Naruto: Kushina's Redemption, My Revenge

The four companions of Sakumo Hatake had left.

Sakumo Hatake sat alone in the room, motionless on the floor.

The sorrow in Sakumo's eyes was as deep and impenetrable as an iceberg.

Sakumo recalled the days when his father was still alive.

On the Hokage Rock of Konoha, he and his father gazed over the entire village.

His father proudly told him, "Sakumo, Konoha is our home. We must do everything we can to protect it, to uphold the Will of Fire."

At that time, Sakumo had been very young, naive. He had asked, "Father, what is the Will of Fire?"

His father explained, "The Will of Fire means that the youth are the hope for the future. The elders must believe in them and protect them. Our sacrifices won't be meaningless—they'll inspire the younger generation to become the pillars of the future.

Just like you and I are now. I will protect you as you grow up, and you'll one day become a new leaf yourself.

Wherever the leaves drift, the flame still burns bright. Its light will keep illuminating the village and allow new leaves to sprout."

After becoming a ninja, Sakumo took the Will of Fire as his own Ninja Way, striving hard to follow it.

Sakumo possessed the coldness required to sacrifice others for the mission, yet also held deep feelings for his comrades. But no matter how many times he had to choose between rules and comrades—he would always firmly choose his comrades.

Yet...

Now everyone thought he was wrong.

Villagers, ninjas, even the Hokage, the leader of the village—everyone believed he was wrong.

Sakumo couldn't understand. Was the Will of Fire he'd upheld all along truly wrong?

Should he not have inherited the Will of Fire passed down by his father?

Denying the Will of Fire meant denying everything Sakumo had ever worked for.

Sakumo walked toward his bed, picked up the short blade of the White Fang lying on the floor, and stared at it blankly.

Sakumo could no longer summon the will to protect Konoha.

Konoha had once given his life meaning, but now, it had shattered his Ninja Way.

His will had crumbled into pieces.

His gaze filled with despair and darkness, Sakumo slowly unsheathed the White Fang short blade.

His voice hoarse, he muttered, "Kakashi is in your hands now. Please apologize to both him and me, Chinya."

Outside the house, Chinya answered with regret in his tone, "I will. I'll raise Kakashi well, help him grow into a capable man. Sorry, I couldn't save you."

"There's no need to apologize to me, Chinya. I've already lost my reason to live. With you around, I feel at ease."

As the sound of blood spilling echoed from inside the house, Chinya murmured softly, "Farewell, Sakumo Hatake. You are no longer the Legend of the White Fang. You've finally broken free from the chains of Konoha."

[Witnessed the death of prominent individual Sakumo Hatake. Awarded 5000 Witness Points.]

Chinya vanished from the Hatake Estate using the Shifting Body Technique.

Kakashi, who had been venting his anxiety and depression in the forest, suddenly stumbled forward and fell to the ground. It felt like someone had gripped his throat, stealing his breath, while a crushing wave of loss crashed over him.

It was as though something vitally important had just been taken from him.

Cold sweat broke out across Kakashi's entire body. He quickly stood up and ran home frantically.

The closer he got to his house, the stronger Kakashi's uneasiness became.

Finally arriving at home, Kakashi froze as he reached out to open the door to Sakumo Hatake's room.

A sudden wave of fear arose within him without reason.

It felt like a voice in his mind warned him—if he pushed open this door, there would be no turning back.

Kakashi shook his head forcefully, then took several deep breaths. But when he caught the scent of blood, his whole body began trembling violently.

Biting his lip, Kakashi pushed the door open with shaking hands.

Upon seeing Sakumo Hatake lying motionless amidst a pool of blood, grasping tightly onto the White Fang short blade, Kakashi's brain roared as if struck by thunder.

Like a living corpse, Kakashi staggered forward unsteadily and stood blankly staring at his father's lifeless body.

"Father..."

As if all air had been sucked from his lungs, Kakashi dropped to his knees on the floor.

Tears flowed endlessly from his eyes. He tried to scream, but no sound came out—his voice had abandoned him entirely. One hand clutched at his chest while the other desperately gripped his father's already icy-cold hand.

Overcome by unbearable grief, Kakashi's vision blurred and he collapsed unconscious.

The following morning.

Kakashi opened his eyes only to find himself inside Konoha Ninja Hospital.

He shot upright, screaming, "Father!"

But there was absolutely no sign of Sakumo Hatake—only Chinya and Kushina Uzumaki surrounded him.

Seeing the solemn expressions on Chinya's and Kushina Uzumaki's faces, Kakashi froze.

So it wasn't a dream. This was real.

His father had taken his own life in shame.

Covering his face with both hands, Kakashi sobbed loudly, "Teacher Chinya... my father is really... dead! Ah!"

Then breaking down uncontrollably, Kakashi cried his heart out.

Even though Kakashi was already a ninja—a chunin who had seen battle more than once—

Right now, he was still only seven years old. The death of his last surviving family member pierced through his heart painfully.

Watching Kakashi crying so bitterly, Kushina Uzumaki herself also started sniffling.

Chinya silently placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. No words were spoken, only silent comfort passed between them.

A few days later.

Only Kakashi, Chinya, and Kushina Uzumaki arranged the funeral for Sakumo Hatake.

It was an exceptionally quiet ceremony. Only a handful of Sakumo Hatake's former comrades came to pay their final respects.

Kakashi stared blankly at Sakumo Hatake's gravestone.

"Why, Teacher Chinya? Why did Father kill himself?" 

With a heavy voice, Chinya replied, "Because… Lord Sakumo was betrayed—betrayed by the very ideals for which he devoted his entire life."

Kakashi's lips moved slightly, his voice barely audible: "The Will of Fire..."

Chinya and Kushina Uzumaki stayed with Kakashi a bit longer in front of Sakumo Hatake's grave before taking him back to his home.

After the three of them — Chinya, Kakashi, and Kushina Uzumaki — left, a figure appeared before Sakumo Hatake's gravestone.

This figure was none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen held a pipe in his hand, his expression deeply fatigued.

When he learned of Sakumo Hatake's suicide at home, Hiruzen was deeply shocked — he knew something catastrophic had happened.

Originally, he had planned to temporarily remove Sakumo Hatake from his post, giving him time at home to reflect, and later restore his position.

But Hiruzen never imagined that Sakumo Hatake would actually take his own life.

Sakumo Hatake's death by suicide was a devastating blow to Konoha, but to rival ninja villages, it was cause for celebration.

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