A Short Side Story: Hatake Sakumo's Rebirth
Where was this?
In the endless gloom, Hatake Sakumo walked alone, like a solitary statue standing above the river of time.
A deathly silence surrounded him. Only distant lights shone through cracks in the darkness, casting a mottled play of light and shadow.
A crescent moon hung high in the sky, a few dim stars scattered around it. Their faint glow seemed to tell of distant, ancient legends.
Where was he?
Boundless darkness surrounded him, and distant lights flickered in and out of sight, like specks of hope glimmering far away.
Overhead, a few dim stars dotted the sky, their faint light lending a touch of mystery and romance to the silent night.
Who was he?
The summer night breeze carried a hint of chill as it brushed gently against Hatake Sakumo's cheek, as though reminding him that a long time had passed.
The wind seemed to have blown from another world, bringing memories of the past and the unknowns of the future.
Who am I?
For a top ninja like Hatake Sakumo, even winter's ice and snow were nothing, let alone the slight chill of a summer night's breeze. Yet he felt a faint, inexplicable chill in his heart, as though something were quietly happening.
That chill came not from the cold wind outside, but from some premonition deep within him.
Hatake Sakumo frowned deeply, his thoughts racing.
Memories of the past flashed through his mind, battles, tears, and laughter weaving together into vivid scenes.
Sakumo's heart was filled with complicated emotions, his thoughts tangled beyond unraveling.
He thought of the days gone by, the vows and dreams of the past. They had all become phantoms, forever beyond his reach.
His heart was full of guilt and regret, but he knew none of it could be undone.
A breeze? Moonlight? Lamplight? How long had it been since he had felt their presence?
Ten years? Twenty? Thirty? Even he had forgotten.
He had wandered in the darkness for so long that he had forgotten what light was.
Who was he? He remembered! He was Hatake Sakumo!
He was the once-renowned Konoha Ninja, the powerhouse who had swept across the battlefield, the pride of the Hatake Clan, the foremost of the famous Eight Colors of Konoha-Konoha's White Fang.
No! No! That wasn't right!
He was already dead!
On that pitch-black night, he had departed forever!
He had vanished amid the clamor of people's gossip!
He had fallen amid the swirling rumors!
He had sunk into his own cowardice!
He had felt the pain and despair of that moment firsthand!
He remembered all too vividly the searing sensation of White Fang piercing his skin!
He remembered the shocking sight of blood spilling everywhere!
Hatake Sakumo walked into that room.
A suffocating oppression filled the dim space, as though the air had been sucked away, leaving only a deathly silence.
The only source of light was the sharp blade glowing white, lying silently on the floor and refracting a cold, piercing light.
Blotches of blood still stained the blade, remnants from not long ago. The blood had dried into dark red marks, silently recounting that cruel night.
The entire room seemed shrouded in a bloody mist, the walls and floor tinged a faint red. Pale moonlight poured through the window, lending the gruesome scene an even more eerie and sinister air.
In this room, time seemed to stand still. The suffocating oppression made it impossible to catch one's breath, as though an invisible weight pressed against the chest.
Suddenly, a breeze swept through, stirring the curtains and dispersing the oppressive atmosphere. Sunlight streamed through the window, bringing a touch of life and warmth to the deathly silent space.
Yet the smell of blood still lingered in the air, and the sharp blade glowed white as it lay silently on the floor, as though recounting that tragic past.
Hatake Sakumo silently gazed at everything as it had been before his death.
He would have been lying if he said he didn't regret it! He would have been lying if he said he felt no resentment!
The Hatake Clan, once glorious but now in decline, had only him left standing alone. As the last of its bloodline, he bore the heavy burden of carrying it on, as well as endless pain and loneliness.
The Hatake Clan were less like ninja than samurai. Loyalty was instinctive to them, and obedience to the Hokage and the village was etched deep into Sakumo's soul!
Yet he had risked his life for the village and been utterly loyal to the Hokage, only to receive...
If only he could live his life again! If only he could turn back time...
He would never be a coward again!
He would never again kill himself because of others' accusations and the higher-ups' refusal to intervene!
All these years, the inescapable darkness had been far too painful!
