"Do it, Wolf!"
Blade raised—blade fallen.
The final battle came to an end.
A thrilling clash between two embodiments of immortality concluded in Sakumo Hatake's victory.
The defeated Isshin Ashina calmly accepted his loss. As a warrior, he knelt and received the deathblow that "Wolf" delivered to him.
And with that, the tale of "Wolf" reached its final moment.
Facing the master he had pledged his loyalty to, Sakumo smiled. He knew that the second life he had lived was coming to a close.
Seeing the worried look in Hirata Kuro's eyes, Sakumo said his final farewell and chose to end his own life—severing the immortality within him and fully releasing Kuro from its grasp.
From that moment forward, Hirata Kuro would become an ordinary human, truly freed from the curse of immortality and able to begin a new life.
The tragedies and curses caused by immortality would end with him.
This second seppuku carried a vastly different meaning than before—it was a complete liberation, a final release from the inner demons that had once haunted him.
Everything from before now surfaced like a lantern-lit panorama, passing before Sakumo's eyes.
And then, with a satisfied smile, this man closed his eyes.
Some time later, when he opened them again, Sakumo realized he had not died. The world around him had completely changed. Everything related to Ashina had vanished—replaced by a tranquil bamboo grove filled with birdsong and blooming flowers.
He was kneeling on a tatami mat within a peaceful retreat. Before him sat a table with tea. Opposite him sat a young man with black hair.
When Sakumo saw the man's face, he paused slightly, then murmured after a moment of reflection: "So... I've returned from Ashina?"
The young man—Uchiha Kei—smiled and nodded. "Yes. Congratulations, Sakumo-senpai. You've conquered immortality—and conquered yourself."
With those words, he revealed the truth—Sakumo had long suspected he was in an illusion. He had never forgotten that he was the White Fang of the Hidden Leaf.
Even when acting as "Wolf" with utmost seriousness and conviction, this hero of the Leaf never wavered in his heart. This was something Uchiha Kei had noticed not long ago.
Now, with his words, Uchiha Kei confirmed Sakumo's understanding and suspicion.
Sakumo did not respond with anger. After a long silence, he bowed deeply in the formal kneeling posture of a true samurai. "I am deeply grateful. No matter what purpose you had in letting me experience this second life—I thank you sincerely."
Uchiha Kei waved his hand dismissively. "No need to be so formal. After all, I'm Kakashi's senior, and that brat is very respectful toward me. Helping his father is only natural."
"Besides, the White Fang of the Leaf has always been a hero—someone I respect. Helping you overcome your inner demons is something any true Leaf shinobi should do."
At these words, a tremor passed through Sakumo's otherwise calm eyes, and his emotions stirred noticeably.
After all, the message carried within these words touched upon the person he cared most about—his son. How could he remain calm?
In truth, Sakumo's determination during Sekiro came not just from his role and Wolf's memories, but because whenever he saw Hirata Kuro—he thought of his own son, Kakashi Hatake.
Many times, upon seeing Kuro, Sakumo couldn't help but wonder—had Kakashi grown up healthy and strong, like this boy?
Yes, it was precisely because Hirata Kuro reminded him of Kakashi that this formidable Leaf warrior was willing to go so far for a stranger, for a land he had never known.
Unlike Tobirama Senju in Dark Souls III, who found a guiding light amidst despair and fought for that light, Sakumo had no such bond in Sekiro. He could've chosen the Shura route—slaughtering all and claiming immortality for himself. He had no real ties to that world, not even Wolf's memories could change that.
Uchiha Kei had never forcibly imposed another persona on Sakumo. After the initial confusion, Sakumo quickly reaffirmed his own identity—this was the mental fortitude of a top-tier shinobi.
After some time, Sakumo finally lowered his head and asked, with some difficulty, "Kakashi... is he doing well?"
Anticipating this question, Uchiha Kei replied, "He's doing alright. Your suicide hit him hard—he shut himself off emotionally, treating himself and the shinobi path as mere tools. But the Third Hokage assigned him a team led by one of the village's most outstanding young elites. He's found great comrades."
"Though he's still awkward and hasn't openly admitted it, under the influence of his teammates, Kakashi now regards you, Sakumo-senpai, as a true hero."
At the mention of Kakashi's trauma, pain and guilt flickered in Sakumo's eyes. Clearly, this was a result he had never wanted.
But learning that Kakashi had moved past it brought complex relief—and deeper guilt.
Finally, when he heard that Kakashi now saw him as a hero, Sakumo's expression dimmed. "A hero... me? Do I really deserve that title?"
Uchiha Kei shook his head. "Sakumo-senpai, you're too stubborn. Yes, your suicide shocked many. The Third Hokage was angry over your 'decision made without permission,' but he never blamed you. He preserved your name as a hero."
"You're still known as the White Fang of the Leaf—a title now written into textbooks."
He paused, then added, "Back then, no one could say who was right or wrong. That was a clash between outdated beliefs from the Warring States Era and the ideals of the new generation."
