#( just thinking about this tyke that took one look at kakashi and went yes you are someone i should model myself on )

[fightingdreamcrs-aa]

HOUKI: IDOL WORSHIP 

“I’ve been a big fan of Lord Sixth from the first time I saw him! The genius ninja, Lord Sixth, Kakashi Hatake!...  Any way you look at it, he’s the perfect ninja!”

Houki knew from a young age he was more competent than his peers in some aspects. Knowledge that took children his own age weeks and months to attain stayed in his mind instantly. He later discovered - in the early days of entering the Academy - that he has a photographic memory and that is why he excels in the physical acquisition of knowledge. 

Around the same time as he was noticing this acceleration in learning, he was looking for someone to model himself on. His own home held only his grandmother, as they had moved from the Taketori clan home outside of the village and while he recognised some of her traits as desirable it was not in the same way. He also looked to the Hyuga household, given the close connection with his own clan, but he did not find a resemblance.

As most young children in the village, he turned to their village leader as an idol. The first sighting he had of Kakashi - a small town event in which he stood atop the Hokage building and addressed the assembled shinobi families - filled him with a sense of awe. It was then he began to consume knowledge, and with that vast memory of his he soon could recite how many missions Kakashi had been on officially, the age he reached each rank, the teams he had been a part of, the summons he had, the jutsu he had learned. He would spew facts endlessly to his friends until they got sick of hearing about him at the playgrounds and parks they hung out in. He found similarities in their aptitude to do things earlier than others around them and began to associate Kakashi with someone he could model himself to be. 

Naturally when playing he would imitate shinobi of the 4th great war with friends, but over time he began to singularly take the role of Kakashi. One time he decided to wear a bandana as a mask and it was pointed out to him how alike they looked in that moment. After that he became determined to get a mask himself, going to far as to ask his grandmother to purchase one. It soon became a fixed point that he would not take it off. He liked the mystery it gave to him, the way others couldn’t quite tell what he was thinking and feeling. 

And every time he was told he looked a little bit like the sixth hokage or reminded someone of him it made his heart soar a little more. Once or twice he even had those who personally knew Kakashi comment on it and it cemented the look for him. When others rejected the thought it caused him pain, and he would often dwell on why he did not look like his idol. 

By the time he entered the Academy, his idol worship was fully developed and unshakeable. Though he’d never had a personal interaction of note with Kakashi, he had caught several sightings of him interacting with different people over the years outside of public appearance (even going so far as to actively attempt to spot him on a few occasions much to his grandmother’s chagrin) and began to adopt some mannerisms. In his mind, he had decided this was what strength looked like, and was determined to emulate in every way. By the time he was at the Academy the teasing had faded, his peers well aware that he would not be swayed from his determination. He became less ready to spew information (another mannerism adapted from his idol) and more focused on his studies, though if prodded to talk he would.

He wouldn’t admit to it, but a lot of his self worth is tied up in how like Kakashi he is. For instance, when his taijutsu skills were not able to rival those of Metal upon their initial sparring matches, he was disappointed, knowing of the great rivalry between Kakashi and Gai. It immediately caused him to become more determined to practise taijutsu.

tl;dr: Houki looked around for a role model, saw Kakashi, went yes you and then proceeded to adapt his entire identity to be him to the point that now if he isn’t like Kakashi he considers himself to be failing. 

#once i see something i never forget it (about; houki) #once i see something i never forget it (headcanons; houki) #( this is probably garbage or at least ramble central but it's half 3 in the morning and houki won't let me be ) #( just thinking about this tyke that took one look at kakashi and went yes you are someone i should model myself on )