"Long time no see, Yato." With that greeting, a figure slowly appeared in Orochimaru's field of vision.
"What brings you out on a leisurely outing with Orochimaru today?" The voice continued, carrying a faintly teasing tone.
Hearing that voice, Orochimaru's heart stirred. He had heard it before, and it sounded somewhat familiar.
Yet for the moment, he could not recall who it belonged to.
As Orochimaru pondered, the figure had already fully appeared before him.
He was a tall man, his black robe fluttering in the wind, his long silver hair cascading down over his shoulders like a waterfall.
His handsome, resolute face carried the mature air of someone weathered by life.
Orochimaru stared at the man, and suddenly, a name flashed through his mind—Hatake Sakumo!
That was right. This man was Kakashi Hatake's father, the man who had long since left the shinobi world in the parallel world.
Moreover, the way he had died was something most shinobi could not accept.
A shinobi sought nothing more in life than a good reputation while alive and praise after death.
Yet Hatake Sakumo's death had left him with an infamously terrible posthumous reputation.
Orochimaru could not help recalling the rumors surrounding Hatake Sakumo. It was said that during a mission, he had chosen to commit suicide after failing to complete it.
Such conduct was seen as cowardly and irresponsible in the shinobi world, and so his reputation had plummeted.
Now that Orochimaru had truly seen Hatake Sakumo standing before him, the shock in his heart was beyond words.
At that moment, Hatake Sakumo also noticed Orochimaru beside him.
"Mr. Orochimaru, you..."
Though he had originally wanted to say something more, Hatake Sakumo instantly pulled Uchiha Yato aside and then said,
"You're not Mr. Orochimaru. Who are you?!"
By then, Hatake Sakumo