"Something's not right here."
Kakashi Hatake frowned as he surveyed the surroundings.
The moment he arrived at the mission site, he was ambushed by Sand Shinobi. The timing was too perfect. The Sand Shinobi's defenses were unusually tight, as if they had anticipated his arrival.
At the same time, his father's team had failed to remain concealed.
Or perhaps...
Did Sand Shinobi already know someone was coming?
"I don't have an answer to that," Hatake Sakumo replied, shaking his head. "All I know is that at the time, completing the mission was impossible. So, after I rescued my teammates, I immediately chose to retreat."
Kakashi nodded slowly, his mind racing.
To be fair, his father's decision wasn't wrong. In such a situation, pushing forward would have been suicide.
In the world of shinobi, missions fail all the time. Who could guarantee success in every assignment? Unexpected circumstances arise, and sometimes, the best option is to retreat.
If a failed mission meant a shinobi deserved to die, then there wouldn't be any left in this world.
From Kakashi's perspective, his father's actions were justified. Not only did he ensure his own survival, but he also protected his comrades.
Besides, hadn't the Third Hokage and Danzo also failed missions before?
In fact, the most crucial mission in Konoha's history—the one where the Second Hokage sacrificed himself—had ended in failure.
If failing a mission made someone useless, then the biggest failures were Konoha's highest-ranking officials!
"What we can confirm is that the rumors and public outrage afterward were part of a conspiracy," Kakashi said, his voice calm yet firm. "However, we don't know if this was planned from the start or if someone took advantage of the situation later."
But the possibility remained.
"This might not be a conspiracy," Sakumo interjected, frowning. "The mission target was Sand Shinobi's One-Tail Jinchūriki. It's only natural for them to have high security."
"We'll need to investigate further," Kakashi admitted. He wasn't sure if there was a deeper plot behind this or if it was simply bad luck.
However, one thing was certain: after the mission failed, Danzo had orchestrated a smear campaign to destroy his father's reputation.
That much was undeniable.
Now, the question was—who else was involved?
Was it just Danzo? Or was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also a part of this scheme?
"I have a question," Senju Hashirama suddenly spoke, his brows furrowed. "After the rumors spread in the village, how did Sarutobi handle it? What did he say to you?"
As Hokage, Sarutobi should have responded swiftly.
Handling internal unrest and protecting loyal shinobi was his duty.
"When I returned to report after the mission failure, Hokage-sama didn't say much," Sakumo recalled. "He comforted me, told me that failing a mission wasn't a big deal, and suggested I take a break."
Hashirama's frown deepened. "And what happened after the rumors started?"
"There was no 'after.'" Sakumo shook his head. "The last time I saw the Hokage was when I made my report."
After he returned to the village, the rumors began almost immediately—and escalated rapidly.
Before long, the very teammates he had saved turned against him.
And throughout it all, Sarutobi Hiruzen never once reached out to him.
"Unbelievable..."
Hashirama's expression darkened.
What was Sarutobi thinking?
A loyal, high-ranking shinobi—someone who carried the Will of Fire—had been abandoned without so much as a word from the Hokage.
Allowing public opinion to force a respected ninja into suicide?
This alone proved that Sarutobi was unfit for the role of Hokage.
Hashirama and Uchiha Obito exchanged a look before falling silent.
This was Kakashi's moment with his father. They would not interfere.
Kakashi turned back to Sakumo, his voice thick with emotion. "Father... I need to know—why? Why did you take your own life? What were you thinking in those final moments?"
Nearly an hour later, Kakashi emerged from the room.
His father's soul had returned to the Pure Land.
"Did you get the answers you were looking for?"
Obito's gaze swept over Kakashi, trying to gauge his state of mind.
"What now? What do you plan to do next?"
Kakashi exhaled, steadying himself. "I'm going to uncover the truth." His voice was unwavering. "I'll expose everything about what really happened to my father. And then... I will get justice for him."
Sakumo might not care anymore.
But Kakashi did.
"So, you're seeking revenge?" Obito asked, his tone eager. "At the very least, Shimura Danzo should be a target, right?"
Kakashi remained silent.
Shimura Danzo—Hokage's advisor, leader of Root, and the second most powerful figure in Konoha.
Could he really take down someone like that on his own?
And if the Third Hokage himself had a hand in this...
Then revenge would be even harder.
"How about joining us?"
Obito's voice was confident, almost smug.
"If you align with us, you'll have the full power of the Empire at your back. Whatever goals you have, you'll be able to achieve them."
He had no doubt about this.
The thought of bringing Kakashi into the fold, making him the guiding force for the Empire's path, filled him with excitement.
A shinobi like Kakashi Hatake—sharp, analytical, and incredibly skilled—was someone the Empire needed.
Kakashi looked at Obito, his mind churning with possibilities.
Was this truly the right path?
Justice... or revenge?
And could he really trust Obito?
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