Saving Him (2)

In a simply furnished room, a forlorn figure lay silently on the bed, motionless, as if already dead.

The dim candlelight was stirred by an ominous draft from nowhere, flickering as it cast shifting shadows across that dejected face.

Standing before Hatake Sakumo's room, Hyuga Iwa wore a solemn expression.

"Lord Sakumo, may I come in?"

"..."

Hyuga Iwa waited for a long while. There was no sound from within the room, nor any sign of movement, so he spoke again.

"Lord Sakumo, if you don't say anything, I'm coming in!"

"..."

There was still no movement from inside, but Hyuga Iwa could feel Hatake Sakumo's despair. Like that candle flame, his life seemed ready to go out at any moment.

Hyuga Iwa stopped waiting. He reached out, gently opened the door, then quietly closed it behind him.

Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, standing behind him, exchanged a glance. Both saw deep concern in the other's eyes.

The moment he entered, Hyuga Iwa saw the figure curled up on the bed, utterly still. Deep darkness shrouded him, concealing every trace of expression.

Hyuga Iwa carefully approached. After only two steps, he felt a crushing pressure wash over him, making it difficult to breathe.

Hyuga Iwa stopped, took a deep breath, and said in a low voice, "Lord Sakumo, you look awful right now."

Though no reply came, Hyuga Iwa paused briefly before gathering his thoughts again. "I'm sure you understand that the higher-ups in the village had a hand in this whole affair. If you stay like this, you'll only let those petty schemers get what they want and make the people who truly care about you sad!"

"..."

"I know that ninjas have always placed mission completion above all else. For money, for the mission, we wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice our own lives.

But why?!

Why do we have to live like this? Is it really just for money?

No, I refuse to accept that. I don't want to risk my life for those nobles who occupy positions without doing anything. That isn't the life I want. I'll walk my own path, but I don't need anyone else telling me what to do!

Maybe you think my ideas are naive, but I'm working toward them. Many people are working toward them.

You know Might Duy, don't you? The eternal Genin! His son, Might Guy, was judged to have no talent as a ninja!

And yet, even so, they keep striving. No—they're giving it everything they have. So many times, I've seen Guy keep running even after losing consciousness, relying on nothing but his body's memory!

Why?

I want to ask them what they're doing it for!

Could it really be just for some so-called mission?!"

As Hyuga Iwa spoke, his tone grew heavier and heavier until he finally snarled the last words!

Hyuga Iwa took several deep breaths and gradually calmed himself before saying slowly, "Lord Sakumo, I hope you'll think carefully. Some things aren't decided by fate. We have to fight for them ourselves.

Missions are important, but aren't comrades important too?! Are you living just for the sake of what others think of you?!"

The figure on the bed suddenly trembled and curled up even tighter!

Hyuga Iwa fell silent for a moment, then turned and headed for the door. A mocking, contemptuous voice came from his mouth. "Heh, so the White Fang of the Leaf I've always known is nothing more than a coward! Oh? So you've already decided to kill yourself? Heh!"

Hyuga Iwa pushed open the door and stepped outside.

But just as he took that step, a hoarse voice sounded from behind him. "Heh... what an annoying brat. I'm the White Fang of the Leaf!"

"Let's hope you're not a dead fang, then."

"..."

No matter what, Hatake Sakumo had his own pride. Though he had endured Hyuga Iwa's endless taunts, he had finally reached his limit.

The instant the door closed, Hatake Sakumo abruptly sat up and ground out a few words through clenched teeth. "I really want to cut down that self-righteous brat with one slash!"

After that, the room fell silent again—a deathly silence!

A sharp slap rang out, loud and crisp enough for all three people outside the door to hear clearly.

Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy exchanged bewildered looks.

"Slap! Slap! Slap!" A continuous series of sounds came through the door. They knew that the man inside was slapping himself!

Kakashi's expression changed, and his anxious face filled with worry.

Just as Kakashi was about to rush into the room to see what was happening, Hyuga Iwa grabbed him.

Hyuga Iwa shook his head, signaling for him not to go in.

Seeing this, Guy looked at the door, then at Hyuga Iwa and Kakashi, and asked worriedly, "Iwa, is it really okay?"

Hyuga Iwa said nothing. He only shook his head firmly, though the smile at the corners of his mouth grew wider.

"Hehe, hahaha, hahahaha..." x2

Watching Hyuga Iwa suddenly burst into laughter and hearing laughter from inside the room as well, Guy cautiously tugged at Kakashi's sleeve. "Hey, Kakashi, are they really okay? Why did they both suddenly start laughing?"

"Dad!"

There was no one else in Kakashi's eyes. Only the laughter of the two men echoed in his ears.

A relieved smile appeared on Kakashi's face, but tears silently slipped from his eyes and dampened the corner of his clothes.

??

Guy stared blankly at the two of them, utterly confused. He simply could not understand why everyone was either crying or laughing!

Toward evening, Hyuga Iwa had barely arrived home when someone sent by Hyuga Hiashi summoned him.

Upon arriving at the clan head's residence, Hyuga Iwa politely bowed to the guard at the entrance. At the guard's gesture, he went inside.

In the reception room, Hyuga Hiashi sat at the head of the room, holding a freshly brewed cup of tea. He blew on it and sipped with elegant composure.

Hyuga Iwa stood some distance away, head held high and eyes forward.

"Hyuga Iwa, what do you think of this incident?"

