sweat back up, letting it hang in the air to dry, but his smile remained unchanged as he asked, "Kakashi, is Sakumo-sama home?"

"I'm at home, cooking. I'll ask my father to make some extra. Why don't you stay for lunch?"

After Kakashi finished speaking, without waiting for Tatsuma's agreement or refusal, and without welcoming Tatsuma into the house, he scurried away on his short legs and ran into the house.

Just a few seconds after they entered, Sakumo Hatake, wearing a pink apron, appeared, holding a kitchen knife in his hand. However, the way he held the knife was unconsciously in a preparatory position, not like he was chopping vegetables, but more like he was ready to chop someone at any moment.

"Tatsuma?!"

Sakumo Hatake exclaimed in surprise, then realized something was wrong and quickly said, "Come in, come in."

Tatsuma nodded, then stepped into the courtyard and into the house, saying to Hatake Sakumo, "Lord Sakumo, I'm sorry for visiting so abruptly and for not keeping track of the time. I might have to mooch a meal off you."

"It's alright."

Hatake Sakumo waved the hand holding the sword and said, "Your body..."

"It's alright, you don't need to worry. This was just an accident, or rather, I underestimated my opponent. After all, he's the Raikage, and I dealt with him too carelessly."

Tatsuma said a few more words to Sakumo Hatake, who was directly involved in the incident. Sakumo Hatake understood that Tatsuma was telling him not to take it to heart, so he nodded and said, "Let's talk after dinner. I'll go cook for you."

As he spoke, he went back into the kitchen and shooed Kakashi out to entertain Tatsuma. Compared to Danzo's family's complete lack of possessions, Kakashi's family, while not as warm and welcoming as a normal family, still had everything they needed.

Kakashi, though somewhat clumsy, earnestly brewed tea for Tatsuma. After handing the tea to Tatsuma, he asked curiously, "Brother Tatsuma, I heard from Father that you orchestrated the Eight-Tails' rampage and fought it, then, along with the Raikage, helped Father escape?"

Before Tatsuma could even take a sip of tea, it got stuck in his throat. After catching his breath, Tatsuma explained, "The one who led this mission was Lord Sakumo, and it was also Lord Sakumo and Minato who ultimately led us out of the Land of Lightning."

I only helped out a little, and I even dragged you two down with me.

Kakashi asked in confusion, "That's strange. Father, Minato, and you all gave three different versions of the story. Were you really carrying out the same mission?"

Tatsuma shook his head and said, "The same dusk can have different scenes and meanings in the eyes of different people. It can be the prelude to love, or the sorrow of the departure of a loved one. It can be the end of the day or the beginning of the night sky."

Hearing this, Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. Tatsuma, seeing that Kakashi was much more lively and childlike than before, smiled and said, "You seem to be in a good mood lately. Have you made some friends?"

"no."

Kakashi promptly denied it, then glanced back at the kitchen. Without needing to say more, Tatsuma understood: this was the unconscious comfort of having someone to rely on.

Suddenly remembering something, Tatsuma asked with a smile, "Kakashi, are you currently studying swordsmanship under Lord Sakumo?"

Kakashi nodded, and Tatsuma took out a scroll and said, "Speaking of which, I also studied with Lord Sakumo back then, but I lacked talent and didn't learn much."

He has failed the sword that Lord Sakumo once gave him.

The seal was broken, and a somewhat old but clearly well-maintained short sword appeared. Chenma picked up the sword and said, "I was on a mission when you were born, and I may not have time to give it to you next year when you start school."

"I'll return it to you now. This was your father's sword. Don't let this sword and your father down like I did."

Tatsuma handed the sword to Kakashi, who instinctively tried to refuse, but Tatsuma immediately let go, leaving Kakashi scrambling to catch the short sword.

At this moment, Sakumo Hatake also poked his head out from the kitchen and said, "Kakashi, accept it. Your brother Tatsuma's current abilities don't require this short sword anymore. You can thank him properly when he gets married and has children in the future."

As he spoke, Hatake Sakumo's eyes swept over the short sword in Kakashi's hand. Seeing the maintenance marks on it, a smile appeared on his face. It seemed that although Tatsuma didn't need this sword, he hadn't forgotten this courtesy.

Sakumo Hatake secretly warned himself that he must never let Tatsuma know that he gave this sword back then because he had spent all his money on ordering new swords and this short sword was the only one he had left to give away.

If Tatsuma finds out, wouldn't it be a shame to have neglected all those years of caring for this sword? Wait, Shinku, Kouta, and Ikkaku seem to know about it too. I must find a way to silence them!

Thinking it over, Sakumo Hatake looked at Tatsuma and said, "Tatsuma, I won't stand on ceremony with you. Kakashi has been studying with me lately, and he does need a suitable sword."

"It's alright, please don't mind that my gift is too late or too perfunctory."

