The iron door closed with a clang behind him, cutting off the disturbing aura of Orochimaru and the gray and cold world outside the door. Inside the safe house, only the dim lights and the never-ending sound of rain outside the window were left.
Hatake Sakumo's deep eyes never left Senju Chen after sending Orochimaru away.
"Little Chen, Kakashi He... he is now..."
Just by saying his son's name, the eyes of Konoha's White Fang, who frightened the enemy on the battlefield, turned red uncontrollably.
"Kakashi He is very good, and no one in the village bullies him." Senju Chen's voice is crisp and warm, like a beam of sunshine penetrating the rain curtain, "It's just..."
He paused just in time, with a trace of unbearable expression on his face.
"It's just that in the period after you left, he became less and less fond of smiling."
Hatake Sakumo's body trembled suddenly, as if an invisible heavy hammer had hit his chest.
"He often shuts himself up at home. When I went to look for him, I could only hear the sound of crazy throwing Kunai from inside, day after day, from dawn to dusk."
"He didn't talk to anyone in school. At first, there were people pointing fingers at him behind his back, calling him the 'son of a sinner.' But don't worry, I scolded those people for him, and now no one is making irresponsible remarks about him."
"It's him. His training is getting more and more crazy. You remember Kai, the mushroom head who often comes to see Kakashi with me. I used to think Kai's training was quite crazy, but now Kakashi is almost on par with him..."
Every word Senju Chen said made Hatake Sakumo's heart feel like a knife. He could imagine how that little figure was alone, losing his only relative and gossip, using crazy training to paralyze himself to fight against the malice of the entire world.
I couldn't bear that kind of pain as an adult, let alone Kakashi... who was still a child.
Big tears finally rolled down from the corners of the man's eyes and hit the cold table, making a silent splash.
"However," Senju Chen changed the topic, with a bright smile on his face, "He is no longer alone. Might Guy and I, Tenten, pester him and go wherever he goes. When he trains, we train with him, even crazier than him. When he eats, we snatch his food. At first, he was annoyed to death, but then... he got used to it."
"Now Kakashi is so awesome! Ninja Academy's teachers say he is a genius and can learn all Ninjutsu in one go. Although he still doesn't smile very much, he can already quarrel with us, dislike Might Guy's training clothes for being too tacky, and secretly help me take notes when I skip class."
"He just... hides his longing for you deepest in his heart."
Hatake Sakumo couldn't bear it anymore, he lowered his head and covered his face with his palms. His broad shoulders shook violently, and the whimpering that had been suppressed for a long time spilled out from between his fingers, mixing with the sound of rain outside the window, full of endless regret and heartbreak.
Senju Chen didn't bother him, just sat quietly and let the man vent his pain.
After a long time, Hatake Sakumo slowly raised his head. His eyes were already bloodshot, but deep in his eyes, it seemed as if they had been washed away by rain, giving him a sense of clarity and relief.
"Thank you, Little Chen... really... thank you." His voice was hoarse and he solemnly said to Senju Chen. This thank you was not only for informing him of his son's current situation, but also for the original plan to bring him back from hell.
"You're welcome, Uncle Sakumo, Kakashi and I are best friends." Senju Chen waved his hand with a matter-of-fact expression, "When you complete the task and go back, Kakashi will be very happy to see you again."
"Go back..." Hatake Sakumo smiled bitterly and shook his head, "I am already a 'dead person'. I don't care about the rumors in the village anymore, but what I can't let go of the most is Kakashi... I am a failed father and have brought him so much harm. Now, I don't even know what kind of face I should use to see him, and I don't know what else to say to him."
His eyes were full of confusion and self-disgust.
Ever since today, I learned from Orochimaru that his fake death was caused by the child in front of me, and after listening to Senju Chen's shocking analysis of Land of Rain's situation, Hatake Sakumo can no longer treat the boy in front of me as an ordinary child.
He was silent for a moment, as if he had made some kind of determination, and looked at Senju Chen with an almost entrusting look.
"Little Chen, I have a request."
"Uncle Sakumo you said."
"Kakashi, that child has a stubborn character and accepts death. I'm worried... I'm worried that his character will make him go astray." Hatake Sakumo's voice was extremely heavy, "If... if one day, he might go astray, I hope you can... give him a hand."
This is no longer the care of the elders for the younger ones, but an equal and solemn entrustment.
"Don't worry, Uncle Sakumo." He straightened his small body and his eyes were firm, "Kakashi is my best friend, and I will never let him go down the wrong path."
After receiving this promise, Hatake Sakumo seemed to have removed the last huge stone in his heart and breathed a long sigh of relief.
The atmosphere in the room became relaxed.
Senju Chen picked up the tea cup and mentioned it as if unintentionally. "By the way, Uncle Sakumo, have you ever heard of an organization called 'Xiao' in Land of Rain for so long?"
"Xiao?" Hatake Sakumo was stunned and shook his head, "Never heard of it, which ninja village's code name is Anbu?"
"No." Senju Chen scratched his head and looked like he was trying to remember, "I heard Lord Jiraiya chatting with his sister before. He said that he had three disciples in Land of Rain, named Yahiko, Nagato and Konan, and they established an organization called 'Xiao'."
"Lord Jiraiya's disciple?" A look of surprise appeared on Hatake Sakumo's face. Jiraiya, one of Sannin, was accepted as a disciple by Land of Rain. This is no small matter.
Senju Chen nodded, with childish curiosity and yearning on his face. "Yes, I heard Lord Jiraiya say that they are all war orphans. Uncle Sakumo, if you meet them here in the future, can you... take care of them a little when it's convenient?"
"After all, they are disciples of Lord Jiraiya, and they can also be considered... members of our Konoha, right?"
'Decisively throw the blame to Pervy Sage. Anyway, he has never paid attention to this aspect. There is no proof.' Senju Chen laughed in his heart.
Hatake Sakumo heard this and had no doubt that he was there. In his opinion, this was just a small request made by a kind-hearted child out of simple friendship for his fellow disciples.
"I understand. If I meet them, I will pay attention. I will help them as much as possible without affecting the mission."
"Then please trouble Uncle Sakumo. If anything happens, you can also contact me through the Teacher Orochimaru line."
"Of course, it would be best to have news about them in the next few days. I also want to meet these disciples of Lord Jiraiya to see if they are great, hehe."
"Okay, don't worry, if there is any news, I will tell you." Hatake Sakumo also swept away his previous decadence and agreed to Senju Chen with a smile.
"Thank you Uncle Sakumo"
Senju Chen Thinking of the legendary Rinnegan, Kakuzu almost couldn't help but shed tears of joy.