And then there was his poor child-Kakashi.
The name Kakashi Hatake was like a brilliant star, shining brightly throughout Konoha and even the entire Shinobi World. His extraordinary aptitude seemed like a gift from the heavens, allowing him to display astonishing talent and strength on the path of Ninjutsu.
Kakashi had displayed exceptional intelligence and understanding from a young age. Not only was he astonishingly gifted in Ninjutsu, but his physical abilities were also extraordinary. His talent seemed innate, allowing him to leave everyone else behind in the world of Ninjutsu.
Though he too was called a genius, even Sakumo couldn't help marveling at Kakashi's outstanding talent.
Yet Kakashi was still only a child, the child he had raised with his own hands. When Hatake Sakumo thought of Kakashi's life after his departure, it felt as though a blade were twisting in his heart, causing pain beyond words.
Pain! Pain to the extreme! Pain that pierced his heart!
"Dad, Dad! Wake up!"
Sakumo's eyes snapped open at Kakashi's call, both distant and close.
The boy's stern face came into view, his silver-white hair taking on a faint warmth in the soft lamplight.
Looking at the cool expression on his son's face, Sakumo felt as though only a day had passed.
Kakashi's mouth moved, but Sakumo couldn't hear a word he was saying. He pulled Kakashi into a tight embrace.
"Dad? What's wrong? Did you forget we're going to the barbecue restaurant today?" Kakashi asked coldly.
The barbecue restaurant? I see. So I've returned to this point in time. Thank goodness, it's not too late.
Only when he reached the entrance to the barbecue restaurant with Kakashi, still in a daze, was Sakumo certain he had truly returned.
It was all real!
He really had returned!
Hearing the vile insults from inside, Hatake Sakumo shut his eyes tightly and couldn't help recalling his previous life, though the memories had faded somewhat.
Those memories had gradually faded like smoke, as though they were from many years ago.
He remembered that everything had changed after this very day. He was no longer the great hero people spoke of, no longer Konoha's White Fang who had risked his life for Konoha on the battlefield, no longer someone the villagers admired.
After this day, everything had changed!
But he had returned, and he was no longer the coward he had been in his previous life!
Hatake Sakumo's eyes flew open, his expression cold and a chill glint in his eyes.
In this life, he would never repeat the mistakes of his previous one.
Sakumo sneered and raised a foot to enter the restaurant.
"One last thing. It's true that in this boring ninja world, people who break the rules are called trash, but those who don't know how to cherish their comrades are worse than trash! You should thank heaven you had such a good comrade. Get on your knees and thank him for saving your worthless life, instead of slandering him here!"
"White Fang is a hero. You're the real piece of trash!"
At the sight of the three spirited Uchiha boys inside the restaurant, Sakumo couldn't help stopping at the entrance.
The farce was already over, and he saw no need to go inside, so Sakumo turned around and went home with Kakashi.
To his surprise, however, the boy chased after them.
Not a single person had understood what he had done-not the village, the higher-ups, his comrades, or even his own son!
But the boy had said...
He had said, "I don't think that's true. I think comrades are always the most important. In my heart, you're a true warrior, a trustworthy comrade, and a ninja worthy of respect!"
He had said, "So no matter how hard things are right now, as long as you keep going, there's still hope. Besides, wouldn't leaving like this hurt the people who love you and delight those who hate you? You have to think about the people around you!"
As Hatake Sakumo looked at the person before him, it was as though a feather had gently brushed his heart.
It was a feeling beyond words, gentle and warm, as though it could reach through his heart and touch its softest depths.
Looking at Koki and his son, who stood before him with their heads slightly bowed, Sakumo trembled uncontrollably. He could no longer suppress the ache in his heart. Tears glistened in his eyes, then slowly rolled down his cheeks and soaked his clothes.
Sakumo suddenly crouched down and pulled Kakashi and Koki tightly into his arms. His head rested against Koki's slender shoulder. One drop, two drops, three... The tears came faster and faster, impossible to stop.
Yet his heart felt at ease, joyous! He wanted to shout and laugh aloud.
From now on, he would live only for the people he loved!
Only at that moment did Hatake Sakumo finally feel that he had truly come back to life.