The Death of White Fang

"Winner, Kyosuke Uchiha!"

As the referee's voice fell, the arena erupted in thunderous cheers.

"Yay~ We won~" Nagisa cheered, jumping up and down.

The Second Elder, happy, couldn't be bothered to scold her.

"Not bad, this child Kyosuke truly hasn't wasted the clan's investment in him." The Second Elder stroked his beard, thinking with considerable satisfaction.

It wasn't just the Uchiha Clan cheering; many ordinary villagers were also enthusiastically applauding Kyosuke.

After all, Kyosuke had become familiar with many villagers during his previous patrol missions.

Moreover, with his outward display of "truth, goodness, and beauty," it was normal for him to be liked by the villagers.

"Public sentiment" was often useless.

But once "turmoil" occurred, "public opinion" at that time became very important.

Kyosuke looked at the cheering crowd before him and smiled inexplicably.

"Father, I lost." Kakashi, waking from his unconsciousness, shamefully approached his father.

"It's alright, just keep trying." Sakumo comforted him, then without looking at the surrounding people, he said indifferently, "Let's go home."

"Oh." Kakashi replied casually, continuing to lower his head, lost in thought.

Feeling a bit down, he didn't notice the unusual expression on his father's face.

Just as the two were about to leave, Kyosuke's voice suddenly rang out from behind them.

"Are you just going to 'leave' like this?" Kyosuke asked, looking directly into Hatake Sakumo's eyes.

"If I don't leave, what else can I do?" Kakashi turned around with a frown, intending to say something, but suddenly stopped himself.

Because he realized Kyosuke's words weren't directed at him, but seemed to be for his father?

Confused, Kakashi turned to look at his father, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

This... this pale man with vacant eyes, was this really the invincible father in his heart?

"Father, you..." Kakashi looked at him with a terrified expression, stammering, not knowing what to say.

At this moment, he already felt that something was wrong.

Panicked, Kakashi subconsciously turned to glance at Kyosuke.

"Can you leave Kakashi to his own devices?" Kyosuke ignored him, looking into Hatake Sakumo's eyes again and asked.

"This child... his senses are this sharp?" Sakumo thought silently to himself.

However, Sakumo ignored Kyosuke's inquiry and turned back towards his "home."

His heart, already a stagnant pool, couldn't be salvaged by Kyosuke's few words.

"Still no good, I can only do so much..." Kyosuke, in his helplessness, was about to give up on this seemingly futile rescue. But when he saw the look Kakashi inadvertently revealed, he paused slightly, then lowered his head and sighed.

"Speaking of which, we're not that close, really." Kyosuke grumbled inwardly, then quickly ran towards the Hokage Building.

"Eh~ Where is Kyosuke going?" Nagisa watched Kyosuke's figure gradually run away, then turned to ask her grandfather.

At the same time, she, who had wanted to celebrate properly today, couldn't help but puff out her cheeks slightly.

"Something must have happened," the Second Elder said with a frown, then made a gesture towards the shadows.

Instantly, an almost imperceptible figure chased after Kyosuke's departing direction.

This was the Second Elder, worried, dispatching a secret ninja from the clan to follow and check the situation.

Inside the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage had just put away his crystal ball when the door to his office was knocked.

"Enter." The Third Hokage lit his pipe, took two gentle puffs, and then spoke calmly.

The door opened, and Kyosuke walked in expressionlessly.

"Yo, it's little Kyosuke." The Third Hokage smiled kindly and praised him, "As expected of my grand-disciple, to be able to surpass that Hatake kid at the same age, truly remarkable."

After speaking, he let out a burst of laughter.

However, Kyosuke didn't have the mood to play along with his insincere act right now.

The Third Hokage noticed this, suppressed his laughter, and asked with a strange expression, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

Seeing that the Third Hokage finally asked, Kyosuke recounted the issue of Hatake Sakumo's mental state in detail.

The Third Hokage listened in silence for a long time. After relighting his extinguished pipe, he slowly said, "So, according to your assessment, what stage is Sakumo in?"

"I estimate he already has suicidal tendencies," Kyosuke said in a low tone.

The Third Hokage's hand holding the pipe trembled violently, and his voice suddenly deepened, "It's... that serious?"

Seeing Kyosuke nod, the Third Hokage couldn't help but take two deep drags of his pipe.

Then, he slammed the pipe down on the table forcefully.

Instantly, an Anbu member appeared kneeling on one knee before them.

"Go, summon Hatake Sakumo to see me," the Third Hokage commanded.

"Yes."

"Wait a moment." The Third Hokage suddenly called out to the Anbu.

After hesitating for a moment, the Third Hokage suddenly spoke to Kyosuke, "Let's go to the Hatake Clan in person, you and I."

"Yes." Kyosuke nodded in agreement.

Soon, the two of them, along with the Anbu, set off together.

"This child Kyosuke is truly different from the other members of the Uchiha Clan. Seeing him reminds me of Kagami back then," the Third Hokage thought with relief as they traveled.

"The Uchiha Clan can be guided onto the right path with proper guidance." He looked at Kyosuke, who was walking a little anxiously behind, and became even more convinced of this in his heart.

"Danzo, I won't let you destroy this child like this." The Third Hokage made a certain resolution at this moment.

Just then, the Anbu scouting ahead suddenly appeared and reported, "Hokage Sama, something seems wrong with the Hatake Clan."

Hearing his words, the hearts of the Third Hokage and Kyosuke sank simultaneously.

After exchanging a glance, they disregarded any rules and directly leaped over the wall.

As soon as they entered the Hatake Clan's courtyard, the three of them smelled a faint scent of blood.

"Damn it, did we come too late?" Kyosuke sighed inwardly, then followed behind the Third Hokage as they walked towards the source of the blood smell.

Pushing open the door, Kyosuke and the Third Hokage saw a poker-faced Kakashi, and...

Hatake Sakumo, kneeling there with a short sword plunged into his chest.

"Sakumo!!!" the Third Hokage cried out.