The Crying Kakashi

That was White Fang's sword. You weren't qualified to wield it.

Hyuga Satoru's words sounded unbearably harsh to Kakashi, like a bomb detonating in his ears. His face flushed red as he roared.

"What do you know?! What could an outsider like you possibly know?!"

"He was a coward! So what if he abandoned the mission? So what if his comrades insulted him? Why did he have to kill himself?! Why did he have to kill himself?!"

Perhaps he had endured too much over the past two years, or perhaps it was the humiliation of being defeated by Hyuga Satoru in public. Kakashi actually collapsed onto the ground and cried out in front of everyone.

"He didn't have to die! So what if the villagers cursed him? Didn't he still have me? Why did he choose to kill himself? Why..."

At some point, the crowd suddenly fell silent. Kakashi's sobs sounded especially piercing in such an atmosphere.

"So that's what you cared about?"

Hyuga Satoru sighed.

It seemed his father's suicide had left Kakashi in tremendous pain. Over the past two years, he had constantly brainwashed himself with the thought, "A man who couldn't even complete a mission was nothing more than a coward," numbing his own anguish.

Until now, when Hyuga Satoru defeated him in public, the defenses in his heart had been completely shattered.

The surrounding ninjas all fell silent, their heads slightly lowered. Quite a few of them had contributed to driving Hatake Sakumo into a corner. Rumors had blazed fiercely, fueled by malice, but when things finally calmed down, they discovered that the man was already gone.

So, by mutual unspoken agreement, no one mentioned it again.

"Kakashi..." Might Guy couldn't help clenching his fists. He had never seen Kakashi like this before—weak, grief-stricken, helpless...

Hyuga Satoru wore a complicated expression as he said, "I never met Lord White Fang in person, but I've heard of his deeds. I think his final choice was made to uphold his own will."

"Uphold his will?"

On the ground, Kakashi's eyes lit up. He raised his head and looked at Hyuga Satoru.

"By dying, he made his intentions clear. I think that was what he believed. He didn't die out of cowardice or fear. He used his own death to silently interpret his will."

"In the final moment when he drove his Ninja Sword into himself, perhaps he was even smiling."

"Is that so..."

Kakashi stopped crying and fell into thought.

Interpret his own will... The image of that man, always wearing a smile, surfaced in his mind.

Father, was that what you were thinking in your final moment?

All this time, he had believed that his father chose suicide because he was too fragile. Hyuga Satoru's words had slightly changed his perspective.

Though the change was small, it was like a seed planted deep within his heart...

Hokage's Office.

Hyuga Satoru's voice traveled through the Crystal Ball on the desk, every word reaching the silent Hiruzen Sarutobi's ears.

After a long while, he gazed wistfully out the window. The image of that gentle white-haired man surfaced in his mind.

"Sakumo..."

Hyuga Satoru's words were like countless tendrils stirring the mirror of his heart.

"Don't blame me. You couldn't become Hokage..."

He sighed softly.

Outside the Task Management Office, Hyuga Satoru quietly shook his head.

In truth, as a transmigrator, he knew that the truth behind this matter was far crueler. It involved the Konoha higher-ups' struggle for power and the candidates for the Fourth Hokage...

And all he could do was make Hatake Sakumo's image seem as great as possible. After all, those words weren't meant only for Kakashi.

The moment he arrived, he had noticed a faintly watchful gaze nearby. With a little thought, he knew Hiruzen Sarutobi had to be observing this place.

After hearing what he had said, what would the Hokage, who had indirectly driven White Fang to his death, think?

Pulling his thoughts back, Hyuga Satoru looked at Kakashi again and spoke in a slightly cold tone.

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"I know you won't be able to accept today's defeat. Whenever you think you can defeat me, you can come challenge me at any time."

"I'll be waiting for you."

With that, he left behind the bewildered Kakashi and the silent crowd, then turned and walked away.

"Hey, Wu, wait for me!" Anko suddenly came to her senses and shouted as she chased after Hyuga Satoru.

Uchiha Rin watched Hyuga Satoru's carefree departing figure and couldn't help raising an eyebrow.

"Wu's actually pretty cool."

Kakashi watched Hyuga Satoru leave, his earlier words still replaying in his mind. No one knew what he was thinking.

Once they reached a place where no one was around, Hyuga Satoru braced himself against a wall and suddenly grimaced in pain.

"Damn, this hurts like hell."

His body felt as though thousands of needles had pierced it. Even the slightest movement hurt unbearably.

Showing off felt great for a moment; paying for it afterward was a crematorium.

His body had not fully recovered. To avoid revealing more of his abilities, he had only used Magnetic Storm Fist during his fight with Kakashi, placing an even greater burden on his body.

Just then, Anko ran over and asked worriedly, "Wu, are you okay?"

Hyuga Satoru turned around, grabbed her wrist, pulled her to his side, and gritted his teeth as he whispered.

"Quick, give me that."

That?

The distinct scent of a male body rushed into Anko's nose, and her face instantly flushed from her ears down, like a ripe red apple.

"Wu... y-you want to do it here? What if someone sees us?"

"If not here, then where? You want to change locations?"

Anko's face reddened even more. Shyly, she buried her face in her hair.

"If Rin finds out, she'll get mad, won't she?"

"What does that have to do with her?"

"Forget it, stop wasting time. Give me a Healing Technique already!"

"Huh?"

Hokage's Office.

After settling his emotions, Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled the scene of Hyuga Satoru decisively defeating Kakashi and couldn't help smiling.

"It seems the strongest of the new generation is undoubtedly Hyuga Satoru."

Moreover, he knew very well that Hyuga Satoru possessed a terrifying Archery Ninjutsu. If he had used it, Kakashi would likely have been defeated even faster.

"It's just a pity that he's from the Branch Family."

He couldn't help sighing.

If he weren't from the Branch Family, Hiruzen would truly have nurtured Hyuga Satoru as part of the Hokage's line. His talent was flawless, and his words to Kakashi had also embodied the Will of Fire. With such a good prospect, Hiruzen had even considered taking him as a disciple.

But as a member of the Branch Family, any decision regarding Hyuga Satoru had to be treated with greater caution.

Then he thought of Kakashi again and sighed softly.

"We can't delay with Kakashi any longer. Let Minato teach him! We'll need to find him a few teammates, and they can only be chosen from people he knows in the same class. Hmm..."

"Uchiha Obito's personality is quite suitable. Perhaps he can balance out Kakashi's gloominess. As for the last one, Nohara Rin is a civilian-born medical ninja, making her a perfect fit."

After thinking for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction.

"Then let's notify Minato to come over now."

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