The Severed "String"... (Part 2)

On December 21st, Hatake Sakumo personally brought an end to the undercurrents that had recently been plaguing the village.

The White Fang of the Leaf had suddenly ended his own life, and the news was immediately suppressed by the Third Hokage and the Anbu.

Inside the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brows, looking once more at the Anbu operative before him to confirm:

"Are you certain it was suicide?"

"Based on the preliminary investigation and Hatake Kakashi's own account, Lord Sakumo's death is confirmed as suicide."

The Anbu operative, wearing a fox mask, knelt on one knee and responded in a low voice. Seeming unable to accept such a result, he remained silent for a moment before asking:

"Lord Hokage, should we continue the investigation?"

"Since it has been confirmed, let it be. The Anbu has plenty of other work to do."

After giving the order, Sarutobi Hiruzen watched his direct subordinate vanish, his face immediately clouding over with sorrow.

The scent of war was growing stronger by the day. As Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen needed to unite everyone; even knowing that Root was up to its usual tricks, he ultimately chose to turn a blind eye.

To the high-ranking officials, arguments and accusations were useless against an elite Jonin, especially since the major ninja clans had never taken a public stance.

"Hiruzen, we should go visit Hatake Kakashi at this time."

"If this child develops 'darkness' because of this and is drawn in by Danzo, it will be our loss."

"His talents should be used for the village."

Utatane Koharu, eyes narrowed, suddenly spoke up to remind him. Beside her, Mitokado Homura shook his head, seemingly holding a different opinion, and added simply:

"Root also inherits the Will of Fire, but Hatake Kakashi's talent truly should not be used for 'darkness'."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, having donned his Hokage hat, did not respond immediately. He took two harsh puffs from his pipe before saying in a deep voice:

"Shu should be by Kakashi's side. That child has earned Tsunade's approval; he will help Kakashi get through this difficult time."

"Let us go. Sakumo will end his ninja career as a hero."

Only yesterday afternoon, he had been instructing the two in swordsmanship; this morning, he was separated from them forever.

The blood-stained chakra short blade served as a reminder to Shu Furukawa that all of this was real. Kakashi, having turned into a "puppet," knelt beside Hatake Sakumo, motionless.

Jonin who received the news arrived discreetly. Shikaku Nara, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi bowed, and Shu Furukawa returned the gesture to each of them.

"I never expected Lord Sakumo to leave us so suddenly. Perhaps I should have noticed sooner..."

"Shikaku!"

Yamanaka Inoichi, with his long brown hair, interrupted his companion with a stern expression. The survival strategy of the ninja clans was to hedge their bets on both sides, ensuring they would always be the "winners."

"Perhaps Master Sakumo was just too tired. Thank you all for your help, Captains."

Shu Furukawa bowed his head in thanks. As a disciple of Tsunade, he had a good relationship with the Hokage-aligned clans and had received guidance from the three during missions.

"Shu, if you need any help, you must let us know."

Akimichi Choza, with his stout frame, whispered a reminder with a pained expression. Shu Furukawa nodded in acknowledgment once more. When the Third Hokage arrived, the atmosphere grew even heavier.

Kakashi did not know who had arrived, nor was he clear on what they had said.

After discovering his father lying in a pool of blood while delivering breakfast, his mind had gone completely blank. It was only when Shu Furukawa arrived that he finally broke down in tears.

Night fell once again, and the gentle voice of Hatake Sakumo would never grace this mansion again.

In the hallway, Kakashi stared blankly at the pitch-black night sky, asking in a hoarse, low voice:

"...Which is more important, the mission or one's comrades?"

"Why did the comrade who was saved turn around and blame my father?"

"Was it because the mission failed?"

"Why did Father choose suicide? He was a hero, yet he used that short blade to end his own life..."

"What exactly is the Will of Fire?"

Despite having lived in this world for seven years, Shu Furukawa still could not provide a correct answer, for he had not personally experienced what Hatake Sakumo had endured:

"In my view, close comrades are more important. That was also the Master's choice."

"Since the Master chose to leave in this way, we can only respect it. As for the other questions, I am not qualified to lecture you."

"Kakashi, take these questions and examine the world, and in doing so, find your own answers."

"As long as you live on, you will surely unravel all your doubts."

"This world possesses chakra, a miraculous energy; life shouldn't be like this..."

By the end, Shu Furukawa's voice was barely audible. Kakashi, hearing these words, still could not resolve the doubts in his heart and could only murmur:

"Live on, you say?"

Late at night, Shu Furukawa returned to Hatake Sakumo's side. Looking at the senior who had shown him so much care, he placed his right hand over his chest and silently prayed:

"Teacher Sakumo, perhaps you can provide the answer."

"..."

A mass of white energy, invisible to ordinary eyes, appeared in Shu Furukawa's palm. As this energy was channeled into his body, a wave of exhaustion washed over him.

Unlike the bloody nightmares of previous years, all Shu Furukawa saw were mountains of corpses.

From genin to chunin, and then to elite jonin, Hatake Sakumo constantly lost his comrades.

When his strength was insufficient, he could not protect them; once he possessed formidable power, he was forced by missions to abandon some comrades to save more people.

The short blade, radiating a white glow, continuously cut down enemy ninja. Regardless of their nationality, those who fell into pools of blood all wore expressions of ferocity and agony.

"For the sake of the village's mission, anyone can be killed..."

The earth split open, revealing the broken body of a youth beneath the rubble. Three people knelt amidst the vast sea of corpses, wailing loudly. Hatake Sakumo, who was frantically searching for survivors, lowered his head with a pained expression.

"A wrong decision?!"

Expectations, accusations, insults, the Hokage's appeasement, the high-ranking officials' indifference toward the dead—the agony grew day by day until, finally, the short blade radiating white light was stained with blood.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi. I am not the hero you envisioned."

"..."

When Shu Furukawa woke up, his head was splitting with pain. The sky had yet to brighten. The mental shock caused him to involuntarily experience feelings of depression and guilt, which only gradually dissipated after a long while.

Sorting through his thoughts, Shu Furukawa offered a self-deprecating smile. Perhaps he had never truly considered himself a ninja, unable to fully empathize:

"Self-reproach? It is the fault of this world! Teacher, death signifies the end of everything."

Drawing the short blade from his side, Shu Furukawa closed his eyes to seek the instinct gained after the [Collection] of the body. As wind-attribute chakra slowly infused into it, the White Fang Short Blade began to emit a white glow:

"Wind-attribute chakra nature transformation."

As he swung the short blade, Shu Furukawa felt as if it were an extension of his own arm; the thousand-times-tempered swordsmanship merged into his body at this moment.

After dawn, jonin continued to visit discreetly, and Kakashi followed along to pay his respects; a ninja must face death with composure.

As the Hokage's direct ANBU began to take over the subsequent matters, Shu Furukawa saw Kakashi expressionlessly toss the short blade aside. He picked it up and strapped it back onto the boy's back:

"Carry it with you to find the answer. Teacher Sakumo will surely be watching you from the Pure Land."

"..."