Amaya Uzumaki POV
I couldn't say how long it had been since I last spoke with Sakumo, but his words were still echoing in my mind. His request, his behavior, his expression... It was making me uneasy and I didn't know why.
I'd observed the older Hatake a lot during the time I lived with him and Kakashi, but I'd never seen him like that before, so... so sad. His expression was impassive, his gaze at the world around us seemed empty, and his eyes no longer held the shine and joy they once had.
I could tell he was trying to hide it whenever I looked his way. I tried to figure out why, and two things came to mind: either it was related to him visiting his wife's grave, or because of the stares.
On our way back through the village, the few people walking the rainy streets stared at us with threatening glares. And I noticed they weren't just aimed at me—I was used to the way the villagers looked at me.
But this time, it wasn't just those scornful looks for me. It was hatred. An irrational, disproportionate hatred directed at Sakumo.
"So I need you to listen carefully and fulfill it in my place..."
Those words from Sakumo echoed in my mind again. They were the words he said right before entrusting me with his request. Something about them deeply unsettled me.
Why did he choose those words? I thought. "Fulfill it in my place..." Why those exact ones? It's almost as if he was making a last request... A chill ran down my spine and I stopped in my tracks.
What is this...? I thought, worried. What is this dreadful feeling? I tightened my grip on the umbrella handle. Why do I feel like something is wrong?
— Hey, Amaya! — That voice brought me back to reality — Dynamic Entry!
All I had time to process was someone in green clothes coming at me, kicking through the air. Normally I could defend myself, but my injuries were still healing, so I preferred to avoid a direct fight.
I instinctively let go of the umbrella I was holding and jumped back, putting distance between me and the spot where the boy's foot slammed heavily into the ground. That's when I got a better look at who was there. He stood up a second later and turned his eyes to me with a smile of pure excitement.
— Great reflexes, just what I'd expect from a genius girl! — The lively figure praised — So here and now, I challenge you to a duel! Let's burn with the Springtime of Youth!
— Gai... — I said, trying to reorganize my thoughts, which were still stuck on Sakumo — Sorry, let's save it for another time. There's somewhere else I need to be right now. See ya!
I heard the boy call out to me, confused, but I was already running. This feeling eating away at me... It's scary!
It might just be in my head, but Sakumo's words before his request were starting to sound darker and darker. His words were making me uncomfortable.
Why did he tell me I would fulfill the promise in his place? I asked myself. It's something we could both fulfill. It doesn't make sense!
Thanks to my attention being completely focused on my internal questions, I didn't notice who was in my path until I bumped into someone. I fell and landed sitting on the ground, but the person in front of me remained standing.
— I'm sorry... — I apologized quickly and looked up at who I'd hit, feeling a little surprised.
Minato Namikaze POV
— Amaya, are you okay? — I extended my hand towards her and she accepted the help, getting to her feet — Where are you off to in such a hurry?
— To the Hatake clan house — I looked at her, confused.
— Why? Did something happen?
— Sakumo and I talked a little while ago and he was acting strange, and I have a bad feeling, I can't explain it, but... — She explained everything very quickly and stared at me — I need to know if he's okay!
That was the first time I'd seen Amaya so anxious since the time she and Shisui were in the hospital a few weeks back. The redhead was serious. And being as intuitive as only she could be, I believed there might really be something wrong.
— Then let's go — I just said and placed one of my hands on her shoulder.
With a gesture, I teleported us to the marker I'd left near the Hatake clan residence. I'd left many markers scattered around the village, a precaution in case of an invasion by an enemy village. And right now, it came in handy.
We hurried to the Hatake clan house and as we approached, I noticed the front door was slightly ajar. Knowing Sakumo and Kakashi, I knew neither of them usually left it like that.
I glanced briefly at Amaya, seeing she'd noticed it too. We passed the veranda and I opened the door slowly, peeking into the living room. The Uzumaki quickly took off her shoes and I followed her inside.
— Sakumo, it's me and Amaya — I announced in a louder voice — We're coming in.
I noticed Sakumo's footwear was near the door as usual, as was Kakashi's, but the younger Hatake's shoes were just tossed there any which way. That's strange, Kakashi is almost as methodical as his father..., I noted.
— Kakashi? — Amaya called for him — Sakumo?
We moved further into the house and I soon caught a faint smell in the air. Incense? I thought. We headed towards the bedrooms, where the smell of incense was stronger.
We checked the rooms and confirmed the two Hatakes weren't there. Silence dominated the house. I saw Amaya run her eyes over our surroundings and look towards one of the windows, paying attention to the outside.
— Kakashi's chakra is coming from that direction... — She announced, and before I could say anything, she ran off towards the back of the house.
— Amaya! — I called after her, but she didn't stop.
The moment we stepped outside, the sky roared loudly with thunder, making me uncomfortable since I don't like it. The rain was pouring down hard now.
I noticed the direction Amaya was heading led to the Hatake clan's dojo. Even before we got close, I could see its door was open.
The same feeling of unease and worry the redhead must be feeling now was also present in me. Something was definitely not right. As soon as I caught up to Amaya, we stopped in front of the dojo door.
