In the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat quietly behind his desk, holding a report. The recent events had taken a toll on him, leaving a trace of fatigue in his posture. He observed Kakashi standing before him, a subtle sense of relief and stability stirring in his heart.
"Kakashi," Hiruzen began softly, his tone warm yet measured, "the Anbu reported that you voluntarily visited Uzumaki Naruto today?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Kakashi replied respectfully.
There was a brief pause. Then, with deliberate care, he drew the short blade from his waist and gently placed it on Hiruzen's desk.
The desk lamp cast a glow on the weapon, its edge reflecting a cold, precise gleam. Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly. He leaned closer, examining the blade as if seeing it for the first time in years.
"This… is White Fang's blade?" he murmured, his voice tinged with awe and nostalgia.
Kakashi nodded gently, his eyes distant for a moment, filled with memories. "Ever since I regained control over my Sharingan, I have been able to close it at will. Now… I can finally wield this blade again and inherit my father's will."
Hiruzen felt a wave of relief wash over him. He knew how long and painful Kakashi's journey had been. This blade represented more than a weapon—it was a symbol of reconciliation, of coming to terms with the shadows of the past.
"Is it because of picking up this blade that you thought of Minato?" Hiruzen asked softly, a faint melancholy in his voice.
Kakashi's gaze lowered slightly, his voice quiet and sincere. "Yes. Holding this blade reminded me of Minato-sensei… and of the child he left behind, Uzumaki Naruto. That is why I went to see him."
Hiruzen remained silent for a moment, absorbing Kakashi's words. Then he sighed deeply, a shadow of guilt crossing his features.
"I have been negligent… failing to care properly for Naruto," Hiruzen admitted, voice low, laden with regret. "Because of me, this child has suffered more than he should have."
Kakashi shook his head gently. "Hokage-sama, it is not your fault. Naruto possesses an extraordinary will of fire. Although life has been difficult for him, one day that will shall ignite and illuminate the entire village."
He paused, a subtle weight in his eyes. Hiruzen, however, did not notice the undercurrent of caution in Kakashi's tone; he only saw a young man capable of far-sighted judgment, almost Hokage-like in perspective.
"It seems, Kakashi, that your thinking is becoming more and more like a Hokage's," Hiruzen said, a small smile of satisfaction touching his lips.
Kakashi returned the nod. "Precisely because of that, I wish to proactively approach Naruto, to give him the chance to form true bonds—bonds that can guide him as he grows."
Hiruzen's expression brightened, a subtle flicker of approval in his eyes. Deep down, he had always believed that Kakashi was among the most suitable teachers in Konoha to guide Naruto. His experience as a student of the Fourth Hokage, combined with his skill and wisdom, made him ideal for the boy's unique circumstances.
In the past, Kakashi had not sought such a responsibility. Now, having overcome trials, reconciled with his past, and taken the first step forward, this was more than encouraging—it was inspiring.
Hiruzen nodded thoughtfully. "Kakashi… I will not object. You and Naruto share a natural bond. For you to take the initiative to care for and guide him will be the best possible outcome for the child."
A soft sigh escaped Kakashi. "Thank you for your understanding, Hokage-sama. From this day forward, I will do everything to protect Naruto and accompany him as he grows. I will not betray the trust you and my teacher placed in me."
Hiruzen smiled, placing a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "There is a long road ahead. The future of Konoha will ultimately rest upon the shoulders of young people like you. No matter how difficult or perilous the path may be, hold onto your original intention and beliefs. Only then will you truly embody the will of fire and be worthy of a Hokage."
"I will not let you down," Kakashi promised.
As the two continued their conversation, hurried footsteps sounded at the entrance. Several Anbu burst in, tense and alert.
"Hokage-sama!" one called, voice urgent.
Hiruzen's expression shifted instantly from relief to concern. "What is it?"
"Uchiha Sasuke has disappeared!" another Anbu reported, voice trembling slightly.
Hiruzen's brow furrowed sharply. "What? How… how could this happen?"
The Anbu lowered their heads, reporting rapidly. "We investigated thoroughly. Sasuke did not leave Konoha Hospital by conventional means. From his ward to the outside, there were no signs of struggle or forced entry. He simply vanished—without a trace."
Hiruzen's face darkened. Kakashi stood silently beside him, his mind racing.
Obito has succeeded…
He felt a complex surge of emotions, as if some invisible force were guiding events, compelling each person toward an inevitable destiny.
Hiruzen rubbed his temples, feeling the familiar tension of an approaching storm. The first person to come to mind as a suspect was the Masked Man who had attacked Kakashi previously. Within Konoha, only such a person could vanish without leaving a trace and bypass the village's defenses.
He recalled the secret agreement with Uchiha Itachi, feeling unease prickling at the back of his mind. Sasuke's disappearance would inevitably trigger more unpredictable outcomes. The situation had become dangerously intricate.
After a brief moment, Hiruzen issued a firm command. "Intensify the search. Leave no stone unturned. Sasuke's whereabouts must be determined immediately."
Yet, with the looming crisis across the Ninja World, Konoha's resources were stretched thin. If Sasuke could not be located immediately, the situation would need to be deferred until the larger threats were managed.
Turning to Kakashi, he continued, "Go to Hidden Rain Village. Contact Jiraiya. Sasuke may have been taken by the Akatsuki…"
The Masked Man's actions were, for now, indistinguishable from Akatsuki activity. Kakashi's intelligence reports, though partially misleading, provided the Hokage with a temporary explanation.
Hiruzen leaned back, scanning additional reports from his drawer. Each document seemed to amplify his sense of urgency, his expression growing more pained by the minute. The threads of fate were tightening, and he knew the coming days would test Konoha in ways never seen before.
Kakashi, standing silently, felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders once more. Naruto's safety, Sasuke's disappearance, and the looming threats across the Ninja World—all of these events were interconnected, a delicate web that could unravel at any moment.
Yet within him, a spark of resolve burned brighter than ever. He would guide Naruto, protect the boy, and confront whatever came next, no matter the cost.
For Kakashi, bonds were more than connections—they were lifelines, ties that gave strength, purpose, and meaning in a world increasingly marred by chaos.
And as the Hokage Office grew tense with urgency, a single truth became clear: the bonds Kakashi was forging, between him and Naruto, and between the past and the present, could very well determine the fate of Konoha itself.
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