Hyuga Iwa gave him a serious look and said slowly, "A clumsy performance by certain petty clowns, and the inaction of those who think too highly of themselves."

"Oh?!"

Hyuga Hiashi looked at Hyuga Iwa in surprise. He had never expected such an evaluation from him!

As the head of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Hiashi knew things others did not. He had already sensed a strong stench of conspiracy behind this affair.

Otherwise, there was no explanation for why the village had become filled with criticism of Hatake Sakumo almost overnight!

That man's usual methods could be seen clearly enough even without an investigation.

Hyuga Hiashi pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "So, is that your answer?"

Hyuga Iwa understood what Hyuga Hiashi meant. He was asking both what he thought of Hatake Sakumo and which mattered more: missions or comrades.

Without even thinking, Hyuga Iwa blurted out, "Does that matter? I only did what I believed was right."

Although it was not a direct answer, it was practically an admission.

The right thing—what was the right thing?!

Hadn't Hyuga Iwa already done what he considered right earlier that day?!

His stance was already perfectly clear!

Hyuga Hiashi understood Hyuga Iwa's meaning, but he offered no comment. His face remained expressionless.

"Then what do you think our Hyuga Clan should do?"

"Oh?" Hyuga Iwa glanced at the clan head in slight surprise. He had not expected him to be as weak as he imagined. Perhaps in the future, the destruction of the Uchiha Clan would frighten him so badly that he would let his younger brother, Hizashi Hyuga, die in his place!

However, Hyuga Iwa knew that some things could be said, while others absolutely could not. He shook his head and said, "I'll leave it entirely to the clan head's decision."

Hyuga Hiashi knew that Hyuga Iwa had not been nearly so respectful earlier. He had even talked about him behind his back many times. Why was he being so obedient now?

Still, if he did not want to speak, then so be it. Hyuga Hiashi was not about to argue with a child, especially not a genius.

So, Hyuga Hiashi took the initiative to change the subject. The two discussed matters concerning the food company for a while, as well as some future development plans, before Hyuga Hiashi allowed Hyuga Iwa to return home.

Afterward, Hyuga Hiashi invited the clan elders over and discussed matters with them for a long time.

Though no one knew what they discussed, some of the Hyuga Clan's attitudes soon became very clear.

Hyuga Food Company suddenly announced a major discount event to celebrate its second anniversary, with remarkably generous price cuts.

For a time, the villagers all discussed the event. As if by prior agreement, they flocked to Leaf Village's only three cake shops, where all kinds of food sold out almost instantly.

That night, when Hyuga Iwa returned home, he saw someone he had not expected.

Hatake Sakumo stood outside their home with Kakashi. When they saw Hyuga Iwa approaching, a long-missing smile appeared on Kakashi's face.

After welcoming them inside, his mother served the dinner she had already prepared, waiting only for Hyuga Iwa to return before eating. When she saw the two of them, Hyuga Yuko warmly invited them to join the meal.

Under his mother's enthusiastic invitation, their stomachs obligingly began to rumble. Blushing, they had no choice but to sit down at the table.

Then, to their dumbfounded shock, Hyuga Iwa ate a full ten large bowls of rice. Only then did he rub his stomach and say something that nearly broke them. "Whew, that was delicious. Too bad I can't eat any more. About seventy percent full is enough for dinner."

"Se-seventy percent full?" Kakashi doubted his own ears. Hyuga Iwa had already eaten as much as Kakashi normally ate in two days!

And that was only seventy percent full?

Looks like I can never treat him to a meal in the future, or he'll eat me into bankruptcy! Kakashi muttered, but no one heard him.

Seeing their embarrassment, Hyuga Iwa laughed. "Haha, I don't have any special strengths. I just eat a lot. If there's ever an eating contest, I think I'd definitely enter."

Hyuga Yuko smacked Hyuga Iwa on the head and said with a smile, "Don't listen to his nonsense. He's always eaten more than most since he was little. If our family didn't run two cake shops, we really wouldn't have enough money to feed him. Eat, keep eating. There's more at home, and if it still isn't enough, I can order a few dishes from a restaurant."

"That's enough, that's enough. We're full, really full." Hatake Sakumo and Kakashi exchanged a glance and hurriedly replied.

"Are you sure? Don't be embarrassed."

"We're really full. Yuko, your cooking is delicious. This is the first time I've ever eaten food this good."

Hatake Sakumo spoke with complete sincerity, while Kakashi beside him nodded in agreement.

"Hehe, I'm glad you like it."

"Thank you for the meal."

After dinner, Kakashi sat alone in the living room, listlessly watching television. Hyuga Iwa had insisted on buying it after making money, mainly so his mother would have something to pass the evenings with.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Iwa and Hatake Sakumo were talking in a room.

No one knew what they talked about, but when they left, Hatake Sakumo said something that left much to the imagination: "I'll look forward to that day!"

Later, after the Third Hokage read the intelligence his subordinate had brought him, he buried himself in a cloud of smoke. No one could read any expression from his face.

In contrast, when Danzo received the intelligence, he vented his displeasure before summoning his subordinate ninjas and giving them instructions.

But before the plan could be carried out, Hyuga Food Company's discount event completely shifted the villagers' attention toward the promotion. The earlier news gradually sank into deeper darkness, waiting for another chance to be set in motion.

The night grew late!

Leaf Village fell asleep as well!

Yet some people began to move!

Within the deep darkness, certain things were quietly fermenting...