— Kakashi! Sakumo! — I called for them both, but again got no response.
I quickly slid the dojo door open and the scene laid out before me froze me in place. Sakumo was lying on the floor with a large wound in his stomach. And Kakashi was standing near his father, visibly in shock.
I noticed the boy's body sway slightly forward and back, making him stumble towards the tatami mats. And before I could even think to react, to go to him, Amaya had already done it, catching him and stopping him from hitting the floor.
As if snapping back to reality, I went to them, kneeling in front of them, blocking Amaya's view of Sakumo's body. I checked Kakashi quickly, confirming he had fainted.
And only one question permeated my mind at that moment: Sakumo... Why?
* Present Day *
Kakashi Hatake POV
— Your father... He killed himself? — Naruto asked in a quieter voice. I stopped and looked at him.
— Yes... — I confirmed in a slower, choked tone — It was a shock for everyone at the time. My father was a great shinobi and his premature death left many shaken.
— I'm sorry... — The blond said with visible sorrow in his voice — That must have been horrible for you and nee-chan — I gave a weak nod.
— More for your sister than for me — He looked at me, confused — At first I felt sad about what my father had done, but anger took over, transforming every last bit of sadness into hate — I looked at Naruto — I blamed him for a while. In my view, he had been weak. He let himself be overcome by his failure with the mission and chose the easiest way out for himself, without thinking about who might be affected by his choice.
— But it wasn't his fault! — The Uzumaki protested quickly — I mean, you said he failed the mission to save his comrades. And that was the reason people treated him badly in the village, right? Because of some stupid rule about prioritizing the mission over your comrades' lives — I agreed.
— I knew that, but the anger mixed with sadness blinded me back then — I explained calmly — It was only after many years that I could understand how my father felt, since I experienced firsthand what it was like to be an object of others' hatred — Naruto was about to speak, but I quickly interrupted him — And before you ask about that, I'll explain later.
The blond lowered his eyes for a few moments, probably with a thousand thoughts running through his mind right then. He looked at me again.
— Was that when you and nee-chan fought? — I nodded.
— Yes... — I let out a heavy sigh at the memory of that time — More specifically, I was the one who fought with her — I clarified — Shortly after I woke up after my father's death, your sister was with me. She tried to talk to me about what had happened, tried to explain the conversation she'd had with my father before his death and why she believed he had done what he did, but... But I didn't listen. I was so angry with my father, so full of hatred for what he had done that... — I stopped for a moment.
— Don't tell me you... Took it out on nee-chan? — Naruto asked, and I could perceive the slight irritation in his voice.
— Even though Amaya forgave me, I could never forgive myself for that — I said and closed my eyes for a moment — Hearing her try to defend my father and explain his actions made me furious. And I didn't think or measure my words with her — I opened my eyes again — I simply ignored the fact that she was suffering too, whether from my father's death or from what had happened on her mission where her teammate was killed — I turned my attention back to Naruto — I told her to stay away from me. I said I just wanted her to leave me alone...
— And she did? — His tone shifted from irritation to something else almost immediately.
— Yes... We spent about two months without exchanging a single word or even seeing each other. Your sister had followed my request to the letter.
— Why...? — Naruto asked in a mix of confusion and irritation — Why didn't she do anything? She could have hit you, Kakashi-sensei, made you understand... Why didn't she do anything?!
— Because she was keeping the promise she made to my father — At that moment the blond's expression softened, giving way to confusion — She kept the promise because she understood it was the last thing my father had asked of someone. Just like you, Naruto, she never went back on her word — I noticed the shine in the boy's eyes at my words, the admiration he felt in that moment — Obviously, I didn't know that at the time, but your sister told me later, after I sought her out to apologize.
— And how did you apologize? — The Uzumaki asked, animated again — When did you realize you'd acted like an idiot?
— Hey, watch how you talk... — I scolded him.
— Ah, Kakashi-sensei, but you were an idiot to nee-chan! — I sighed and gave a weak laugh.
— It was during those two months we didn't see each other that I stopped to think about how stupid I'd been to Amaya — I explained — And since I was too proud, I didn't know how to apologize without admitting I'd been wrong to her. Plus, I didn't know if your sister would forgive me for the way I'd acted.
— So, how did you fix things? Did you fight or something? — I gave a weak laugh.
— I even considered that, but in the end we settled it in a simpler way — The boy looked at me, confused — Since we were both genin, we ended up being put on a mission together.
— On a mission?
— It was something simple, really. Since missions outside the village were restricted to three-person teams, neither Amaya nor I could leave the village. So we were assigned to a mission to help revitalize the Ninja Academy — I explained the situation — But we didn't know we'd have to work together.
— So you used that to talk to nee-chan? — The blond's curiosity had increased once more.
— Honestly? — I asked, and he nodded — I was scared to try — He looked completely bewildered.
— What? Why? — I gave a weak laugh.
— Do you remember Amaya's expression when she was serious? — I saw Naruto gulp dryly instantly.
— She looked scary, almost as much as when she was angry — I laughed at his sincere expression.
— I'd never seen her look that serious before and it made me a little wary — I smiled weakly — But while we were working cleaning the Academy, I found an opportunity to reach your sister.