After school, Shiro Gen spotted Kakashi at the gate.
"Shiro Gen... kun, my father would like to meet you."
For the first time, Kakashi used honorifics and even bowed.
"Then let's go."
Seeing Shiro Gen agree at once, joy flickered in Kakashi's eyes.
"Please, this way."
Following Kakashi, Shiro Gen entered the Hatake residence and faced a lifeless Sakumo Hatake.
"Remarkable."
"Shiro Gen Uchiha, perhaps I should call you Shiro Gen-kun."
"So young, yet you saw through the rumors to the truth. Impressive."
After offering praise, Sakumo continued.
"Since you were willing to share your thoughts with Kakashi, I know your heart is kind."
"I hope in days to come you will look after him."
"As for me..."
At that, Shiro Gen understood Sakumo's intent.
He still meant to take his own life.
As Kakashi's father, before he did, he wanted someone to care for the boy.
He might even have prepared a gift.
If Shiro Gen was not mistaken, it would likely be the White Fang sword style.
Though that was his goal, he did not want to receive it this way.
"Hold on."
"What you care about most is not rumor or slander."
"What breaks you is that the Will of Fire you held shattered."
"So you want to die."
At Shiro Gen's words, a bitter smile touched Sakumo's lips.
He had not expected the boy to read him so cleanly.
Kakashi, beside them, went rigid as if struck by lightning.
His father... wanted to die?
"Father... why?"
"If you die, what am I supposed to do?"
Tears frayed his voice.
Seeing his son like that, Sakumo's face twisted with pain.
"It is not right for you, Kakashi."
"But I am crushed. Hurting inside... I..."
Words failed him.
Shiro Gen spoke evenly.
"I must say, your thinking is foolish."
"Only the living have hope."
"If you think the village is wrong, why not change it with your own strength?"
"You have power. Given the chance, you could alter the village, reshape the so-called Will of Fire, could you not?"
"And alive, you can still care for Kakashi."
"If you kill yourself, do you want him to live in pain?"
"If he cannot bear it and follows you..."
"Is that the result you want?"
Sakumo's shoulders jolted.
Kakashi's face folded with anguish.
He knew his father suffered.
Seeing that suffering, he suffered too, and did not know what to do.
After a long silence, Sakumo nodded lightly.
"I understand."
"I will live."
"If a chance comes, I will change this."
"Good."
"Since you have set aside the thought of death, Senior Sakumo..."
"Then let us spar."
"I want to witness the White Fang's blade and its edge."
As he spoke, Shiro Gen opened his three tomoe Sharingan.
Scarlet filled his eyes, the three tomoe turning slowly. Sakumo's pupils tightened.
So the boy's wisdom towered above peers, and his strength did too.
Six years old, yet he handled three tomoe with ease.
A monstrous talent.
"Very well."
"Shiro Gen-kun, you saved my life."
"I will not refuse."
"Come, to the courtyard."
"I will show you the White Fang style."
Kakashi looked from his father to Shiro Gen.
Only moments ago they had spoken of death, and now a spar?
He was a prodigy, but not yet six. Many things remained beyond him.
Whether he understood or not, it did not stop Shiro Gen and Sakumo from stepping into the garden.
Shiro Gen drew his ninja blade, and Sakumo bared the short white-toothed tanto.
HOO!!!
With a thought, scorching flame cloaked the steel. Shiro Gen spoke softly to Sakumo.
"Begin."
"Alright."
Sakumo's face sharpened at once.
Shiro Gen had saved him. He did not wish to harm the boy.
But the White Fang's strike was too fast, too keen, too dangerous.
Holding back perfectly would not be easy.
In the next instant, Shiro Gen saw it.
Sakumo slashed at extreme speed.
Chakra compressed to the limit detonated along the edge, bursting forth as a streak of white.
The white light flashed like a blade and landed inside Shiro Gen's sightline in a heartbeat.
So close, only thirty centimeters away.
"So this is the White Fang style. Its reputation is earned."
"Very fast, and incredibly sharp."
"An ordinary shinobi would never have time to weave signs, or even dodge."
"But because that cut is so fast..."
"To copy it fully, I need to see more than one."
The thoughts flickered through him.
Sparring with the White Fang, he had to bring real power.
In the next heartbeat, firelight flared.
Shiro Gen-ryu Sword Art: Flame-Light Phantom Blade.
BOOM!!!
The blast cracked the air.
Flame-light and white light crossed. Sakumo wavered for a breath, eyes narrowing, then sharpening again.
"Genjutsu... Fire Release... and swordsmanship..."
"A strong technique."
"And he is fast."
Fire Release Chakra Mode: Armor of Fire.
Flames surged into armor. Shrouded in fire, Shiro Gen vanished.
Fire-Stepping Body Flicker.
In a flash, he appeared before Sakumo.
His flame-wreathed blade hacked and hammered forward in a relentless flurry.
Sakumo, under assault, answered in kind.
CLANG!! CLANG!!!
...
Steel danced with steel in a rapid, ringing chorus.