Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 377: Preparing to Revive Sakumo

In Haneda's office, Kakashi and Shikaku entered one after the other.

Sitting in the Hokage's chair at the front, Haneda smiled as he gazed at the two of them.

Shisui had already briefed Haneda on the gist of the conversation between Kakashi and Shikaku earlier.

"Lord Hokage," Shikaku said uneasily under Haneda's steady gaze. He greeted him upon entering and then sat down at the desk, ready to work.

Kakashi exchanged a brief glance with Haneda before walking to his side.

He had just dragged a chair over to sit down when Haneda spoke.

"You've told Shikaku about the Rinnegan, haven't you?"

Kakashi gave Haneda a sidelong look and replied, "I wasn't planning on hiding it from you."

In a low voice, Haneda said, "Kakashi, I wasn't entirely sure about telling Shikaku. Have you considered that Pain also had the Rinnegan, similar to mine but different?"

"Similar, but different…" Kakashi froze for a moment, then quickly realized something. In a grave tone, he said,

"Haneda, are you suggesting that Pain's Rinnegan wasn't originally his?"

"Exactly. I had my suspicions before, but later confirmed it."

Haneda paused and glanced toward where Itachi and Shisui were concealed, then continued,

"Itachi and Shisui also deduced this and told me earlier this morning."

Kakashi ventured, "Madara's?"

"Correct." Haneda nodded. "Once Shikaku calms down, he'll figure it out as well."

"But it doesn't matter anymore. Now that I've awakened the Rinnegan, I don't fear those rats hiding in the sewers."

"Telling Shikaku is fine too—it'll help him stay focused and less burdened with unnecessary worries."

Kakashi understood what Haneda meant with the latter half of his statement. Relieved, he smiled and asked,

"By the way, what's the reason you called me here? A mission? Or do you want to visit the Kamui dimension?"

Haneda replied, "I need you to go to the Rain Country and capture some White Zetsu."

"Why capture White Zetsu? Won't that alert the enemy?"

Kakashi knew Haneda was aware of White Zetsu's existence, but Haneda rarely interacted with them, let alone actively sought them out.

"We'll discuss this somewhere else. The usual spot."

Haneda's expression shifted to a playful grin as he created several shadow clones, dumping all the paperwork from his desk onto Shikaku's.

As Shikaku's face darkened, Haneda said,

"Shikaku, I'll leave today's work to you. Kakashi and I have something urgent to handle."

"…Fine." Shikaku reluctantly agreed, his face still grim.

Looking at this all-too-familiar scene, Shikaku recalled how he had cheerfully accepted the position of elder when Haneda had first appointed him years ago.

As expected, the moment he agreed, Haneda and Kakashi vanished from the spot using the Flying Thunder God technique, leaving Shikaku alone in the office to face the mountain of work. He sighed deeply.

...

Third Training Ground

Last night, Haneda had used Shinra Tensei here, leaving a massive crater. Though it had since been filled and trees planted, traces of the destruction remained—though only visible to those familiar with the area.

Haneda and Kakashi appeared almost simultaneously at the Third Training Ground and resumed their earlier conversation.

"Do you remember the revival technique I mentioned before? I want to revive someone first," Haneda said.

"Who?" Kakashi already had a guess, but still asked.

"Your father, my mentor—Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake."

Haneda continued,

"During the Third Great Ninja War, Uncle Sakumo stayed behind to cover my retreat, sacrificing himself. His body was left in Iwagakure's territory."

"Later, after the war, the Third Hokage traded with Iwagakure to recover Uncle Sakumo's body, as a gesture to appease the Hatake clan and his former comrades."

"But according to Orochimaru, the body buried at the Memorial Stone isn't Uncle Sakumo's. The Third Hokage was deceived by Iwagakure."

Kakashi knew Orochimaru had mastered the Edo Tensei technique. His father, as a renowned figure in the ninja world, must have been studied by Orochimaru in secret.

If Orochimaru confirmed this, Kakashi had no reason to doubt it—though the thought left him deeply uncomfortable.

The Third Hokage, Onoki, and even Orochimaru had all tainted his father's legacy.

Haneda noticed Kakashi clenching his fists, fully aware of his turmoil.

He himself had been equally enraged before, but this was the harsh reality of their world.

As Orochimaru once put it:

"Life is meaningless. Whether alive or dead, everyone is merely a tool for others."

Haneda said, "I've already brought Uncle Sakumo back. He's beneath the Memorial Stone now, still watching over the home he cherished."

Kakashi stayed silent, and Haneda stood by, waiting patiently.

After a long while, Kakashi spoke. "Haneda, do you think reviving the dead is truly right?"

"To be honest, I'm conflicted. I want to bring my father back, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do, or how I should face him."

"Me too," Haneda said softly.

He didn't know how to face Uncle Sakumo either.

In the world of ninjas, disturbing the dead was a moral transgression.

"How about this, Kakashi? Let's capture a couple of White Zetsu and have Orochimaru use Edo Tensei to bring Uncle Sakumo back temporarily. We can ask his opinion—after all, we shouldn't impose our will on the dead."

"That sounds reasonable," Kakashi agreed. As for using White Zetsu as a sacrifice, he had no objections.

Haneda had explained before that, in some sense, White Zetsu weren't human—just humanoid in appearance.

"Shall we go directly after White Zetsu, or explore the Rain Country a bit first?" Kakashi asked.

Haneda activated his Kagura's Mind Eye. After Tobi—Obito—had visited Konoha, Haneda had memorized White Zetsu's chakra signature.

Karin's Kagura's Mind Eye could pinpoint specific chakra signatures within a radius of tens of kilometers.

Haneda's range far exceeded hers, spanning over 100 kilometers!