Sakumo's Countdown to Death

Kakashi lowered his head.

Sakumo smiled.

He reached out and ruffled Kakashi's white hair.

"If you don't know, then take your time thinking about it."

"You're still young. The road ahead is long."

"One day, you'll find your own ninja way."

Sakumo withdrew his hand and picked up the miso soup for a sip.

"Don't worry about what people outside say."

"As long as you feel you've stayed true to your heart, that's enough."

Kakashi looked at his father's calm face.

The worry in his heart completely faded away.

His father had not been defeated.

White Fang was still the same White Fang.

As long as his father was still here, the Hatake Clan would not fall.

"I'm full."

Kakashi set down his bowl and chopsticks.

"I'm going to practice with my blade in the backyard."

Sakumo nodded.

"Go on. Don't practice too late, and make sure you rest."

Kakashi slid open the paper door and headed toward the backyard.

The paper door closed again.

Only Sakumo remained in the room.

He sat at the dining table, looking at the half-eaten Pacific saury on Kakashi's plate.

The gentleness on his face gradually faded.

In its place was an exceedingly deep weariness.

Sakumo rose and walked over to the window.

He pushed it open.

The night wind blew into the room.

He raised his head and looked at several large trees beyond the courtyard.

With his sensory abilities, how could he possibly fail to notice the activity outside?

From the day he returned to the village, hidden sentries had surrounded this residence.

There were ANBU directly under the Hokage.

And there were Root's bugs as well.

They watched him like guards watching a death-row prisoner.

Even when he went out to buy groceries, several pairs of eyes followed him from the shadows.

Sakumo sighed.

He knew the village's higher-ups too well.

This storm of public opinion aimed at him had never been stirred up spontaneously by civilians.

Without someone fanning the flames behind the scenes, the rumors could not have spread so quickly.

They had even pinned the blame for the strained front lines on him.

Hiruzen remained silent.

Danzo barked madly.

The two advisers watched coldly from the sidelines.

They were all forcing him.

Forcing him to bow his head.

Forcing him to surrender his authority as commander of the ANBU.

Forcing him to use his death to quell this turmoil.

Sakumo walked to the wall and took down the White Fang Short Blade hanging there.

Its sheath was made from special wood.

He drew it half an inch.

A blinding streak of white light illuminated the dim room.

This blade had slain countless powerful enemies from foreign lands.

It had earned tremendous achievements for the Hidden Leaf.

Yet now, it could not even protect his own family.

Sakumo pushed the blade back into its sheath.

He knew exactly how dangerous his situation was.

If he resisted.

The Hatake Clan would be branded traitors to the village.

Kakashi would become the son of a rogue ninja.

He would never be able to hold his head high for the rest of his life.

If he went to the Hokage Building to demand an explanation.

Danzo would definitely seize the chance to attack.

He would make the situation impossible to control.

The only solution was for him to die.

As long as he died, every accusation would vanish with his death.

Only then could Kakashi continue living in the Hidden Leaf as the orphan of a martyr.

And out of consideration for their old friendship, Hiruzen would look after Kakashi.

Sakumo touched the hilt.

He had already made his decision.

He only wanted to spend a few more days looking at Kakashi.

To share a few more meals with him.

So he acted as if nothing were wrong.

He buried all his despair and pain deep in his heart.

He did not let his son see even the slightest hint of it.

The night wind swept through the Hatake family's backyard.

The short blade in Kakashi's hand cut through the air with sharp whistles.

Lightning-nature chakra danced along the blade.

It gave off a piercing sound like the cries of a thousand birds.

Sakumo stood in the shadows of the corridor.

Watching his son's slender yet stubborn back.

Kakashi had already become highly proficient with this blade technique.

He was even more outstanding than Sakumo had been at the same age.

A faint, gratified smile appeared on Sakumo's lips.

He knew Kakashi was a true genius.

