"Tatsuma-san?"
In the Hatake family courtyard, Kakashi, who was practicing with a short sword, noticed Tatsuma visiting and quickly ran to the gate to open it for him.
Tatsuma smiled and ruffled Kakashi's spiky hair, but regretted it the next second when he realized his hand was covered in sweat. Seeing that Kakashi's clothes were also soaked with sweat, Tatsuma decided not to wipe his hand on them and let it dry in the air instead. However, his smile remained as he asked, "Kakashi, is Sakumo-sama at home?"
"Yes, he's at home, cooking. I'll ask my father to make some extra food so you can stay and have lunch with us."
After Kakashi spoke, he didn't wait for Tatsuma to agree or refuse, nor did he invite him inside. Instead, he quickly ran into the house on his short legs.
A few seconds later, Sakumo appeared, wearing a pink apron and holding a kitchen knife. However, his stance seemed more like he was preparing for a fight rather than cooking.
"Tatsuma?!"
Sakumo exclaimed in surprise, then quickly realized his mistake and said, "Come in, come in."
Tatsuma nodded and finally entered the courtyard and walked into the house. He said to Sakumo, "Sakumo-sama, sorry for dropping by unexpectedly and not paying attention to the time. I might end up imposing on you for a meal."
"No problem," Sakumo said, waving the hand holding the knife. "How's your health?"
"It's nothing serious, you don't need to worry. It was just an accident, or rather, I underestimated my opponent. After all, it was the Raikage; I was too careless in dealing with him."
Tatsuma explained a bit more to Sakumo, who understood that Tatsuma was trying to reassure him. Nodding, Sakumo said, "Let's talk after the meal. I'll go prepare some food for you."
Saying this, Sakumo went back to the kitchen, leaving Kakashi to entertain Tatsuma. Unlike the Danzo household, which lacked warmth, the Hatake household, while not overly cozy, still had the essentials.
Kakashi, though somewhat inexperienced, carefully prepared tea for Tatsuma. As he handed the tea to Tatsuma, he curiously asked, "Tatsuma-san, I heard from my father that you planned the strategy to provoke the Eight-Tails into a rampage, fought both the Eight-Tails and the Raikage, and then led my father to safety?"
Tatsuma, who hadn't even taken a sip of his tea, nearly choked. After catching his breath, he explained, "The one who led this mission was Sakumo-sama. It was Sakumo-sama and Minato who ultimately guided us out of the Land of Lightning. I just helped a bit; if anything, I might have been a burden to them."
Kakashi, puzzled, said, "That's strange. My father, Minato-san, and you all tell different versions of the story. Were you all on the same mission?"
Tatsuma shook his head and replied, "The same twilight can look different to different people; it can symbolize the beginning of love or the sorrow of a farewell. It can be the end of a day or the start of the night sky."
Hearing this, Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. Noticing that Kakashi seemed more lively and childlike than before, Tatsuma smiled and said, "You seem to be in a good mood lately. Have you made some friends?"
"No," Kakashi denied firmly. Then, glancing back towards the kitchen, Tatsuma understood without needing further explanation—it was the comfort of having someone to rely on.
Suddenly recalling something, Tatsuma asked with a smile, "Kakashi, are you currently learning swordsmanship from Sakumo-sama?"
Kakashi nodded. Tatsuma then took out a scroll and said, "Speaking of which, I also learned from Sakumo-sama back in the day. However, I lacked talent and didn't manage to learn much. I wasn't able to do justice to the sword that Sakumo-sama once gifted me."
As he unsealed the scroll, an old but well-maintained short sword appeared. Tatsuma picked up the sword and said, "I was away on a mission when you were born, and next year when you start school, I may not be able to give you a gift."
"I'll return it to you now. This was your father's sword. Don't fail it, or your father, like I did."
Tatsuma handed the sword to Kakashi, who instinctively wanted to refuse, but Tatsuma let go, leaving Kakashi to hurriedly catch the short sword.
At that moment, Sakumo poked his head out of the kitchen and said, "Kakashi, accept it. Your Tatsuma-san no longer needs this short sword. You can properly thank him later when he gets married and has children."
As Sakumo glanced at the short sword in Kakashi's hands, noticing the signs of care it had received, a smile appeared on his face. It was clear that even though Tatsuma no longer needed the sword, he hadn't forgotten the gift.
Sakumo quietly reminded himself not to let Tatsuma find out that he had given the sword away years ago because he had spent all his money on a custom sword, leaving only this short sword to give. If Tatsuma learned the truth, it might seem disrespectful to the care he had shown for the sword all these years. And then there were Shinku, Kunugi, and Ikkaku, who also knew the story; he would have to find a way to ensure their silence!
Sakumo, thinking this, looked at Tatsuma and said, "Tatsuma, I won't be overly polite with you. Kakashi has been training with me recently and does need a suitable sword."
