Chapter 979: Father-Son Conversation
He was long past the age of crying over every little thing.
And he already had the answer to the question he wanted to ask. It was laughable, really.
The answer had come from the very person he had always resented. But that person was gone now.
"Thank you, Father. I've always felt that my father did nothing wrong, either. Nothing is more important than life."
Sakumo nodded. "I can only say that my counterpart in the Otherworld had a rather difficult fate. He never got to see how prosperous Konoha is today, either. I can understand what he was thinking back then."
"As a samurai, honor was the most important thing. But failing a mission cost him his honor. As a shinobi, completing the mission was the most important thing, but saving his teammates led to its failure."
"He had lost the two things he held most dear, and his life had lost its direction. Then, with the scoundrels stirring up trouble, that was why..."
Hatake was deeply moved by Sakumo's words. Only a father could understand another father. Perhaps this was what his father had thought in his final moments.
"Don't blame him, Hatake. He was desperate back then, too."
At that, Hatake Kakashi finally couldn't hold back his tears.
Sakumo drew him into his arms and gently patted his back. "It's all right to let your feelings out. Once you've had a good cry, it'll all be behind you. Tomorrow is a fresh start, and your future is bright."
Kakashi chimed in, "That's right. Now that the two worlds are connected, everyone can travel freely between them. Come visit us whenever you're free, or we can come visit you."
A few minutes later, Hatake had calmed down. Sakumo let go of him, and