Kakashi and Sakumo Hatake stared at each other for a long time, until finally, Kakashi was the first to speak.
"Father…"
"Kakashi..." Sakumo looked at Kakashi with eyes full of guilt. He had come here solely to apologize, for failing to fulfill his responsibilities as a father.
Kakashi noticed the remorse in Sakumo's eyes, and his heart trembled. Any lingering resentment he'd held… vanished in that moment.
Then, Kakashi smiled, and casually began chatting with Sakumo as if they were just having a normal conversation.
Sakumo was caught off guard by Kakashi's attitude, but then he too smiled. His eyes filled with relief, his son had grown into a fine man after his death.
But when he recalled Natsuro's brief explanation of Kakashi's life, a shadow of sorrow appeared in Sakumo's eyes again.
The cost of that growth… had been far too steep. And he, Sakumo Hatake, was the one who had set that burden in motion.
But what could he say now?
Offer consolation? Make excuses?
Just then, another figure appeared beside them, it was Shizune, whom Natsuro had summoned.
Kakashi was momentarily surprised to see her, and then gave a wry smile.
So Natsuro really is meddling in my personal life now, huh…
But maybe it was time, time to make a decision.
Kakashi took a deep breath.
Sakumo glanced at Shizune, thinking her face looked familiar.
He asked, "She is…?"
Shizune, still confused, having been suddenly teleported without warning—found herself face-to-face with Kakashi and a very familiar-looking middle-aged ninja.
"Uncle White Fang?!" Shizune exclaimed. After hearing Sakumo's question, her entire body stiffened.
Wait… is this meeting-the-parents?!
No, she had to make a good impression. Quickly composing herself, she smiled and replied, "Hello, Uncle. I'm Shizune."
"Oh, Shizune. One of Kakashi's former classmates," Sakumo said, realizing who she was.
Then he looked between Kakashi and Shizune, his gaze making Shizune visibly nervous.
Kakashi nodded at his father and said, "She'll be your future daughter-in-law."
Shizune's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth in surprise as she turned to look at Kakashi in disbelief.
Sakumo smiled warmly, even nodding enthusiastically despite lying down. "I see… That's wonderful."
Honestly, after hearing about Kakashi's tragic life, Sakumo had worried his son might never find someone.And he knew he had no right to judge, given how much pain he'd caused.
Now, that concern was gone. Sakumo was genuinely happy.
"And father… if I were in your position back then, I would've chosen to save my comrades too." Kakashi spoke quietly, thinking of that familiar figure with dual tomoe Sharingan.
Sakumo looked at his son in stunned silence, then his eyes lit up brilliantly.
Though the end of his life had been met with scorn and condemnation, the fact that his son understood him...That alone was the greatest blessing of all.
"But, your sudden departure did cause me some trouble… Still, I made it through," Kakashi said, smiling as if he were joking, airing his long-held complaints.
Sakumo burst into laughter, then looked at Kakashi and said, "I'm truly sorry."
"It's alright. I've come to terms with it. So, Father, let this meeting be your closure. Don't carry guilt into the afterlife. Your son has lived well… and will soon have a happy family."
"This time, nothing like that will happen again." Sakumo smiled, his eyes brimming with tears.Suddenly, a white glow began to shine from his body.
"What's this?" Kakashi recognized the light, it was the same glow that signaled the release of Edo Tensei.
Could it be that his father's regrets had been fully resolved? That even the forbidden technique could no longer bind his soul?
Sakumo felt it too. He finally had full control of himself. Slowly, he reached out his hand.
Kakashi met it with both of his, gripping it gently.
The two stared at each other.
Sakumo smiled. "Thank you."
He hadn't expected this.
He had come simply to apologize, yet it was Kakashi who comforted and accepted him.
Now, with his son's understanding, and a kind daughter-in-law by his side, Sakumo felt his life had come full circle.
He smiled as he dissolved into white light, fading peacefully into the air.
Kakashi slowly stood up, watching the light drift into the sky, and smiled as well.
Shizune hugged his arm, a worried look on her face.
"Don't worry. I'm fine.", Kakashi noticed and smiled at her.
"…Kakashi, if what you said earlier was just to make your father happy, you don't have to go through with it," Shizune said sincerely.
Kakashi blinked. Then he smiled again.
"No. I meant every word. When this war is over… let's get married."
Kakashi had finally made his decision. He would find peace, find home.
"…Okay!" Shizune beamed. Her persistence hadn't been in vain.
She had waited so long for this day.
Just then, the two of them heard the sound of two people sobbing loudly. They turned to look.
"…Is that… Guy's father?" Kakashi asked, glancing at the charred figure lying on the ground.
For a moment, he felt lucky, his own reunion with his father had been far more peaceful.
"Probably," Shizune said as they exchanged uncertain glances.
Nearby, Might Guy and Might Duy were weeping over their youthful reunion, completely ignoring the stares of everyone around them.
If Duy could move, they'd probably be hugging and crying by now.
"Father, I never thought I'd get to see you again!" Guy sobbed.
"Me neither, Guy!" Duy wept in return.
They talked for a long time after that, catching up and eventually shifting the conversation to Natsuro.
"Guy… you have a truly powerful and excellent Hokage." Duy sighed with admiration.
"Yes! I think so too!" Guy nodded with great enthusiasm.
