Kuro's News

When Hatake Sakumo's gaze fell upon the distant mountains covered in snow, his expression softened, and a faint trace of longing appeared in his eyes.

"Speaking of which, I wonder how Kakashi is doing these days."

That child... hasn't come back for almost half a year.

"If you miss him, why don't you go back and see him?"

Asuma seemed to see right through Hatake Sakumo's concerns, shrugged, and said in a seemingly casual tone:

"Although you're no longer a ninja, given your contributions to Konoha, even if you went back for a visit, that old man wouldn't say much."

He looked at Hatake Sakumo's somewhat dim eyes, paused, and then immediately changed his words:

"Or you could send Kakashi a letter? Don't you two keep in touch by letter every week?"

"If you just mention it in your letter, that guy will definitely come running over like a puppy."

Hatake Sakumo gave a wry smile and slowly shook his head:

"Forget it, I'm no longer Konoha ninja. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to go back and then have to leave again."

Besides... Kakashi holds an important position now, and just carrying out missions is already tiring enough for him.

As parents, we can't bother him with such a small thing.

Upon hearing the words "holding an important position," Asuma's smiling face instantly darkened.

He turned his head away, made a very soft "tsk" sound through his nostrils, and said nothing more.

Hatake Sakumo keenly caught Asuma's momentary moment of depression.

He didn't press further, but instead steered the conversation in another direction:

"Let's not talk about me for now. Shouldn't you go back to the village and take a look, Asuma?"

Hatake Sakumo looked at Asuma before him, his tone becoming slightly more serious:

All told, it's been five years since you left Konoha.

Unlike me, you are still a serving ninja in Konoha. You can go back and visit whenever you want.

Even if you leave again, everyone in Konoha will be very happy to see you return to visit them.

He paused, lowering his voice further, as if carefully choosing his words:

"The Lord Hokage would be very proud of you to see how much you've grown."

Please don't mention that old man in front of me, it ruins my good mood!

Asuma's expression, which had been gradually softening, instantly turned cold the moment he heard the word "Hokage".

Knowing he had stepped on a landmine, Hatake Sakumo gave Asuma an apologetic smile.

He observed Asuma's reaction and sighed silently to himself.

"So many years have passed, Asuma still harbors resentment about what happened back then..."

However, it's much better than in previous years.

At least it's not like before, where just mentioning the name of the Lord Third Hokage would send him into a rage that would last for at least two hours...

"Well, in a way, this can be considered progress."

Hatake Sakumo silently felt a pang of pity for his old superior who was far away in Konoha.

Sigh, every family has its own troubles...

He pondered for a moment, then decided to try a different approach to persuade him.

He looked at Asuma, whose face was still sullen, and his voice carried a hint of relaxed laughter:

"And... what about Hong?"

Asuma's body stiffened the moment he heard the name "Red".

His eyes darted away guiltily, and his face, which had been as cold and hard as iron just moments before, almost broke into a daze.

Seeing the remarkable results, Hatake Sakumo suppressed a smile and deliberately softened his tone, speaking meaningfully:

"As far as I know, whenever Kurenai doesn't have a mission, she stands alone at the Konoha Gate as the sun is about to set, hoping you'll come back."

You're not getting any younger. Even if it's for the girl's sake, you should go back and visit her sooner rather than later."

Asuma's face flushed bright red in an instant.

"Kakashi... why does he blurt out everything?!"

He instinctively clenched his fists, gritting his teeth and growling:

"That repressed pervert had better pray he doesn't get caught by me while on a mission... When I do meet him, I'm going to settle this score with him!"

"... The one who said these things to me wasn't Kakashi."

Looking at Asuma's embarrassed and annoyed expression, Hatake Sakumo smiled and said.

Asuma was stunned for a moment, looking at the elder in front of him with surprise, unable to react for a moment.

Hatake Sakumo placed his hands behind his back and spoke slowly and calmly:

"The one who told me about that girl, Kurenai, was her father, my old friend... Yuhi Shinku."

"Well..."

The moment Asuma heard that name, all his confidence seemed to vanish, and he lowered his head guiltily.

His strong legs began to tremble slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

Hatake Sakumo sighed deeply, his tone carrying an exaggerated sense of regret:

"Since the Nine-Tails Incident, Shinku has stepped down from the front lines and focused on her family."

When he corresponded with me, his letters were entirely about his daughter's current situation.

Speaking of red, you naturally come to mind.

The resentment within was truly...

He paused deliberately at this point, shook his head, as if he couldn't bear to continue.

Asuma lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

That usually stern face, filled with irritability and impatience, was unusually quiet at this moment.

After a moment, he slowly raised his head, looked directly into Hatake Sakumo's gentle eyes, and solemnly said:

"Before leaving Konoha, I made a vow with Kurenai, Kakashi, and the others."

"I will absolutely not go back until I find Kou and bring him back!!"

knock.

The name was like a key that had been sealed away for too long; the moment it was uttered, it pulled the scorching blacksmith shop into an even deeper silence.

Hatake Sakumo didn't speak, but simply looked at Asuma quietly.

Those eyes, gleaming in the firelight, held a turmoil of emotions too complex to be expressed in words.

"You should be able to understand my thoughts, right?"

Asuma looked at the elder before him, his tone devoid of any youthful impulsiveness, only a steadfastness that, though honed by the years, refused to fade:

"After all, in order to find news of Kou, you, who originally did not intend to settle in the capital of the Land of Iron, also accepted the invitation from the Daimyo of the Land of Iron and the General Mifune."

"Have you been residing here permanently, as the honorary chairman of the Land of Iron Blacksmith Association?"

Hatake Sakumo remained silent for a long time.

The charcoal fire in the furnace was burning at its brightest, making a soft crackling sound.

He did not answer Asuma's question, but his silence itself was the answer.

After a long silence, he sighed helplessly and asked, as if it were a common occurrence:

"So you've come here again, just like before, wanting to get clues about that child from me... Am I right?"

Asuma nodded vigorously without hesitation.

"After all, if he wanted to maintain the Firebirth and Inazuma, he would definitely find a skilled blacksmith."

"Most of the most skilled blacksmiths come from the Land of Iron, or have had dealings with the Land of Iron."

As he spoke, he solemnly bowed deeply to Hatake Sakumo.

Please tell me... recently, have you heard anything about Kou from anyone?

Please!!

Seeing the tall, muscular figure bending over, Hatake Sakumo quickly reached out to support his shoulder.

He looked at the younger man who was already taller and stronger than himself, and at the serious expression on Asuma's face, which was completely different from his usual arrogant demeanor, and sighed deeply.

"Regarding Kou... I have recently learned some information."