"Considering Kiyosuke's strength, we can't waste the Seven Ninja Swordsmen pieces. Time to replace them. Kiyosuke, you must crave a worthy opponent—and this man... he's definitely worth it."
Kabuto chuckled softly, sweeping away one of the pieces representing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen from the board before placing another one down in its place.
He smiled.
"This one will surely make the fight enjoyable for you."
With that, the remaining Swordsmen in front of Kiyosuke were drawn back into their coffins, vanishing into the ground. Another coffin slowly rose from the earth in their place.
Bang!
The lid burst open.
A silver-haired man stepped out, his long hair tied into a ponytail trailing behind him. He wore the uniform of a Konoha shinobi and a half-torn Hokage's cloak on one shoulder. A Leaf forehead protector gleamed on his head—and his face… bore a striking resemblance to Kakashi's.
"...Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
Kiyosuke took an involuntary step back. There was no other way to react.
The man before him was none other than Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo—Kakashi's father, the man said to have surpassed even the Sannin, the one who had killed Sasori's parents...
"This... isn't going to be easy."
Hatake Sakumo was a man without weaknesses. His death had been the result of duty, not defeat. He'd taken his own life after being disgraced, a tragedy that had twisted Kakashi's personality for years afterward.
"Kabuto, huh... you really dug up Kakashi's dad's grave? You grave-robbing bastard, you've outdone yourself this time."
Kiyosuke shook his head and raised his guard. This wasn't like facing one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The only intel he had was that Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship and physical power were terrifying.
"Should I... call Kakashi over here?"
He thought about it, but quickly decided against it.
Probably not a good idea to have a "father and son reunion" under these circumstances.
"So... this is Edo Tensei, huh? Even a sinner like me isn't spared?"
Hatake Sakumo's voice was calm but filled with bitterness. His body moved against his will, even though his mind was still his own. His gaze fell on Kiyosuke, who wore the uniform of Konoha. He reached down, picked up a long blade, and said quietly:
"Young man of Konoha... stop me, if you can. Otherwise..."
Before he could finish, a flash of silver split the air.
Kiyosuke twisted to dodge, but a thin line of blood appeared across his neck.
"So fast! As expected of Konoha's White Fang!"
He had seen Hatake Sakumo once before, back when the academy first opened. He remembered a gentle, handsome man with a warm smile. But now... now he stood before him as a killing god of the battlefield.
"Your body..." Sakumo muttered as he turned to face him, noticing something strange about Kiyosuke's form. He exhaled slightly, almost in relief.
"Kiyosuke! We'll help you! Leaf Hurricane!"
A flash of green came crashing down from above. Sakumo moved nimbly to the side. Seeing the newcomer's outfit and thick eyebrows, his eyes widened slightly.
"Duy...? No, Duy had a mustache... then you must be—Guy?"
"Who are you? And how do you know me?" Guy asked, completely baffled.
How could someone be this bad with faces?!
Kiyosuke sighed, covering his face with one hand.
"Guy, that's Kakashi's father."
"What?! That's Sakumo-san?!"
Guy's jaw dropped. He might have forgotten the man's face, but he definitely remembered the name and the legend.
This was the man who had rivaled—and perhaps even surpassed—the Three Legendary Sannin.
The man known as Konoha's White Fang.
"Ah... long time no see, Dad."
Kakashi stepped forward, his expression a storm of emotions—joy, confusion, sorrow, and rage toward the man who had desecrated his father's grave.
"Kakashi... so you've grown this much, huh? You've been through a lot, I see."
Sakumo's hand trembled around his blade. His body quivered as he fought desperately against the jutsu's control.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi... I failed you as a father. To die the way I did... and now, to trouble you even in death..."
"No, Dad... it's not your fault."
Kakashi's voice softened.
"I understand now—why you chose to save your comrades, even at the cost of the mission. I've found comrades of my own now. I don't blame you anymore."
He had long since made peace with his father's death.
For years, he had believed that his father should have followed the rules—that if he'd just completed the mission, he wouldn't have died. But losing Obito had shattered that belief. He had finally understood what his father must have felt—how painful it was to lose a comrade.
Sakumo froze for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"You've found good teammates, I see."
"Now hurry... stop me!"
His body lunged forward before he could resist.
Kiyosuke met him head-on, blocking the blade with a kunai. The force behind it was overwhelming.
"As expected of Konoha's White Fang. That strength... it's terrifying."
Even though Sakumo didn't want to attack, his body moved of its own accord.
In Edo Tensei, mind and body were divided.
Mind: "You shouldn't do this!"
Body: "Too bad. I already am."
"Kakashi's friend... stop me!"
Sakumo's eyes met Kiyosuke's. He didn't recognize him—it had been too many years—but he immediately noticed Guy's ridiculous outfit. Hard not to.
"I will!" Kiyosuke shouted.
"Careful!" Kakashi warned. "Dad's speed and swordsmanship are the most dangerous things about him!"
Even as he spoke, Sakumo drew his blade, water-like chakra shimmering along its edge before it came slashing down.
Kiyosuke barely managed to dodge. A thin cut traced his cheek.
It wasn't deep—but it was enough to make his blood run cold.
For the first time in a while, he'd actually been injured. That alone spoke volumes about Hatake Sakumo's terrifying skill.
"No wonder they say he once cut his way from Konoha all the way to Sunagakure."
Kiyosuke wiped the blood from his face, the wound closing instantly. A snake slithered from his sleeve, opening its jaws to reveal the Kusanagi Sword.
Gripping it tightly, he put some distance between them.
"Don't lose focus," Sakumo warned. "Watch my movements. Guard your vital points—that's where I usually aim."
Kiyosuke smirked.
"Kakashi, copy your dad's movements with your Sharingan. Anything helps right now."
"I know," Kakashi replied, his scarlet eye spinning open.
"Guy! Be careful and help take some of the pressure off me!"
"Got it!"
"Kisame, leave this one to us. Go support the others. Here—take this."
He tossed a scroll toward Kisame.
Kisame caught it, nodding.
"Understood. I'll handle the others, then."
Given Sakumo's insane speed, Kisame knew his wide, heavy swings would only get in the way.
He turned and left without hesitation.
This fight... was one for Kiyosuke, Kakashi, and Guy alone.