Chapter 28: Punishment and Pursuit
"…Hatake Sakumo, what are you doing here?"
Facing the white-haired man clad in the Eleventh Division's haori, Kato Dan's expression turned grave.
The unknown was always the most terrifying.
After being saved by Aizen Sosuke, Hatake Sakumo had never acted again. He lived like a man hollowed out—feeding fish, playing with birds, sitting for hours in quiet observation at a restaurant. When drunk, he would mutter strange lessons to his son about identity and pride.
Aside from that, they rarely spoke.
Yet, one thing was certain—Aizen Sosuke never gave orders at random.
To be appointed captain of the Eleventh Combat Division, known for its sheer destructive strength, meant Hatake Sakumo's power was unquestionable. The man before him was nothing like Uchiha Kagami or himself; he had no reason to defy Aizen.
And if he was standing here now, before him and Tsunade, it could mean only one thing.
He came with purpose.
Kato Dan's instincts screamed. Without realizing it, his hand fell to the belt at his waist. His eyes sharpened, his body tensed.
The Seireitei had changed him—his first reaction was no longer ninjutsu, but to reach for his Zanpakuto.
"If you have nothing else to say," he said quietly, "then leave."
"Ah? Just came to have a look," Sakumo replied lazily.
"Then stay away."
"You don't have to be so hostile, Dan."
Hatake Sakumo scratched his chin, his face calm but weary, his tone languid.
"Well, considering the distance between us right now," he said softly, "if I were still alive, it would only take me a few seconds to kill you. The same goes for your girlfriend."
Kato Dan's eyes narrowed. "Should I take that as a threat?"
"No, just a friendly warning." Sakumo smirked faintly. "Ah, I see why he talks like that. It's strangely satisfying."
Kato Dan's hand tightened around the hilt at his waist. His voice dropped cold. "Stay away from us."
"But I'm the captain of the combat division. It's my duty to check on strangers wandering around."
"Stay away!"
"If you really don't believe me," Sakumo sighed, "I can show you."
---
Kato Dan's aura flared. He stood before Tsunade protectively, eyes locked on the man across from him.
The air between them thickened with killing intent.
Sakumo only looked mildly disappointed.
He knew this kind of man—the kind who lost all reason when love got involved. Even Tsunade, who had sensed something wrong, grabbed the edge of Dan's white haori in panic, trying to calm him. But her voice never reached him.
Anything connected to Tsunade was sacred to Kato Dan. Untouchable.
And for some reason, watching them stand so close together, Sakumo felt a faint, absurd flicker of jealousy.
What's this? Ghostly love? Where's mine?
He sighed inwardly.
"Sometimes I hate this," he muttered. "But to have a conversation, you first need strength. I'm only here to go through the motions—once they see what I can do, they'll stop bothering me. Why make this difficult?"
"I won't allow any danger near Tsunade."
"Danger?" Sakumo tilted his head. "You're not protecting her, Dan. You're just pretending to."
Kato Dan drew his Zanpakuto, eyes cold and sharp.
Sakumo exhaled, resting his hand on the hilt at his side. "Then I'll have to wake you up."
"Beginning—"
"Slashing Technique: Cloud Flash."
---
A high-pitched whistle cut through the fog.
And then, silence.
It was over before it even began.
Hatake Sakumo slowly sheathed his blade, the crisp click echoing through the still air.
To an observer, everything would appear frozen in black and white—time and space sliced apart in a single blinding flash, like lightning tearing through the clouds.
The technique lived up to its name—Cloud Flash—a strike so fast it transcended thought.
Before Tsunade could even gasp, before Kato Dan could call out his Shikai, it was done.
Blood spattered the air.
Sakumo released his grip on the hilt, his face shadowed by quiet regret.
Kato Dan stood motionless for a moment, then collapsed, a deep wound carved clean across his chest. His lifeless eyes reflected Tsunade's trembling form.
Sakumo looked down at him, sighing.
"Ms. Tsunade," he said softly, "please heal him. I told you—I had no ill intent. But I suppose some people only believe what they can see."
"…"
"Ms. Tsunade?"
When she didn't move, Sakumo frowned. Her entire body was shaking uncontrollably, eyes wide, face pale as parchment.
