Sakumo Hatake returned to Konoha two days early on a beautiful, sunny afternoon.
He carried two Ninja Swords on his back.
One was weathered and old, while the other was brand new and gleaming, with even the cord wrapped around its hilt spotless.
When he arrived home, Naraku and Kakashi were both absent.
The house was empty, not a soul in sight.
They must have gone out on a mission.
Sakumo Hatake immediately went to the Hokage Building, intending to check what mission Kakashi and Naraku were currently on.
Given his position, he had full authority to view the mission files of regular Ninja.
Kakashi had taken on a bandit-extermination mission a week ago and hadn't returned yet.
But he was expected back in Konoha within the next couple of days.
However, when Sakumo Hatake tried to look up Naraku's mission, he couldn't find any relevant materials.
He only found the slip for Naraku's previous mission settlement from ten days prior.
The civilian Ninja responsible for mission assignments was evasive, either claiming ignorance or promising to look into it later.
That was until Sakumo Hatake, ignoring the gasps and stares of those around them, grabbed him by the collar.
He dragged him out and slammed him hard onto the ground.
Clang—
A gleaming blade grazed his ear and plunged into the ground, reflecting the other party's terrified expression.
"I know better than anyone what a liar looks like."
Sakumo Hatake's usually gentle, smiling face was now expressionless, his eyes terrifying.
The Ninja even suspected he would die by his hand the next moment.
"I'll talk! I'll talk!"
"He was sent to the Land of Rain!"
"The files are in the first cabinet on the bottom left!"
Sakumo Hatake retrieved his sword and walked directly behind the desk, pulling out Naraku's mission files.
The next second, the blade reappeared at the civilian Ninja's throat.
"This is a mission meant for the Anbu. Why was it given to him?!"
Sakumo Hatake's hand gripped the hilt tightly, his entire presence erupting with the ferocity of an enraged beast.
"Where is the signed confirmation of mastery for the Long-Distance Communication Jutsu?"
"Whether the mission succeeded or failed, why hasn't he sent back a single message?!"
The civilian Ninja was too scared to speak.
Only then did he realize that he seemed to have gotten himself into serious trouble for the sake of some petty gain.
Realizing the other party didn't know the deeper reasons, Sakumo Hatake pulled his long sword from the ground.
He sheathed it and left the room without a backward glance, heading upstairs to knock on the Hokage Office.
"Sakumo Hatake? Is something wrong?"
When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Sakumo Hatake enter, his imposing aura hadn't fully receded, carrying the lingering resentment of unspent anger.
"Hokage-sama, I request to leave the village alone."
Hiruzen Sarutobi wondered, "What happened now?"
Sakumo Hatake silently placed the documents he had found on the table, not saying a word.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, having handled state affairs for many years, immediately saw the anomaly and sighed, silently uttering a name.
—Danzō, why do you go to such lengths?
"You may go."
"Yes, thank you, Hokage-sama."
Sakumo Hatake bowed and left the Hokage Office.
Just as he exited the building and was about to head towards Konoha's main gate, he was stopped by a Ninja wearing a Root uniform and a mask.
"Sakumo Hatake, you have an S-Rank mission to execute."
Sakumo Hatake, his face cold, ignored the other party's obstruction.
He had barely taken two steps when he heard the Ninja's voice from behind him.
"You have no right to refuse the mission!"
"This is that person's command!"
"Refusing a mission is tantamount to betrayal!"
He stopped.
The other party, thinking he had yielded, continued to be aggressive.
"You are ordered to proceed to the former site of the Land of Whirlpools within three days and find—"
Whoosh—!
A flash of a blade.
The Root Ninja's mask was cut in half, revealing a face on which a growing sense of shock and anger gradually appeared.
Sakumo Hatake sneered softly, veins bulging on his arm.
"Don't think I can't figure things out."
No sooner had he spoken than he vanished from his spot, reappearing in the distance.
Each flicker of his form brought him closer to the gate.
—
Kakashi had successfully completed his bandit-extermination mission.
Calculating the distance to his father's promised return date, it seemed to be just around the corner.
This time, he should be able to see both his father and Naraku when he returned home.
Just thinking about it made him eager to go back.
He imagined his family sitting together, eating a steaming hot dinner, laughing and chatting late into the night.
It was much better than swallowing bitter and astringent Soldier Pills and sitting alone under a tree, gazing at the moon.
The layers of trees before him gradually thinned.
Sunlight poured through the increasingly large gaps, making the view bright and clear.
He could already see the reassuring shape of Konoha at the horizon where the sky met the ground.
His speed increased again.
Just as Kakashi was about to step through the wide gate, he saw an incredibly familiar person streak across the sky.
It was a blur that vanished into the forest outside Konoha in the blink of an eye.
—Father?
He tossed the mission report scroll to his teammate, summoned Pakkun, whom he had recently contracted, and quickly followed.
"Kakashi, what's with the sudden rush? Who are you chasing?"
The recently matured Ninja Dog was scooped into Kakashi's arms, looking utterly bewildered as the trees sped past on both sides.
"Pakkun, quickly, sniff out which direction Father went."
"...That way."
Although Pakkun didn't know what was happening, he immediately identified Sakumo Hatake's scent and pointed the way for Kakashi.
Once Kakashi knew which way to go, he explained to Pakkun while on the move.
"Father seemed very off just now. He's never been like that before. Something might have happened."
"But, that could very well be his mission, couldn't it? You following him won't help much."
"I know, but..."
Kakashi's gaze became resolute.
"I don't know why, but I feel like I should go."
Pakkun sensed Kakashi's determination and stopped trying to dissuade him.
He focused on distinguishing Sakumo Hatake's lingering scent, occasionally reminding Kakashi to adjust his direction.
Kakashi had just finished a mission and hadn't had any time to rest.
He initially thought he probably wouldn't be able to catch up to his father.
But to his surprise, after only a short chase, he saw the white-haired Ninja ahead slowing down, seemingly genuinely waiting for him.
"Father!"
Placing Pakkun on his shoulder, Kakashi sped up again, finally reaching Sakumo Hatake's side.
"Did something happen?"
"Kakashi..."
Sakumo Hatake looked at the stubbornness on his son's face, a trait inherited from him.
He gave up the idea of persuading him to go back.
He said sternly, "Naraku has gone missing during a mission in the Land of Rain."
"Wh—"
Kakashi's voice caught in his throat, and his heart involuntarily tightened.
But with his father right beside him, he still held a glimmer of hope for the situation.
"...Are there any clues as to where he might be now?"
"No."
Sakumo Hatake's denial made Kakashi feel as if he had fallen into an icy abyss.