Kakashi's Tears

"That's White Fang's sword, and you're not qualified to use it yet."

These words from Satoru were like a piercing stab in Kakashi's ears, resembling a bomb that caused his face to flush red. He roared,

"What do you know? What do you, an outsider, understand!"

"He's just a coward, isn't he? What's wrong with giving up on a mission? What's wrong with being insulted by comrades? Why did he have to commit suicide? Why... Why!"

Perhaps it was due to enduring too much over the past two years, or maybe it was the humiliation of being defeated publicly by Satoru. Kakashi, unexpectedly, fell to the ground and cried out in front of everyone.

"He could have lived, even if the villagers mocked him, so what? Doesn't he still have me? Why choose suicide, why..."

At some point, the crowd fell silent, and Kakashi's cries seemed painfully discordant in such an environment.

"So, this is what you care about?"

Satoru sighed.

It seemed that Kakashi had been deeply affected by his father's suicide. For the past two years, he had brainwashed himself with thoughts like "a man who can't even complete a mission is just a coward," using them to numb his pain.

Now, in front of everyone, defeated by Satoru, his emotional defenses had been completely shattered.

The surrounding ninjas fell silent, bowing their heads slightly. Many of them had participated in the severe injury to Sakumo Hatake, and rumors fueled by malice had burned fiercely. When things quieted down, they discovered that he was gone.

So an unspoken understanding settled in, and no one mentioned it again.

"Kakashi..." Guy couldn't help but clench his fist. He had never seen Kakashi like this; fragile, mournful, and powerless.

Satoru's expression turned complex: "I have never personally seen Lord White Fang, but I've heard of his deeds. I think his choice in his final moments was to uphold his own will."

"To uphold his will?"

On the ground, Kakashi's eyes lit up as he raised his head to look at Satoru.

"Dying with resolve. I believe that's what he thought, not out of cowardice or fear, but to silently convey his will through his death."

"Perhaps, even as he stabbed himself with the ninja blade, he might have had a smile?"

"Is that so..."

Kakashi stopped crying and fell into deep thought.

Conveying his own will... In his mind, he saw the figure of the man who always wore a smile.

Father, was that your thought in your final moments?

He had always believed his father committed suicide out of shame. Satoru's words had slightly altered his perspective.

Though it was a small change, it was like a seed planted in his heart...

...

Hokage's office.

Satoru's voice, transmitted through the crystal ball on the table, reached the ears of the silent Hiruzen.

For a long while, he gazed pensively out the window, envisioning the gentle white-haired man.

"Sakumo..."

Satoru's words stirred his emotions like tendrils.

"Did you choose suicide to uphold your will?"

He sighed, his words almost a whisper.

...

Outside the Mission Management Office, Satoru shook his head discreetly.

In fact, as a time traveler, he knew the harsher truth behind this matter: the power struggle within the upper echelons of Konoha, involving the candidacy of the Fourth Hokage...

Yet he could only try to elevate Sakumo Hatake's image as much as possible. After all, his words weren't just meant for Kakashi's ears.

From the moment he arrived here, he sensed a subtle, probing gaze. With a little deduction, he realized that Hiruzen must have been watching.

After hearing his words, what would the Hokage, who indirectly led to White Fang's death, think?

Returning his focus, Satoru turned his gaze back to Kakashi and spoke with a hint of coldness,

"I understand that today's defeat is difficult for you to accept. No matter when, if you believe you can defeat me, you can come to challenge me anytime."

"I'll be waiting."

With that, he left Kakashi and the silent crowd, walking away.

"Hey, Satoru, wait for me!" Anko suddenly realized this and shouted, rushing after Satoru.

Rin watched Satoru's graceful departure and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Satoru...he's quite cool."

Kakashi stared at Satoru's retreating figure, replaying his words in his mind, lost in thought.

...

When they reached an empty area, Satoru leaned against a wall and suddenly grimaced in pain.

"Damn, this hurts so much."

It felt like thousands of needles were stabbing into his body. Even the slightest movement was excruciating.

Acting cool was fun for a while, but then came the aftermath...

His body hadn't fully recovered. To not expose his full abilities, he had only used the Magnetic Storm Fist while fighting Kakashi, which put a greater strain on his body.

At that moment, Anko rushed over, worriedly asking, "Satoru, are you okay?"

Satoru turned around, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her close to him, gritting his teeth as he whispered,

"Quick, give me that."

"That?"

The unique scent of a male's body wafted into Anko's nose, causing her face to instantly turn as red as a ripe apple.

"Satoru... Do you want to... here? It's not good if someone sees us, right?"

"Where else, then? You want to find another place?"

Anko's face grew even redder, and she buried her face in her hair out of shyness.

"What if Rin finds out? She would be angry, right?"

"What's it to her?"

"Never mind, I won't bother you with that. Just quickly heal me!"

"Huh?"

...

Hokage's office.

After settling his emotions, Hiruzen replayed the image of Satoru decisively defeating Kakashi, and a faint smile involuntarily emerged.

"It seems the title of the strongest of the new generation undoubtedly belongs to Satoru."

Furthermore, he was well aware that Satoru possessed a terrifying archery jutsu. If he were to use it, Kakashi would probably have been defeated even more swiftly.

"Unfortunately, he belongs to a branch family."

He couldn't help but sigh.

If not for his branch status, he would have seriously considered grooming Satoru for the position of Hokage. With his perfect talent, his words also conveyed the Will of Fire to Kakashi. Such a promising disciple.

However, being from a branch family necessitated more cautious consideration for any decisions involving Satoru.

Soon after, his thoughts turned to Kakashi, and he sighed softly.

"Kakashi can't be allowed to continue like this. Let's have Minato guide him! We'll need to find a few teammates for him, selecting from those who are familiar with him in his cohort... Yes."

"Obito Uchiha's personality is quite suitable. Perhaps it can counterbalance Kakashi's melancholy. As for the last one, Rin Nohara, as a civilian-born medical ninja, would be a perfect fit."

After pondering for a moment, Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's notify Minato to come now."