Given enough time, the boy would definitely surpass him.

Unfortunately.

He did not have time to accompany Kakashi down the rest of his path.

The rumors in the village were like an invisible net.

It kept drawing tighter and tighter.

When he went out to buy groceries today, even the vegetable-selling auntie he knew well had pointed at him and whispered.

The respect in those gazes was gone.

Only contempt and disgust remained.

Sakumo did not care how others saw him.

But he could not let Kakashi live under the curse of being a traitor's son.

The Hidden Leaf's higher-ups needed a scapegoat to quell the anger over the unfavorable situation at the front.

He, Sakumo Hatake, was the best choice.

As long as he lived, this storm would never cease.

Only the dead could be silenced completely.

And only the dead could make those lofty figures lower their guard.

Sakumo leaned against a wooden pillar.

He took an old scroll from his robes.

Inside were the blade technique insights passed down through generations of the Hatake Clan.

He planned to find an excuse tomorrow to give the scroll to Kakashi.

Then he would make the boy a meal of his favorite salt-grilled Pacific saury.

Finally, he would accompany him for a walk by the little river behind the mountain.

Once he had done all that.

He would choose a quiet night.

And use the White Fang Short Blade that had once protected the Hidden Leaf to end his own life.

Sakumo took a deep breath.

He tucked the scroll back into his robes.

He stepped out of the shadows and called toward the backyard.

"Kakashi, it's late. Go take a bath and get ready for bed."

Kakashi stopped moving and dispersed the lightning around his blade.

He turned his head and looked at his father.

"Got it, Father."

Kakashi sheathed his short blade and walked toward the house.

Sakumo watched his son approach.

He raised a hand and ruffled that distinctive white hair.

The father and son's silhouettes disappeared behind the sliding door.

The courtyard returned to silence.

Only a few fallen leaves were swept up by the wind, spinning through the air.

Beneath Konohagakure.

The Root Base.

An atmosphere of extreme oppression filled the dim stone chamber.

Danzo sat in a broad stone chair.

His remaining eye gleamed with terrifying ferocity.

A Root ninja wearing a blank mask knelt on one knee below him.

His body trembled uncontrollably.

"Say that again."

Danzo's voice seemed to squeeze through clenched teeth.

The Root ninja kneeling below lowered his head even farther.

"Squad A was completely wiped out."

"Lord Yi activated his self-destruction curse mark to cover the retreat."

"Lord Jia's right shoulder was crippled. His fate is unknown."

"The escort unit suffered no casualties."

"Target Pakura is completely unharmed."

Bang!

Danzo shot to his feet.

He kicked the solid wooden table in front of him over.

The heavy table crashed onto the bluestone floor with a tremendous dull thud.

The scrolls, teacups, and ink bottles on it scattered everywhere.

Black ink splashed across the walls like pools of horrifying blood.

"Useless trash!"

Danzo roared.

The cane in his hand struck the ground heavily.

"More than a dozen Root elites!"

"Sent to intercept and kill a few pampered brats who haven't even grown their hair in yet!"

"And you still ended up completely wiped out!"

"Did all your usual training go into a dog's belly?!"

The Root ninja knelt on the ground, not even daring to breathe.

He knew Lord Danzo's temperament well.

Any excuse at a time like this would bring about his own death.

Danzo paced back and forth through the stone chamber in a rage.

This had been a carefully orchestrated death trap.

As long as Pakura died during the escort.

Sunagakure would surely go completely mad.

The situation on the front lines would continue to worsen.

That old do-gooder Hiruzen's prestige would plummet to rock bottom.

Then he could step forward openly and take control of the Hidden Leaf.

But now.

Pakura had not died.

Hiruzen had gained a strategic bargaining chip.

This war would soon end in the Hidden Leaf's victory.

After lying low underground for so long, Danzo had not only gained nothing, but had also lost Squad A, an elite unit.

He had lost both the bride and the troops.