Uchiha Hikaru could see that Kakashi was already on the verge of being consumed by rage and hatred. His goal was within reach.
Now it was time to start unveiling the truth, one step at a time.
"After the Second Great Ninja War, the name 'Konoha's White Fang' spread throughout the ninja world, right alongside the title of the 'Legendary Sannin.'"
"But while the title of 'Sannin' was given by Hanzo of the Salamander, your father, Hatake Sakumo, earned the name 'White Fang of Konoha' with his own blade—strike by strike, in the heart of the battlefield."
"After the war, he was awarded the Hokage Half-Sleeve. At that time, his status was second only to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Kakashi frowned, Uchiha Hikaru's words pulling him into deep thought. If that was true, then who had really plotted against his father?
Seeing Kakashi calm down slightly, Uchiha Hikaru pressed on. A person's furious thoughts are often shaken when they cool down—because deep down, they realize those thoughts were extreme. But if the answer is something they arrive at after calm reflection, they will accept it completely.
That's what Uchiha Hikaru wanted—for Kakashi to reach the conclusion on his own. Only then could he truly be pulled to Hikaru's side.
It was the same tactic he had used with Hiashi Hyuga. The only difference was that Hiashi had already begun to harbor resentment toward the village leadership, saving Hikaru some effort.
"Who was it... who forced my father to his death? Was it the Hokage?"
Kakashi's voice trembled with fear. The answer he was beginning to piece together was horrifying. He didn't want to believe that the old man who smiled gently and smoked his pipe was behind his father's suicide.
Uchiha Hikaru waited until Kakashi voiced the question before responding.
"No. It wasn't the Third Hokage. While Sarutobi Hiruzen was still relatively young and reluctant to give up his position, he didn't intend to drive your father to death."
"Didn't want to give up the Hokage position?"
Kakashi echoed the words, his thoughts racing. Could the 'Hokage Half-Sleeve' given to his father have had another meaning? Was it a limitation—something to bar him from becoming Hokage?
Leaning against the wall, Uchiha Hikaru gave a clear answer.
"Exactly. At that time, Sarutobi Hiruzen was under fifty. For a top-tier shinobi, his physical body may have been beginning to decline, but his experience in battle was richer than ever. He was still at his peak."
"The Third Hokage had no intention of stepping down. But then came your father—the White Fang of Konoha—under thirty, already a legend across the nations. The war had cost Konoha dearly in lives and morale. Could Hiruzen have held on to his position without challenge?"
The image Kakashi had of Sarutobi Hiruzen—gentle, wise, benevolent—began to crumble.
His fists, clenched at his sides, began to tremble.
But Uchiha Hikaru didn't stop.
"A few years after the war, your father's name continued to rise. Eventually, he became 'too successful'—a threat to the leadership. And the Third Hokage began to panic."
"It was Danzo who devised the plan—he wanted to manufacture a failure. To make the White Fang of Konoha, who had never once failed a mission, taste defeat. To shatter his reputation and undermine his influence."
"And what came next… you know better than anyone else."
Kakashi, who had been kneeling, stood slowly, body shaking, his gaze burning with fury as he stared at the floor.
"Yeah... I remember. But even if it was just a plan to discredit my father, Sarutobi Hiruzen still got what he wanted. Why did my father have to die?!"
Uchiha Hikaru smiled faintly from where he leaned.
"It's true that Sarutobi Hiruzen got what he wanted. But Danzo didn't. Ever since Hiruzen became Hokage, Danzo had dreamed of taking the title for himself. He even attempted to assassinate Hiruzen behind the scenes."
"You probably know about that. It happened when your teacher—Minato Namikaze—died, and Hiruzen returned as Hokage."
Kakashi nodded. He had been in the ANBU at the time and knew about the attempted assassination. But what startled him now was—how did Uchiha Hikaru know?
"So, do you see now who the real killer is?"
Uchiha Hikaru asked calmly.
Kakashi looked up and stared at him.
"It was Danzo... but why? Why would he need to kill my father just to become Hokage?"
By now, Kakashi had pieced together most of the story. But there was still one part he couldn't make sense of. Why the murder? Why not just wait?
Uchiha Hikaru had expected this question. Everything was falling into place.
"At the time, Danzo and Hiruzen were both content to wait. If Danzo had simply discredited Hatake Sakumo and bided his time, then when Hiruzen eventually stepped down, Danzo would have been next in line."
"But what he didn't anticipate... was that after the Third Great Ninja War, the title of Hokage went to your teacher—Minato Namikaze."
"And that's why, on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, Root didn't participate in the defense. Do you understand now? Danzo allowed your father to be framed into suicide. He refused to help your teacher Minato. He waited until he was old and desperate, then finally tried to assassinate Hiruzen."
"All of it—every betrayal, every manipulation—was for one goal: to become Hokage."
"Hatake Kakashi's mental defenses have collapsed. Lightning Release Chakra Mastery replicated. Mangekyō Sharingan pupil power increased by 10%."
The voice of the system echoed in Uchiha Hikaru's mind. A surge of satisfaction washed over him. Not only had he broken through Kakashi's emotional walls, but he'd gained mastery over lightning-style chakra and enhanced his Sharingan. As expected from the man they called "Hatake 50-50."
Kakashi tore off his forehead protector and hurled it to the ground.
"So this is the so-called 'Will of Fire'?! My father! Minato-sensei! They died for such disgusting reasons?! And I—I've been carrying out missions for their murderers this whole time!"
His voice cracked with fury and grief.
The Mangekyō in Kakashi's left eye gleamed under the moonlight, fully exposed to Uchiha Hikaru's gaze. Kakashi himself hadn't even noticed.
Uchiha Hikaru knew that now came the most difficult part—rebuilding the man's broken will. He had to reshape Kakashi's shattered ninja way.
"Kakashi, your father's death wasn't just the result of Danzo's plot. There was another reason."
Kakashi's head jerked up. His voice was hoarse and unsteady.
"What reason?"
Uchiha Hikaru stepped forward, offering a hand to pull Kakashi to his feet. He gently patted the dust from Kakashi's flak jacket.
"One reason was the code of bushido—loyalty. Your father came from the last generation of samurai in Konoha. He was the most powerful warrior to transition from samurai to shinobi. While his role may have changed, his heart remained loyal to 'Konoha'—not to the Hokage."
"But more importantly... it was for you."
Kakashi took a step back, as though struck in the chest, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"For... me?"
Uchiha Hikaru nodded firmly.
"Yes. If Hatake Sakumo had lived, you would have spent your entire life trapped under his shadow. The villagers who hated him would've turned that hatred onto you. He knew that. And so, he chose to die—to silence their resentment. To protect the son he loved, by taking all their wrath upon himself."
Kakashi stood there, stunned. The truth was more cruel and more noble than he had ever imagined.
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