As the tap-tap-tapping of the cane faded into the distance, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from the tea room.
"Kakashi, come out!"
Hearing this, Kakashi, who had been eavesdropping outside, trembled and quickly stood up, hurrying into the house.
Though the Hatake family had always been a single lineage, their family traditions and discipline were strict.
Eavesdropping on family conversations was strictly forbidden.
Walking into the house with heavy thoughts, the expected scolding never came. Sakumo simply pointed to a cushion beside the low table.
Seeing this, Kakashi shuffled over and knelt down by the table.
"Father—"
"Did you hear everything?" Sakumo interrupted Kakashi before he could speak.
Hearing this, Kakashi nodded, his eyes full of worry.
Village-level power struggles were still too heavy for a child his age.
Looking at his child who had lost some innocence and gained gravity, Sakumo let out a long sigh, his eyes full of self-reproach.
When he'd saved that comrade, he never imagined he'd face such condemnation upon returning to the village.
It seemed this village truly had no place for him anymore.
Sighing inwardly, Sakumo began seriously considering the possibility of joining Root.
Indeed, as Danzo had said, faking his death and joining Root—with Root's help, the success rate of faking his death would be very high.
But could he really protect Kakashi from the shadows, watching him gradually grow up?
As a former ANBU Commander, Sakumo wasn't certain about this.
At least, he'd seen many Root ninja with curse seals painted on their tongues—the Tongue Eradication Seal.
Moreover, he'd witnessed many of Danzo's methods for controlling Root ninja.
He could accept Root's darkness.
But what about Kakashi? Could this child, so young, resist the corruption of Root's darkness?
Besides, even if Danzo kept his word and vigorously trained Kakashi, would his motives be pure?
Don't let it end with him unable to even protect the pitiful Hatake family inheritance!
Thinking this, Sakumo sighed again in his heart.
Rather than this, he might as well just die!
Having experienced so much turmoil, his attitude toward death wasn't as fearful as most people's.
Who knows, maybe Rinjin would dig up his coffin and resurrect him like Hanzo of the Salamander~
Thinking about this, Sakumo found it rather appealing.
He had no interest in food, drink, entertainment, sleep, or beautiful women—reading updates and collecting were his only remaining hobbies.
The characteristic of Impure World Reincarnation bodies not getting drowsy or dying suddenly was simply too friendly for staying up all night reading novels!
Muttering to himself, Sakumo helplessly rubbed his temples.
That said, he still wanted to live!
Should he really go to Amegakure to be a gatekeeper?
...That wasn't impossible either?!
He'd been to Amegakure once for Rinjin and Tsunade's wedding and was fairly familiar with the customs there!
Aside from the constant rain, both the degree of freedom and the villagers' attitudes in Amegakure were far superior to Konoha's!
First of all, no one liked to gossip!
In Konoha, Sakumo was criticized so much he didn't dare leave his house, but in Amegakure, slander carried fines!
If Amegakure people badmouthed him like this, the fines alone would be enough for him to buy a whole building!
Damn!
Thinking about it this way, taking Kakashi to Amegakure really wasn't bad!
But on second thought, Sakumo immediately dismissed this idea.
Amegakure had too many demons and monsters!
Pure Love Party, NTR Alliance, Dark Brotherhood, Sacred Gay Group...
As an adult who'd seen great storms, he'd be fine going there.
But if little Kakashi went, would the child still be salvageable?
It was predictable:
Kakashi would stop wearing his mask and switch to a minotaur headpiece, constantly shouting that a Minotaur Warrior would never remove his mask!
Over time, the little guy might stop being surnamed Hatake and just call himself Old Wang instead.
This...
Better forget it! Make other plans! Amegakure was too terrifying!
In Kakashi's view, his father shuddered with terror, shaking his head like a rattle drum.
"Uh... Kakashi, are you hungry? What do you want to eat tonight?"
Hearing this, Kakashi couldn't hold back anymore. Looking up seriously with his little head, he said:
"Father, what exactly have you decided to do?!"
Hearing this, Sakumo was startled, then gently ruffled Kakashi's spiky hair and said softly:
"Don't worry, Dad absolutely won't die!"
If I died, who would take care of Kakashi?
As for the village—screw it!
Looking directly into Kakashi's eyes, Sakumo spoke word by word:
"In a couple days, I'll go find Uncle Rinjin to discuss this. Then Dad will tell you the decision, okay?"
Having just heard his father say he absolutely wouldn't die, Kakashi relaxed slightly.
Now hearing his father would consult Uncle Rinjin, his heart immediately settled.
In his mind:
Uncle Rinjin was mischievous, fierce, and completely unworthy of the beautiful, generous, gentle Tsunade-sensei.
But when he followed his father to the wedding and saw Amegakure, he realized:
This Uncle Rinjin had actually been hiding such a huge village from him!
Most importantly, this village actually had so many skyscrapers!
He used to think Uncle's golden Seven Wolves belt was gold-plated, but from then on, he knew he'd been shallow!
That was definitely pure gold!
No wonder it felt so extraordinary when it hit his butt!
If only his writing skills were better, he'd definitely write a book: Those Years We Endured the Pure Gold Belt.
Muttering to himself, Kakashi nodded at his father with the air of a little adult, saying in an old-fashioned way:
"Dad, you should have found Uncle Rinjin long ago—he has the most devious ideas!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his head was knocked hard.
"Kakashi, how are you talking, you little brat!"
Sakumo said with a stern face, clearly unhappy.
He could confirm that his unlucky child had definitely been corrupted by Rinjin!
That hands-on-hips, old-fashioned appearance—he'd seen it countless times twenty years ago.
Damn!
He really couldn't let Kakashi go to Amegakure.
Just having Rinjin watch the child for a while had already made Kakashi so slick.
If this continued, the kid would definitely disgrace the entire Hatake clan!
Forget it!
I might as well just die!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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