Immortality begins with the ninjas of Konoha.

On December 21st, Sakumo Hatake personally put an end to the undercurrents that had recently appeared in the village.

The news of Konoha's White Fang suddenly ending his life was immediately suppressed by the Third Hokage and the Anbu.

Inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply and looked at the Anbu member in front of him again to confirm:

"Is it confirmed as suicide?"

"Based on the preliminary investigation and Kakashi Hatake's own account, it has been determined that Lord Sakumo committed suicide."

The ANBU member wearing the fox mask knelt on the ground and responded in a low voice, seemingly unable to accept this outcome. After a moment of silence, he asked:

"Hokage-sama, should we continue the investigation?"

"Now that it's decided, let's leave it at that. The Anbu still has a lot of work to do."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had given the instructions, watched his direct subordinates disappear, a look of sadness immediately appeared on his face.

The atmosphere of war grew stronger, and as Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi needed to unite everyone. Even though he knew that Root was making some underhanded moves, he ultimately acquiesced.

In the eyes of the higher-ups, arguments and accusations were of no use to an elite Jonin, since the major ninja clans had never made a statement.

"Hiruzen, it's time for us to go visit Kakashi Hatake."

"If this child is drawn to Danzo because of this 'darkness,' it will be a loss for us."

"His talents should be used in the village."

Koharu, who was squinting, suddenly spoke up to remind him, while Homura Mitokado shook his head, seemingly having a different opinion, and simply added:

"The Root also inherited the Will of Fire, but Kakashi Hatake's talent should not be used for 'darkness'."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, wearing the Hokage hat, didn't respond directly. He took two deep drags on his pipe before speaking in a deep voice:

"Shu should be right next to Kakashi. This kid has gained Tsunade's approval, and he will help Kakashi get through this difficult time."

"Let's go. Sakumo will end his ninja career as a hero."

-

Yesterday afternoon I was instructing the two on swordsmanship, but this morning I parted from them forever.

The blood-stained chakra dagger reminded Furukawa Osamu that all of this was real, and Kakashi, now a "puppet," knelt motionless beside Hatake Sakumo.

Upon receiving the news, the Jonin visited discreetly. Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi bowed, and Furukawa Shuichi returned the bow.

"I didn't expect Lord Sakumo to leave so suddenly. Perhaps I should have realized it sooner..."

"Shikaku!"

With a serious expression, Yamanaka Inoichi, with his long brown hair, interrupted his companion, saying that the way the ninja clan survives is to bet on both sides, so that they can always be the "winners".

"Perhaps Mr. Sakumo is too tired. I am very grateful for the help from the team leaders."

Furukawa Osamu bowed his head in thanks. As Tsunade's disciple, he had a good relationship with the Naruto clan and had received guidance from the three of them during missions.

"Xiu, please let us know if you need any help."

The voluptuous Akimichi Choza wore a sorrowful expression and whispered his instructions. Furukawa Osamu nodded in acknowledgment again. When the Third Hokage arrived, the atmosphere became even more somber.

...

Kakashi didn't know who had arrived, nor what they had said.

When he delivered breakfast and found his father lying in a pool of blood, his mind went blank until Osamu Furukawa arrived, at which point he broke down in tears.

Night fell again, and the gentle voice of Sakumo Hatake would never again echo in this mansion.

In the corridor, Kakashi stared blankly at the dark night sky, and asked in a hoarse voice:

"...Which is more important, the mission or your companions?"

Why would the rescued companions blame their father?

"Was it because the mission failed?"

Why did my father choose to commit suicide? He was a hero, yet he ended his own life with that dagger...

"What exactly is the Will of Fire?"

Despite having lived in this world for seven years, Osamu Furukawa still couldn't give the right answer because he hadn't personally experienced what Sakumo Hatake had gone through:

"In my opinion, close peers are more important, and that's also the teacher's choice."

"We can only respect the way the teacher leaves. As for other issues, I have no right to lecture you."

"Kakashi, examine the world with questions in mind, and then seek the answers."

"As long as we live well, all our doubts will be resolved."

"This world possesses chakra, a miraculous energy; life shouldn't be like this..."

By the end, Furukawa Osamu's voice was barely audible. Kakashi, still unable to resolve his doubts, could only murmur softly:

"Should we survive?"

Late at night, Furukawa Osamu approached Hatake Sakumo once more, looking at this senior who had taken such good care of him. He placed his right hand on his chest and silently murmured:

"Mr. Sakumo, perhaps you can provide the answer."

"..."

A ball of white energy, invisible to ordinary people, appeared in Furukawa Osamu's palm. As this energy was sent into his body, drowsiness washed over him.

-

Unlike the bloody nightmares of previous years, what Osamu Furukawa saw were only mountains of corpses.

From genin to chunin, and then to elite jonin, Sakumo Hatake constantly lost his comrades.

Lacking sufficient strength to protect his companions, yet possessing formidable power, he is forced to abandon some of his comrades to save more people due to the mission.

The short swords, radiating a white light, relentlessly slashed at the enemy ninjas. The dead were of all nationalities, and those who fell into pools of blood all wore expressions of ferocity and anguish.

"For the sake of the village's mission, I'll kill anyone..."

The earth cracked open, a boy's mangled body lay beneath the rubble, three people knelt amidst a mass of corpses, wailing loudly, while Sakumo Hatake, searching for survivors, bowed his head, his face contorted in pain.

"A wrong decision?!"

Expectations, accusations, insults, the Hokage's comforting words, and the higher-ups' indifference towards the deceased—the anguish grew with each passing day, until finally the short sword, which had been radiating white light, was stained with blood.

"I'm sorry, Kakashi, I'm not the hero you admire."

"..."

When Furukawa Osamu woke up, his head was throbbing with pain. It was still dark outside. The mental shock caused him to feel frustrated and guilty, which took a while to gradually dissipate.

Gathering his thoughts, Furukawa Osamu gave a self-deprecating smile. Perhaps he had never truly considered himself a ninja, and was therefore unable to fully empathize.

"Self-blame? It's the world's fault! Teacher, death means the end of everything."

Drawing the short sword beside him, Furukawa Osamu closed his eyes, searching for the instincts he had developed after "gathering" his energy. As wind-attribute chakra slowly flowed into it, the White Fang short sword emitted a white light.

"Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation".

When wielding the short sword, Osamu Furukawa felt as if it were an extension of his own arm, his honed swordsmanship becoming an integral part of his body.

Even after daybreak, Jonin still made a low-key visit, and Kakashi accompanied them to pay his respects. Ninjas need to face death with equanimity.

As the Hokage's direct ANBU began to take over the follow-up matters, they saw Kakashi expressionlessly throw the short sword aside. Furukawa Osamu picked it up and hung it back on Kakashi's back.

"Take him with you to find the answer. Teacher Sakumo will be watching over you from the Pure Land."

"..."