And then, through clenched teeth, a single word slipped out:
"…Blood…"
Sakumo blinked, realization dawning.
"Ah… right," he murmured awkwardly. "I forgot. You're afraid of blood, Tsunade."
As Kato Dan's face twisted in agony, Hatake Sakumo stood silently, his gaze cold and unreadable.
Tsunade's trembling hands glowed with unstable chakra, her fury swelling like a storm about to erupt.
Sakumo exhaled deeply, his expression dark. He extended a finger toward Kato Dan's body.
"Soul Restoration."
A soft emerald light flowed from Sakumo's fingertip, weaving through the air before sinking gently into Kato Dan's chest.
Before Tsunade's wrath could explode, a familiar hand rose from the ground and caught hers—firm yet gentle.
Kato Dan slowly rose, whole again. His body no longer bore the wound, and his eyes were filled with the same tenderness she once knew. He pulled Tsunade into his embrace, holding her trembling form close.
Under the resonance of the Spirit Transformation Technique and that undeniable sense of familiarity, Tsunade's violent chakra subsided. The crimson aura that had flared around her dispersed like smoke in the wind.
It was as if time itself had been reversed.
The deep gash across Kato Dan's torso sealed silently, fresh skin replacing torn flesh until only the ripped fabric remained—a faint reminder that Sakumo's blade had almost cleaved him in two.
Hatake Sakumo observed the sight with faint detachment and muttered,
"Awake now? I told you—I've never been your enemy."
Kato Dan exhaled. "You're right. I overreacted."
"So you can't be honest without—"
"Dan!"
Tsunade's cry shattered the calm.
She pushed Kato Dan down, her eyes wide and terrified, her fingers trembling as she searched his chest.
That night—his torn body, the rain, the helplessness—played vividly in her mind.
The strong Princess of Konoha now looked fragile, possessed by the ghosts of her past.
She tore open his haori, staring at the smooth, healed skin beneath. Her breath caught in disbelief.
"Healed… h-how? Your wound—how is this possible?"
Sakumo tilted his head. "How's your girlfriend holding up?"
Kato Dan ignored him, instead wrapping his arms gently around Tsunade, holding her like something precious.
Her shaking eased as warmth returned to her body.
He brushed a hand through her golden hair and whispered softly near her ear,
"It's all right, Tsunade. I'm here now. There's no need to be afraid anymore."
"But you… you were dead…"
"For the one I love," he murmured, "I came back from hell itself. So please, don't cry anymore."
"I saw your body… destroyed…"
"I know. It must've been painful to see. But that pain… I felt it too."
"Break…"
"Tsunade…"
They called each other's names, voices trembling with relief and grief alike.
When silence finally settled, Tsunade—her face flushed—slowly pulled away, glancing around nervously like a shy girl caught in an embrace.
Then her eyes met Hatake Sakumo's deadpan stare.
He looked utterly defeated, his expression screaming why am I third-wheeling this?
"Are you two done yet?" he muttered dryly. "I just came to guide you, not get caught in your drama."
"I'm sorry," Kato Dan said helplessly. "But Tsunade can't go with you."
"It's fine," Tsunade said softly, her tone firm.
She fixed her clothes and stood tall once more, her eyes burning with resolve.
"Just as he said, I'm one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin. I believe in my own strength—my medical ninjutsu, my taijutsu. Trust me, Dan."
"Tsunade… you don't understand…"
"I do." Her voice was calm, steady. "I don't want to be protected forever. There are things we need to face together."
"But—"
"Because I'm your girlfriend, right?"
Kato Dan froze. There was no arguing that.
Tsunade took a step forward, determination glowing in her eyes.
"Take me to your leader," she said to Sakumo. "I want to meet the man who commands Konoha's shadow."
Sakumo gave her a long, exasperated look before sighing.
Seriously? After all that chaos, now you want to meet him?
Love really is insane.
When my wife and I got married, we didn't need all this drama.
Muttering to himself, he turned toward the fog-covered horizon.
"Fine," he said, gesturing ahead. "Follow me."
The mist thickened as the three figures walked into the distance, swallowed by the silent, shadowy domain of Seireitei.
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