Sakumo's Death
Therefore, in order to prevent further internal strife and avoid the continued depletion of Konoha's strength, Sakumo ultimately chose to sacrifice himself—hoping to end the turmoil completely and create a more stable environment for the Village.
At the same time, this decision was also meant as a warning to the Third Hokage: to force him to confront the consequences of indecision, and to prevent another tragedy like this from ever happening again.
As the former ANBU commander, Sakumo knew perfectly well who was behind the incident. Yet there was nothing he could do.
Danzō Shimura's actions had been carried out with the tacit approval of the Third Hokage. It was impossible for Hiruzen not to know who stood behind the scenes. And yet, he chose to remain silent—watching everything unfold from the shadows.
To be honest, Sakumo could understand his choice. After all, the Hokage bore the weight of the entire village, and every decision he made could shift the balance of power within Konoha.
But understanding did not mean acceptance.
The Third Hokage was no longer the decisive hero of his youth. Age had dulled his edge, and caution had turned into hesitation. Faced with Danzō's schemes, he chose compromise over resolve.
Thus, Sakumo decided to use his death as a final warning—hoping it would shock the Hokage into awakening before an even greater catastrophe occurred.
That was why he chose suicide.
The rumors themselves could never have truly harmed him.
He was the ANBU commander. He possessed both authority and influence. If he wished, he could easily mobilize the ANBU, redirect attention through carefully selected missions, and quietly guide public opinion back in his favor.
After all, the villagers never knew the truth.
It was no different from the way Shirō remembered internet mobs from his previous life—how a few planted narratives could sway countless ignorant spectators, opinions shifting overnight. Though the era was different, shinobi were far more adept at covert manipulation, and the results would have been even more effective.
However, doing so would betray Sakumo's true intent.
If he fought back, the conflict between him and Danzō would only escalate. Worse still, the Third Hokage would inevitably grow wary of the Hatake clan—even though there were barely any members left.
That outcome would be disastrous.
Konoha had not yet fully recovered from the devastation of the war. Sakumo did not wish to further weaken the Village through internal strife.
In all of this, the only person he truly felt he had wronged… was Kakashi.
He had failed to give his son a happy childhood. Worse, Kakashi would soon be forced to shoulder tremendous pressure—far beyond what any child should bear.
Fortunately, Shirō was still here.
That alone gave Sakumo some measure of comfort.
He had taught Shirō for a year or two and knew very well that, despite his young age, Shirō was far from naïve when it came to dealing with people. Though still innocent in certain matters, he was reliable and possessed a rare sense of responsibility.
Entrusting Kakashi to him allowed Sakumo to rest easier.
"Take these as well."
Shirō accepted the short blade and several scrolls Sakumo handed to him.
"Teacher… what are these?" he asked softly.
"Give this sword to Kakashi when you believe he's strong enough," Sakumo replied. "He doesn't have the strength to wield it properly yet."
"As for the scrolls—they contain my understanding of ninjutsu and swordsmanship. Though I specialize in Lightning Release, which differs from your path, there are still things you can learn from them."
He paused briefly.
"Time is short. This is all I can leave behind… I'm sorry, Shirō."
Shirō stared silently at the items in his hands. After a long moment, he looked up.
"Teacher… do you really have to do this? Couldn't you just leave Konoha?"
"Shirō!"
Sakumo's voice was sharp and heavy.
"If I did that, what difference would there be between me and a rogue ninja?!"
Realizing his tone had been too harsh, Sakumo sighed. He reached out and gently rubbed Shirō's head.
"Shirō, there's one thing you must remember—no matter what happens, you must never become a rogue ninja."
"This is my only request for you and Kakashi. You are far more mature than he is, which is why I only told you these things."
"In the future, you must guide Kakashi well. Don't let him lose his way. Promise me."
"…I understand, Teacher."
"Heh. There's no need to be so formal," Sakumo said lightly. "It makes the title of 'Teacher' feel undeserved. I didn't teach you much… yet I've left you with far too many burdens."
"You're being too hard on yourself," Shirō replied.
After that, the two fell into silence.
Sakumo looked at Shirō.
Shirō looked at the sword and scrolls in his hands.
To Shirō, Sakumo was important—not merely because of his status, but because of who he was. Sakumo was his master. The kind of master one bowed to in ceremony.
And Sakumo treated him the same way.
Once he had truly acknowledged Shirō, he taught him sincerely, holding nothing back. Shirō could feel that clearly.
Because of the upbringing from his previous life, Shirō valued tradition deeply. The concept of honoring one's master had been engraved into him long ago.
A master for a day, a father for a lifetime.
In some ways, Sakumo was even more important to him than Takuto—despite having spent more time with the latter.
Takuto was closer to an adoptive father. The body may have been the same, but the soul was not.
Calling him "Dad" was the result of inherited memories.
But Sakumo was different.
The bond between master and disciple transcended blood. To Shirō, Sakumo held an irreplaceable place.
That was why Shirō had trained desperately.
At first, it was to face the Third Shinobi World War and the looming Nine-Tails disaster. But after becoming Sakumo's disciple, he gained another reason.
Yet in the end… his strength was still insufficient.
Not only had he failed to help—he had made things worse.
Knowing that Sakumo would die in two days filled Shirō with unbearable grief. The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart became.
At the same time, resentment toward Danzō—and even the Third Hokage—quietly grew.
Without Danzō's schemes and Hiruzen's silent approval, none of this would have happened.
Shirō could understand their desire to protect the Village—but understanding did not mean forgiveness.
You can scheme against others if you want, he thought coldly. But once you touch what's mine, it becomes a blood feud.
For now, though, he was powerless.
A short arm could not twist a thick thigh.
He would settle this debt… slowly, in the future.
Sensing the change in atmosphere, Sakumo reached out and patted Shirō's head.
"Since we still have time, open the scrolls. I'll explain Hatake Swordsmanship to you once more. Starting tomorrow, Kakashi will learn from you."
"Tomorrow? That soon?"
"Delays only invite trouble," Sakumo said calmly. "I waited until now only so I could see you once more."
"Come. Open them. This will be the last time I explain it."
Shirō forced a smile in response.
He truly couldn't smile—but he didn't want Sakumo to worry.
The two discussed Hatake Swordsmanship until evening, only stopping when the sun had fully set.
At last, Sakumo smiled faintly.
"It's late. You should go back."
"…Mm."
Shirō stood up and walked toward the door.
Sakumo followed him.
At the threshold, Shirō stopped and turned around.
Thump.
He dropped to his knees.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
---
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