# KAKASHI'S FLASHBACK
Kakashi sat quietly on the stairs in front of their modest house, engrossed in a book when his mother, Ako, settled beside him.
"Won't you play with your sister?" she asked, her voice gentle and encouraging. Ako was a striking woman in her late twenties, with long, silky white hair that flowed like a waterfall, perfectly complementing her sky-blue eyes. A warm, gentle smile always graced her face, bringing a sense of comfort to Kakashi.
"I still have to finish this book," Kakashi sighed, not wanting to be disturbed. "And besides, she always plays rough."
Kakashi had spent his entire life enveloped by the forest, its towering trees and whispering winds a constant backdrop. He could never pinpoint their exact location, nor had he ever ventured beyond its borders. Memories of a life with others were scarce, fading like distant echoes. After his father mysteriously vanished years ago, they retreated deeper into the woods for reasons Kakashi could only guess at.
His mother hadn't spoken of his father since; the topic was a silent void between them. Kakashi had learned not to ask, even though he longed for answers. Their life within the forest was marked by a protective barrier that shielded them from the outside world. Kakashi occasionally questioned Ako about leaving, but she insisted they were too special and the world beyond was perilous.
Though Kakashi felt a sense of frustration with her response, his younger sister, Tokah, seemed blissfully unaware of any danger, reveling in their uniqueness. Kakashi sometimes wondered if she was running from something or if they were confined there due to a mistake of her own, but that suspicion faded when he observed Ako frequently leaving the barrier, only to return late or not until the next day.
Kakashi didn't mind the isolation as long as they were together. He had vowed to protect his family at all costs.
Occasionally, a peculiar man visited, introducing himself as their uncle. He always came when Ako was absent, cautioning them not to tell their mother about his visits. This man was strange; Ako had never mentioned him, yet he seemed to know so much about her—and about their abilities. He had taken it upon himself to teach them how to harness their special powers.
Their mother had always warned them to stay away from the barrier, especially at night, due to the demons that lurked in the shadows.
One day, Tokah approached Kakashi, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Big brother!?" Tokah called out.
Like their mother, Tokah had long, silky white hair and pale blue eyes. She was petite and appeared fragile, but inside, she was stronger than Kakashi. Always cheerful, she could quickly turn angry if provoked.
"Hmm?" Kakashi replied, glancing up from his book.
"Since Mom won't be back until tomorrow morning..." Tokah hesitated, choosing her words cautiously. Kakashi could sense her eagerness. "Let's go to the barrier."
Kakashi's heart sank. Their mother had left the barrier until the following day.
"No!" Kakashi exclaimed, his voice sharper than intended. Tokah's expression faltered, almost on the verge of tears. "Umm... I mean, Mom said we shouldn't, especially at night. Look, it's already evening. There are demons out there!"
He hoped to frighten her out of the idea. But he knew he couldn't blame her; she was still a child, filled with curiosity. Even he felt an undeniable urge to see what their prison looked like up close.
"Don't worry! With you by my side and my lightning technique, we'll be fine!" Tokah said, her confidence unwavering.
Kakashi had a bad feeling about this, but he relented, knowing she wouldn't back down. They strolled towards the barrier, a mix of curiosity bubbling within him.
"According to what I've learned, the barrier covers a five-kilometer radius. How can we walk to the end before nightfall?" he asked, trying to reason with her.
"Good thing you asked! I've been working on my new lightning technique: Lightning Flash!"
"Lightning Flash???" Kakashi echoed, surprised. He knew Tokah had been practicing a new technique but never expected her to perfect it so soon. "You already perfected it? And I'm still struggling to control my energy!"
"I'll go on ahead. You didn't want to go to the barrier in the first place; why don't you wait for me?" Tokah declared, her eyes sparkling with excitement. With a sudden crackle of energy, she released a burst of lightning and vanished in an instant.
Lightning Flash was a technique that utilized energy to reduce body weight and increase speed, allowing the user to move as swiftly as lightning. However, it came with a significant risk; if the user exceeded their limits, their body could break. Kakashi had been warned by their uncle not to use the technique, as his karma energy was unstable.
Kakashi found a cherry blossom tree nearby and settled underneath it, hoping it would provide some comfort. He thought it would be safe since it was close to their house. Normally, he came here to rest or nap, finding solace in the gentle rustling of the leaves above.
Hours passed, and night began to fall. When Tokah finally returned, something seemed off; she looked pale, as if she had encountered something unsettling.
"Tokah, what happened?" Kakashi asked, concern flooding his voice. "You were taking too long, and I started to worry."
Tokah walked past him, her silence unnerving.
"Tokah! Answer me!" Kakashi urged, his heart racing. "You're starting to scare me!"
Suddenly, Tokah spun around, her eyes wide with confusion. Then, in a surprising burst of strength, she grabbed his arm and twisted it, throwing him against a tree. Kakashi hit his back hard, falling to the ground and coughing up blood.
"Big brother, are you okay?" Tokah exclaimed, rushing to his side, tears brimming in her eyes.
Kakashi managed to stand, giving her a reassuring smile despite the pain. "I'm fine," he said, wiping the blood from his mouth. "You've gotten stronger."
"If getting stronger means I'm going to hurt you, then I won't train anymore," Tokah cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
She had grown up without friends, sheltered in the forest since before her birth, and always cried when anything bad happened to Kakashi.
"There, there. I'm fine, so don't cry," Kakashi said, gently patting her head.
This only made Tokah cry harder as she hugged him tightly.
…
They finally returned to their safe little house, and Kakashi pressed her for details about what she had seen at the barrier.
"Big brother, I made a friend outside the barrier!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Outside the barrier? Who is this friend of yours?" Kakashi asked, his voice laced with caution.
"It was a young lady; she said her name was Usagi!" Tokah beamed.
"Usagi? That's a strange name," Kakashi teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"You're weird! Anyway, she said she lives in a town close to the forest. She comes into the woods with her father to cut wood and sell it to the villagers," Tokah explained, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "Guess what, brother?"
"What?" Kakashi asked, puzzled. He had expected her to mention something about Usagi's odd behavior, but she seemed unfazed.
"She was alone at that moment, so she told me some things about the town. And she said that if we meet next time, she'll show me around!"
Kakashi's heart sank. "You know we're not allowed to go outside? How were you able to go out in the first place?"
"Simple!" she shouted proudly. "I tried to touch the barrier, but my hand just went through it as if there was nothing there!"