Sakumo pushed a cup of hot tea in front of Sen, motioned for him to sit down, and said gently, "Don't mind, Kakashi has such a temperament."
Sen sat cross-legged, took a sip of tea, and asked calmly, "Senior, are you a little tight on money?"
Hearing this, Sakumo's eyes dimmed a bit, and a heavy sigh echoed in the room, "Keiko----After she gave birth to Kakashi, her health has not improved and she has been in the hospital all year round. If she hadn't just come back today, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to see me."
He paused, glanced at his son, and said with a bit of bitterness in his voice, "As for Kakashi--he is no genius at all. He just saw his mother in pain, so he desperately wanted to grow up quickly."
"Is it about money?" Sen understood clearly.
Based on his understanding of Hatake Sakumo, this Konoha White Fang would rather bear everything on his own than bow his head to ask for help. However, the suffering of his wife and children is the weakest weakness in his heart.
He snapped his fingers, and Yan at the door immediately handed over one million taels respectfully.
Sakumo's face instantly darkened. He looked at Sen with a hint of displeasure in his tone. "Sen, what are you doing? How can I collect money from a junior like you? Take it back quickly!"
"Senior, it was me who was abrupt." Sen immediately bowed and apologized.
"This is inappropriate! In any case, there is no reason to ask for money from my seniors. After a while, I will get a loan, and at worst, I will take on a few more S-level missions----"
Sakumo was talking, but Sen suddenly turned his head, with a hint of reproach in Yan's tone. "Why don't you have any sharp eyesight? Take out all the money I asked you to bring."
"Ah?" Sakumo was a little confused for a moment. Even Kakashi on the side looked at this somewhat "weird" brother in confusion.
Why doesn't this brother seem to understand what his father is saying?
"Step."
Ten million fell directly on the table, and Yan quickly said, "I'm sorry, I was negligent."
A total of ten million taels, the impact of cash made the air in the entire tea room seem to be stagnant.
This time, Kakashi's eyes were really shining. Like a little white cat, he ran to the coffee table with his short legs and stood close to Sen. He raised his head and his eyes were full of admiration. "I like you so much, brother who can't understand human speech!"
"Kakashi, why are you talking?" Sakumo shouted.
Seeing the complicated expression of pride, struggle and helplessness on Sakumo's face, Sen said warmly, "Senior, family is the most important thing. You took great care of Kushina on the battlefield, and she will soon become my family. So, please don't regard this as charity."
He paused, then turned to the excited Kakashi, and said in a sincere tone, "This money should be regarded as a belated gift that I paid for the birth of Kakashi."
"This----this is too expensive----"
"Senior." Sen raised his hand and gently stopped Sakumo's next words.
He stared at Kakashi and said, "I like this child very much. If you don't mind, when he is a few years older, I would like to accept him as a disciple."
These words were not only a promise, but also to appease Sakumo's heart, showing that he was not acting on a whim, but also taking into account the current tense relationship between him and the village, so as not to put additional pressure on the other party.
Sen continued, "If you are really sorry, I can lend it to you at the lowest interest rate. When your family is rich, you can pay it back to me. After all, money is an external thing, and the health of your family is a priceless treasure. What do you think, senior?"
Kakashi on the side, his little body tensed up, his eyes moving back and forth between the money on the table and his father's face, the anticipation in his eyes almost overflowing.
This money is really important to this precarious family.
Under the gaze of his son's clear eyes, Sakumo's clenched fists finally slowly loosened.
He sighed and nodded, acquiescing.
He looked at the young man in front of him with an extremely complicated expression.
It was a blessing to witness the rise of a talented youngster, but the relationship between Sen and the village was so stiff that it was almost broken.
"Sen," Sakumo couldn't help but persuade, "Is there really no room for relaxation between you and the village? After all-"
Before he finished speaking, Sen shook his head. The next moment, in his dark pupils, three Tomoe rapidly rotated and turned into Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Senior, I would like to ask you to see a technique." Sen's voice was calm, "This technique is called High Emperor Divine Eye" and it allows you to see the future. After reading it, you may understand why I act like this."
Feeling that there was no murderous intention on the other side, Sakumo hesitated for a moment, and finally chose to believe it and nodded.
