Kakashi in Sorrow
Standing before Sakumo Hatake's grave, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in solemn silence, his heart heavy with regret.
Had he known things would end like this, perhaps he wouldn't have allowed the whispers of the village to bury Sakumo Hatake's honor so easily.
When Hiruzen first learned that Sakumo had abandoned a critical mission to save his comrades—allowing Iwagakure to recover a valuable scroll—he was furious. The mission had been crucial, and failure had severe consequences.
In response, the Third Hokage stripped Sakumo of his duties, ordering him to return home and reflect. Yet now, standing in the cemetery, all Hiruzen could think about was the cost. Not of a failed mission—but of losing a man who once stood as one of Konoha's greatest shinobi.
He regretted losing a powerful force... but not the man himself. That, more than anything, revealed the bitter truth.
Now, with Sakumo dead, Hiruzen was forced to consider who could fill the void left behind, especially with the situation in Kusagakure becoming more volatile by the day. If word of Sakumo's death reached the Iwa shinobi, they would surely exploit Konoha's weakness.
Letting out a long sigh, the Hokage turned and left the graveyard.
---
Back at home, Chi Yu was helping Kushina Uzumaki prepare dinner when she gave him a firm nudge.
"Kakashi's been locked in his room since he came back," she said. "Go talk to him. Comfort him. I can handle things here."
Chi Yu shook his head. "He won't listen right now. I'll talk to him after he calms down a little."
Kushina crossed her arms. "You always say that. Stop making excuses—just go. Even if you just sit there, he needs to know someone cares."
She was worried—and rightfully so. The thought that Kakashi might follow in his father's footsteps lingered unspoken in the air.
Chi Yu sighed and set down the kitchen knife. "Alright, alright, I'll go."
Wiping his hands dry, he made his way to Kakashi's room.
Kakashi sat on the edge of the bed like a broken puppet, staring blankly at nothing.
He didn't even acknowledge Chi Yu's presence.
Chi Yu sat quietly beside him, saying nothing. Right now, Kakashi didn't need comforting words. Forcing conversation would only deepen his grief.
Only once Kakashi accepted his father's death would comfort mean anything at all.
The room remained silent, the only sound coming faintly from the kitchen as Kushina prepared the meal.
Eventually, her voice called out.
"Dinner's ready!"
Chi Yu turned to Kakashi. "Come on. Let's eat."
Kakashi stood as if in a trance and followed him to the dining room.
Kushina gave Chi Yu a questioning glance.
Chi Yu responded with a helpless shrug—no change.
She frowned at him but said nothing, returning her focus to Kakashi.
"Wash up and come eat. I made sukiyaki tonight."
Chi Yu led Kakashi to wash his hands and then they sat down together. Kushina kept piling food into Kakashi's bowl.
"You're still growing," she said with a forced smile. "Eat more."
Expression blank, Kakashi robotically lifted his chopsticks, chewing each bite without tasting it.
Chi Yu reached out just in time to stop Kushina from overloading his bowl again.
He was genuinely worried the kid might choke himself.
After dinner, Kakashi quietly returned to his room.
---
Later that night, in Kushina's room—where Chi Yu now slept on a spare futon since Kakashi took his—the atmosphere was quiet.
"I don't know how long it'll take before Kakashi can move on," Kushina said, lying on her side, staring into the dark.
Chi Yu looked at the ceiling. "It'll take time. He's still lost. But he'll come back eventually… he just needs something new to focus on."
"Like what?"
"A goal. A purpose. Something to chase. That's the only way to help someone like him move forward."
---
Days passed. Kakashi said little. His silence was suffocating, his presence somber. The household fell into a quiet rhythm.
Chi Yu and Kushina turned down missions to stay with him. Neither of them said it aloud, but they both feared the worst.
Then, one afternoon, as they were debating what to cook for dinner, a knock came at the door.
Chi Yu opened it to find an Anbu operative.
"Chi Yu. The Hokage requests your presence."
"I understand."
He turned toward the kitchen. "Kushina, I'm heading out."
---
At the Hokage's office, Chi Yu found Hiruzen looking unusually weary. His eyes, darkened with sleeplessness, spoke volumes.
The news of Sakumo Hatake's death had spread faster than expected, and the Iwa shinobi in Kusagakure were already stirring. As Hiruzen feared, their sudden aggression was destabilizing the region.
Though Nara Shikaku was managing a temporary defense, it was clear that without a central commander, Kusagakure could collapse. If that happened, the Cloud ninja stationed in Yumegakure would surely act—and the resulting domino effect could plunge the entire region into open war.
Jiraiya had already been dispatched, and Orochimaru was currently holding the line.
But Hiruzen needed more.
Chi Yu's strength ranked high among the Jōnin. He couldn't remain idle—not with the threat growing.
Yet Hiruzen couldn't say that outright. He knew Chi Yu was Kakashi's mentor, and pulling him away too soon might backfire.
Besides, Hiruzen felt guilt—deep guilt—for what had happened to Sakumo and, by extension, Kakashi.
Despite all Sakumo had done for Konoha, his final days were spent in shame, excluded even from the honor of having his name on the Memorial Stone.
That was on Hiruzen—and he knew it.
Chi Yu stood silently as the Hokage took a long drag from his pipe.
"How is Kakashi?" Hiruzen finally asked.
Chi Yu exhaled slowly. "Not well. He's still buried in grief. I'm doing what I can."
Hiruzen nodded, but his expression darkened. "I didn't expect Sakumo to… take that path."
Chi Yu didn't respond.
The Hokage looked out the window, the village spread before him. "But life must go on. I believe Kakashi will pull through. He'll inherit his father's will… and the Will of Fire."
Chi Yu smiled bitterly at that.
Inherit his father's will? he thought. You mean the will you all shattered?
He said nothing—but the thought lingered, heavy as lead.
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