After reaching an agreement, Hattori unsealed the scroll once again, releasing a hundred Reviver puppet bodyguards. He then performed another over-the-top ritual to declare allegiance to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
When he finished, the Daimyo left, content and accompanied by a large entourage of puppets. Hattori, meanwhile, followed Hiruzen Sarutobi to Konoha.
As for Hanaki, he stayed behind at the Daimyo's mansion, ready to begin mingling with the nobles of the Land of Fire—a boring life in Hattori's opinion, but just another part of life for Hanaki.
But Hattori had more pressing concerns.
As he left the Daimyo's mansion with Hiruzen Sarutobi, his attention fell on a certain ANBU member with white hair and a fox mask.
"Hey, just now, did you use the Chidori?" Hattori asked.
"..."
The ANBU didn't respond or even move, acting as if he hadn't heard Hattori at all.
Hattori raised an eyebrow at the silent treatment. "Are you Hatake Kakashi? The son of White Fang of Konoha?"
"...."
The ANBU remained silent, apparently hoping that ignoring Hattori would make him lose interest.
But Hattori's next words got under his skin.
"I heard you were romantically involved with Uchiha Obito, and Nohara Rin was your rival in love, so you killed her?"
"(╬￣皿￣)"
The ANBU's body stiffened at those words, and his hand instinctively reached for the hilt of his short sword, clearly provoked.
Seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped in with a resigned expression.
"Enough, Kakashi. He's just teasing; he doesn't mean any harm. He's just… curious about you."
"Understood!"
At Sarutobi's words, Kakashi let go of his sword and continued forward without sparing Hattori a second glance.
"Well, isn't he the frosty one!" Hattori shrugged, turning to Hiruzen Sarutobi with an exaggerated sigh. "I feel unwelcome already. Maybe I should go back to the Daimyo's place and set up shop instead of going to Konoha."
He stopped as if to turn back, but Sarutobi only looked more exasperated.
"Kakashi is always like this… He's not like Obito. Don't torment him."
"How am I tormenting him? He's the one giving me the silent treatment, and he tried to slice me just now!"
Sarutobi: "…"
He wanted to argue, but he could only force a smile to keep Hattori from causing any more trouble.
"What would it take for you to forgive him, Lord Hattori?"
"Well… let me think…" Hattori thought for a moment, then clapped his hands dramatically. "To be honest, I'm exhausted. My arms and legs can't handle all this walking."
Sarutobi's eye twitched as he recalled Hattori had once led the Sand Shinobi across half of the Land of Fire to attack Konoha.
"Alright, Kakashi, carry him."
"Yes."
As emotionlessly as a machine, Kakashi nodded and lifted a grinning Hattori onto his back, resuming the journey.
Hattori stayed quiet for a short while, but it didn't last long.
Before ten minutes had passed, Hattori reached out, ruffling the spiky white hair in front of him.
"Wow, surprisingly soft! Kakashi, what shampoo do you use?"
Kakashi: "..."
Oh, he was tempted to snap.
Reading the mood, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed again, urging, "Let's pick up the pace, everyone."
Kakashi took the hint and started running faster, hoping to get this ordeal over with.
But as he sped up, he felt a tug on his hair. Furious, he snapped, "(╬￣皿￣) What do you think you're doing?"
"You're running too fast. I need something to hold on to, or I'll fall off!" Hattori replied matter-of-factly. "If you don't want me holding your hair, I could tie a rope around your neck instead!"
Kakashi: "(╬￣皿￣)"
A leash? What am I, a dog?
Suppressing his irritation, Kakashi wordlessly sped up, determined to return to the village and escape Hattori as soon as possible.
Hattori nodded approvingly. "Not bad, but you're still far behind your teacher Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Kakashi ignored the comment, which made Hattori lose a bit of interest.
Reflecting, Hattori thought, "This Kakashi is very different from the one who later teaches Naruto. He's still haunted by the loss of his comrades and his teacher."
Feeling sympathy for the young ANBU, Hattori started singing an old song that the Tailed Beasts loved, Endless Sorrow:
"Just like that, we part, never to look back. Only as I leave, I know how deep the bond was, So many memories remain in my heart. Ah… mountains endure, rivers flow… And the autumn wind follows me, unable to blow away this sorrow…"
"..."
Kakashi's face changed slightly. When the song ended, he spoke up.
"Have you… lost someone important too?"
"Haha… maybe." Hattori chuckled, looking off into the distance.
"You could say I lost them. Or maybe I haven't. She can't answer me anymore, but I know she's still here."
He placed a hand over his heart, a soft smile on his face.
"She's right here."
"…"
Kakashi's expression changed subtly behind his mask.
(End of Chapter)