Sakumo straightened, his gaze sharp as he studied the young man before him.
There were too many questions in his heart, each one unbearably heavy.
Why had he been pulled back from that eternal, silent darkness?
What had happened to Konoha as it existed now?
And who exactly was this youth whom his own son addressed so respectfully as "Shinju-sama"?
Seeing the doubts in his eyes, Shinju did not conceal anything.
He used the simplest, most concise words to explain everything from beginning to end.
He began with the tragedy of the Nine-Tails' Night.
When Sakumo heard that the golden-haired youth he had once placed such hopes on, Minato, had died for the sake of the village on the very day he became the Fourth Hokage, his body clearly stiffened.
Minato was a junior he had watched grow up. He knew very well that young man's talent and character.
Shinju continued, speaking of how Minato and his wife had been resurrected.
Sakumo's understanding of the world took its first heavy blow.
Death was absolute — that was the iron law he had believed in all his life as a ninja.
Yet now, someone was telling him that this iron law had been broken.
Next, Shinju spoke of the attempted coup the Uchiha clan had once been brewing.
Sakumo wasn't surprised by that. Even in his era, the rift between the Uchiha and the village leadership had already begun to show. He had simply never expected that contradiction to escalate to such an extent.
Shinju then mentioned the second descent of Uchiha Shisui into the world.
The third person to be brought back from the dead.
Sakumo began to realize that this was no coincidence but the work of a power far beyond his understanding.
Shinju shifted the topic toward the village itself.
Konoha's current economic reforms.
A new training system for ninjas.
And the village's relationships with outside forces.
When Sakumo heard that the Sand Village had in effect submitted to Konoha and become the so-called Wind Capital, his shock was beyond description.
In his time, the balance between the Five Great Nations had been unshakable. Any attempt to break that balance would inevitably trigger war.
There had never been exceptions. Even if there were… they were crushed in the bud.
Yet the boy before him seemed to have reshaped the entire shinobi world in a way far more thorough than anything he could have imagined.
Shinju calmly recounted all the earthshaking changes Konoha had undergone during this period.
There was no exaggeration in his tone — only a straightforward statement of facts.
Sakumo listened quietly.
The expression on his face shifted from initial shock, to disbelief, and finally condensed into a deep, heartfelt awe.
The way he looked at Shinju had completely changed.
At first, he had thought his return to the living was the result of some unknown forbidden jutsu.
He had even prepared himself, mentally, to become someone's puppet.
Never had he imagined that his resurrection would turn out to be just one link in a whole chain of "miracles" created by this youth.
Shinju had not revived only him.
He was single-handedly correcting every tragedy and injustice in this world.
Such power had already surpassed anything a "ninja" or even a "Kage" could possess.
It felt closer to the authority of the mythical creator god spoken of in legends.
At this moment, a figure flashed across Sakumo's mind — a man said to exist only in legend.
The Sage of Six Paths.
Could that sage truly exist in this world after all?
When Shinju went on to explain that all resurrected heroes would serve as "heroic spirits," absolutely loyal to him, fighting to build a new order, Sakumo did not feel even the slightest resistance.
On the contrary, it felt only natural.
Someone who possessed such power deserved the allegiance of all.
He glanced to his side.
The knot in Kakashi's heart had been completely undone. His eyes were clearer than ever before.
In the morning light, Konoha teemed with vitality and hope.
This was completely different from the village in Sakumo's memories — the one shrouded by the clouds of war, riven by internal conflict.
What more could he possibly ask for?
The youth before him had allowed him to make up for the greatest regret he had toward his son.
What else was there to be dissatisfied with?
This boy had given him a chance at life again and allowed him to witness a Konoha more beautiful than anything he had ever dared to dream.
For Sakumo, there were no regrets left in this lifetime.
The infamy he had borne at his death, the suffering he had endured — compared to the scene before his eyes, all of it now seemed insignificant.
He drew in a deep breath and straightened his clothing.
Then, using the most formal samurai etiquette, he dropped to one knee before Shinju.
His posture was solemn, completely free of any pretense — full of reverent respect.
"Shinju-sama!"
His voice rang out, firm and sonorous, carrying a sincerity that could never be faked.
"Please allow me, Sakumo, to become the sharpest blade in your hand. If there are thorns ahead, I will clear them away for you. Your orders shall be my highest command."
He paused, then spoke with even greater resolve.
"No matter if the road ahead leads through mountains of blades, seas of fire, or the purgatory of gods and demons… Sakumo will cut them all down with a single stroke for you!"
Watching his father make his choice, Kakashi did not hesitate.
He once again dropped to one knee beside him, father and son kneeling shoulder to shoulder as they presented their loyalty to the young man before them.
In that instant, the image of the two Hatake men kneeling side by side was etched into history.
Sakumo unfastened the chakra short sword that had followed him all his life — White Fang — from his waist.
He held the legendary blade in both hands, respectfully raising it above his head and offering it to Shinju.
"This sword, White Fang, I place under your command, Shinju-sama."
The blade that had once made the whole shinobi world tremble now lay meekly surrendered to its new master.
But Sakumo felt no reluctance at all.
If this sword followed Shinju, it would surely be able to play an even greater role.
The white chakra glow flowing along the blade seemed to express its own willingness to submit.
Shinju could feel the razor-sharp aura radiating from the weapon.
He did not take it.
Instead, he extended a hand and lightly pressed down over Sakumo's hands.
"Sakumo-sensei, a blade only shows its true power in the hands of the strongest."
"What I need isn't your sword… but you, the one who wields it."
Sakumo's body trembled slightly at those words.
He lifted his head and looked into Shinju's deep eyes, and from within them he felt a trust that was absolute.
That trust was far more precious than if Shinju had actually accepted his blade.
It meant true recognition.
He nodded heavily and returned the short sword to his waist.
"As you command… my lord."
From that moment on, the Hall of Heroes had officially gained another top-class close-combat master.
[Name: Sakumo]
[Title: Konoha's White Fang]
[Rank: Legendary]
[Core Abilities: Hatake-ryu Kenjutsu (Hatake Style Swordsmanship) (SSS), Shiro Kiba (White Fang) (EX), Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) (S+)...]
[Loyalty: Absolute]
Shinju reached out and helped the Hatake father and son to their feet.
"All right, family matters are settled."
He smiled.
"Next, it's time to introduce you both to your new comrades."
(End of Chapter)
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