Naruto: IY Ch. 19

"Father, you were criticized by the village for abandoning the mission to save your comrades. But those who abandon comrades for the mission are also criticized, why is that?"

Yahiko, disguised as an older version of Kakashi using a shadow clone, looked at Sakumo Hatake in confusion.

Sakumo fell silent, lost in thought.

That did seem to be the case... If he abandoned his comrades for the mission, perhaps... he would still be condemned?

"Father, come with us. Let's go seek the truth."

A large and a small Kakashi both extended their hands toward Sakumo.

"What are you two?!" Sakumo snapped back to his senses, drew his blade into an attacking stance, and asked calmly.

"Father, it's me... Don't you want me anymore?" The child cried with teary eyes.

"I..." Sakumo fell silent. Just now, he had been ready to abandon Kakashi and die in cowardice.

Poof.

Yahiko and Nagato released their Shadow Clone and Transformation Technique. Yahiko still had tears at the corners of his eyes.

He had gotten into the role.

"You two... are Jiraiya's students from Yoake?"

Sakumo was still well-informed, after all, these two had been camping outside his home for days. It was hard not to notice.

"A true shinobi must never give up on his beliefs!"

"Are you really content to live such a defeated life?"

"..."

Had he fallen under a genjutsu or something? What were these kids even talking about?

Yahiko wasn't having an easy time either. Recruiting devoted believers from major villages to their cause required both logic and emotion.

Though he was a bit intense, Sakumo could tell the child meant well and was sincerely trying to guide him.

"You were simulating what Kakashi's temperament might be like after my death?"

"Yes."

A warm feeling welled up in his heart. So these two perceptive kids had sensed something was wrong and had kept vigil outside his house.

They had come three times over the past three days.

They didn't even know each other... If only the people of Konoha could be this caring, would he be in such a situation now?

He suddenly appeared in front of the two boys, looking up at the Hokage Rock carved with the faces of three Hokage.

"I must give an explanation to the daimyō and the clients. As a ninja, since I took the initiative to abandon the mission, it's only right that I be punished."

There were some words about his crumbling faith that Sakumo chose not to share with the two children, he didn't want them to experience a broken spirit at such a young age.

Yahiko and Nagato secretly clicked their tongues. Was this Sakumo guy a bit... too honest?

He gave up the mission to save his comrades.

Why not reframe it as: the mission changed unexpectedly, leading to failure. Konoha's White Fang risked his life to cover the retreat.

Even then, his teammates were captured. But driven by the Will of Fire in his heart, he stayed behind, risking everything to rescue them. He succeeded only by pouring in all his strength and faith.

Didn't that version sound better?

They could even turn it around and question the client, why was the mission different from the description?

Was the enemy's strength really as you claimed? If so, why even Konoha's White Fang couldn't handle it?

We have reason to suspect you withheld crucial mission details!

Just like that time when the Hokage's guard squad accompanied Tobirama to Kumo for peace talks.

Guess what happened?

The Hokage's guard squad, ended up returning, but the Hokage didn't. What use was the "guard squad" then? If Sakumo were judged by the same standard, shouldn't all those guys back then be publicly criticized?

Ironically, it was Sakumo's sincerity that finally convinced the two boys, they were now determined to save him.

In times like these, honest people were truly rare.

Nagato looked at Sakumo. "Are you really going to stand by and watch your son turn into a cold, heartless man?"

"I..."

"Can you really bear to see him be reviled, abandon his comrades during missions, and become just a cold-blooded tool?"

"I..."

"You irresponsible father!"

With a furious shout, he clenched his right fist, and with a whistling sound of wind, punched Sakumo in the stomach like a cannonball.

"Ugh..." Sakumo grunted, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"My parents died in the Second Great Ninja War to protect me. I hated my weakness at the time. Even in my dreams, I often cry from guilt when I see the scene of my father's death."

"But you, clearly you have the ability to protect your child. You could live well together as father and son. Why choose to give up? Have you ever considered Kakashi's feelings? Was he just a burden to you?"

