Minato, a rising star among the new generation of ninja, was already beginning to shine on the battlefield. It was indeed time for someone as old as Haseo to step back.
At present, the Hokage and upper echelons used his name to maintain control within Konoha, ensuring village stability during this war period.
During this time, if anyone attempted to stir up trouble within the village, Haseo had the right to eliminate them immediately without explanation. First, the Third Hokage had granted him such authority—wartime control must be centralized. Secondly, Haseo likely held the highest rank and status in Konoha at this moment.
As for the two Elders… frankly speaking, they were so overwhelmed they barely had time to catch their breath. They didn't have energy for anything else, not even finding fault with Haseo.
After the Third Hokage went to war, all the logistical and resource management pressure fell on these two Elders. The Konoha front had split into three separate battlefields, meaning they continuously transported supplies in three different directions—that kind of work just wasn't something a human could handle easily.
No matter what form a war took, maintaining logistics was always the most difficult task.
But what did this have to do with Haseo? He was currently so idle he practically spent all his time overseeing the children's training… basically speaking, Haseo's role in the village was somewhat like a symbolic figurehead; he carried no actual responsibilities or specific tasks.
After the Uzumaki shinobi completed setting up the front-line camps, Kagenami would redeploy part of its personnel back. Only then, with adequate manpower available, could Haseo begin his own operations.
So now…
Konoha Primary One, second grade. Kakashi Hatake, aged seven.
Under constant grueling training.
This day, after school, young Kakashi followed routine and came to Kagenami for training. This time, however, his mind wandered, so Haseo lightly slapped the back of the kid's head.
Well, this was one way of showing affection.
"Why do you keep staring at Kushina? She's like your mom… Kakashi, you need to understand, when it comes to generations, I can either be on the same level as your father, or even your grandfather."
Still holding Samehada in both hands while training, Kakashi quickly turned his head around after receiving the slap, giving an explanation with pitiful eyes, "Lord Haseo, I'm just wondering why Kushina doesn't have to go through such intense training."
Since Sakumo Hatake hadn't died early as originally destined, Kakashi at this age wasn't as deeply scarred or rigid as his historical self—he didn't have the same bitter depth or overly disciplined character. That was a good thing; however, he also lacked the level of maturity his older self would have had. Currently, the child still possessed some innocence and childishness.
The world hadn't been too harsh to him, so sometimes he acted like a serious adult, other times carefree and childlike… everyone had to admit, this was actually a kind of happiness.
At this moment, Kakashi merely felt Lord Haseo was somewhat unfair. After all, they were both learning from him—so why was Kushina having such an easy time? She spent her days sipping tea and eating snacks.
What about Kakashi?
Every day he was exhausted like a dead dog—by now, Kakashi had completely abandoned the idea that "the harder the training, the more care there must be behind it," because reality reminded him daily that someone with the same status as him received completely different treatment.
This was a clear case of preferential treatment based on gender—girls got all the breaks while boys were pushed aside. Kakashi's complaint wasn't without merit, except... then Haseo ruthlessly verbally attacked the child:
"Kushina will never run out of chakra (energy). Can you say the same? If not, then train harder."
"..."
Honestly, no one deserves to get punched in the face.
Luckily for Kakashi, he was used to it.
Under such double pressure from both body and mind, Kakashi's physique had become far sturdier than most kids his age, and his mental toughness kept growing—before long, he was sure to become a kid who could take anything life threw at him.
"Have you taken today's special little pills yet?" Then Haseo asked further.
Kakashi pouted slightly. "Not yet, Lord Haseo. I'll take them after finishing this set of exercises."
"Eat first, then train." Haseo saw straight through the boy's intentions.
Seriously, how hard could it be to swallow two little candy-shaped pills?
With no other option, Kakashi could only put Samehada down, pull out a glass bottle, pour several pills into his palm, and after a look of visible inner struggle crossed his small face, finally put on an expression as if he were ready to sacrifice himself for a noble cause.
Then Kakashi swallowed the pills. His entire face turned green with disgust—like he'd just eaten something utterly repulsive… and possibly smelled like dog crap too.
Taking advantage of Kakashi's greenish complexion, taste buds paralyzed beyond function, and physical immobility preventing him from grabbing his sword, Haseo launched another round of ideological education.
"Kakashi, perhaps kids like you might really have to go onto actual battlefields soon enough… For more than twenty years, Konoha hasn't faced such harsh external circumstances as now."
Soon Konoha would certainly face a shortage of ninja numbers. It had been decades since Konoha last saw such young children being forced into active combat like this.
"I understand, Lord Haseo. Right now all villages are attacking Konoha—we're in serious trouble."
Even Kakashi understood some of the pressure Konoha currently endured under these conditions.
"Then tell me, are you afraid?"
"Just a little bit."
Kakashi told the truth honestly but felt ashamed by his own 'cowardice.'
Haseo nodded approvingly. This response was perfectly reasonable, and far better than those reckless hotheads who shouted loudly about charging headfirst into battle… After all, Kakashi was merely a second-grade elementary student; feeling fear toward battlefields wasn't abnormal at all.
This indicated Kakashi possessed certain understanding of war's true nature—he knew better than most that war wasn't some playground game—it was real, and it was deadly.
"If that day really comes, I'll try my best to assign you to stay beside Sakumo."
"...Lord Haseo, is this arrangement meant for Father to protect me?"
"No. It's for you to protect him. Your father has fragile psychology; he dies more easily than you do."
"..."
Was this an insult directed at Kakashi or at Sakumo? That was hard to determine.
Kakashi didn't know what to say, but he wouldn't try to defend his father's reputation in front of Lord Haseo—because there was simply no way to do so; he couldn't possibly win an argument against Lord Haseo.
No one was better at reasoning than Lord Haseo.
"In the battlefield," Lord Haseo continued, "ninjas like your father are a dime a dozen—just about everywhere you look. So tell me, Kakashi, do you know what the most important principle for a ninja stepping onto the battlefield should be?"
Kakashi thought for a moment before answering, "Is it 'caution,' Lord Haseo?"
"Smart guess, but not quite precise. The correct term is 'prudence.' A prudent ninja gains exposure, sparks conversations, and builds their brand—all without taking unnecessary risks."
Kakashi had once charged recklessly into battle, which was why Lord Haseo felt the need to instill caution in him. Young ninjas often got carried away too easily. Anyone who abandoned teammates, disrupted formation, or charged blindly into combat would inevitably earn Lord Haseo's disciplinary wrath—and anyone who did that would be on the receiving end of his discipline.
Lord Haseo believed this war would turn brutal, with Konoha suffering massive casualties. Once the conflict reached a stalemate, ninjas would become expendable assets—a grim reality shared by every village.
But Konoha fighting on three fronts meant an unprecedented rate of attrition. Eventually, the shortage of combat personnel would surface clearly, forcing even underage ninjas into battle.
That was the inevitable course of war, and Lord Haseo's analysis made perfect sense.
What he hadn't expected, however, was just how fast the situation would collapse.
Just a few days later, an Anbu came looking for Lord Haseo.
"Lord Haseo, Mist has won."
"...Eh?"
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>