After hearing Sōkyū Hatake's words, a flicker of crocodile tears stirred in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.
He knew how heavy Hatake Sakumo's workload was, and he had also been keeping Kakashi under observation, with plans to bring him into the Anbu.
So, with both of them kept firmly under Hiruzen Sarutobi's control, naturally neither had time to cook for Sōkyū Hatake.
Even so, hearing those words still made Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart tremble.
"Good child, these years have been hard on you too," Hiruzen Sarutobi said after a moment of silence, picking up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and placing it in Sōkyū Hatake's bowl.
He also tried the food Sōkyū Hatake had made. Hmm, it really did taste quite good. At the very least, Sōkyū Hatake's claim that he cooked for himself was believable.
"It hasn't been hard, Grandpa Hokage. What brings you here today?" Sōkyū Hatake put down his chopsticks and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with feigned bewilderment.
"Ahem, good child, today is the funeral of your father... who was also a fine subordinate of mine, Hatake Sakumo. I came to see how you were doing." Hiruzen Sarutobi finally said it.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi really did feel a little guilty toward Sōkyū Hatake.
Of course, for Hiruzen Sarutobi, that guilt lasted only an instant.
After leaving most of the dirty work to Shimura Danzō, he had truly come to see himself as a figure of light.
"The funeral is at two this afternoon, Grandpa Hokage. Will you be there too?" Sōkyū Hatake looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with some anticipation.
It seemed he placed great importance on whether Hiruzen Sarutobi would attend the funeral.
"Of course. Sakumo was a very good ninja, and his death pains me deeply," Hiruzen Sarutobi said heavily. Of course, only he knew how much sincerity there was in those words.
"Mm-hmm, Grandpa Hokage..." Sōkyū Hatake suddenly fell silent.
"What is it, good child? If there's something on your mind, just say it," Hiruzen Sarutobi said directly.
"I heard the villagers say my father was... was a failure. Was he... really?" When Sōkyū Hatake raised his head, he let Hiruzen Sarutobi "just happen" to catch the glimmer of tears in his eyes.
"Well... Sakumo was a very good ninja, and I always trusted him. The villagers' misunderstanding... I'll investigate it." Hiruzen Sarutobi was moved by the tears glistening at the corners of Sōkyū Hatake's eyes.
He knew about the rumors attacking Hatake Sakumo. It could even be said that Danzo had carried it out with his tacit approval.
But in front of Sōkyū Hatake, he still had to maintain his image as Hokage.
Investigate? That could wait.
"Thank you, Grandpa Hokage." There seemed to be a light in Sōkyū Hatake's eyes.
"Sōkyū, there's something I'd like to ask you." Watching Sōkyū Hatake's reaction, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him with a smile.
"What is it?"
"What is your dream?" Hiruzen Sarutobi stared intently into Sōkyū Hatake's eyes, as though trying to detect any stirrings within his heart.
"My dream is to become someone as strong as my father, so I can protect the people I want to protect!" Sōkyū Hatake said firmly.
It was just acting, wasn't it? We both knew the tricks, so why play sly?
"Your dream will surely come true." Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Sōkyū Hatake's head with great satisfaction. As expected of someone from the Hatake Clan. His Will of Fire really was quite good.
"Yes! Grandpa Hokage," Sōkyū Hatake said excitedly, looking every bit fired up.
"All right, all right, Sōkyū. Go on with your meal. I should be heading back too." Having confirmed Sōkyū Hatake's Will of Fire, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up with a smile.
Sakumo really was good. Even after all the suppression from Danzo and me, he never said anything bad to Sōkyū Hatake or Kakashi Hatake.
Before coming to see Sōkyū Hatake, he had already visited Kakashi Hatake to confirm his Will of Fire.
They really were all such good people. They would let me brainwash them.
At that thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi's mood immediately lifted. Those dangerous elements Danzo talked about really were nothing but figments of his imagination.
"Won't you have some more, Grandpa Hokage?" Sōkyū Hatake looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi in confusion. They had only just started eating.
"I still have official business to take care of, so I won't trouble you any longer," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile, reaching out to pat Sōkyū Hatake's little head.
"Mm-hmm. Take care, Grandpa Hokage!" Since Hiruzen Sarutobi had already said so, Sōkyū Hatake naturally would not try to keep him.
What a joke. Keep you here to waste food?
Looking at the closed front door, Sōkyū Hatake hummed a little tune as he returned to his room. Only then did his expression turn cold.
He had not been sure whether any Anbu had been watching earlier. Since he did not know, Sōkyū Hatake would not take the risk.
Inside his own home, however, he had no such concern. Although the Hatake Clan had few members, they still had barriers to prevent prying eyes.
He knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi had come today to probe him, to find out whether he harbored any other thoughts about Konoha.
Still, Sōkyū Hatake gave his performance today a nine. His acting was far better than that of the pretty-boy celebrities from his previous life.
What was more, his four-year-old body gave him a considerable advantage.
"Heh. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, and all those hiding in the shadows. I'll make every last one of you learn what suffering lies ahead." A cold smile curled Sōkyū Hatake's lips.
He walked to the dining table and threw away all the bowls and chopsticks Hiruzen Sarutobi had just used. He even threw away his own bowl, which still contained the piece of meat Hiruzen Sarutobi had put there.
Hmm. It was disgusting no matter how he looked at it.
After finishing all that, Sōkyū Hatake went into Kakashi Hatake's room and took a black robe from his wardrobe.
It was something Kakashi had worn several years ago. Back then, when Sōkyū Hatake and Kakashi Hatake's mother had died, Hatake Sakumo had bought it especially for Kakashi Hatake.
Now, it happened to be just the right size for Sōkyū Hatake.
So Sōkyū Hatake did not stand on ceremony. He simply took it and put it on.
A black robe fit the standard style of clothing for a funeral.
"What are you doing in my room?"
Before you continue