"It's nothing. Just don't think I gave the gift too late or that it was too perfunctory," Tatsuma replied with a wave of his hand. The act of giving gifts often involves one person giving first and the other reciprocating later. As long as the relationship remains intact, ultimately, someone might end up with an extra gift, while someone else, perhaps deceased, never receives another in return. Such exchanges don't hold much practical meaning, but it's a common practice everywhere.
Sakumo cooked quickly, though he didn't prepare much. After all, he had never actually shared a proper meal with Tatsuma, as they usually ate military rations on missions. When they did dine in towns, it was often for gathering intelligence, and to avoid drawing attention, Tatsuma would deliberately eat less. Thus, Sakumo was unaware of Tatsuma's unusually large appetite.
Tatsuma, being considerate as a guest, especially one who dropped in at mealtime, ate modestly and appeared satisfied, ensuring Sakumo did not feel awkward.
After the meal, Kakashi dutifully went to wash the dishes. However, Sakumo had already cleaned and put away the knives and cutting board to prevent Kakashi from accidentally hurting himself.
Sakumo led Tatsuma to the courtyard, where they sat on the veranda with a tea tray between them. Sakumo asked, "Your injury this time, it shouldn't have left any lasting effects, right?"
"No, if it had been serious, it wouldn't be me visiting you today, but rather my hot-tempered sensei. Wouldn't you agree?" Tatsuma joked, to which Sakumo nodded in agreement, though there was still concern in his eyes. He knew the severity of Tatsuma's injury and found it hard to believe there would be no lasting consequences.
Sakumo's concern was genuine, not because he feared trouble from Tsunade, but because he worried that his actions might hinder the future of this talented young man in the village.
"Sakumo-sama, I just returned to the village today, but I've already heard some rumors. Please don't let them bother you. Hokage-sama also mentioned that these rumors are being deliberately spread. I believe that such misunderstandings and misinformation will soon be cleared up."
Tatsuma put away his smile and spoke seriously to Sakumo, who nodded and said, "I understand."
After a moment of silence, Sakumo couldn't help but ask, "Tatsuma, from your perspective, do you think completing the mission is more important, or is the safety of your comrades more important?"
Hearing this question, Tatsuma pressed his lips together and thought for a moment before replying, "Sakumo-sama, ideally, I would like to ensure both—the success of the mission and the safety of my comrades. But I know you're not satisfied with that answer, and honestly, I'm not capable of achieving both perfectly. You know me well enough to see that I've sometimes prioritized the mission over people and at other times taken risks to protect my comrades. For me, your question doesn't have a clear answer.
At least for me, that's the case. When faced with a choice, I consider the consequences of both options and choose the one I can bear. If I can bear both or neither, I will choose the one I most want to do. Even if it leads to my death, I'd rather die decisively than live miserably or lose myself amid blame and regret."
"I see."
Sakumo took a sip of tea before continuing, "Perhaps I've been too rigid, believing one must choose a single path for life. In terms of understanding situations, I am not as perceptive as you; there are many things I fail to see clearly. However, I believe I have a good eye for people. You and Minato are both individuals I hold in high regard. Apart from you two, are you familiar with that boy named Guy?"
"Might Guy?"
"Yes, I happened to meet him yesterday. He's a child who carries on his father's ninja way and will. I believe his future achievements won't be any less than Kakashi's. Kakashi can be a bit solitary and arrogant, and at times, he even seems insecure.
I feel I've been an inadequate father, not being there for him during the crucial times of his character development. He lacks companionship and attention, but he has also learned too early that he cannot rely on these. That's why I'm concerned that when he enters the Academy, he might rush to become the top student, to graduate quickly, or even to become the youngest Chunin or Jonin."
"He feels too proud to associate with others, yet insecure enough to seek everyone's attention."
Sakumo sighed and said, "As his father, I don't know how to make up for the shortcomings I've caused in Kakashi."
Family and education are complex issues that Tatsuma couldn't fully address, so he offered comfort, saying, "Sakumo-sama, perhaps what Kakashi needs most right now is your presence. You think he seeks everyone's attention, but it might be that he just wants your recognition and approval.
Maybe you don't need to worry so much; treat him simply as a child. Don't focus on his future or his career as a ninja. Just be there as a father, and that might ease your worries and give him the pure attention he needs, don't you think?"
"You'll be a good father," Sakumo remarked.
"It's hard to say," Tatsuma replied, "Talking about it is always easier than doing it. It's like how I often give Minato advice on how to pursue Kushina."
"Hahaha!"
Hearing his father's hearty laughter, which he had never heard before, Kakashi, who was washing dishes inside, gripped the dishcloth a little tighter. His father had never been so joyful in front of him.
Was it because he wasn't as good as Tatsuma-san?
Kakashi made a silent resolution to train even harder, to graduate sooner than Tatsuma-san, to become a ninja, and to advance to Chunin and even Jonin before Tatsuma-san! That should make his father proud and happy, right?
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