Reunion with Kakashi

Chapter 27 Reunion with Kakashi

Aburame Shiki began to intentionally and passively collect information about Kakashi.

Actually, information about Kakashi isn't difficult to gather. As Sakumo Hatake's son, he's occasionally mentioned when the villagers of Konoha talk about him.

In this way, Shiki easily gathered information about Kakashi and learned that Kakashi had recently completed his mission and was resting.

The teammate that Sakumo Hatake saved publicly accused him, and other teammates who failed in their missions also shifted all the blame onto Sakumo Hatake.

This led to the White Fang incident escalating further, and many ninjas began to realize that things were getting out of control, so they started trying to calm public opinion.

But it was all in vain. Public opinion on the White Teeth incident was one-sided, and their efforts at most caused a stir, but could not reverse the situation at all.

When Kakashi returned to the village after completing his mission, he was furious to hear the villagers blaming Sakumo Hatake.

But there was nothing we could do.

Kakashi returned home, pale-faced, and sought out his father, hoping to gain some power.

Seeing Kakashi's pale face, Sakumo Hatake gently patted Kakashi's head with pity.

"I'm sorry, it seems you've suffered because of me."

"It's alright, Father. As long as you're alright."

Kakashi's complexion became much rosier after being comforted by Sakumo Hatake.

In fact, Kakashi was very angry about the villagers talking about his father.

This was because the villagers disrespected their father, not because they believed their father had done something wrong.

Kakashi lowered his head and mustered his courage to tell Sakumo Hatake what the villagers of Konoha had said.

When Hatake Sakumo heard his teammates start criticizing him, he sighed softly.

Sakumo Hatake did not blame them, because when he decided to save his teammates, he had already considered the consequences and was determined to bear them.

This is the Will of Fire that Sakumo Hatake has always upheld, and even though it is currently very disadvantageous to him, he will never regret it.

Sakumo Hatake looked at Kakashi, who had been by his side the whole time, and sighed almost imperceptibly, a forced smile appearing on his face.

"Kakashi, I'm fine. You don't need to stay with me all the time. You should go and have some fun. Cheer up."

"Father…"

Kakashi wanted to say something more, but was interrupted by Sakumo Hatake.

Looking into his father's gentle eyes, Kakashi couldn't say anything and could only do as his father wished.

"Father needs to rest well."

Kakashi was still a little worried, but under Sakumo Hatake's watchful gaze, he left his house.

Looking at Kakashi's solitary figure, Sakumo Hatake couldn't help but feel a pang of self-reproach.

"Kakashi, you'll be living alone from now on. It must be tough for you. I'm sorry to make you suffer."

Sakumo Hatake didn't argue that he would be punished.

He can accept the punishment for failing a mission, but he would never admit to being punished for saving his teammates.

These two are not the same concept, but some people have blurred the lines between them and used this to launch a public opinion attack against him and suppress his prestige.

Sakumo Hatake slowly wiped his sword, a scythe that had slain countless lives on the battlefield, lost in thought.

"Perhaps I simply failed to understand the Will of Fire from the very beginning."

Sakumo Hatake was more of a samurai than a ninja, but he was not ignorant of politics.

Now, regardless of the circumstances, the matter is settled, and the villagers of Konoha are all criticizing him.

The fact that the Third Hokage neither spoke out nor intervened suggests that he tacitly approved of the matter.

In fact, Sakumo Hatake had a certain understanding of his own prestige and knew that he posed a threat to the Hokage master-disciple system.

Therefore, Sakumo Hatake repeatedly stated that he was just a sword, had no interest in the position of Hokage, and deliberately lived in seclusion outside of missions, not communicating with others.

Unexpectedly, this still earned him the Hokage's apprehension, who even went so far as to taint the Will of Fire in an attempt to strike him down.

The Hokage is the leader of Konoha Village and the embodiment of the Will of Fire. If even the Hokage doesn't acknowledge the Will of Fire, then what meaning does the Will of Fire have?

As he pondered, a strange sense of nonchalance, yet also a hint of world-weariness, emerged from Sakumo Hatake.

He would defend the Will of Fire and would never allow the consciousness of fire to be tainted!

Kakashi walked aimlessly down the street, overhearing villagers talking about Sakumo Hatake intermittently. Because of his teammates' accusations, Sakumo Hatake was caught in an even more unfavorable vortex of public opinion.

When the villagers of Konoha learned that even Sakumo Hatake's teammates were criticizing him, it was as if they had gained someone's approval, so they criticized Sakumo Hatake even more vehemently in order to prove that they were right.

Any dissenting voices that occasionally emerged were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming criticism.

"Was Father wrong? No! Father could never be wrong!"

Kakashi wanted to argue loudly and teach the villagers a lesson, but he was afraid of causing trouble for his father.

He could only walk silently down the bustling street, feeling out of place among the others, his back view appearing very lonely.

"Hey, Kakashi, long time no see."

Kakashi turned around upon hearing this and saw that it was Shiatsu Aburame waving at him.

"Zhiyi..."

Kakashi was about to say something when he was interrupted by Shiitsu Aburame.

"It's not very convenient here. Come on, let me treat you to some barbecue. Let's find a quiet place to talk."

Kakashi didn't say anything more upon hearing this, and simply followed silently behind Aburame Shiki.

I went to the Akimichi clan's barbecue restaurant again and asked the owner for a quiet room.

The owner of the barbecue restaurant was also very happy to see Yu Nu Zhiyi.

"Zhiyi is here again."

"Yes, boss, there's no way around it, your barbecue is still the best."

The boss was even happier after hearing what Shiki Aburame said.

Aburame Shiki led Kakashi into a quiet room.

Seeing Kakashi's somewhat absent-minded look, Shiatsu Aburame sighed.

"I also know about Lord Hatake Sakumo's matter. It's a complicated case, but Kakashi, don't worry. There might still be a chance."

Kakashi perked up when he heard Aburame Shiatsu say that, and asked:

"Zhiyi, do you think my father did something wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Aburame Shiki immediately replied:

"Lord Sakumo Hatake did nothing wrong. If you can watch your teammates die in front of you and remain unmoved, then there must be something wrong with the Will of Fire."

"You should know that it was the Second Hokage who covered the retreat, which allowed the Third Hokage to survive. The Second Hokage proved with his life that the Will of Fire has warmth."

Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that someone acknowledged his father, and his whole demeanor became more energetic.

But thinking of his father's haggard appearance, Kakashi couldn't hide his worry.

Seeing Kakashi's worried expression, Shiki Aburame spoke up.

"Kakashi, if possible, I would like to meet Lord Sakumo Hatake."

"You want to see my father?!"

Kakashi couldn't hide the joy on his face when he heard that Shiatsu Aburame wanted to see his father.

At the same time, I am also very grateful to Shiki Aburame, who gave me a reason to go home and take care of my father.

Kakashi's concern for his father led him to agree.

Even if his own father blames him in the end, Kakashi accepts it.

(End of this chapter)