On December 21, Hatake Sakumo personally put an end to the undercurrents that had recently surfaced in the village.
The White Fang of the Leaf suddenly ended his own life. The news was immediately sealed away by the Third Hokage and the Anbu.
Inside the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply and looked once more at the Anbu before him, confirming,
"Was it definitely suicide?"
"According to the preliminary investigation and Hatake Kakashi's account, Lord Sakumo's death was confirmed to be suicide."
The Anbu wearing a fox mask knelt on one knee and replied softly. Seemingly unable to accept this outcome, he fell silent for a moment before asking,
"Lord Hokage, should we continue the investigation?"
"Since it has been confirmed, let it end here. The Anbu has much more work to do."
After giving his instructions, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched his personal Anbu disappear, and grief immediately appeared on his face.
The scent of war was growing ever stronger. As Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen needed to unite everyone, so even though he knew Root had been making small moves, he ultimately chose to tolerate them.
In the eyes of the several higher-ups, arguments and accusations were useless against an elite Jonin. After all, the great ninja clans had never made their stance known.
"Hiruzen, at a time like this, we should visit Hatake Kakashi."
"If this child develops 'darkness' because of this and is drawn in by Danzo, it will be our loss."
"His talent should be used for the village."
Utatane Koharu, her eyes narrowed, suddenly spoke up in reminder.
Mitokado Homura beside her shook his head, seemingly holding a different opinion, and added simply,
"Root has also inherited the Will of Fire, but Hatake Kakashi's talent truly should not be used for 'darkness.'"
Sarutobi Hiruzen put on his Hokage hat without answering directly. He took two hard puffs from his pipe before speaking in a deep voice,
"Shu should be by Kakashi's side. This child has earned Tsunade's approval. He will help Kakashi get through this difficult time."
"Let's go. Sakumo will end his ninja career as a hero."
Just yesterday afternoon, he had still been teaching the two of them swordsmanship. This morning, he had parted from them forever.
The bloodstained Chakra short sword reminded Shu Furukawa that all of this had truly happened. Kakashi, who had become like a "puppet," knelt motionlessly beside Hatake Sakumo.
The Jonin who received the news came quietly to pay their respects. Shikaku Nara, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi bowed, and Shu Furukawa returned their greetings one by one.
"I never expected Lord Sakumo to leave so suddenly. Perhaps I should have realized it earlier..."
"Shikaku!"
Yamanaka Inoichi, his brown hair long, interrupted his companion with a solemn expression. The way of survival for ninja clans was to place bets on both sides, ensuring they would always be the "winners."
"Perhaps Teacher Sakumo was too tired. Thank you very much for your help, Captains."
Shu Furukawa lowered his head in thanks. As Tsunade's disciple, he had a good relationship with the Hokage-aligned ninja clans and had received guidance from the three of them during missions.
"Shu, if you need help, make sure to inform us."
Akimichi Choza, his round face filled with sorrow, gave the reminder quietly. Shu Furukawa nodded again in thanks. When the Third Hokage arrived, the atmosphere grew even heavier.
Kakashi did not know who had come, nor did he know what those people had said.
After discovering his father lying in a pool of blood while bringing breakfast that morning, his mind had gone completely blank. Only when Shu Furukawa arrived did he finally break down and cry.
Night fell once more. This residence would never again hear Hatake Sakumo's gentle voice.
In the corridor, Kakashi stared blankly at the pitch-black night sky and asked in a hoarse whisper,
"...Which is more important, the mission or one's comrades?"
"Why would the comrades who were saved instead blame Father?"
"Was it because the mission failed?"
"Why did Father choose suicide? He was a hero, yet he used that short sword to end his own life..."
"What exactly is the Will of Fire?"
Although he had lived in this world for seven years, Shu Furukawa still could not give the right answer, because he had never personally experienced Hatake Sakumo's life.
"In my view, close comrades are more important. That was also Teacher's choice."
"Teacher left in this way, and all we can do is respect it. As for the other questions, I am not qualified to lecture you."
"Kakashi, take those questions and examine this world. Then seek out the answers."
"As long as you live on properly, you will surely unravel every doubt."
"This world possesses Chakra, miraculous energy. Life should not be like this..."
By the end, Shu Furukawa's voice was nearly inaudible. Kakashi, hearing those words, still could not resolve the doubts in his heart and could only murmur,
"Live on?"
Late that night, Shu Furukawa came before Hatake Sakumo once more. Looking at this senior who had cared for him so much, he placed his right hand over his chest and silently said,
"Teacher Sakumo, perhaps you can give me the answer."
"..."
A mass of white energy invisible to ordinary people appeared in Shu Furukawa's palm. As he sent it into his body, exhaustion swept over him.
Unlike the Bloody Nightmare from years ago, all Shu Furukawa saw were corpses piled as high as mountains.
From Genin to Chunin, then to elite Jonin, Hatake Sakumo had continually lost comrades.
When he lacked strength, he could not protect his comrades. Once he gained great strength, he was forced by missions to abandon some comrades in order to save more people.
The short sword glowing with white light continually cut down enemy ninja. The dead came from every nation, and everyone who fell in pools of blood ultimately wore expressions of ferocity and anguish.
"For the village's mission, anyone can be killed..."
The earth had split apart. Beneath the rubble lay the broken body of a young boy. Three people knelt amid countless corpses, wailing loudly, while Hatake Sakumo kept searching for survivors and lowered his head in pain.
"A wrong decision?!"
Expectations, accusations, curses, the Hokage's consolation, the higher-ups' indifference toward the dead—his anguish grew day by day, until the short sword glowing with white light was stained crimson.
"Sorry, Kakashi. I am not the hero you imagined."
"..."
When Shu Furukawa woke, his head was splitting with pain. Dawn had not yet arrived, and the mental impact involuntarily filled him with despair and guilt, which only gradually faded after a long while.
After sorting through his thoughts, Shu Furukawa gave a self-mocking smile. Perhaps he had never considered himself a true ninja and could not fully empathize.
"Self-blame? This is the world's fault! Teacher, death means the end of everything."
Drawing the short sword at his side, Shu Furukawa closed his eyes and searched for the instinct within his body after [Collection]. As wind-nature Chakra slowly flowed into it, the White Fang Short Blade began to shine with white light.
"Wind-nature Chakra transformation."
When he swung the short sword, Shu Furukawa felt as though it were an extension of his arm. Swordsmanship tempered through countless trials fused into his body at that moment.
After dawn, Jonin still came quietly to pay their respects. Kakashi also bowed alongside them. Ninja had to face death calmly.
When the Hokage's personal Anbu began taking over the follow-up arrangements, Shu Furukawa saw Kakashi expressionlessly toss the short sword aside. He picked it up and hung it back on Kakashi's back.
"Take it with you and seek the answers. Teacher Sakumo will surely be watching you from the Pure Land."
"..."