"Sorry... I'm not very good with words." Sakumo slightly parted his lips in surprise, and Yahiko beside him was stunned too.

Amazing...

Despite not being articulate, Nagato continued, "Don't want to drag your child down? Then leave this place! Make a real achievement! Show the fools in Konoha that they were wrong, not you!"

"Father, go. I'll take care of myself."

Kakashi, woken up by Nagato's yelling, stood in his pajamas at the door and encouraged him.

---

The next day, Sakumo still hadn't said much. He strolled the streets with Yahiko and Nagato.

Yahiko knew, he hadn't walked out of his inner turmoil yet.

But Uncle Sakumo was feeding and housing them. Now this was someone worth sticking with.

In the wealthiest shopping district, even though the Hokage had issued an order not to mention the matter, could that really stop people from looking down on Sakumo?

The three of them got a small taste of what Naruto would experience in the future: Cold treatment.

A clearly coupled pair of chunin in flak jackets walked past them hand-in-hand. The male chunin covered his nose in disgust, as if he couldn't even bear to breathe the same air as the White Fang.

Sakumo gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

But fiery-tempered Yahiko wasn't having it. He threw a shuriken at the man's feet. "Stop right there!"

The man, caught off guard, jumped in fright. "What are you doing? Are you trying to start a war with Konoha?"

Both he and the kunoichi beside him subtly reached toward their ninja tool pouches. The tension immediately drew attention from passersby.

"Isn't that kid from Konoha?"

"Don't know him, maybe from another village?"

"That Sakumo... wherever he goes, trouble follows."

Then someone from Root, disguised as a villager, deliberately redirected the topic.

Sakumo, already used to insults, didn't argue. "Let's go."

"Go? You're joking. We're not leaving until we clear this up."

"Clear it up?"

Sakumo glanced at the chattering crowd in the marketplace and tentatively asked, "Fight them all? That wouldn't be wise, right?"

The onlookers immediately broke into a cold sweat, no way, was he serious?

Seeing Sakumo still hadn't acted and even looked like he was going to back off, Yahiko shouted, "No one moves! No one leaves!"

"I'm asking you! That woman beside you, is she your girlfriend?"

The chunin faintly felt a suction force gathering around him and numbly nodded.

"I'm asking you, if a scroll containing enemy secrets and your girlfriend both fall into a river, who do you save first?"

"Of course I'd save the scro—"

The chunin glanced at Sakumo and blurted out instinctively.

It wasn't until he noticed a faint gravitational pull, and a faint killing intent, around him that he realized something was wrong!

His girlfriend was staring at him with a forced smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I..."

"I..."

Who am I supposed to choose?

"You hesitated? Your girlfriend fell into the water and you hesitated?"

Yahiko clicked his tongue twice and shook his head helplessly.

Nagato also looked on with disdain.

Hearing this, the kunoichi's eyes turned red. She had scrimped and saved, completed mission after mission, just so he wouldn't have to work so hard.

You! You actually hesitated?

"I swear I..." The chunin was truly at a loss for words.

"I don't want to see you."

The kunoichi, feeling wronged, ran off. The chunin looked up to the sky and let out a long sigh before chasing after her. Why did he have to speak up just now?

Yahiko scanned the street. "Sakumo-san, don't worry. We're going to clear your name today."

He immediately spotted another man.

"Of course I'd choose the scroll," the man replied without hesitation.

"Oh, you don't have a girlfriend."

Man: "..."

That shut him up.

Yahiko thought for a moment and asked, "Then let me ask you: what if your mom and the scroll fell into the water?"

The man fell silent, his mom was nearby selling vegetables. Having noticed the commotion, she came over.

"Hiroshi, what's wrong?" his mom asked.

"Hehehe, Hiroshi doesn't love you anymore," Yahiko said with a grin.

Hiroshi's mom: "?"

After Yahiko explained the situation...

The whole street could hear Hiroshi getting lectured as his mother chased him around.

