Yes, just now, Hatake Kakashi recalled the figure of his father in his mind.
The man with silver-white hair and a smile on his face.
But when he woke up one night, Hatake Sakumo was lying motionless in his room.
At that time, Kakashi was only six years old, and the image was deeply etched in his mind.
His father, Konoha's White Fang, had sacrificed the mission to save his comrades, only to be despised by the people of the village from then on.
Even those he saved did not thank him for his heroism.
They, like everyone else, mocked Konoha's White Fang.
Yet no matter what, in Kakashi's heart, his father would always be the hero of Konoha.
If his father were here today and heard that the Sand Ninja Army had invaded Konoha, he would undoubtedly stand up without hesitation.
He would solve this crisis for the village, but now, Konoha's White Fang is gone.
As his son, Kakashi had to carry on his will and legacy.
Kakashi suddenly stood up, his previously lazy eyes now burning with a fierce light.
"I'll go!"
As soon as he spoke, the conference room fell silent.
Everyone's gaze turned toward him.
Many Konoha jonin exchanged confused glances, speechless.
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly brought the pipe to his lips, taking a long puff.
His sharp eyes closed, and he said nothing.
The elderly Mitomon En glanced at Utatane Koharu beside him, waiting for her response.
"Alright, but we need someone strong to block the Sand Ninja Army's attack route."
"Since Kakashi is so determined, he will lead the charge for our village."
"Tomorrow, Kakashi Hatake must go to the battlefield without delay. This meeting is adjourned!"
Koharu Utatane, as an elder, issued the command and left without acknowledging the gazes around her.
Before she departed, she shot a glance at Kirito, who was slacking off in the meeting.
Her gaze was pointed, filled with silent disapproval.
She had initially hoped Kirito would step up to repel the enemy.
But she was disappointed—he paid her no mind.
Had Sarutobi Hiruzen known Koharu's thoughts, he would have been amused.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's reputation was constantly trampled by Kirito.
You are merely an honorary elder of Konoha Village. You should be grateful that Kirito even attended this meeting. You still dare ask for more?
At midnight, beneath a bright moon and scattered stars, the ninja tombs of Konoha Village came into view.
A figure with silver hair appeared amidst the graves.
It was Kakashi, preparing for war.
Kakashi, never one for sentimentality, did not walk into the mausoleum.
Instead, he knelt beside a pile of rubble near several tombstones.
These stones were what Kakashi had built for his father, Hatake Sakumo.
Yes, the renowned Konoha White Fang had no formal tomb.
This was due to the failure of a mission that led to a massive loss for Konoha.
Coupled with the insults and disdain from his comrades and villagers, the great White Fang fell into deep self-blame.
In the end, he could not bear the psychological pressure and took his own life at home late one night.
This was the dark, unjust side of Konoha Village, twisted human nature and broken psyches.
But now, Kakashi had come to terms with it.
Before he left, Kakashi took one final look at his father's makeshift tombstone and bid farewell.
"Konoha White Fang, I will make your name resonate throughout the ninja world."
With that, Kakashi disappeared, his silver hair and broken blade fading into the night.
---
In the Fire Country, at Kikyo Mountain, the yellow sand raged fiercely across the battlefield.
A roar shook the very earth and sky, echoing through the area.
The Konoha ninjas stationed here charged forward.
Ninjas darted through the trees.
Most of them wore forehead protectors from the Sand Village.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
A ninja hurled several kunai at an empty tree without hesitation.
From the shadows of the branches, a Konoha ninja slowly revealed himself.
He wielded a massive shuriken, swinging it through the air, knocking away the deadly kunai aimed at him.
Suddenly, a figure appeared on a large tree.
It was Gaara, the Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beast, a deadly force on the battlefield.
Gaara raised his right arm, and a massive palm of sand shot out to ensnare the Konoha ninja.
Cold, murderous intent radiated from Gaara's eyes, his emotions frozen.
The Konoha ninja, poised with his shuriken, felt the hairs on his body stand on end.
It was as though the very hand of death was reaching for him.
The next second, the ninja's pupils contracted in shock.
Before him, countless grains of yellow sand appeared, sealing off all his escape routes.
He was trapped, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
Death was inevitable.
Below him, the Sand Ninjas, who had witnessed their enemies' inevitable demise, grinned triumphantly.
"Konoha ninjas are nothing special."
"Our Sand Ninja Village will unite as one and crush them with unstoppable force."
"What's so great about the top five great nations? They're nothing compared to us."
"The soil and weather here are far better than in Sand Village."
"Soon, we'll seize this land and make it ours."
"Gaara is unstoppable. He'll bring us victory with ease."
The Sand Village ninjas jeered, their confidence unshaken.
But the very next second…
A kunai whistled through the air, appearing out of nowhere.
The kunai was laced with seals, speeding toward the ninja ensnared in sand.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rocked the battlefield.
The sand that had wrapped the Konoha ninja erupted, and before the body could be swallowed by the sands, a figure appeared beside him.
With one swift motion, he pulled the Konoha ninja from the sand.
In the explosion's wake, everyone turned to look at the tree branch.
Their eyes widened in shock, confused about what had just happened.