In an instant, a huge torrent of information poured into his mind, and Sakumo saw his "future".
In that future, for the sake of his wife's medical expenses and the growth of Kakashi, he performed S-class missions that narrowly escaped death day after day.
However, most of the mission remuneration went into the bottomless pit of the hospital, but his wife's condition still did not improve.
He saw that after his mother passed away, little Kakashi became taciturn, wrapped himself in layers of indifference, and refused all goodwill.
He saw that during a mission, in order to save the lives of his companions, he resolutely chose to give up the mission.
However, what I got in exchange was not understanding and gratitude, but endless accusations and criticisms.
The people in the village, and even the companion who was rescued by him, all blamed him in turn, saying that the mission was above all else!
In the end, under the pressure of rumors, in order to protect Hatake clan's last reputation, he chose to end his life with the White Fang dagger.
And Kakashi, who lost his last relative, wept alone in front of Memorial Stone day after day, immersed in never-ending pain and regret----
Illusion Technique dispersed, and Sakumo was soaked in cold sweat. He was breathing heavily, his eyes full of horror and disbelief. The feeling of despair and powerlessness was so real, as if he had experienced it himself.
Looking at Sakumo's wavering eyes, Sen slowly said, "High Emperor Divine Eye" is seeing the most possible future. Senior, what you see now is, compared to that future——"
He reached out his hand and gently stroked Kakashi's soft silver hair. The deep meaning in his words was self-evident.
Yes----it's so difficult for me. If I die, what kind of desperate life will Kakashi face alone?
The light in Sakumo's eyes dimmed little by little, replaced by a kind of determination. After a long time, he raised his head and said in a deep voice, "Okay, Sen. I promise you to cooperate with you to fight against Third Hokage!"
Hearing this, Yan and others in the distance felt happy. The addition of Hatake clan undoubtedly increased their chances of winning!
However, Sen frowned, and the displeasure in his heart was palpable. "Senior, I think you misunderstood." His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard in everyone's ears, "I came to you not to tie Hatake Clan to my chariot, nor to question your strength. It's just that Kakashi is still too young now, and what he needs is his father's company."
"As for the ups and downs, let the younger generation bear them for you and your family."
As soon as these words came out, even Hatake Sakumo, who had experienced hundreds of battles and was used to seeing the darkness of human nature, couldn't help but be violently moved in his heart.
He thought this was a well-designed wooing, but he didn't expect that at the last moment when he expressed his willingness to form an alliance, the other party flatly refused.
For the first time, he felt so clearly that the seemingly cold-hearted young man in front of him might really have the power and kindness to change this decaying village.
A thought suddenly emerged in his mind:
Perhaps, having Uchiha Sen take over as Hokage will be a much better choice for Konoha!
Seeing Sakumo accept the money, most of the knots in his heart were relieved. Sen did not stay too long. It was a troubled time right now, and getting too close to him would only cause unnecessary trouble for this senior.
On the way back to the station, Sen said to Uchiha Hikaru with some dissatisfaction, "Yan, I feel that your work has become more and more utilitarian recently. Don't tell me that you didn't see it at the time. Senior Sakumo needs more than one million."
Yan felt a little guilty. At that time, he really thought about using one million first and then adding more money to make Sakumo turn against his family.
"Sen, I understand. I am thinking too narrowly."
"Senior Sakumo is a hero worthy of respect. Treat him with sincerity, not magic." Seeing him admitting his mistake, Sen softened his tone and asked, "How is the situation over there at Tsunade? Are you still guarding Senju Compound and accompanying Nawaki? Can't you leave the door?"
"Yes. I feel like this incident stimulated her even more than it did us Uchiha."
Sen pondered for a moment and then asked, "Where is Dan Katō? Do you have any information about him?"
Yan immediately took the file from his subordinates and quickly read the report, "Dan Katō---- is still a staunch supporter of Hokage. He believes that we should not provoke a civil war and is quite critical of our Police Force actions."
"I understand." Sen nodded, "You can write a letter in my name and ask Senior Tsunade to visit Senior Sakumo's wife. She is the best medical ninja.
"Yes!"
"The rest of the time is just waiting to see what kind of tricks Kirigakure's guest wants to play.
7