Hatake Sakumo

"The Third Hokage wishes to see this child, Sato Hideaka!"

The man wearing an Anbu animal mask stood atop a tree branch, his posture as poised as a sheathed blade. He spoke in a calm, detached tone. Though his frame was not particularly imposing, he seemed to harbor a power and presence capable of shaking mountains and crushing boulders. This aura nearly stripped Number 4 of the courage to even engage him in combat.

"This brat is a target of Lord Shimura Danzō. Even if I am no match for you, I cannot simply hand him over!"

A bitter smile formed beneath the ghost mask. Number 4 recognized this legendary man. Facing him, the gap between them felt exactly like the gap between himself and the brat moments ago—only the roles had reversed. They were simply not on the same dimension.

"Though we are both colleagues in Konoha, our missions differ. My apologies..."

The Anbu operative's body crackled with lightning, and he vanished, reappearing instantly before Number 167. His left hand snatched Sato Hideaka away, while his right hand tapped lightly against the man's chest. Number 167 shuddered as if struck by a heavy blow, flying backward and crashing into the ground beneath the trees.

Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!

As the Anbu operative moved, Number 4's hands blurred into seals. He gathered chakra in his throat, took a deep breath, and unleashed it. A massive, ferocious dragon head formed from flames, its searing heat seemingly intent on swallowing the Anbu operative whole.

He held nothing back, unleashing a high-level offensive ninjutsu from the start. Yet, even going all out, he did not truly believe he could injure this legendary man.

Watching the flame dragon, which was twenty times his own size, the Anbu operative leaped forward to meet it. With a sharp shing, he drew the short blade from his back. Branching blue lightning flickered along the white steel as he swung downward with a clean, sharp strike.

The massive dragon of fire was cleaved in two, and the short blade came to rest right at the top of Number 4's head.

A crack appeared on the top of the ghost mask, spreading downward until it shattered, revealing a pale face. Number 4's mask was broken, yet he had not suffered a single scratch.

Even when facing a Jonin from Root, this Anbu operative had not used his full strength. He held back, controlling his power with ease, handling the situation as if it were weightless.

Just how terrifying was this man's strength?

Number 4 stood frozen, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. Death was common for those who walked the shadows of Root, but he had never felt such utter helplessness before an opponent.

Whoosh—

Having neutralized Number 4 in an instant, the Anbu operative cradled Sato Hideaka and leaped away toward the orphanage. His speed was immense, and within moments, he vanished from Number 4's sight.

Number 4 stared at his retreating back, lacking the courage or confidence to pursue. He had lost all desire to complete the mission; the gap between them was simply too vast.

"Captain, the target was snatched by that man. Are we not going to pursue?"

Number 167 suddenly scrambled back onto the tree branch beside Number 4, covered in dirt and dead leaves. He had been struck down into the thick leaf litter, looking utterly disheveled.

"What good would pursuit do? The fact that he intervened means our mission is impossible. Let's return and report."

With that, Number 4 headed toward the Root base without looking back. Number 167 glanced at the orphanage, a boundless fear for the future rising in his heart. The mission had failed again; what awaited them back at Root?

Yet, Number 167 lacked the courage to flee Root, even knowing that returning after a failed mission meant a grim fate.

At the orphanage, a figure descended.

"Sir, what... what happened to Hideaka?"

Seeing the child in the Anbu operative's arms, Yakushi Nonō, who had been waiting anxiously in the front yard, hurried forward. She took Sato Hideaka from the man's arms and carefully used her medical ninjutsu to examine his condition.

"I checked him briefly. Exhaustion and muscle strain, but nothing serious. It seems Shimura Danzō also values this child; the members of Root did not strike too heavily..."

The Anbu operative stepped back to give Yakushi Nonō space, speaking calmly.

"Thank you, thank you so much, Lord Hatake Sakumo!"

After confirming that Sato Hideaka was unharmed, Yakushi Nonō bowed repeatedly to the Anbu ninja. Her worried expression faded, replaced by a long-lost glimmer of joy. As long as Hideaka was safe, all these problems were finally resolved.

"This child possesses the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai and seems to know a technique for full-body activation using lightning nature transformation. Can you confirm he is not a spy from an enemy nation?"

Hatake Sakumo had returned to the orphanage with Yakushi Nonō. After questioning the children and examining the battle site, he had confirmed the child's possession of Lava Release. Having checked Sato Hideaka's body earlier, he was well aware of the boy's capabilities.

Yakushi Nonō bit her lip, shook her head, and said firmly, "Hideaka has never had contact with ninjutsu before. He is an orphan I brought back from a village within the Land of Fire. Aside from his Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, he possesses exceptional chakra control. Perhaps he discovered the lightning-based full-body activation method on his own."

"I see. No wonder the activation caused muscle damage. Even if he discovered it himself, his talent is astonishing. I imagine the Hokage will take great interest in him!"

Hatake Sakumo nodded, suddenly enlightened.

"Could you... could you wait a moment before taking Hideaka back to report to the Third Hokage? I want to wait for him to wake up so I can explain things to him. I don't want him to be afraid in an unfamiliar environment."

Yakushi Nonō gently stroked Sato Hideaka's soft, blue hair. Her crystalline eyes were filled with reluctance. She could no longer accompany the child who was like a younger brother to her; her own fate was slipping out of her control, and this might very well be the last time they ever saw each other.

Hatake Sakumo did not understand what she was thinking, but he could see the sorrow in her eyes. He nodded. "Of course. Because of the mission, I haven't had the chance to thank you for treating my subordinate before!"

"When was that? Oh, half a year ago? That was merely my duty..."

Hatake Sakumo was not good at conversation. Yakushi Nonō continued to use medical ninjutsu to soothe Sato Hideaka's injuries—the cellular damage from the full-body activation and the cuts from holding the kunai. The front yard remained silent for a long time, until twenty minutes later, when Sato Hideaka slowly opened his blue eyes.

The soreness in his muscles had faded, and he was in a gentle, familiar embrace.

"Sister Nonō, why are you crying..."

What met Sato Hideaka's eyes was Yakushi Nonō's gentle face, and the tears shimmering behind her black-rimmed glasses.

"No, I'm not crying. Why would your sister cry? It's just... I'm afraid I no longer have the ability to protect you!"

Yakushi Nonō took off her glasses and wiped away the tears. With a touch of sadness, she pointed toward Hatake Sakumo, who was leaning against a tree with his eyes closed, resting. She choked back a sob and said with longing:

"Hideaka, go with this gentleman. He saved you from the bad men. He will send people to ensure your safety. From now on, you can attend the Ninja Academy, play with friends, study the ninjutsu you are interested in, and live under the sunlight where the leaves dance...!"

Following her finger, Sato Hideaka saw the man in the animal mask. On the right sleeve of his Jonin uniform was the Hokage's emblem, and a short blade was strapped to his back. Even standing alone, he possessed the presence of an army.

Sato Hideaka fell silent. He had guessed the man's identity: the captain of the Konoha Anbu, the father of Hatake Kakashi, known as the White Fang of the Leaf—Hatake Sakumo.

The attack by Root, the rescue by the Anbu, the power struggle between Konoha's two great factions—the situation was no longer something Yakushi Nonō or a five-year-old child could control.

What had caused this unprovoked disaster? Weakness—weakness was the greatest sin of all!