Chenma waved his hand, saying that when it comes to giving gifts, one person always gives the first gift and the other person follows up. If the relationship is not broken, then in the end, someone will have a gift left over, and a deceased person will not receive another gift in return.

Such gift-giving has no real meaning, but everyone does it this way, everywhere.

Sakumo Hatake cooks very quickly, though he doesn't cook much, since he's never actually eaten at the same table with Tatsuma before; he always eats soldier's rations when he's on missions.

When he occasionally went to town to eat, it was mostly for intelligence purposes. In addition, in order not to attract attention, Tatsuma would deliberately control his food intake. Therefore, Hatake Sakumo was unaware that his appetite was unusual.

Tatsuma also acted like a guest, or rather, a guest who was just there to freeload during mealtime. He didn't eat much and even seemed satisfied, so as not to embarrass Hatake Sakumo.

After the meal, Kakashi dutifully went to wash the dishes, but Sakumo Hatake had already washed and put away the knife and cutting board, so Kakashi wouldn't accidentally hurt himself.

Sakumo Hatake then led Tatsuma to the courtyard, where they sat on the veranda. A tea tray was placed in the middle of the room. Sakumo asked, "Your injury this time shouldn't have left any aftereffects, right?"

"No, if something had really happened to me, it wouldn't be me coming to see you today, but my hot-tempered teacher, wouldn't you say?"

Tatsuma joked with a smile, and Sakumo Hatake nodded in agreement, but there was still worry in his eyes. He knew what kind of injury Tatsuma had suffered, and it would be hard for Sakumo Hatake to understand why there were no aftereffects.

However, he hoped it was true. He wasn't afraid that Tsunade would cause him trouble, but rather that he might hinder the future path of the village's genius boy because of him.

"Lord Sakumo, I just returned to the village today, but I've already heard some rumors circulating. Please don't take them to heart. The Hokage also told me that someone is deliberately misleading us, and I believe that such misunderstandings and misinformation will soon dissipate."

Tatsuma's smile faded, and he spoke seriously to Hatake Sakumo. Hatake Sakumo nodded and said, "I understand."

After a moment of silence, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but ask, "Tatsuma, in your opinion, is completing the mission more important, or is the safety of your teammates more important?"

Upon hearing this question, Tatsuma pursed his lips, pondered for a moment, and said, "Lord Sakumo, what I want most is to have both hands firmly on the table, but I know you won't be satisfied with my answer, and I can't do that either."

You should know me quite well. I have the willingness to sacrifice some people for the successful completion of a mission, and I also have the courage to take risks for my comrades. As of now, I think there is no answer to your question.

At least that's true for me. But when faced with a choice, I consider the consequences of both options and prioritize the one I can afford to bear. If I can afford both, or if I can't afford either...

So, I will choose the decision I most want to make: even if I die, I will die a swift and painless death, rather than living a wretched life or losing myself in blame.

"in this way."

Sakumo Hatake picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then said, "It was my own stubbornness that led me to believe that I could only choose one direction in my life. It was also because I was not as good as you in terms of my ability to handle things, and I couldn't see through too many things."

However, I believe I have a good eye for people. You and Minato are both people I have high hopes for. Besides, do you know that kid Dai?

"Mattkey?"

"Yes, I met him by chance yesterday. He is a child who has inherited his father's ninja way and will. I think his future achievements will not be inferior to Kakashi's. Kakashi is somewhat aloof and arrogant, and even somewhat inferior."

It's also my fault for being so irresponsible. I wasn't there for him during the most crucial time of his personality development. What he needed most was companionship and attention, but he also knew too early that he couldn't rely on those things, so I'm worried.

If he enters the Ninja Academy, he will be eager to become number one, eager to graduate, and even eager to become the youngest Chunin or Jonin.

So arrogant that he didn't want to associate with others, yet so insecure that he craved everyone's attention.

With that, Hatake Sakumo sighed and said, "But as his father, I don't know how to make up for the shortcomings that my mistakes have caused Kakashi."

Tatsuma was not yet able to solve the two major problems of family and education, so he could only comfort him by saying, "Lord Sakumo, perhaps your companionship is what Kakashi desires most right now."

You think he wants everyone's attention, but maybe he just wants your attention and approval. Perhaps you don't need to worry too much and just treat him like a child.

Don't think about his future, don't worry about his ninja career. Treat him like a child who needs your presence as his father. That way, you won't have too many worries, and he can get your purer attention, right?

"You will be a good father."

"It's hard to say. After all, it's easier said than done. Just like how I often give Minato advice on how to pursue Kushina."

"Hahaha~"

Kakashi, who was washing dishes in the house, heard his father's unprecedentedly hearty laughter. He gripped the dishcloth in his hand even tighter, for his father had never been so cheerful in front of him before.

Is he inferior to Brother Chenma?

Kakashi secretly resolved to train harder, graduate earlier than Tatsuma, become a ninja earlier, become a Chunin earlier, and even become a Jonin before Tatsuma!

That should make my father happy, right?

(End of this chapter)