Chapter 348: The new generation of brats surges! Kakashi longs for his father's love!
Konoha.
As the new semester of the Ninja Academy was about to begin, many young children suddenly appeared on the Village's training grounds.
Due to the war, the admission threshold had been lowered again and again, eventually being streamlined into two requirements.
First, entrants must possess Chakra talent, and second... their physical fitness must be up to par.
These two requirements might not be difficult for children from powerful Shinobi Clans with deep foundations.
But for children from declining Shinobi Clans, and those from civilian backgrounds... it was undoubtedly an extremely difficult challenge.
"Yo! Might Guy, for the sake of youth, let's do three more laps!"
"If you're a man, keep up."
"Oh! Father, I will never give up! I will definitely become a powerful Ninja!"
Under countless strange gazes, Might Duy led Might Guy... around the huge training ground, once again ushering in the prelude to youth.
"What a passionate pair of guys!"
"Right, Aoba, Raidou..."
Watching those two rapidly spinning green figures, Shiranui Genma sniffed his nose and yawned lazily.
"I know those two, father and son... But, on the path of a Ninja, passion alone isn't enough; Chakra, talent... these things are all indispensable."
"Ha~ Aoba, stop talking about such boring things."
"Speaking of which, this year's entrance exam seems to have a lot of geniuses participating, right?"
"For example, White Fang Hatake Sakumo's only son... Kakashi Hatake."
"Hokage-sama's second son, Asuma Sarutobi..."
"Yuhi Shinku's only daughter, Yuhi Kurenai, the next head of the Yuhi Clan..."
..."Competing for a spot in the elite class with these guys is really stressful!"
"Hey~ Aoba Yamashiro, Raidou Namiashi, Shiranui Genma, why are you three still here?!"
"Hurry to the Village gate! I heard that White Fang Hatake Sakumo has returned from the front lines, and now even Hokage-sama has gone..."
With a whoosh, many figures quickly rushed towards the Konoha gate, and Shiranui Genma could no longer maintain his smug demeanor, pulling Aoba Yamashiro and Raidou Namiashi to quickly chase after the figures ahead.
White Fang Hatake Sakumo... he was a Ninja, like the Sannin, worthy of everyone's awe and admiration.
"Hokage-sama, you are..."
Because this return to Konoha was purely for personal matters, coupled with his confidence in his own strength.
Therefore, when he returned, Sakumo Hatake... was alone and did not bring his guard squad.
It was precisely because he was alone that... Sakumo Hatake was slightly bewildered when he saw the grand reception Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged.
"It really is Sakumo Hatake-sama, still with that gentle smile..."
"Sakumo Hatake-sama, well done, thank you for everything you've done for Konoha."
"Hey, Genma, indeed... the same hair color as that arrogant guy, Kakashi."
"Speaking of which, Kakashi... with such a big event, why hasn't that guy Kakashi come over?"
"What's there to be confused about? That smug guy is probably climbing a mountain somewhere..."
"However, I have to say... White Fang Hatake Sakumo, he's really handsome... comparable to Jonin Kato Dan."
..."Haha~ Sakumo, this is the glory you deserve. Since the war began... you alone supported the front line in the Land of Rivers. You've worked hard."
Noticing Sakumo Hatake's restraint, Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed heartily... raising Sakumo Hatake's right hand high and moving through the crowd.
Just like... a hero's triumphant return.
"Oh~ Hokage!!! White Fang!!!"
And Hiruzen Sarutobi's seemingly light action instantly pushed this hurried welcome ceremony to a climax... After Hiruzen Sarutobi paraded Sakumo Hatake through the streets, he immediately took Sakumo Hatake and a group of high-ranking officials back to the Hokage Office.
Although intelligence from the front lines had never been interrupted, what was on paper was far less substantial than hearing it directly from Sakumo Hatake, the front-line commander.
"What? You mean... that kid Tetsuya took Mikoto Jonin and also left the front line, returning to the Village?"
However, before Hiruzen Sarutobi's rear could even warm the chair, he stood up again due to Fujiwara Tetsuya's unauthorized actions.
"Hokage-sama didn't know about this?"
"That's not right! Logically, Tetsuya and Mikoto Jonin left a day earlier than me, so they should have returned to the Village by now..."
At this point, Sakumo Hatake's voice trailed off, as if he had thought of something... and suddenly fell silent.
Damn it~ I spoke too fast, I said the wrong thing.
Tetsuya... he won't blame me, will he?
"Hiruzen, I've told you, giving that kid such high authority was too reckless."
"It was like this last time, and it's like this again."
"As a front-line commander, leaving the front line without our permission, I suggest... that kid must be punished, to make him understand what responsibility is, and what reverence is!"
In the pause while Sakumo Hatake pondered the consequences, Utatane Koharu's dissatisfied voice rang out again in the room.
As adults, they naturally guessed what Fujiwara Tetsuya had gone to do with Uchiha Mikoto without returning to the Village early.
"Cough~ Koharu, let's forget about punishment..."
"You know, in the months since that kid Tetsuya went to the front lines, he hasn't been idle for a moment, leading the front-line assault unit, striking down countless Hidden Sand Village reconnaissance teams and transport units..."
"Facing such high-pressure conditions, it's understandable for a young person to want to relax a bit."
"Sakumo, don't you agree?"
As he helped Fujiwara Tetsuya out of trouble, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone carried a hint of envy... "Huh?"
"Yes! That's right, Hokage-sama is right."
"Advisor Torifu, during this time on the front lines, Tetsuya played a crucial role... killing countless Hidden Sand Village Ninja."
"It's understandable that he wants to relax a bit..."
"Moreover, on the Land of Rivers front line, with Kato Dan and Torifu-senpai there, nothing will go wrong in a short time."
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Sakumo Hatake about to support Fujiwara Tetsuya, Utatane Koharu subconsciously looked at Homura Mitokado... But, today... for some reason, Homura Mitokado seemed to avoid Utatane Koharu's gaze, merely sitting quietly with a gentle smile.
Neither participating nor taking a stance... "Father!"
It wasn't until evening that Sakumo Hatake was able to break away and return to the Hatake Clan.
As Sakumo Hatake pushed open the courtyard gate, illuminated by the moonlight... what was revealed was Kakashi Hatake's cool, young face.
"Ha~ Kakashi, you've grown taller again!"
"You look even more handsome than the photo you sent me last time, truly worthy of being a 'man' who inherited my Sakumo Hatake's bloodline!"
"Let me see... how much your swordsmanship has improved during this time."
"Yes!"
In response, Kakashi Hatake erupted with a surge of fighting spirit.
After all, children of this age... most yearn for their father's approval.
Sasuke was like this, and the young Kakashi was also like this.
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