"If the same thing happened today, at worst you'd lose some mission pay—but you'd be praised for protecting your comrades. The village wouldn't even care about the mission's failure. Compared to a mission, the value of the White Fang is far greater."
These were heartfelt words, carefully chosen. Though Uchiha Kei personally disliked measuring human worth by missions, he knew that this was the most effective way to reach Sakumo—and so he chose to speak plainly.
After a long silence, Sakumo murmured, "So... the times have changed?"
Uchiha Kei nodded. "Yes, Sakumo-senpai—the times have changed."
Another stretch of silence followed. Sakumo's feelings were a swirl of melancholy and resignation.
Having lived a second life as "Wolf," he now understood the concept of "a new era" all too clearly. He could sense the shift in the Shinobi World—an unspoken feeling, deep and real.
After all, the death of the White Fang marked the collision between old ideologies and new values. No one truly knew what thoughts Sakumo had when he chose to end his life.
Many believed he couldn't bear the criticism—but if Sakumo had been the kind of man to fold under pressure, he'd never have reached the peak of the Shinobi World.
What truly broke him was the ideological divide—the overwhelming clash between eras that shook the foundation of his beliefs.
A man of few words, unable to express his convictions in a way others could accept, and unable to find validation in his time—Sakumo ultimately chose suicide as a way to carry out his ideals and beliefs.
To be honest, Uchiha Kei still couldn't fully understand such extremism. But knowing how extreme many shinobi were, he could only "respect each person's path."
Still, that didn't stop Uchiha Kei from making Sakumo his loyal retainer, someone who would work for him now.
After regaining his composure, Sakumo earnestly expressed his thanks to Uchiha Kei and asked about this new world he now inhabited.
Upon learning about this "genjutsu world," he was astonished—but quickly accepted it, even showing a look of understanding.
After experiencing everything in Sekiro, his ability to accept the strange had greatly expanded.
Even though he had long sensed something was off with Sekiro, everything in that world had felt real. Every character had vivid stories. His worldview had been shaken. He still doubted whether it had all been real or not.
Uchiha Kei understood this perfectly. He even used the same lines he once used to coax Tobirama Senju.
Sakumo readily accepted it. A peaceful smile appeared on his face—clearly, even if he didn't say it outright, he couldn't let go of Hirata Kuro.
And so, Kei's explanation became a kind of emotional closure and comfort.
Once he had fully accepted the genjutsu world's nature, Sakumo clearly expressed his desire to meet Kakashi.
This father—who in the original series had waited at the boundary of life and death for his son for over twenty years—was filled with love for Kakashi. He had always been that classic, stoic, inarticulate father figure. In canon, he eventually did reunite with the now-deceased Kakashi, where they reconciled and opened their hearts to one another.
But that was in the original. The current situation was completely different. Realizing he couldn't wait for Kakashi to arrive in this genjutsu world, Sakumo now wished to seek him out directly.
A man of few words, he spoke plainly and directly about his feelings.
Uchiha Kei, of course, didn't refuse. He readily agreed and promised to arrange it soon.
Sakumo was deeply grateful. And the only way he knew to repay this kindness was to swear fealty to Uchiha Kei.
Even though he now knew the Hidden Leaf still existed, and that only a few years had passed since his death—for Sakumo, it felt like a lifetime. This was a new life.
And he wished to live this new life in a new way.
It was a way of living that Sakumo longed for. After all, he had already given his life for the Leaf. Now, since it was Uchiha Kei who had resurrected him, serving him was only natural.
As a man of traditional samurai values, Sakumo understood this clearly.
Thus, Uchiha Kei brought Sakumo to meet others within the genjutsu world's mental network—Shinku, Hashirama Senju, and then Minato Namikaze—along with explanations of each user's role here.
Learning that the First and Second Hokage, as well as their descendant, had all been revived didn't shock Sakumo. After all, if Kei could revive him, he could surely revive others.
Sakumo never considered himself equal to the two Hokage, so he accepted their revival readily.
And once he understood who all the users of this mental network were, Sakumo immediately realized that Uchiha Kei had already gathered the most capable individuals of the current Leaf—those who represented its future. All of them now, consciously or not, revolved around Kei. Calling him an uncrowned Shadow of the Leaf was no exaggeration.
Especially upon learning that Tsunade would soon become the Fourth Hokage, and that Minato Namikaze was acting as her advisor, Sakumo understood clearly: the era of the Third Hokage was over.
But this was a good thing. After all, the Third had stepped down willingly. There was no turmoil. A smooth transition of power was the best outcome.
This brought Sakumo peace of mind. Even if he had accepted a new identity and life, the Leaf was still the village he once protected—his home. And even if he had left it behind, he still wished for it to prosper.
Anyone who wishes their homeland to fall after leaving it is nothing more than a traitor. Sakumo Hatake was clearly not such a man.
Not long after, Minato and the Legendary Sannin arrived.
As old friends, comrades, and juniors, they came to greet the man who had once been the White Fang of the Leaf.
Their reunion was filled with sentiment and reflection—but not overly emotional. After all, they had already experienced the revival of the First, Second, and Nawaki. Sakumo's return had long been expected.
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