𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 [𝐤𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐜𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞-𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐢 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧

The Ice Release—Hanai Gaiden

        You can live in the biggest house in the village, and fill it up with many things, but if you have no one to share it all with, such a lonely, sad life it will be. That's how Hanai's home felt for the majority of the days, the wood and stone felt cold, colder than what she would like. But days like today, where she would escape her lonely home to be with Kakashi, made the stillness a little less frightening. 

        "Don't overcook it."

        Her shoulders twitch, mind and eyes swimming back to reality. She was at Kakashi's large home and wore a white apron over her outfit. His snarky comment meant that the two fishes she was frying with oil were ready. Softly patting the excessive oil off, she then plattered the two fried fishes with sliced vegetables and a sweet and sour sauce. It was a recipe she had been trying to learn for weeks.

        "Ta-da! Hanai's Style!" she chimed with an over-exaggerated tone. 

        Kakashi didn't react to her excitement, giving her a disinterested blink before he thanked her for the food. Hanai sat on the other side of the low-round table, waiting for Kakashi to take a small bite. 

        "It's good." 

        "You pass."

        "Yes!" Hanai throws a fist in the air. 

        "Let's wrap it and save it for later," Kakashi instructs, placing his chopsticks down. 

        "Huh? We're not eating..again?" Hanai sighs, shoulders deflated in disappointment. 

        "If you feel like throwing up in our match, then sure go ahead and eat." Kakashi twists. He had already left his seat on the floor and began to walk to his own room. "I'm going to grab my shinobi weapons." 

        Hanai hums lips purse. "You never want to eat with me..." 

        It's true that she had only convinced Kakashi to help her learn how to cook, by offering to fight him. Hanai never understood his strong desire to fight against her, especially when he has rivals like Obito and Gai. Still, she wished Kakashi would agree to eat with her. After their fight, Kakashi would shove the meal for her to take home and reheat. 

        "The skirmishes between the smaller nations are getting closer, you should put your focus on training rather than home cooking."

        She knew that. The decline in national power caused skirmishes with smaller nations. These prolonged conflicts have been gradually spreading far and wide, catching the attention of the larger nations, like Konoha. These small conflicts were what drove Hanai and her adoptive family out of Kiri to Konoha. She knew first-hand the chaos these civil wars create, and she wanted to savor these calm moments. 

        "This isn't my first battle, I'll be fine." Hanai bites the bud of their conversation. 

        "How long has it been?"

        "Seven years...I think." Since she escaped the war in Kirigakure that targeted people like her. 

        "Ah...I wonder if this would ever lead to an all-out war." 

        Hanai bites her lip, her heart dropping. Mind flashes of harsh winter battle scenes soaked in blood, bodies scattered on the snow...surrounded her.