All afternoon, Yahiko chased people up and down the street, asking the same kind of questions.

What's that? You're an orphan? No wife, no relatives?

Then what if Hashirama fell into the water...

Enough! Enough already!

Can't I just say I'll save the First Hokage?

Sakumo followed Yahiko with a complicated expression. The problem that had plagued him for days, was it really solved like this?

"Don't worry," Yahiko said with a smile.

Seeing that Sakumo's mood was lifting and he was about to impulsively follow him, he decided to give him a moment, let him process before making the final push.

He wanted to leave a lasting impression on Sakumo, so that he would remain loyal and never stray.

Sakumo was overwhelmed with emotion, he felt nothing but moved.

---

The next day, Danzō sensed the shift in public opinion and once again began to scheme in the shadows.

Meanwhile, the entire village was still recovering from the chaos of yesterday. Many couples had gotten into huge arguments over the classic question: "Who would you save first?" That single question exposed deep, hidden tensions between men and women.

Even grandpas and grandmas got into it!

Everyone was beginning to hate the guy who started all this.

One couple had even followed the Senju clan in battle since the Warring States period and were married under the witness of Hashirama himself. The old man had cherished the hard-won peace of Konoha all his life.

Guess what? He decisively chose the village over his wife!

Yup, the couple was now on the verge of divorce.

"I must've been blind back then to fall for a woman like you who lacks even a shred of the Will of Fire! The village needs me! We're getting divorced! I'll leave with nothing, not even a pair of socks!"

"You... sob sob Hashirama-sama, open your eyes and see what kind of heartless man you've left behind to 'protect' your legacy!"

"You two, come on! You've been married for decades. Can't you talk this through like adults?"

Even Hiruzen himself was alerted and rushed over to mediate the chaos.

Meanwhile, Yahiko and Nagato were casually passing by the administrative building, on their way to the Hatake household.

Suddenly...

"AHHHH! IT'S HIM!"

Someone recognized Yahiko and exploded with more fury than a berserker. They looked ready to eat him alive.

"Nagato! RUN!"

Outside the Sakumo's house earlier, he had nearly invented Minato's Flying Thunder God on the spot, just trying to escape the mob, can you believe that?

He kept thinking, I gotta run, gotta run...

Suddenly, inspiration flashed in his mind. But... it was just a spark, not quite the real deal.

He arrived to sit down and chat with Sakumo, who had been waiting. They sipped tea, talked about ideals and ambitions.

Another beautiful day came to an end.

---

"Seriously, just go already!"

On the third day, Kakashi's usually composed face was a mess, one of his eyes, visible above his mask, had a black eye.

He looked completely broken.

Because staying in Konoha meant his father would face passive-aggressive coldness from the villagers.

But Yahiko? Yahiko was facing real violence.

People who wanted to hurt him had almost worn down the Hatake's doorstep from stomping on it so much. Kakashi really couldn't take it anymore.

He had gone out early to buy breakfast. Just as he was feeling relieved that his father wasn't being verbally harassed again, WHAM, apunch came flying in out of nowhere.

It was an elderly woman from the Warring States period who had followed the Senju clan in war, yelling "Give me back my man!"

She didn't even look first, just punched!

Boom! Boom!

A couple more hits and, seriously, he might die.

Meanwhile, Sakumo was moved to tears by Yahiko's heartfelt words.

If you treat me with sincerity, I will do the same.

"Yahiko, I'm willing to go with you. We'll live and die together!"

"Huh? Kakashi, what did you just say?"

"...Nothing."

---

At evening in a park, Yahiko was saying goodbye to Obito. The two of them were tearful and emotional.

"If anything ever happens to me, would you rush in without hesitation to save me?"

"Of course!"

"Good. I believe in you. In this life, you're the only family member I acknowledge. You are my otouto."

"Uh... Yahiko-nii... can you not call me otouto so loudly in the village? I don't want to get beat up like Kakashi."

"You are my otouto!" Yahiko roared.

Obito: "?"

Oh no!

RUN!