Konohagakure.
Danzō Shimura looked at the flood of criticism directed at him and was left speechless.
“Hmph.
None of these people understand.
Everything I did was to protect Konoha…”
[Tobirama Senju: “Hiruzen, what exactly happened in Konoha while I was gone?”]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: “Teacher…
Konoha is doing quite well now…”]
[Danzō Shimura: “Let’s continue watching first…”]
The video continued.
Night had fallen, and a chilly wind swept through the forest.
Minato Namikaze and Obito Uchiha sat atop a large boulder, gazing up at the bright moon overhead.
“Obito, there’s something I want to tell you…” Minato said gently.
“What is it?” Obito asked, puzzled.
“Kakashi’s father was a legendary shinobi admired throughout the village.
He was known as Konoha’s White Fang—Hatake Sakumo.”
“The White Fang…?
Then that man back then…”
Obito’s pupils contracted as memories resurfaced.
“But…
Kakashi never told me about any of this.”
He looked at Minato, sensing the gravity in his teacher’s expression.
“He was an exceptional shinobi.
Everyone in the village, including Kakashi himself, respected him,” Minato said softly, shaking his head.
“Until that incident.”
“What incident?” Obito asked curiously.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t tell you without Kakashi’s permission,” Minato sighed.
“But you’re his teammate.
I think you deserve to know.”
“What happened?”
“Hatake Sakumo…
took his own life because of the burden placed upon him by others.”
Obito froze.
“Five years ago, during a top-secret mission, he infiltrated enemy territory as the squad leader.
At a critical moment, he was forced to choose between completing the mission…
or saving his comrades.”
Minato stared silently at the moon, his expression conflicted.
“According to the village’s rules, abandoning a mission was strictly forbidden.
“But he chose to save his comrades’ lives instead.
“As a result, the Land of Fire suffered heavy losses, and even the people of the village blamed him.”
“In the end…
even the comrades whose lives he had saved turned against him.”
Minato lowered his eyes.
“The relentless condemnation shattered both his body and spirit.
Eventually…
he chose to end his own life.”
His voice grew heavier.
“From that day on, Kakashi never spoke of his father again.
He became obsessively devoted to following the rules.”
Minato looked down at the sleeping Kakashi, affection visible in his eyes.
“Obito…
I hope you’ll try to understand him.
Kakashi never meant any harm.”
Obito fell silent.
The mission…
Or your comrades…
Which mattered more?
[Hashirama Senju: “Choosing to abandon the mission in order to save your comrades…
He truly was an outstanding shinobi!”]
[Tobirama Senju: “Brother, things are never that simple…”]
[Kirigakure ANBU: “Because he chose to save his comrades, the mission failed and the village suffered tremendous losses.
That was a foolish decision…”]
[Iwagakure Jōnin: “It’s hard to judge, but I support Konoha’s White Fang.”]
[Chiyo: “Hmph.
The White Fang got what he deserved.
That was his retribution.”]
[Uzumaki Naruto: “Shut up!
White Fang sacrificed everything to protect his comrades!
You have no right to judge him!!!”]
[Hatake Kakashi: “Naruto…”]
[Chiyo: “Oh?
So you think he was right?
He killed my son and daughter-in-law.
Why should he have been allowed to live in peace?”]
[Uzumaki Naruto: “That…
really happened…?”]
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): “Different perspectives lead to different conclusions.”]
[Hashirama Senju: “Didn’t I distribute the Tailed Beasts among the villages?
Why did you still go to war?”]
[Madara Uchiha: “Hmph.
Hashirama, I told you long ago—your ideals were far too naïve.
True peace in the shinobi world is impossible.”]
[Uzumaki Boruto: “So this is what that era was like…”]
[Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki: “Hmph.
The shinobi world truly is hopelessly foolish.”]
[Indra Ōtsutsuki: “Let’s keep watching.”]
The video continued.
Splash!
Kakashi landed lightly on the surface of the water, sending ripples spreading in every direction.
The team came to an abrupt stop.
Without warning, countless sharpened bamboo stakes shot down from above.
“Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!”
Obito gritted his teeth and rapidly formed hand seals.
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, incinerating the incoming bamboo traps before they could reach the team.
The scorched bamboo crashed into the water, heating it instantly as thick steam billowed into the air.
At that moment, a hidden shinobi burst from the shadows with a long sword in hand.
Kakashi drew his blade in a flash.
Just as the two were about to clash—
“L-Let me go!”
Rin’s scream rang through the forest.
Both Obito and Kakashi turned around in alarm.
An Iwagakure shinobi had seized Rin under one arm, his eyes icy.
“I’m taking the girl with me!”
“Stop!” Kakashi rushed forward.
But the enemy exploded into a cloud of smoke and vanished.
“Damn it!”
Obito immediately prepared to chase after him.
“Obito, don’t!” Kakashi shouted urgently.
Obito clenched his fists before forcing himself to stop.
A lone bamboo leaf drifted gently from the sky, landing on the water with a soft ripple.
“What did you just say?” Obito demanded, staring at Kakashi.
“We continue the mission.”
Kakashi raised his head, his gaze cold and unwavering.
“Do you even hear yourself?”
“As shinobi, we complete the mission—even if it means sacrificing our comrades.”
His answer was emotionless.
“Those are the rules.”
“So for the sake of the mission…” Obito frowned deeply, punching Kakashi across the face.
Kakashi staggered backward as Obito grabbed him by the front of his vest.
“You really don’t understand anything…”
Obito slowly unclenched his fist, shot Kakashi one last glare, then turned away.
“Do you know what happens to those who break the rules?” Kakashi called coldly at his retreating back.
“I know exactly what you’re going to say…”
Obito replied without looking back.
“I think the White Fang was a true hero.”
Kakashi’s pupils shrank.
The cold wind swept across the forest, but it was Kakashi’s heart that trembled.
“In the shinobi world, those who break the rules are called scum…”
Obito paused before turning back, his eyes burning with conviction.
“…But those who abandon their comrades are worse than scum!”
With that, Obito turned and walked away.
Kakashi also turned around.
The two walked off in opposite directions.
[Haruno Sakura: “Huh?!
Isn’t that exactly what Kakashi-sensei told us?!”]
[Sasuke Uchiha: “So the close friend Kakashi-sensei always talked about…
was Obito.”]
[Uzumaki Naruto: “That’s right!
Just what I’d expect from Uncle Obito!”]
[Uchiha Obito: “…”]
[Hatake Kakashi: “Obito…
how have things been for you in the Pure Land?”]
[Uchiha Obito: “Scum Kakashi…”]
[Hatake Kakashi: “Obito…
I’m sorry.
I couldn’t protect Rin.”]
[Nohara Rin: “Obito…
the circumstances back then were very different…”]
[Minato Namikaze: “I’m sorry as well.
I was away on another mission and couldn’t get there in time to save you.”]