The Hatake Clan residence.
Liumu watched the Konoha ninjas dressed in black coming and going around him.
A possibility immediately came to mind.
It was only the second year since Kakashi had earned his chunin qualification in Kumogakure, and now, wasn't this when Kakashi's father, Hatake Sakumo, known as Konoha's White Fang...
At that thought, Liumu burst through the door and used Fly Swiftly to reach the entrance of the main hall. At a glance, he saw the Konoha High Command seated in a circle inside.
Even Jiraiya, whom he had not seen for a long time, was there.
"Liumu?!"
Just then, Tsunade spotted Liumu and immediately called out.
Liumu walked inside and looked at the black-and-white photograph hanging beneath a piece of white silk in the main hall, unable to speak for a long time.
Hatake Sakumo's death was Konoha's greatest regret.
Known as the White Fang, he possessed strength that neither Tsunade nor Jiraiya, nor even Orochimaru, could match.
With a chakra shortsword, he had swept across the shinobi world. In both strategy and ability, he was worthy of his standing as an elite jonin.
But who could have imagined that someone like him would die because of something so... utterly absurd?
Because of his connection with Kakashi, Liumu had once intended to do everything he could to prevent Hatake Sakumo's tragedy. But even the most careful plans had their oversights. He had never expected it all to happen so quickly.
"Liumu, what's wrong?"
Tsunade reached out and tugged at Liumu's right hand, asking with concern.
Liumu's face was iron-hard, boundless killing intent surging from him as though it might erupt at any moment.
At her words, Liumu shook his head and asked, "Where's Kakashi?"
Kakashi had suffered the loss of his father not long after becoming a