"Guy, I asked Lord Hokage not to let you open the Eighth Gate… and he agreed."
"Father, youth must never back down! You taught me that..." Guy became flustered.
"I know. I'm not stopping you. I'm just here to tell you the result of using the Eighth Gate," Duy said.
"…Huh? So this burned-up body is from using the Eighth Gate Formation? I thought Hokage-sama hit you with Fire Style…" Guy looked bewildered.
"Of course not. He didn't use Fire Style at all," Duy replied, slipping into memory.The more he thought about it, the more shocked he felt.
Because even during that battle, he now realized, Natsuro might not have even been fighting at full strength.
Not once had any of their five-man assault landed a direct hit on him!
And thinking back further, if Natsurohadn't allowed it, he wouldn't have had time to even open the Eighth Gate in the first place.
Suddenly, Duy felt a bit proud. at least he'd managed to singe a few strands of Natsuro's hair.
That was probably the only achievement their entire group had earned.
"Listen to me, Guy!" Might Duy suddenly shouted.
"Yes, I'm listening!" Might Guy responded just as loudly.
"Even though I made a promise with Lord Hokage, I want you to know this, if it ever comes to a point where you must open the Eighth Gate of the Eight Inner Gates, don't hesitate. That's the final, blazing light of youth for a man! So only use it when there's truly no other option left!"For the first time, Duy's expression turned solemn.
"I understand, Father!" Tears streaming down his face, Guy nodded vigorously and shouted back.
He had avoided using the Eight Gates in earlier battles because he had a feeling that this war might demand the opening of the final gate. He had been saving his strength for that moment.
Now, even after seeing the aftermath on his father's body, Guy didn't feel fear.
When the time came, he would open the Eighth Gate without hesitation!
Hearing Guy's answer, Might Duy broke down again and cried even harder.
And amidst those heartfelt tears, Duy's body began to emit a white glow.
"Guy… it looks like my time is up. Live well, and with the pride of a true man!" Duy shouted.
"Yes, Father! Like a true man!" Guy cried back.
Might Duy had no regrets left. Now that he had passed on everything he needed to, he could leave peacefully.
"You guys really are something else… What is this, a family reunion?" Zabuza suddenly appeared beside Kakashi, mocking them while holding the Executioner's Blade, finally back in its rightful wielder's hands.
He had just fought fiercely alongside Haku against those two bloodline-limit users, yet now everyone was off chatting with their dads?
"Well, sorry… but this might be our last chance," Kakashi replied.
Zabuza went quiet.
He had seen both Sakumo and Duy vanish in a peaceful glow after fulfilling their final wishes. It was likely after this war they couldn't be brought back through the Edo Tensei again.
Zabuza let out a long sigh. He didn't really understand that kind of bond… but right now, he kind of envied it.
"Whatever. So be it," he thought.
...
Medical Headquarters.
Tsunade was sweating heavily as she continued treating the endless stream of injured shinobi.The place was filled with critically wounded patients.
Which made sense, less serious cases were handled by on-site medics.
The ones sent here were on death's door, making treatment especially difficult.
Looking at the sheer number of patients, even Tsunade felt overwhelmed.She couldn't possibly save everyone.
"Lady Tsunade, you need to take a break too," said Katsuyu, who sat beside her.
"I'm fine. As long as I can save one more, I'm not stopping," Tsunade replied...just as she received a message from Shikaku.
Her eyes widened.
Grandmother?
Tsunade glanced at the room full of patients. They needed her… but so did her grandmother, someone she hadn't seen in so many years.
She hesitated.
"Lady Tsunade, if you need to go, we can hold the line for now," said one of the medical nin respectfully.
They had already taken multiple shifts, but Tsunade had been working non-stop from the very beginning.
Tsunade took a deep breath. Her eyes hardened with resolve.
"You, go get a wheelchair," she ordered one of the samurai acting as runners.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade," the samurai responded and quickly set off.
In the meantime, Tsunade continued treating patients.
"I still have my duties to fulfill," she said to the medics around her.
Before long, the samurai returned with a wheelchair.
Tsunade placed a Flying Thunder God-marked kunai onto the seat, the one Natsuro had given her earlier.
Moments later, a woman with red hair and a youthful appearance appeared in the wheelchair.
"…Grandmother. It's been a long time," Tsunade said, her tone complicated. She was still mid-surgery, not even raising her head.
"Oh, Tsunade's busy, huh?" Mito Uzumaki looked around, then smiled.
"Well, then keep going, Tsunade. I can hold on a little longer."
Mito glanced around the ward, her eyes narrowing in shock.
She had never seen so many injured shinobi all at once.
Even with all her years of experience, through war and peace, she had never seen carnage on this scale, even during the worst wars in Konoha's history.
Clearly, this war was far more brutal than she had imagined.
She hadn't felt it before—after all, she and the others had been stopped by Natsuro and hadn't even reached the main battlefield.
Now she understood.
Finally, Tsunade completed the difficult operation in front of her and moved on to the next patient.
Thankfully, this one's injuries were lighter.
She could finally spare some focus and looked toward Mito.
When she saw her grandmother smiling at her…
Her eyes stung.
She nearly burst into tears...
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Currently on Chapter 403 - The Ōtsutsuki on the Moon